Day 33 - TNPLH

It's true, There's No Place Like Home! 

Drove from Billings to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and it was a pretty drive, but also pretty uneventful.  The scenery in Montana changes dramatically from east to west, with west being a lot more lush.

As I got closer to Coeur d'Alene I thought it might be fun to top off my trip with a round of golf at the Coeur d'Alene resort.  It was 75 degrees out, and the first time without rain in over two days.  Unfortunately the tee times were entirely full today, and again tomorrow.  I ended up hitting balls which is always fun at this course since you hit into the water!  I also took advantage of the situation and got a sports massage which is offered at the driving range - good for golfers, but also good for people who have been driving for a month.  The trademark of this course is the floating green...

Needless to say, I'll be back.

After totally relaxing on the driving range, I realized that I had the energy to make the drive back to Seattle, and it seemed like the right thing to do.

So I'm home after one of the best trips ever!  The end!

Day 32 - Black Clouds in the Black Hills

My quest to see Mt. Rushmore this morning was somewhat thwarted by the weather.  When I got to the monument this morning the clouds were so thick that I wasn't even sure that Mt. Rushmore existed.  While waiting for some clearing there was rain, snow, wind, and temperatures in the mid-thirties.  I had to stand and watch for nearly an hour to see the presidents between cloud banks and fog, but it was worth the wait...

I toured the facilities, watched the movie, and was just generally in awe of my surroundings.

From there I drove north to North Dakota, having never been to that state.  It wasn't much different from northern South Dakota or eastern Montana, but I'm glad I stopped by.  From there I drove west into Montana where there was more of the same...

I'm not sure what this is called in North Dakota and eastern Montana, but I have a feeling that it's either an orchard, or a forest.





I made it as far as Billings, Montana and called it a night.  Hope the weather improves a little bit tomorrow.

Day 31 - Interstate 90 (All Day!)

Left La Crosse, Wisconsin with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky.  From there it was a full day's drive to leave Wisconsin, cross the full width of Minnesota, and also cross virtually the entire state of South Dakota.  For the most part it was a day of farmland, farmland, and for the remainder of the drive it was...farmland.  Not to imply that it was an uninteresting drive, but it was repetitive.

My destination today was Mt. Rushmore, but I decided it would be better to stay in Rapid City and go to the monument tomorrow morning (30 miles away).  I didn't notice that I had moved into the Mountain time zone, so I was probably a little early eating a barbecue dinner at 5:30pm  (thinking I was eating early at 6:30).  Luckily nobody offered me an AARP discount or tried to help me get to my table!

Hopefully I'll visit Mt. Rushmore tomorrow morning, drive north to experience North Dakota, and then turn left.

Day 30 - Cheese Central

Driving through Michigan today reminded me how beautiful it is.  Enjoyed the drive through Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and up into Wisconsin.

Driving through Chicago was an eye-opener.  Hadn't been there in a number of years and the skyline continues to change/expand.  The White Sox stadium is certainly different from the Comiskey Park I remember from living in Chicago.

Ended up in La Crosse, Wisconsin and had a great dinner at a riverfront restaurant on the banks of a branch of the Mississippi.  Had a catfish Po Boy in honor of the Mississippi.

Tomorrow, the Dakotas!

Day 29 - Kent City

Left Sandusky and it rained most of the morning.  Got into Michigan and it dried up and the clouds went away.  Stopped at Michigan State University to see what the #2 hotel school looked like.  MSU has a beautiful campus, and it was nice to finally see it.

Still can't believe the number of deer along the side of every road west of New Jersey.  The deer populations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan have been decreased significantly based on what I've seen.

Arrived in Kent City, Michigan (Cindy's hometown) and it was a gorgeous afternoon.  Had a great evening with Cindy's family at the Sarachman estate and it was so fun to get back together and reconnected with Sandra, Bob, Mrs. Waldherr, Meagan, Pam, Kevin, Brianna, and Chad. Ended the evening with a ping pong tournament, and unfortunately age and skill won out - Chad persevered.

Tomorrow, further west!

Day 28 - Holy Toledo!

Actually I didn't quite reach Toledo, but the title was too obvious to ignore.

Started in Harrisburg and it was a pretty quiet Sunday morning there.  I'm not sure why, but I've been captivated by the different bridges I've crossed and seen during the past week or so. This bridge in Harrisburg, crossing the Susquehanna River was no exception...

Leaving Harrisburg I made the rolling trek across Pennsylvania into West Virginia.  Western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia have a different character than mid- and eastern Pennsylvania.  West Virgina was a new state for me, and I'm now hovering at 48 or 49.

I had forgotten, until this trip, how many of the major roads in the east are dotted with billboards displaying everything imaginable.  They can be interesting, annoying, and in some cases in stark contrast with the pristine areas behind them.

From West Virginia it was on to Ohio, and it's as flat as I remember.  Tonight the stopping point is Sandusky, Ohio.  Tomorrow, Michigan.

Day 27 - On the Road Again

Took Cindy to Westchester Airport and found myself on the road once again. Went through the Bronx and then crossed over the George Washington Bridge, wishing I could have pulled over to get a picture. Tbe bridge is magnificent and the view was really something.

The scenery through New Jersey and Pennsylvania was lush, but unfortunately the on-and-off rain took away from the drive. Today's drive ended in Camp Hill, PA where I had the good fortune to spend the evening with old family friends John Glace, and Thom and Mary Glace. It was a great way to start the westward portion of my trip.

Tonight, Harrisburg, tomorrow Ohio (I think!).