Day 19

Mileage: 312.

Somehow I've already gone nearly 3000 miles since Billings. Don't try to add up the mileage on the blog; I didn't always include the many-mile routes through parks. But I know my initial as-the-crow-flies  plan would have brought me to Indiana after 3000 miles, so it shows how sides trips can add up. My GPS claims 890 miles left, but we'll see what I end up with total, later.

The reason I mention mileage: sometimes the car mechanic will sell new 'high end' oil that can run longer. Since I was distracted by the huge mechanic bill, I didn't ask this time. So this morning, I was distracted by waiting to call to ask about it.

"Depends on how you drive," he said, vaguely. "Like, if it's city driving, yeah, every 3000, but if it's highway, you can go longer."

I said, "I've put 3000 miles on since I saw you two weeks ago."

"Oh?! Well, you'll be able to go father then."

I think I'll be checking the dip stick, instead of asking one.

I'm in Kansas, at a rest stop west of Ogallah. I made a photo in Ogallah Nebraska. Who'da thought there was more than one Ogallah? If you say it one more time, it really won't make sense. Ogallah.

I'm rushing a little through Kansas. There is a marble factory (an honest-to-goodness, made-in-america marble factory!) on the east side of the state. They close at 5, but the sporadic marble-making demonstrations ends at 3. I'm passing by the world's second largest ball of twine to see that demonstration. I crossed a time zone today, yet will still have to leave earlier than I have recently to make it. I am going to stop in the capital at the Brown v. Board of Education historic site. Have to balance the silly with the historic.

Oh, and Kansas is experiencing a heat wave of 105-110 this week. Got here just in time. So, yeah. I might not get to stop many places for fear of cooking the cats.

They did really well today, after 8 hours in the car. Even when I stoped at small town junk shops and rolled down the windows, the breeze seemed refreshing. I will make a better effort tomorrow to make them drink during stops. Preferably water, but even tea is better than nothing.