Sunday, November 13, 2011

TOUGH DRIVING DAY WITH HEAVY WIND GUSTS EVERY MILE OF THE WAY

IMG_2997
PHEEBS KEEPS AN EYE ON AN RV MOVING IN A BIT CLOSE TO US AT FERNE CLYFFE STATE PARK, GOREVILLE ILLINOIS
The winds gusted all night and Kelly had to finally pull in the bedroom slide.  Not the best night’s sleep and yes, we had the proverbial train whistles in the background. But, that’s OK because there is something very hauntingly reassuring about train whistles in the night.
IMG_1237

PIT STOP AT AN ILLINOIS REST AREA
Sunday night’s weather channel issued a wind advisory for Sunday saying the winds would pick up as the day went on so we figured we had better get an early start and make some fast tracks out of the area.  Our tracks weren’t fast enough…….Rolled out of the Cracker Barrel parking lot at 6:35 a.m. and as soon as we climbed aboard I-94 and pointed our nose to the southwest we were buffeted by heavy wind gusts.  Not good!!  Fortunately, because it was Sunday we did not have a lot of traffic to deal with and making our way through the maze of concrete and pavement in Gary Indiana went well.  I prefer to do heavy traffic areas on week-ends if at all possible.
DSC_0010  
KELLY, ALWAYS ON THE JOB, FIELDS A DEER PARK LODGE CALL
Picking up I-57 put us head to head with the hard charging southwest winds and for the next seven and a half hours we went toe to toe with the heavy wind gusts.  At one point about 60 miles north of Effingham we rounded a long curve in the road and the winds began hitting us broadside with enough force to move us into the accompanying lane several times.  Only thing we could do was cut our speed and hang on tight.  This is all very flat farm land between Chicago and Effingham with few trees or wood lots to break the wind whipping across the flat landscape.   I knew if we could get ourselves south of Effingham we would be in better shape because of all the forests along that stretch.  I would have to say we experienced some of the strongest wind bursts today that we have ever been in.
IMG_1238
FUEL STOPS ARE ALWAYS A TWO PERSON OPERATION FOR US…KELLY DEALS WITH THE GAS PUMP COMPUTER AGGRAVATIONS AND I AM THE GAS JOCKEY WHO ‘FILLS ER UP"’
The destination I had in mind since leaving the Indiana State Line was a quiet place in a forest that we had been to several times before.  FERNE CLYFFE STATE PARK is about 2 miles east of I-57 near a little place called Goreville Illinois which in turn is about 200 miles north of Memphis Tennessee.  I knew if we could make Ferne Clyffe we would have a sheltered place from the wind for the night.  Kelly and I, on our way back from Big Bend in Texas back in 04 actually pulled in here on New Year’s Eve of 04/05.  Not a soul around and we spent a quiet restful night totally alone in winter’s big silent forest.  I like memories like that:))
DSC_0002
DSC_0004 DSC_0001 
WALKING A FERNE CLYFFE TRAIL THIS AFTERNOON 
Because of being beat up by the high winds today our gas mileage took quite a hit.  Filled up in Gary Indiana this morning and filled up again this afternoon in Mt. Vernon Illinois.  Wanted to keep the tank on the full side to give us extra weight.  We do have an onboard computer that will give us our miles per gallon but those are numbers I really did not need to see today!!  On the positive side, we have had many great tailwinds over the years that have whisked us up and down the highways and byways with barely a foot on the gas, so today was just a little payback time for us:))
DSC_0005
NOT OFTEN YOU SEE THE BAYFIELD BUNCH PARKED ON A SOLID FLAT PAVED SURFACE (FERNE CLYFFE STATE PARK)
Both Kelly and I both got a hankering for peanut butter and toast this morning while southbound on I-57.  With a simple push of a switch on the dash I had the generator running.  The cook was in the Galley, the toast was in the toaster and minutes later I had a big Cheshire grin on my face and a big slice of toast and peanut butter tucked nicely away in my tummy.  Yep, I sure like this rolling Motor Home concept alright:))
DSC_0011
NICE TO BE OUT OF THE TRAFFIC AND BACK INTO A PEACEFUL FOREST SETTING
I think one of the greatest feelings while traveling is that point of destination, wherever it is at the end of the day.  After shutting down the rig, putting out the slides and taking care of any other set up procedures there comes a very precious moment of the trip.   You walk over to your favorite spot whether it’s a recliner, couch, bench seat at the breakfast nook table or just a good old comfy favorite chair and you just kind of collapse yourself in a very relaxing and comfortable heap.  A big sigh of relief, an immediate release of stress, and a warm sense of accomplishment knowing that you didn’t screw anything up too badly since getting up that morning.  I think that is always my favorite part of any traveling day. 
IMG_2996
KELLY FINDS A VERY LARGE SYCAMORE LEAF >>>
I think our highs today reached the mid 70’s and and just now at 6 p.m. I see it is 71F.  I was just outside with the Pheebs and I could hear crickets and frogs in the darkening woods beside us.  The wind was roaring in the treetops and we were as snug as a bunch of bugs on the forest floor below.  Now, how nice is that.
IMG_2993 
COMFORTABLY IN…..’MY SPOT'
GROANER’S CORNER:((  A college boy takes his girlfriend to a football game. It’s the first football game she’s ever seen, and afterwards he asks her how she liked it.
"Oh, I really liked it," she says, "but I just couldn't understand though why they were killing each other for 25 cents."
"What do you mean?"
"All they kept screaming was: Get the quarter back. Get the quarter back."

-------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

22 comments:

  1. Sounds like a successful launch! Already good memories being made. The dogs are happy, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you made the gusty winds. It's always rough driving an Rv in those windy conditions...feels like you are being pushed all over the road and then exhaustion kicks in. You are so right on getting to the destination and just kicking it back and chillaxing.
    Safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kind of a harrowing ride in that wind. I couldn't agree more about getting settled in a favorite spot when you finally stop for the day, especially when the drive has been a stressful one. Glad you are settled safely for the night. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not fun driving in the wind. A motorhome is just a big sailboat on the highway! There have been times we've just called it quits and resumed driving another day.

    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. glad you got thru the harrowing day...nothing worst than wind...glad your settled safe and sound..!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. We haven't experienced heavy wind yet, or rain, or icy roads. I hope they are long in coming our way.

    Sounds like your overnight is cozy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. We don't do wind anymore. If the wind picks up, we sit still. Sure am glad you made it okay and that tomorrow is a much better day.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Not the kind of `breeze`you expected for your drive today. Hoping for better climes tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds like it was the kind of drive where you were hanging onto the steering wheel!!..nice work on the day's drive!!.enjoy the peace and quiet tonight!..tomorrow is a new day and new adventures!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Worst wind we ever experienced was crossing Nebraska back in 2007 in the baby MoHo. Sure hope you get a wind break tomorrow, but it is great to see you settled in your chair and know you are headed for your favorite part of the world. Love that huge leaf Kelly is holding. Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  11. fighting the wind for hours like that makes for a tiring day , hope it has blown itself out and you have a better day tomorrow. Love Kelly's big leaf.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've experienced driving in winds like that where the steering wheel was literally pulled from my hands. NO FUN !! And yes, exhausting also.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wind. Yep. That's what I'm talking about. Experienced it all last week in the Southwest and on into California. Those gusts are pretty hard to handle. Take it easy, Al and Kelly.

    Emjay

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ah I-57. drove the bus on it many times and yes it can be very windy this time of the year, Good choice of overnight accommodations.Hope you have an easier day tomorrow. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna...

    ReplyDelete
  15. You're very lucky you didn't have awning issues with that wind. Know lots of people who have, us being one of them. Last year on our way to Utah. Not a nice experience. Stay safe....Pheebs seems to be really enjoying herself.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Glad to see your underway and moving Southwest.......We are doing the same down here on I-10 Will make Tucson today!!! Then North Ranch tomorrow,,,,,with a little luck I'll be on my 4 wheeler out in the desert by the week end...
    Travel safe my friend...

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wind, the curse of RVers!! And the wind is blowing here in Montana the last few days too, here at 6am I can hear it howling outside.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Glad to see you are making good progress... not much fun in the winds though, that is for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  19. GREAT job battling the winds ... I think we would have just pulled over and hunkered down for the day.

    I marked that campground on our maps, it's only 550 miles from our house instead of the 650 we try for to get to Paducah in the first day when we head south. Glad to know it's open this time of year!

    *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm one of those that would have hunkered down if at all possible. I don't like driving in high winds...

    ReplyDelete
  21. For all the difficulties during the day it looks like you have a wonderfully calm place to spend the night.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The wind here in the mountains was horrific. I can't imagine how it would be in a motor home but it sounds like you did battle all day long. That had to be tiring and scary.

    ReplyDelete