Just about every summer, my family spends about a week in northeast North Dakota. This decidedly rural experience is a fundamentally different way of life than the one my kids are used to... OK, different for all of us. Riding quads around on dirt roads, walleye fishing until dark (which in summer out here, is dang near 11 PM), launching fireworks into endless fields of wheat and sunflowers-- things that either aren't a possibility, or are generally frowned-upon by local law enforcement in our native San Gabriel Valley home.
Towing a big trailer across country requires frequent stops for gasoline, unfortunately. And while prices in other states tend to be a lot lower than California, the lower gas mileage with a heavy trailer means you get to know a lot of gas stations.
One such place was out here in the middle of Nebraska, somewhere between "where are we?" and "are we there yet?" ... at least as far as my three kids are concerned. Me? I absolutely love this - - the open road is where I belong.
Despite what you may see in movies, I have not stopped at a small town gas station yet where the proprietor was not courteous, kind, and a person of integrity. Nicest folks you ever met, The further you get away from the city, it seems.
Refreshing to visit a gas station where the pump is not all tagged and graffitied, the bathrooms are clean, and folks smile and wish you a very nice rest of the day when you leave. Every place and every person has a story, I know... But my version of events is that this is as nice places any I've ever visited to top off the tank, grab something cold to drink, trust that the kids can go to the restroom without fearing for their safety, and ultimately make forward progress towards our destination. What else is there? read more
