Two weeks later.

Here is the T shirt contest winner modeling the Grand Prize. Congratulations Della Baird from Wilmington, NC. Thanks to all of you who participated and helped add a little something extra to the hum of the wheels on the highway.

We've been back for two weeks now and Fall is in the air. The nights are cooling off, 53 F this morning and the hurricanes are staying out of the United States, for the moment. Bermuda is starting to get rocked right now, Hunker Down folks, Igor is getting close.

The NFL is in it's second week and already the haves and have knot's are beginning to separate themselves. Within the family we have a key match-up today between Philly and Detroit. Will Detroit continue on it's road of mediocrity or will Philly start a downward spiral in the Post McNabb era. The four games I feel could be the most contested this weekend are:

BAL @ CIN
Paul Brown Stadium 1:00 PM

PIT @ TEN
LP Field 1:00 PM

NE @ NYJ
New Meadowlands Stadium 4:15 PM

NYG @ IND
Lucas Oil Stadium 8:20 PM

For those College Football fans, USAFA played a great game against #7 ranked Oklahoma, loosing 27-24. Delaware beat Duquesne 30-6. Uconn was embarrassed by Temple 30-16.

September 24'th & 25'th is the Eighth Conference on "Women In The Military". One of the representatives from USAFA is Samantha and the Fiddler-Berthiaume family is quite excited to get to see Sam in DC.

Abby gets to perform for the first time at half time this coming Friday for the Bennett Clippers Football team.

Right now Granny is in the kitchen making homemade Beef Veggie soup, I told you fall was in the air. And does it have a savory aroma.

I've really got very little more to say of any worth so I shall not ramble. Have a great week everyone, enjoy life and don't forget:

Semper Fi, Go Navy beat Army

The Delivery and ending mileage

Here is Sam with the two old men on the delivery of the car. A happy Cadet was she.

So, hopefully your all there sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the final mileage. And the ending mileage is> 2057 I could not get a picture of the Odometer as my camera battery died @ Bents Fort. Your going to just have to trust this honest face and Uncle Bob's Word. The final mileage read 37844, also the trip Odometer read 057 and had gone around twice.

So, we now have a winner and she is> Della Baird of Wilmington, NC who came within thirty miles of the final Odometer reading. She guessed 2027 miles. Congratulations Della, your shirt will be in the mail.

For all who played, thanks for adding a wrinkle to the trip and the blog. Today is pretty much going to be a day of relaxation. Will get Sam at 1400, do something and have dinner. Tomorrow is the Parade and open house. Saturday the Football game with a noon start time. After the game we're off to Denver for the night & then Southwest to DC and a short ride home. Looking forward to a glass of wine on the porch with my lady.

Can't say good night so like an Aussi, Goodday!

Mary Agnes, Don't forget the chickens. Semper Fi everyone, Go Navy beat Army

The pictures. Me at the fort, Uncle Bob at the Bar in the fort, who would have thought? No Coors Lite though. The vast nothingness back to Kansas City. The resident cat in the forts audio room.


Colorado Springs here we are, after four days on the road. Regarding the flat, it was fixed lickity split this morning in about 20 minutes. Sam's Emergency kit, purchased for her by her parents, had a can of instant fix in it. Put that sucker on the stem, put 15 lbs. of air in the empty space and drove to Ace tire. Slam Bam, you all come back now and it was fixed. If you ever get a flat in Lamore Colorado, go to Ace tire. We also vouch for the Holiday Inn Express.

Coming through the back roads to Pueblo we stopped in at Bent's Fort. Run by the National Park Service with staff filling period roles, it is a worthwhile stop if you ever come this way.

Right before Las Animas we ventured off Route 50 on to 194 and that's where we found the fort. Now let me tell you, very little traffic is on 50. On 194 there is NO ONE! Uncle Bobbi says "Leroy, (that's what he's called me for 46 years) next chance you get pull over. Observing a dirt farm road off to the right, I pull off the road 20 yards or so. Now believe me when I say you can see miles of nothing in all directions. Well Bobbi hops out, pulls out the Mickey and begins to relieve himself when what do he see but dust, comin up the road. Just as Mickey is getting tucked away a big Ford F-450 with Fred and Ethel farmer in it, pull up beside us. We exchange pleasantry's, ask for directions back to 50, say good bys, Ethel smiles, and they drive off.

After the fort, the ride into the Springs was uneventful. We pulled into the hotel, a gorgeous LaQuinta, again I'd recommend. We found a Mom & Pop Rib place had a good lunch and went looking for a good car wash. With XXXX miles on the car, there was a lot of dirt. On 50 near La Junta we ran into bright yellow butterflys by the thousands for about 5 or 6 miles. Sam's car now had a yellow nose on it along with all the dirt and bugs.

After the car wash we headed to the Academy and the Uniting of Sam and her car. The look on her face when she saw us and the car was worth the miles and tears came to my eyes. We took off for dinner, Sam wasn't ready to drive and we did some things about the car 101 on the way to dinner. After dinner Sam got behind the wheel and took us on a tour of the Academy. She departed back into the hallowed ground of the Academy at 1900. Until tomorrow Sam, Good Night.

I'm writing this out by the pool. I'm sure Bobbi is asleep by now & I wont be far behind. All of you back East, Hunker Down for the big blow. The milage will be reported tomorrow. If you haven't gotten your mileage in, use the comments section here in the blog or email elfidd@gmail.com.

So, Until tomorrow, good night, it's good to be here.

Night Mary Agnes, Kathy, Matt, Sarah, et all.

Semper Fi, Go Navy beat Army

PS: Google had some problems with the COMMENTS sections of blogs over the past few days. It wouldn't hurt to resubmit.