This is topic Good vibes for Bob & Dana -- Last Update. Plus: Another family member succumbs. in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.
Dana flew down to Texas Sunday evening to help Bob finish packing and move to Iowa. The original plan was to pick up the U-haul Monday morning, pack Monday and get a good night's sleep Monday night, and leave Tuesday. Drive as far as Kansas City Tuesday, which is 11 - 12 hours, and finish the trip Wednesday, about another 4.5 hours. Dana has to preach Wednesday night.
Forecasts of snow made them consider leaving Monday night and getting a few hours in, to make sure they made it back in time.
Mom just talked to Dana. One emergency room trip (everyone's okay,) 1 leaky U-haul (had to be taken back for a roof patch,) and flash flooding in Texas (roads closed and detoured) later, they finally got on the highway around noon CST today. Bob is driving the U-haul and Dana's driving his car. It is pouring rain.
She plans on posting a full account when they're back on-line, but okay'd me to give a synopsis now... please keep them in your thoughts for the next 24 hours or so. This has gotta be stressful, and Bob hates moving anyway. The rest of the family is heading down after work Wednesday for Thanksgiving and to help with the unloading... but how about having a nice, cheery, welcome to the Midwest waiting for Bob when they get in tomorrow?
Thanks all, and Happy Thanksgiving!
[ November 24, 2004, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
Sending good vibes for Bob & Dana! Ew! That sounds like quite the hassel! But very worth it in the end!
((((Bob & Dana))))
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
I hope things get easier for them. If they are coming up I-35 they will pass within 200 yards of my folks house and about 5 miles from me.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Kansas City? Man, they could have come here. I'd have fed them. I'd even consider meeting them in KC. (If they call you, let them know. Just in case. You know, if they are in/near Kansas City.)
::sends out good vibes and anxiously awaits the emergency room story::
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
True Love - moving during a Texas flood.
-Trevor
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Okay, I lied. (Unintentionally, of course.) They weren't on the freeway yet when Mom talked to her last. They got on 35 around 2:30 CST. So no further troubles and they should hit Kansas City a little after midnight, assuming they can make okay time with the U-haul and trailer.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
My office is right on 35. If they left Bob's place two hours ago, they should be passing by right about...NOW.
*runs to window*
Added: Oh yes. I see them. Dana looks calm and Bob looks intense and is driving carefully.
[ November 23, 2004, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: katharina ]
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
punwit -- Where shall I tell them to wave?
And thanks, everyone.
[ November 23, 2004, 05:16 PM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Make sure they wave with one finger. Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
Would Bob lose his status as National Traffic Safety Grand Poobah if he exceeded the speed limit?
Posted by IvyGirl (Member # 6252) on :
Hey, tell them if they have any trouble in the Wichita area (Within a 60 mile radius or so) to call Mom and she'll help them out.
Ivygirl
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Snicker. How very generous of you to volunteer your mom like that.
-Trevor
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
Right after they cross the Marais des Cygnes between the US 59 Ottawa exit and the K 68 Ottawa exit. They are on the west side of the hiway about a 1/4 mile north of the river.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Just talked to dkw between Corinth and Denton, TX. She's in high spirits, they're out of the rain, and doing fine.
Katie, she said they did wave to you as they passed through Dallas. I passed along the punwit-family waving coordinates, too. Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Eljay,
It's 8:18 Central time now -- so I don't know how far along they are -- but it is pouring rain here in central Kansas, and has been all afternoon. I hear it is the same way all through Oklahoma. It is supposed to turn to wet snow later on tonight. So it isn't the greatest driving weather, to be sure.
I think Dana has my cell phone if they need anything as they come through, but if not, tell her I'm listed (home phone) in the local phone book.
Farmgirl
(Trevor -- I called Ivygirl on the phone and told her to sign on and volunteer us. I was away at the dentist at the time having a tooth pulled so couldn't post myself).
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Good Luck Bob and Mrs. Bob! Or the soon-to-be Mrs. Bob...
I hope everyone is OK, and that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Kwea
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I don't doubt it Farm, but it was still fun to give Ivy grief.
-Trevor
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
They stopped in Edmund, OK for the night. So they only got 2/5 of the trip done, but the flooding and stuff really slowed them down. Hopefully the snow won't be too much of a problem... they decided to stop earlier than planned, get a good night's sleep, and head out early.
FG, I reiterated your offer, and she thinks she has your number, just in case.
Thanks again for all the good thoughts!
[ November 23, 2004, 10:55 PM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
JenniK wanted me to log on and give you the following message:
"Take care, congrats, and stay safe!" .
Kwea and JenniK
[ November 23, 2004, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: Kwea ]
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Drive safe! We'd rather have you two ok than the irony.
Hope the drive and move are as stress-free as is possible.
. . . and, Bob? *sings* Ya really ought to give Iowa a try! Cuz they're so by-God stubborn, they could stand touchin' noses for a week at a time -- and never see eye-to-eye! Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Well, we got wet snow overnight -- not too much as far east as I-35 (which they are on) but just west of that, up to six inches.
The highways look pretty clear, though, and you only really need to watch on bridges & overpasses. And this is all supposed to melt away by noon -- so maybe if they delay just a bit coming through -- they should have smooth sailing the rest of the way.
Farmgirl
Posted by KrabbyPatty (Member # 7055) on :
The phone rang at 6:50 a.m. It was dkw. She said, "I've left Bob." Then the phone went dead.
Now, she sounded very happy, so I figured she'd taken off on her own in his car, since she has obligations this evening in Ellsworth. And sure enough, the phone rang again. She woke up at 4 a.m. and got ready to leave. Bob got up too, and suggested she go on ahead. So he went to walk Smokey and she left for home. She was in Wichita when she called . . . and as we talked, saw the sign for Kansas City - 200 miles.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Mom?
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Gosh -- and she didn't even let me buy her breakfast as she breezed through....
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Finally!
Edit: Also, see where we get our sense of the dramatic?
[ November 24, 2004, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: ElJay ]
Posted by KrabbyPatty (Member # 7055) on :
Yes - I guess I've been lurking long enough!
And I know dkw would have loved to have time to visit with those of you along the way, but it just was not possible on this trip. The timing was tight, even without the leaky truck, flash floods and rainy weather.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
Drive carefu...oh well, I know you will whether I say it or not.
Have a good trip!
Dagonee
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Welcome to the forum KrabbyPatty!
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Yes - I know this was a rush trip. I just hope they make it the rest of the way smoothly.
And actually, it is kind of cool that they know people all along the route (Boon in Oklahoma, me in Wichita, punwit in NE Kansas) that they can call on if they run into any trouble at all.... We're here for them!
Farmgirl
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Welcome to Hatrack, Patty. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Roadtrip! How cool.
:whispers: Elope. A wedding is just ceremonial nonsense anyway. Elope.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Do NOT elope. Your life is changing dramatically - that nonsense ceremony is to share with people whose lives will be affected by the change. Don't include them, and you become a stranger without letting those that should be closest to you see why.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
No worries, kat. You really think she's gonna pass up the chance to wear that?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Jack-elope.
Env-elope.
The signs are everywhere.
Soap-on-elope.
(They can't see this anyway, kat.)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Cant-elope.
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
rivka
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
rivka and Scott, but particularly rivka.
dkw just called, she's entering Kansas City. Bob's around Wichita. She said there were lots of cars in the ditch, and the freeway is plowed but the ramps are not.
It is, of course, sunny and dry in MN. Hope it stays that way until after we get to IA tonight.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
So she's approximately four hours ahead of him.
Let's see if he catches her.......
FG
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Since he doesn't have her experience driving in snow, I sure hope he isn't driving that fast. Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Oh good Lord. I had my first experience with the Krabby Patty or Crabby Patty or whatever this Halloween. I couldn't bring myself to eat one; it sounded so...iffy.
So I hope you don't mind if I call you Patty. Actually, the name Pat is apparently up for grabs as well.
Welcome!
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
2:50, dkw in Ames and Bob just north of Kansas City. Ames is about 30 minutes from home, so she'll make it just fine... but it's a good thing she took off first this morning. I'm off, any further news will come from her. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Hi everyone! Thanks for the good wishes. I'm home (stopped in Ames to grab a few things) and Bob is about 120 miles away. I need to get ready for church, so I'll post the whole soap opera later.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Yay! I'm glad y'all're safe. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Glad to hear half the couple made it back safely.
-Trevor
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
Thank God.
*relieved
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Bob made it in time for the tail end of the sermon. He's even more exhausted than I am, so I'm going to try to talk him into not even staying up until ElJay et al arrive.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Glad you both made it safe and sound.
Get some sleep, and have a great Turkey Day.
Posted by Intelligence3 (Member # 6944) on :
Happy Thanksgiving, Dana!
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Howdy y'all.
Made it for the 2nd half of Dana's sermon. We're all safe. Even Smokey (the dog) seems no worse for wear.
I may have a few more items to add from this "Adventure in Moving" (I wonder why U-Haul no longer uses that tag line?) but for me the highlights were:
1) The town of Hearne, TX almost completely underwater, and driving through it.
2) Taking a slight detour from a defunct gas station to a working one just across the parking lot. Flooded lot, of course. Big dip in the middle. Trailer made it over, but at the nadir of the dip, I sort of tore out the handy little thing that you crank down to hold the trailer level when it is off the hitch. Oops. Never liked that thing anyway.
3) Hearing Dana's story about almost sliding off the exit ramp. No wait, she did NOT almost slide off, she only THOUGHT she was sliding off! Really!!! The very idea!
4) I really enjoyed driving a 24' U-Haul with a 12' utility trailer through Kansas City on the various flavors of I-35 that they have sort of going through that city. Wow!
5) Having Dana call me twice because I was driving onto the shoulder. I was changing tapes. Neuromancer book on tape read by teh author. (Hint: Get a professional to read your books on tape!!!) [dkw note -- if you'd seen him at the last rest stop you'd know why I was worried.] [bob_scopatz note -- I really should use my initials] (okay, it was sort of night of the living dead...)
6)MY FAVORITE PART -- falling off the truck. And that WASN'T the reason for the trip to the emergency room. I just ended up sort of slow-motion crumpling to the lip of the deck, then the metal bumper, then the ground. The concrete broke my fall. Another hint -- don't load U-Haul trucks during the actual monsoon.
And later, dkw will tell you all how much fun we had at the emergency room, and why we went there, why we're glad we did.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
OK, even with an emergency room trip it sounds like everyone's safe and sound. So congratulations on the move!
Dagonee P.S., we'd love to hear Smokey's thoughts on the subject, too.
[ November 24, 2004, 11:03 PM: Message edited by: Dagonee ]
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
Wow!
Glad you're there safe. Can't wait to hear the emergency room story.
I can really sympathize with #4 -- I have a hard enough time driving a regular car through that Kansas City highway mess -- I can't imagine doing it with your load.
Farmgirl
Posted by punwit (Member # 6388) on :
I'll rest easier knowing that you all made it to your destination relatively unscathed (I hope). Downtown KC I-35 can be a pain and I'm glad you managed to run that gauntlet. Rest well and have a fabulous Thanksgiving.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
Glad you both made it. Happy Thanksgiving. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*bump* Ok, I think it's time for the ER story.
What do you mean, you're in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner? Don't you know some of us are working today and need to hear humorous stories? Think of the children!
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Thanksgiving dinner? What makes you think they're letting us eat dinner? We're still slaving away unloading and unpacking Bob's stuff... Boy, If I'da known they were just inviting us down to be pack mules.....
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
( )
Posted by JenniK (Member # 3939) on :
Quityerbitchin'''
It's about time someone made and honest woman of you....er...I mean made you do an honest days work....
Glad to hear you are all safe and sound.
Let us know what happend with the rest of the drama when you can!
Kwea
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
That post isn't JenniK, it's me...she forgot to log out again....
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