We are on the road again today, leaving Boise, Idaho, behind us under a pale morning sky that seems to understand exactly how we are feeling. There is something about beginning a long drive when one of us is unwell that changes everything. The excitement softens, the sense of adventure dulls, and all that really matters is getting safely to the next stop.
Unfortunately, Tom is very sick. Somewhere along the way, he picked up the same virus I brought with me from the ship almost two weeks ago. It feels unfair, like a lingering souvenir neither of us wanted. He is exhausted, achy, and coughing in that deep, persistent way that makes it impossible to rest. I remember those first few days all too well, and watching him go through it now tugs at my heart.
I offered to drive, more than once, but he insists on staying behind the wheel. There is a certain determination in him, even when he feels awful, that I both admire and worry about. I keep a close eye on him, listening between the stretches of road for any change in his breathing or energy. We still have two long days ahead of us before we reach Minnesota, and it feels longer now than it did when we first mapped it out.
With that in mind, we made the decision, much to our mutual disappointment, to skip Yellowstone this time. We had talked about it with such anticipation, imagining the wide open landscapes, the wildlife, and the wonder of it all. But the reality of traffic, higher elevation, unpredictable weather, and longer driving hours doesn’t change how things are today. It was the right choice, even if I didn’t like it when we said it out loud.
There is comfort, though, in knowing this isn’t an opportunity forever. Next year, after our four back-to-back Azamara cruises, we will make this same drive again from Vancouver to Minnesota. Yellowstone will wait for us. It will be there, unchanged in its grandeur, ready for a time when we can fully appreciate it.
Right now, our only goal is simple. Get to Minnesota by Friday afternoon. Nothing more, nothing less.
Last night, we stayed at a relatively nice Best Western hotel in Boise. It was one of those places that feels welcoming the moment you walk in, even if you know you’re assured. We had dinner at a local spot, Wildwood Grill, and for a little while, everything felt almost normal. A good meal, a quiet table, and the familiar comfort of sitting across from each other at the end of a day.
But the night was long.
Sleep didn’t come easily for either of us. The room was filled with the sound of coughing, mine lingering but manageable, his constant and harsh. There is something especially difficult about being sick away from your own bed, your own space. I could hear the frustration in his breathing, the restlessness of a body that just couldn’t.
Yesterday morning, he started taking Tamiflu. It’s on. It’s those things you hold onto with cautious hope. Is it working? Would he feel worse without it? There’s an answer, only the wish that it will shorten the duration and ease the symptoms, even just a little.
As we’ve done so far, we’ve been listening to the Garage Logic episodes we missed while we were on the cruise. It feels oddly comforting, like catching up with familiar voices. Every so often, as we move deeper into more remote stretches, the signal fades and disappears altogether. The silence that follows is noticeable, but not unwelcome. It gives us space just to be, to watch the road, and to sit with our thoughts.
Today’s is more southerly, less scenic by most standards, but right now, beauty isn’t missed in landscapes. It’s me. It’s steady miles, in manageable traffic, and getting closer to where we need to be. I will try to take a few photos along the way, small glimpses to share with our dear readers, even if they don’t capture sweeping vistas.
More than anything, we are looking forward to Tom feeling better. To the day when the coughing stops, when sleep comes easily again, and when this stretch of the journey becomes just another story we tell.
We just checked into a hotel in Evanston, Wyoming, and soon will go to dinner at the hotel’s popular restaurant.
For now, we keep going.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, May 13, 2016:
