The Penske Thrown

Do you want to know the most uncomfortable seat in the entire world? It is that of a 20' Penske truck, after having been driven for four days at an average of ten hours a day. When I was in college, me and a friend made it in a GMC Jimmy from North Carolina to California in two days. This took a little longer.

Nashville, then Kansas City, then Denver, then Salt Lake City, then Sacramento, and finally to San Francisco. I caught a horrible cold the first day of travelling, and contended with what felt like someone twisting a large screw in my throat for the first four days of the trip. So, where I had expected the Great American Jack Kerouac Experience, I got more of Hunter S. Thompson thing going with my head swimming in cold medicine for most of the trip. Seeing the country in such a way reminds you that America is the land of diversity, both in the physical and cultural landscape. That diversity was more than showcased at the Denver Taste of Colorado festival, where my friends Susanne, Kristen, and Alex sat out drinking beers and running commentary on the passing crowd. Mullets, men with khaki Daisy-Dukes, bellies & halter tops, and lots of oddly dressed children whose parents are ruining their chances of ever being cool. A fun way to spend a few hours downing beers in the sun, believe me. Brock, Rachel, and our road companion Jay decided to go camping, and I opted for a cozy couch and a steak at Kristen's house. We did go see Garden State, which was hilarious, but scared me for when my ten year high school reunion finally rolls around.

One thing that I noticed on the trek out here is that rednecks don't just live in the South. The entire country is blessed with them. But there's no trip like hearing a redneck talk with a north/midwest accent. Its like hearing a cat bark.

And, if you take I-70 across Kansas, there is a Texas Chainsaw Massacre-esque petting zoo with rattlesnakes, goats, and six-legged cow. Its right before you hit Colorado. I wouldn't lie to you. I've got pictures.

Our last night was near the UC-Davis campus. This was after the simultaneous three heart attacks that I suffered while maneuvering the Penske down the Rocky Mountains on I-80 from Tahoe. I think Rachel had a stash of quarters she was feeding the Penske so that the seat would vibrate the whole time. Bare seat coils feel great on the backside, by the way. The final morning of the arrival, we found a funky coffee shop in Davis. Dreads, art on the wall, grungy musician types... made me feel right at home. Of course, by the end of the day, the idea of home would take on a drastic makeover.