The first decision was which vehicle to drive. As I said, I have several, and enjoy each of them in a different setting. If it was high summer and the weather was decent, I would break out the 1960 Jag Mark IX and float down the freeway in style, But seeing as it was November, and the weather was due to be crappy, I had to forgo that particular choice.
The choice was coming down to a couple of alternatives.
The Blazer S10 4X4 was pretty good all around in all kind of weather. It had taken me into and out of a lot of places. But the forecast was questionable and road conditions were expected to be icy. The Blazer was a little light for the trip. So I opted for the big Dodge Power Wagon.
It was heavy enough that nothing was going to slow it down, and it was geared so that in the lowest of lows it could practically climb a tree. With the winch I could get out of just about anything. It wasn't fast and it wasn't pretty, but it would get you wherever you wanted to go, and back again. If you had to ask about gas mileage, you shouldn't own it.
And besides. my sister hated it. That was always a plus to my way of thinking. Although I was reasonable environmentally conscious, my sis was a fanatic, and it would bug her all the way to Idaho to be in a huge gas guzzling fire breathing exhaust belching behemoth. And besides that it wasn't pretty. It had done honorable battle with brush and trees and ditches and mud and water and snow and sand. The two tone blue and white paint was several different additional colors. Rust and primer of several shades as well as mud and muck.
Liz Lived in an upscale area of Queen Anne Hill. I could feel her cringe as I pulled up, hoping none of the snobs in the neighborhood saw her getting into the truck. Al least she was only carting a couple of carry-on bags. I don't understand the impulse that drives women to pack everything AND their good shoes when they are going to some place like La Grange. There is no high class accommodation. The local restaurant and taverns would be a waste. She knew I would never put up with her usual six bags. Besides, if she brought them, they would go in the bed of the truck, since there wasn't that much room in the cab of the truck. Her expensive shoes would be ruined by the time we got there. I packed a single gym bag, and figured I had everything I needed and then some.
