It was a long way from Springfield, MO to LA, so a hundred extra miles was worth avoiding I-40, its construction, need for repairs and generally less than appealing scenery. We opted to drive back through Kansas to Denver, then across I-70 through Colorado, Utah, and a bit of AZ and NV before arriving in California. It was a good choice. We spent one night in Hays, Kansas, and one in Dillon, CO (an hour or so before Vail, Aspen, etc.) Halfway through Utah, at a truck stop. we coincidentally ran into Del and Connie, a couple we know who haul around one of the Tony Stewart Home Depot showcars. When we found out we both planned to spend the night in Cedar City, we arranged to meet for dinner. The steak at Rusty’s on Canyon Road was decent; the company was better. We’ll see them again when we work together in LA.

The last stop was Primm, NV, south of Las Vegas at the last exit in Nevada before entering California. We stayed at Whiskey Pete’s, where once again I lost more than I wanted to. Donny hit for $100 on a quarter slot to even things out. As an unsurprising welcome to LA, it took almost as long sitting in traffic as the drive from Vegas. We’ll be here for two more weeks ’til we finally take vacation.