We got an early start again today. We left Texas, crossed Oklahoma, and are now in Kansas. Great travelling day - bright and sunny. Our only stop (other than to pee and fill S.K.) was at the Visitor Centre in Oklahoma City for a stretch and to have a snack.

The only excitement occurred less than 5 minutes after I took the wheel, about 1.5 hours outside of Salina, Kansas. Speed - 75 mph. There appeared to be a queen sized mattress on the road in our lane. I was weighing my options when the car in front of me nailed it dead on and kept going. I'm surprised they kept control of their vehicle. It flipped the mattress into the centre of the two lanes, and I had to hit the brakes hard. I checked for an open lane and saw the car behind me taking the shoulder and another car in the left lane. Roger was yelling "go around it! go around it!". Thanks dear ... so helpful. I swerved into the left lane in front of the other approaching vehicle, clipping the corner of mattress with my wheel and bumper, then swerved back into the right lane. We noticed that the car that hit it had pulled over. I suspect they were changing their underwear.

We arrived at our hotel in Salina just after 4. Roger checked the front bumper and there is an 8-inch long scratch/scuff. Dammit. Sigh.

Off to Applebee's for supper, then will watch my boyfriend George win his Oscars. Even if he doesn't win, it will be nice to look at him.

Tomorrow ... Sioux Fall, SD.