Brain surgery - #53-01

October 14, 2005 (Fri)
Today Joy's sister Frannie had her brain aneurysm surgery. She came through it fine. Tomorrow we start out for Indianapolis to be with her for a few days.

October 15, 2005 (Sat)
Camp Cabela's, Wheeling, WV
Home to Wheeling, WV (416/416 miles) Q025909

We got off nicely at 7:36 (61.5°) but had to go back for some things from the refrigerator we'd forgotten. Off again at 7:45. On the way up the parkway we saw the sun for the first time in about 9 days - a strange and beautiful sighting. A full arc rainbow gave us the promise of no more rain for a while as we traveled West on I-78.

But there was no promise of light traffic. Just after crossing the Delaware River into PA and before the toll booth we hit the first of several accident and construction slowdowns. The CB chatter informed us that the interstate had been particularly bad today. We passed the overturned 18 wheeler they talked about but the FEDEX tractor and double trailer stuck in the mud had been freed and was gone. Rubberneckers watching a crew clean up after an accident slowed us down further on and another accident stopped traffic in both directions completely for 30 minutes while a helicopter ambulance came and went. Fortunately we were close enough to the action to know why we were stopped. Later on we saw a billboard that said "Drive like your mother is with you."

We hit Wheeling, West Virginia at about 4:40 and headed for the big Cabela's ("Outfitters For The World") store. They, like Walmart, allow and encourage overnight motor home parking. We set up shop in their parking lot, wandered around the store for a while and bought Angus Dogs (beef hot dogs) for dinner.
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October 16, 2005 (Sun)
Lee and Frannie's driveway

Wheeling, WV to Indianapolis, IN (322/723 miles) Q026231

Off at 7:38 (49.5°) We were worried about being so close to the truck parking area and having to listen to their noise all night but it was very quiet. We learned as we left that the trucks weren't allowed to be there overnight.

We needed to do some shopping so we went looking for the Zanesville (OH) Walmart and for the second time couldn't find it. While Henry was booting up we decided to go on to the one in Columbus. OH. As we found on our way East last month, all (well, almost all) the rest stops along I-70 are closed for rebuilding so the one that was open was very crowded. We stopped anyway and parked outside the lines to eat our lunch.

We got set up in Frannie and Lee's driveway and borrowed Lee's blue Jeep, to go to the hospital. We found Frannie doing very well. She had a rather bad head ache (to say the least) and an uncomfortable looking "seam" across her head but otherwise was pretty much herself. She will be coming home tomorrow.