Some statistics and summaries from our trip west.

Our trip west lasted exactly five weeks: from Sat., August 13th to Sat. Sept. 17th. We (i.e., Ellen) drove a total of 7,775 miles, and in so doing, I am sad to say, we consumed a total of 245 gallons of gas: which works out to be 31.7 m.p.g. Our 2011 Subaru Impreza should do better that: it's just a little hatchback. But that figure is actually better than we expected, because around town we were averaging 27-29 m.p.g. That's a lot of carbon released into the atmosphere. We have not come to the point where we are willing to give up seeing our family out west, though that could be forced upon us by health issues at any time. We could go by train, which would probably be the lowest carbon-per-person method of travel, but that would be more expensive, I think (though maybe not. I should check that out). It would not have the convenience, for sure. E.g., there is no Amtrak station anywhere near Alpine, WY. But - to continue with statistics - those 245 gallons of gas cost a total of $976.60. That is an average cost per gallon of $3.99. The price of gas varied fairly widely on the trip - from a low of $3.25 per gallon in Higginson, MO to $4.99 in Hines, OR. Overall, the average cost of gas per mile was 12 1/2 cents. We stayed in nine motels: Motel 6, Clarion, PA; America's Best Value, Onawa, Iowa; Townhouse Motel, Lusk, WY on the trip out to Wyoming, and a Super 8, Craig, CO Boarders Inn and Suites, Brush, CO; Red Roof Inn, Holton, KS; First Western Motel, Fairway City, IL; Rodeway Inn, Wauseon, OH, and Econolodge, Canandaigua, NY, on the trip back. I haven't been able to compute the total cost of housing in motels, but I think it averaged about $100-110 a night. There were a few motels under $100, and some over. $1000-$1100 for motels would be close to the total cost. We stayed in someone's home 26 nights: Maggie and Jerry's in Bartlett, IL (4 nights); Paul and Jenny's, in Alpine, WY (17 nights); Susan and Christian's, in Boise, ID (2 nights); and J.E. Seibert's in Salem, OR, (3 nights). Our average number of miles driven per day was close to 500 - we had 14 days devoted to driving: 7,775 divided by 14 = 555, but some of those 7775 miles were accumulated during days we were staying in Alpine or Bartlett - little side trips here and there. So the average for major driving days is less than 555, but probably over 500. The other major expense - food - I did not really keep track of. But we would have had to eat if we had stayed home, and I doubt that we spent more on food during the trip than we would have spent at home, partly because much of the time - e.g., at Paul and Jenny's - we were being fed by someone else. Overall, I think the trip went well. I'm sort of amazed that I actually did it and survived to tell the tale. Getting COVID at the end was, of course, an unwanted conclusion, but even that could have been a lot worse than it has been. We told people we hoped to see them next spring, but no one knows whether that will happen or not. We have to get through a winter first.************** Meanwhile, we've got a couple of spectacular fly agaric mushrooms growing outside the back door!