Road Trip - Day Ten a

20 May 19
23:30 hrs

     I screwed up my days. Sorry Dear Readers. I'll make the corrections later when I return to the Wayward Inn.

     Some sad news...my aunt in Cowtown passed away.  Now, please don't chastise if I had previously reported this. Things and days have  sort of blurred together. She was 90+++ years old.

     Today was clean up day and with the last of the guests departing my Host and I were able to get a lot done before his Lobster came home. Supper was burgers and a few sociables. We also had time to talk it up until late into the night.  Tomorrow I am back on the road in the Ram.

Road Trip - Day Ten

19 May 19
21:00 hrs

     Games Day!
     It's mostly for the younger crowd but us older - nearly Sage level - persons we get to watch the folly. The game is called Beer Darts. Imagine you and a partner sitting opposite each other with another pair next to you. Each individual takes a can of beer and stacks them on a cork  disk. So, two beers stacked between two players and twenty feet away there are two beer stacked between two players. Now, take a set of darts - like the ones you would throw in a bar - and throw them at your opponent's stack of beers. If you puncture a can the owner of that beer must open and down the beer. Your team has been eliminated when it is out of beers. Let's recap shall we. You are drinking and are throwing potentially deadly weapons at a target that will cause your opponents to drink more beer. Crazy isn't it?

     A lot of the party goers have departed. Only the die hards are left. And there is still loads of smoked pig left over. Chef Blaine made an appearance, cooking brunch for the multitude. Bacon, sausage, pancakes and scrambled eggs all done on a camp griddle. Through it all I had time to use The Host's laundry facilities to clean my gear.

     On this day L'il Sis called to inform me that our aunt had passed away. Yes, it is sad but she had been suffering for many years so this, unfortunately, is a blessing. My condolences to the family.

     That is all.

Road Trip - Day Nine

18 May 19
08:30 hrs

     Today is the big day. Or should I say The Pig Day. We had put the meat into the smoker yesterday at noon. It has now been in for twenty hours and won't be ready until 18:00 hrs. Until it's ready the sides will have to prepped. There will be more arrivals as well.

12:00 hrs

     Our good friend of 40 + years has arrived. I last saw her in 1987 our host hadn't seen her since 1980. Our discussions quickly revolve around - Do you remember when... and What ever happened to... She helped out with carving of the pig when it was ready.

20:00 hrs.

     Everyone has been fed and the watering will be going on until the wee hours of the night.

01:30 hrs

     Good night.

Road Trip - Day Eight

18 May 19
08:15 hrs

     Good Morning Kidlettes!
    
     I've had about seven hours of sleep, which is pretty good. More importantly,  I took a long hot shower before racking out and that has done be a world of good. Cleanliness is next to Godliness - actually cleanliness is next to claustrophobia and cleavage where as Godliness is next to goggles. Go ahead and look it up if you want to prove me wrong.
    
     A few more of my hosts friends and relatives came last night, parking their travel trailers in the field. The bonfire in the four foot diameter fire ring and the stiff breeze helped to keep the bugs at bay. The breeze did not help with the operation of the smoker. It - the wind - was causing a back draft and the unit was losing heat. The host, with one of his compatriots and myself, carried out some necessary emergency modifications to the smoker at 23:45 hrs and then continued to monitor the temperatures. All was good.

     The host and his Lobster, like myself, are both old school. As a guest, if you want something - ask. As a friend - me casa su casa. But, don't abuse the priviledge of course.

      Time for some shut eye. Good night.

Road Trip - Day Six and Seven

17 May 19
08:15 hrs

     This actually Day Seven. I'm currently laying in bed , squinting out of one eye to type this as my head feels like ten pound Smartie.

     I left L'il Sis's home at 08:00 hrs wanting to get the oil changed on the Ram. They were going to take two hours and that was two hours too long. I was anxious to get on the road. By 10:00 hrs I was at the Costco in Blue Buck. Unfortunately,  they had no pickerel and that means one of my missions was a failure. The next failure took place in trusting the GPS. It lead me off pavement and on a circuitous route on some greasy country side roads. I zig zagged through the mud and puddles. At one point I had to slip the Ram into 4x4 just be safe. There was no stopping. Forward momentum was the only thing that was keeping me from getting stuck. If I stopped I would be screwed. By the time I hit pavement the tires were parked with mud resembling racing slicks.

11:30 hrs

     I made it to the Helgeson Hilton no worse for wear. The wheel wells of the Ram were packed with AB Gumbo. After a bit of a meet and greet my host and I began to prep the meat for the 6x3x4 foot smoker. Actually, before the meat was readied we had to modify the smoker. Insulating tin plate was added and the fire box needed some work as well.

     The pig was trimmed and seasoned with my host's secret blend. The elk and moose roast were also seasoned before being wrapped in bacon. Lights out happened at about 01:30 hrs.

17 May 19
08:00 hrs

     Coffee.
     Please let me let there be coffee.

     My host's mom has been up for a half hour and coffee is ready. God Bless her. Today will be a mish mash of odd jobs and taskings. The smoker will be started at 11:30 hrs and the meat will be on a half hour later. This will be a long process as it won't be up to temp until 18:00 hours tomorrow. Low and slow is the name of the game.

     A bonfire will be lit but the host and I will be monitoring the hot box through the night.

Road Trip - Day Five

14"W 15 May 19
09:15 hrs

     I am lacking in sleep and it's my own fault - with the help of Netflix. L'il Sis has gone to work and left me with the task completing a soup recipe for supper. At this point it is nearly complete but it needs to simmer. It actually tastes pretty good.

21:55 hrs

     I called my Better Half at the Wayward Inn.  She's having having a Bollywood movie night for her lady friends and our friend, Mr. Baseball, from Hub City is at the Wayward Inn for his annual golf tournament. I feel sorry for him. Tomorrow I'm off to another location - 52'24" N  113'14" W. I'll stop and get an oil change done on the Ram. On the road again.

Road Trip - Day Four

14 May 19
22:15 hrs

     I am in Cowtown.  I made it safely through the mountains despite the moronic motorists - most of which were sporting red and white licence plates - and the delays caused by road construction. I had left the Sage's at 09:00 hrs and was at the Stein House by 16:00 hrs local. Six hours and almost a half tank of fuel. Not bad really.

     After a pleasant visit with my Cuz'n and his Lobster, I headed across town to L'il Sis's place. Not having driven in Cowtown very often I had to rely on the GPS. L'il Sis laughed when she learned the unit had taken me through the permanent downtown construction zone.

     I had a message from a friend who was supposed to join me for this weekends festivities. He has come down with the flu and has bowed out. It would appear that I will be the only representative from the hosts old group of friends. Oh well, that means there will be more roast suckling pig for me.