Once again, scored free Wifi. I also got what the lady called a "nice guy" discount. I forgot to mention I got a discount at the hotel yesterday too. The lady asked if I had a commercial driver's license and I said, "No". Then she asked again, but slower. So I said, "Yes". It made the difference between $89 and $55. Tonight, there were no tricks. I think it helps that I'm coming in after midnight looking for a single bed for one night. Both nights were less than $60 each.

I covered about 720 miles today in 10 or so hours. That's not bad considering I still had my fair share of steep grades and I stopped about 5 times. I had hoped to be further along. But the cat was starting to yell at me and I didn't want to subject any of us to 350 additional miles. The pets have actually been really, really good. They both sleep for the most part. Bailey (the dog) rides shotgun while Sasha (the coolest cat, ever) rides in a pet carrier in the floor. When I let them out either at a stop or the hotel, they're very relaxed and chill.

My fingernails are still disgusting from Packing Day Two.

The weather was gorgeous all day. Sunny and low 70's. Wyoming and Montana were absolutely beautiful. But then I see all the 4x4 trucks, snowmobiles, and "road closed if flashing" signs and I know that today is probably a rare one for this part of the country. I now feel content that I have seen every major part of the country in that past 10 years. Wyoming needs to work on it's rest area distribution strategy. Before I get into that, I need to tell you that I have discovered a new super food. I've never been much into the "meat snacking". But this afternoon I started feeling like I could really use a nap. But instead, I reached for the teryaki beef jerky and WOOOSH, I'm a new man. Now- I have an needlessly long anecdote with an anti-climactic ending related to my newfound treat.

To be fair, I don't know if it was the jerky or the Double Quarter Pounder I had for lunch, but I started getting stomach cramps in the middle of Nowhere, Wyoming. Right as I happened upon a rest area, everything subsided. It's the same kind of good feeling like after an ice cream headache thaws. I felt great! So I kept on truckin'. But what I mistook for permanent relief was actually a pause before the REAL stomach cramps kicked in. Not unlike a venomous snake preparing to strike. I see the "next services 30 miles" sign and I start psyching myself up to hang on. I must have entered some weird dimension at the same time where 300 real world miles equal 30 miles as measured in this potty free zone. I start begging for a road sign so I at least know if I need to start hunting a discrete roadside squat spot. Not having any toilet paper made that a distant second choice. YES! I see a sign that looks like it says, "Rest Area". It does! Only 2 miles to go. OH! There's another! "Rest Area - CLOSED". Right then and there I decided I was going to poop at their rest area whether they like it or not. I exit and follow the signs. The reason it's closed is because it's being renovated and reconstructed. It was blocked off with "DO NOT ENTER" and "Hardhat Required" signs. But I saw a port-o-john behind the forbidden lines. I went for it. I'm a rebel. I win.

I hate the car trailer. It's been fighting my car ever since I picked it up. And it's winning. First, it chin checked my car the day I got it. Then it took cursing, sweat, and tears (sorry Jen) to get it hitched to the truck the day I left. Yesterday, the tire straps came off twice and I figured out the problem was my fault. Today, I realized I wrapped the safety chain around the rear tow loop too tight. So when I went over some of the "paint shaker" roads in Montana today, it started ripping the welds on the tow loop. Almost literally tearing the asshole out of my precious car. It's to the point where I stopped twice today to do nothing but check the car and trailer. I don't yet have the courage to open the cargo area of the truck to see what's doing back there. I think it should be a surpise.

How's that Sirius Sattellite radio you ask? Let me summarize with dialog...

Me: "Won't you please play some music?"
SR: "Acquiring Signal..."
Me: "C'mon! If you start working now, I won't even be mad about you sucking this whole trip"
SR: "Acquiring Signal..."
Me: "Douchebagsezacquiringsignal?"
SR: "Acquiring Signal..."
Me: "Ha! I win."

Coming up tomorrow: I think I actually get to drive on a road besides I-90 East!!!