The journey to Council Bluffs

The Collegian road crew pulled out of Fort Collins a little behind schedule. OK, maybe more than just a little.

At 11:19 a.m., two hours behind schedule, we pulled off from the newsroom in Erik Myers' Sienna, glassy-eyed, but full of the excitement only the start of the true election season can bring.

We hit the highway about 15 minutes later, and the timing could not have been more perfect. Erik Myers' mix CD plays AC/DC's “Highway to Hell,” and it seems fitting. (OK, it was planned, but it was still cool).

Exchanging one-liners and banter about the newsroom that would never be acceptable in mixed company, Nebraska crept up before we knew it.

“I've never been to Nebraska before,” Dave said as we crossed the Wyoming-Nebraska border.

“Well you're in for a fucking treat,” Erik Myers said, navigating the Sienna across the barren plains of the Great American Desert. Boy, was he right.

After our first gas station stop, we learned two things: 1) Junk food on a road trip is amazing, and 2) Nebraskans don't appreciate profanity.

The rest of the drive across Nebraska was much like the state itself – long and boring.

The only highlight came when Dave, noticed a slumbering Aaron Hedge and convinced Erik to pull the old “slam-on-the-brakes-and-scream-as-if-we-all-are-going-to-die” trick. It was hilarious.

At about 8 p.m., we reached Council Bluffs and pulled into the hotel. After Aaron checked in the “two guests” for our room at the Day's Inn, he and Erik led the rest of us and our luggage (mostly Brandon's) to our accommodations for the night.

Tonight, Aaron is going to meet with a Ron Paul supporter and a friend of Erik's is introducing the crew to all that Council Bluffs, the place Nebraskans go to sin, has to offer.

Let's hope we don't get in too much trouble tonight.
-S.R.