Wednesday was quite difficult but yet a definitive victory as The Penske plowed through 435 miles of this United States. It was very, very cold in the Midwest on Wednesday. It was too cold for the chemicals and salt to work on the roads and as a result, it was treacherously icy. Pulled out of Chicago at 18 below and picked our way down I-90 to the Indiana Turnpike. Took us 3 ½ hours to book 60 miles and as a result, we ran behind all day and ended up short. Didn’t do the 525 miles that was on the plan.

It was the day of the trucks; they were hauling cars, candy bars, office furniture, huge tanks, pipe, tires, groceries, museum exhibits, medical equipment, pieces of steel, mail, cargo, gravel, garbage and all the other fruits of the Midwest labor. After looking them all over all day, my personal favorite is the Peterbilt. Like the name and like the look. The Penske got a little giddy going out of Chicago as she spotted another Penske that, I think, she wanted to get close to and play with. Hey, the road can be a lonely place. But that Penske exited so our Penske, The Awesome P, just settled down and started chomping on the Ohio Turnpike that lay in wait. She’s put Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio in the rear view mirror yesterday despite all obstacles. She is the Awesome P.

Late last night, the loop started to close when I saw the first This Way to New York sign. Got a big lump in my throat as I realized that we’re on EST now, The Penske and me, and that today is the last day of the New Year’s Inauguration Day Road Trip. We are a long way from home and the beloved pine trees and Big Sky of the west. But they have treated us nice here on the road so we’ll wrap up our business in New York and then climb on the airplane and fly back to The Chow Nation and our life that waits for us at home. But we’ll leave more than just a little bit of our heart and our youth on I-90 on the road to New York City.

JBelle
On Assignment
Clearfield, Pennsylvania