Day 2 (Chattanooga, TN to Omaha, NE)

Day 2 started off significantly better than the previous. Although Julie and I both tossed and turned all night, we were up and gone from the campsite by 7:00. Sorry about not being able to post—because we were in the boon docks, there was no Wi-Fi, not to mention we were both exhausted. After a “quick” fill-up of the 50-gallon gas tank and an early-morning chat with the one-eyed gas station attendant (whom I don’t think actually worked there, but more or less just loitered with the paying customers), we were on our way. Our trek today will cover close to 890 miles and about 13 ½ hours, taking us to Omaha, Nebraska (just in time for the College World Series). We hit Nashville, TN about 8:00 and managed to miss the rush hour traffic—no delays yet! We got to see some really beautiful scenery along the way and in spite of the overcast day. Besides a 5-minute downpour just outside Nashville, the ride was relatively quiet until we reached Illinois where we first were re-routed from the interstate due to road work and then met a vicious cross-wind once we hit I-64 West. Regardless, we plodded with full bellies courtesy of Julie’s driving diner through to St. Louis where Julie had the camera at the ready for shots of the arch. After about 500 miles logged for the day, I decided I would give Julie a turn in the captain’s chair, where she was immediately met with those cross-winds. While I sacrificed the last little bit of Breyer’s ½ fat chocolate chocolate chip ice cream for the sake of more room in the freezer and took a little 30 minute siesta, Julie muscled her way to Kansas City, where it was time once again to fill the “belly of the steel beast”. I hopped in to navigate the remaining 220 miles with nothing to see but the flat farmlands of northern Missouri and southwestern Iowa. Before I forget to mention, Iowa has by far the worst interstate roads that I have ever driven on—my back will be sore for the remainder of the trip, I’m sure! We finally pulled into the KOA in Omaha at 7:51 pm (beat the Garmin’s eta by 1 minute), and were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the staff. After another stellar dinner of homemade pizza, things were looking up for a little R&R until…suddenly no electricity. Seriously?!?! Long story short, our camping neighbor gave me a ride to the Flying J truck stop for more fuses for the circuit breaker and the evening was saved. We are all now resting comfortably in our air-conditioned RV and are ready to tackle the Badlands tomorrow early afternoon. Stay tuned…