Subj: Larry's Adventure: Day 10-11
Date: 11/5/99

Well, Gang:
The trip is nearing the end.

Day 10
Isn't that just the way it goes. The jets wake me up religiously at 0600, and the day that I don't set the alarm, afterburner time doesn't come until 0730. But it was a good one! The noise and vibrations were setting off the car alarms in the parking lot. I found this quite humorous. Well, at least I got some extra sleep. The oil is changed in the Accord, it's all packed, and I'm still riding the high from my Champ Car drive. As I'm driving through the desert, I get the sense that I'm a piece of meat in a microwave oven. You know, only the food gets hot, not the air in the oven. I'm getting this burning sensation on my arm from the sun, but the air temperature is only 65 degrees. The same thing happens to me when flying. Another thing that I find odd, is the amount of insects in the air. My windshield/front of the car, is getting peppered with little bugs. To the extent that happens when you travel beside a river on a warm night.
My intended stop will be Ft. Carson, CO (approx. 835 miles). As I approach the Rockies, the elevation is on a steady climb.
I have made an error in judgment. As I told you, I don't stop very often to make pit stops, well I should have. My bladder is full and with the decrease in outside pressure above 8,000 feet; my internal pressure is really starting to build. During flight training, they demonstrate the pressure change by taking a rubber glove and tying off the end. As you ascend, the glove starts to puff out until it looks like the full udder on a prize Holstein. Well, I'm feeling that visualization! Being the studdly man that I am, not wanting to waste time or step in the snow that has fallen in the upper altitudes I keep going. I'm at 10,000 feet now and I'm thinking, "Surely we won't go much higher?" I didn't take the road that goes over Presidential Pass (12,000+ feet). Up we go, the Honda is grunting, I'm grimacing from the pressure knowing that not only could I write my name in the snow, but this whole story! "Come on Larry, you can tuff it out!" as I say to myself as we pass 11,000 feet and 24 degree temperatures.

* The cold temps remind me of a safety tip: Do not immediately use water balloons that have been stored in the freezer!

Always taking precautions, I have bottle, with a thick sturdy bottom that won't blow out from the fire hose like pressure, that is building fast! Through squinting eyes, I see a tunnel coming up signaling the top of the mountain! I crest the top, brake land speed records going down until I hit 7,000 feet when the pressure starts to subside. Panting, I'm thinking it wasn't that bad, and continue to my destination, hoping for a speedy check in.

Day 11
I sleep in, again, and awake to bright sun and a view of Pike's Peek. After loading the car and checking out, I stop for a quick breakfast. Gassing up the car, I notice that the bugs on the car are so thick that I feel I should take a snow shovel and scrape them off.
My next destination is Scott AFB, IN (860 miles). The trip is going well, I'm happy, singing to my favorite tunes, the tumble weeds are tumbling, the antelope are loping and the what the heck is that in the road? Oh yes, a cow. Forgot about the open ranges. The day has gone well and I'm making good time when.... Road closed eastbound into Topeka. OK, I'll head south on I470 and connect back to I70 in St. Louis. Traffic is light and I'm only 20 minutes late. It's already Friday morning as I'm typing this and later this day I should be home in PA.

I'll be closing out the log on Saturday, Larry (AKA deer strike 2) Did I get that right Don?