I’m in Paducah, KY loading the trucks for South Dakota. Saturday is opening day for pheasants, and I heard the farmer say they got birds out the bing bang.

There is plenty of tradition on this trip. It makes the twentieth year for my dad. We even stop at the same Perkins for breakfast somewhere in Iowa. And driver changes every three hours, even on the side of the interstate.

This year we are five strong, and three chocolate labs, in two Toyota Tundras. Four empty iceboxes, maybe ten shotguns, and several dry boxes of shells.

It was about 350 miles I guess from Knoxville to Paducah. And another 950 from here. According to tradition, we’ll be having lunch at the Cabellas in Mitchell, SD.

Official time is 7:26. Rolling out of my Uncle David’s drive. Me and Dad have a lot to talk about, or we’ll find something.