Day 19 - Benson, AZ - Part One

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living." - Miriam Beard

Day 19 - Benson, AZ - Daily distance - 173 miles - The Bucket Trip distance - 3627 miles

Miles back home - 441 miles

Everything will be returning to normal soon.

Our new normal.

And there is nothing more normal that whet I'm doing this morning. It is time for the first scheduled maintenance for the Jeep and there just happens to be a Jeep dealership right next door to the hotel.

My cousin writes on my facebook check in here that you know it is a good road trip when you have to get the scheduled maintenance while on it.

He's right.

I'm there before they open and I think I shock the service manager when he arrives.

He unlocks the gates and I pull in to the service area.

"Do you have an appointment?" he asks

Rut roh!

I tell him that I don't but I quickly add the entire story. I don't think we should be driving another 500 miles without at least an oil change.

He agrees to perform the service.

But this is going to take a while. I'm glad I had breakfast before I left.

The breakfast area was pretty full today. Almost all men, all here on business.

There's no automatic pancake maker this morning. Instead, there is a waffle maker. And I'm struggle to flip over the waffle.

One of the guys in there sees me struggle with it and he comes over to lend a hand. It is a very kind thing to do.

He goes back to his table and his attention focuses on the news program on the tv. Just 30 seconds after helping me, he is raving at the television calling for the resignation of a Washington insider and refering to him as a "commie."

I'm still thinking about the experience while I wait for the Jeep to be serviced.

And wait.

And wait.

And wait.

It takes nearly two hours before it is ready and I'm on my way. The service manager wishes me a safe trip home.

I stop to get gas before heading back to the hotel.

Car serviced. Car gassed up. Normal, everyday things.

I can't wait for my life to be normal again.