NOW You Tell Me!

* * *  COUNTDOWN:  35 DAYS TO LA/XC-3  * * *

Earlier this week, in his Roof Rack Report, Ricky described my feeble attempts at getting myself acclimated to the new Audi, the Official Vehicle of LA/XC-3.  Obviously, that post put awareness of our upcoming cross-country road trip in the air.  The next day I got a call from Jerry, my old frat bro, in D.C.  “You’re doing it again?” he said.  “Are you seeing anyone about this?”  My Teaneck High School buddy Ilene, living in L.A., got in touch to set up a dinner date.  But the contact that sent me into a tizzy was this e-mail-plus-link from my son Greg’s friend Dave:

If this doesn’t make it into this year’s itinerary, there is something very wrong:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2380410/In-doghouse-Idahos-Dog-Bark-Park-Inn-A-bed–breakfast-guesthouse-inside-Worlds-Biggest-Beagle.html

OMG!!!!!  How come nobody’s ever told me about this place?????!!!!!  The Dog Bark Park Inn?!  A bed-and-breakfast inside The World’s Biggest Beagle?!  Plopped down in Cottonwood, Idaho (pop. 944), and surrounded by nothing but wheat, barley, and hay?!  Featuring a larger-than-life-size bright red fire hydrant specially for peeing against?!  No way!!!  (Don’t miss the 40-second video in the link above, featuring “The World’s Largest Beagle” theme song.)

So here’s the problem.  Over the years I’ve been called a lot of things, but “Mr. Spontaneity” is not one of them.  The fact is, I’ve already pretty much laid out my itinerary for this year’s odyssey, reacting to lessons learned in 2011 and 2012: striking a balance between sight-seeing, visiting long-lost pals, and racking up the miles; reaching town before dark; leaving myself some down time to post on Beagle Man; avoiding too many mega-mileage days; sticking a little bit more to the fast-moving interstates, and limiting my north-south meanderings.

And then Dave sends me this.  No, Dave, Idaho was not on the agenda — though I did blow through the state last year en route from Yellowstone to San Francisco.  In fact, had to talk my way out of a ticket for repeatedly swerving over the double line on I-93 while checking Garmin, fiddling with my iPod, and trying to take pictures all at the same time.

The easy way out, of course, would be to wait till next year.  I’ve already sketched out some thoughts for 2014, and part of the game plan was a way-northern route.  Cottonwood, Idaho would fit right in.  The thing is though . . . now my mind’s stuck on the Dog Bark Park Inn, and it can’t quite let go.  If I don’t go this time around, given my rather strong OCD-like tendencies, it’s entirely possible I’ll dwell on it every day of the trip.

Thanks, Dave.  Anyone else have any good ideas?

LOOK FOR A NEW BEAGLE MAN POST EVERY THURSDAY.  OR PRETTY CLOSE TO THURSDAY.  COULD BE WEDNESDAY.  OR FRIDAY.  LET’S NOT GET TOO OBSESSIVE HERE . . .  OH, AND BTW, YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER