Long Road To Indy

Our Drive Home II crew was up early again this morning for a 360-mile drive from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis. No events today, but a good photo opp for Derek at Heinz Field (Steelers Country!) and several gas stops along the way at Shell stations to fuel up and surprise fellow fuelers with $10 gas cards from our Shell Corp. sponsor.

 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

 Valerie treating a young fan to a seat in the cockpit of the Nomad during a Shell fuel stop

Heading through West Virginia and into Ohio we stopped for lunch at Schlepp’s Family Diner in Belmont where Bill had a meatloaf sandwich the size of his head and Ashley’s club sandwich probably wouldn’t have fit into the Chrysler’s trunk.

Ashley and Bill at the highly recommended Schlepp's Family Diner in Belmont, OH

 

It was about then that Dale noticed a bar on the trailer hitch had lost a part and was unsecured. Dale cornered a local fella named Ron Moore who was coming out of the restaurant and inquired if Ron knew of a nearby repair shop where we might get a large bolt to fix the hitch. With full Midwestern hospitality, Ron said, “Yes, I’ll drive down to the Ford dealership and pick one up for you.” What a gracious offer and we accepted it with appreciation.

Dale thanking Ron Moore for going out of his way to get a repair part for us



The rest of the day was several hundred miles of windshield time with me driving my old friend the Nomad and recalling the twisting roads that have led each of us to where we are today. My mom recently made me think of this when she reminded me that 41 years ago today I hitchhiked 260 miles across Colorado. An 18-year-old and six months out of high school I had no money, no plan and no prospects when my dad offered to put me to work in his Glenwood Springs paint store. With no car, I took to the highway from Greeley, and the most memorable part of the trip was getting picked up in the mountains by three college girls in a Volkswagen Beetle and sliding down the backside of a very snowy Vail Pass.

Much has changed since then, but help and support are still around when you need it, particularly from the car community and people like Ron Moore in Belmont, OH. To those who have helped the Drive II Gang along on our adventure from Boston, you have our great gratitude and thanks. 

On to Grand Rapids tomorrow – drive safe out there and you may want to stay clear of hitchhikers with no money, no plan and no prospects...