The Yellowstone Expedition Day 9 - 11: The Journey Home

Our log cabin hotel was a good choice. I woke up fairly refreshed, though still feeling my sleep debt from the days before. We walked down the road to the donut shop from the night before. We had a good, warming breakfast. I was rather fond of the trivia they had playing across a TV screen. Should I ever pass this way again, I think I would be inclined to stay at the Branding Iron Inn and eat at that donut shop.

Kinda like the backside of the Badlands

Heading down the road, my main task was to pick out a rout. That seemed to be a silly task given the number of times we would change our plan throughout the day. Part of our path was fixed so we traveled through the Wind River Indian Reservation. Passing through the hills, at some points it was like being back in the Badlands. Red rock formations painted a picture to one side while the other was greener.

That is me up at top, and I scaled up higher than can be seen

The real adventure of the day was stopping at Split Stone. It is a little historical site because pioneers used it as marker and pony express station had been situated there. The cacti were in a beautiful bloom. Annoyingly, the mosquitoes were out in force as well. For me, the big draw was hiking and climbing up the small mountain of stone that marked the spot. I scrambled up boulders and over outcroppings so that I could look down bellow. Once I reached the spot I had seen, I discovered that there was even more that could not be glimpsed from bellow. I carried on, making my way back to the highest point. This required a daring leap across a gap between the boulders. From there I could survey all of the surrounding landscape. I sat down and looked across the land, imagining what the first pioneers had seen when they had undoubtedly climbed up as well. Returning down, I found a curious thing. Stones had been placed in a circle with a pyramid at the center. I do not know if it was a recent construction or something from a time long past. Whatever the case may be, I left it to the forces of nature as I made the trek back down. A man could become lost in the labyrinth of boulders as he tried to find the path that would take him safely down.

The rest of the day passed through the window of the car. Landscapes slowly changed as we went up and down. Things would be rocky and scrubland then forested and green. We expected to see more cattle, but more often than not only spotted antelope. As we worked our way south through Colorado we even encountered a convoy of forest service trucks baring the markings of hotshot crews. Given the lack of rush, I figure they were on their way from a training exercise.

Clouds get a vast quality out west

For the most part we seemed to skirt bad weather. It stayed distant or only spat a few drops of rain at us. The clouds gathered thick and dark as the day drew on though. As we neared the Kansas state line it began to storm hard. Seeking shelter we pulled off in a small community and got a hotel room for the night.

The next morning we got up early and hit the road with the intention of making some good distance. We were even considering driving through the night so we could be home by the next morning. Then came Kansas. Kansas is a long, boring state to drive through. Vast expanses of nothing to really look at. To me it was mind numbing. I am certain some people find beauty in it, but not me. The worst part; it turns out their is not really a Smallville. I found myself trying to read as much as I could. Seven or eight hours later we were finally free of it.

Shiny, if a bit out of focus

Of course, then we had to get across Missouri. At least it had changes to the scenery. We made it to St. Louis with all of its traffic. I did get to see the St. Louis Arch from the distance. It reflected brilliantly in the setting sun. i would like to see it up close some time. For now I will have to settle for the fuzzy picture dad shot for me since I was the one driving.

Dad was running out of energy so we got a hotel room and some dinner for the night. We were up early again and determined to get home. Illinois practically flew by. We crossed over into Kentucky and that took up a good portion of the day. Either way, I was glad to be back in the eastern deciduous forests where I am most comfortable. It was a temperature shock for sure though.

Up we drove into Ohio and soon the only thought on our minds was home. At 1820 we pulled into the driveway. Mom and the dog happily greeted us. We unpacked the car and started settling back in. It was a great trip and bonding experience with my father, but it is good to be home.

Over the course of the trip we saw so much. We have been through plains, forests, mountains, alpine regions, and deserts. We saw trees, bushes, lichens, and about fifty or more kinds of wildflowers. So many animals were seen: thousands of buffalo, dozens of antelope, two black bears, one grizzly, unita ground squirrels, prairie dogs, coyote, an eagle, ducks, pelicans, a moose, multiple elk, plenty of dear, lots of ravens, and much more. We ascended to 10,000 ft. and delved 380 ft. bellow the ground. It is so much to take in. There was history and natural splendor. All of it has left me exhausted. It was a great adventure, but now it is time to rest.

I is tired much now

The Yellowstone Expedition Day 6-8: Yellowstone and Grand Teton

The sixth day of our trip was the summer solstice. It seemed appropriate at this time of energy. I found myself eager to reach our destination as we left that morning. We passed through a state park and national forest, both with their own beauty and intrigue. It was the promise of Yellowstone, however, that drew all of my thoughts.

Up, up we climbed thousands of feet to ascend over the caldera. We passed beyond the snow line to behold the site that had drawn us from our far away home. We could see the vast expanses before us in all of their magnificence. Where as the trek there had been through the rough scrub land with trees few and far between, the park was covered with them. There were young pines and old. There were entire mountainsides of those that had fallen to fire. Even amongst these, new growth was arising. The great lake that lay down bellow seemed to stretch on for an unimaginable distance.

Just a bit of traffic

There was no need to wait to see wildlife. Traffic slowed to a crawl behind a buffalo. A coyote on a hillside through drivers into confusion. The creatures that most fascinated me on our initial arrival were the giant ravens. These dark avians were the size of a hawk and likely more bold, not even flinching at my approach for a picture. There would be more sittings through out the day. Bison were the most common, but I was fortunate enough to spot an elk with a giant set of antlers and later on a moose. There were pelicans, ducks, and ground squirrels all to be seen. The most elusive and drawing of creatures, wolves and bears, were not in site yet.

Rivers, rapids, and waterfalls are a central part of Yellowstone. We stopped to watch their staggering flow. I traveled down a series of ten switch backs to watch the mighty lower fall pour their vibrant green waters down into the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. I believe that only a man devoid of soul could behold this great art rendered by nature and not have something stir within him. I find that there is a smell that comes with the tumbling of water and it charges me.

A fun stop was at the National Park Ranger

The First Park Ranger

Museum. It gave the exciting history of the Park Rangers inside of what had been one of the first park headquarters. It made me wish once again that I had been able to find my way into the park service. Maybe someday still yet I shall join those ranks.

I have always thought of the wilderness of Yellowstone with great forests and prairies for wolves, bears, and buffalo. All of that cannot overshadow that Yellowstone sits above a volcano and that this drives a great aspect of the park. Watching Old Faithful erupt was undeniably majestic. That was not the only geyser to watch in the park. There seemed to be a never ending string of geysers, hot springs, vents, and mudpots to gape at. Some had color and beauty. Others had a starkness to them that still draws one in. For me, it was a spark to the imagination. I started to think of alien landscapes or fantastic settings. What a mad adventure it would be to try and cross a plane of these unpredictable eruptions. I must note though, that while the steam was amusing, the sulfurous smell did get to me after a while. It paid to watch for changes in the wind.

After a day of hiking, taking pictures of wildlife and wild flowers, and constant elevation change, it was time for rest. We set up our camp and cooked a hearty dinner of redbeans and rice. I had been looking forward to doing some actual camping. I try to get it in at least one camping trip a year.

My trip has provided me an excellent chance to practice my Mandarin. I met a nice Chinese woman to talk with on my hike back up some switch backs to dad where waited. We camped next to a nice couple from China. I helped them get their fire started. Despite having eaten, they served me some of their dinner.

Old Faithful

The night was cold, chilling me to the bone. For all that I had prepared, I am not a cold weather creature. I sat in the car waiting for the showers and laundromat to open. A fine time for reflections on the trip so far, yet dominated more by dreams of hot water. Nothing is so glorious as a hot shower on a cold day, nor so hateful as stepping out of it into a cold room.

Once recharged, we set back on the road. For the morning that consisted mainly of hitting sites we had skipped the day before as we made our way northward. One cannot throw a stone without hitting a hot spring or geyser in Yellowstone.

It was as I tread a boardwalk path that I saw one of the most astounding natural formations the park has to offer. While so much of the park awes the mind with grandiose scale, this was a work of art painted by the hand of a god. Sapphire Pool is a hot spring of clear blue waters. You can see deep into its depths as though it might descend in the very heart of the earth. Reflecting on this beauty was a moment that left me feeling a great sense of serenity.

Sapphire Pool is one of the most beautiful things to see in the park

A shot out the car window was as close as I dared

The path from their led us up and down mountains. Our ultimate goal was Lamar Valley, the place best suited for the viewing of wildlife. The valley was home to a thousand or more bison. It allowed us the closest interaction we could have dreamed up, close enough we might have reached out to touch the massive beasts if we were so foolish. It also allowed for a near disaster when we almost collided with a gargantuan specimen that likely outweighed our car.

While no where near as frequent as the great bison, there were other fauna to observe. Elk here and there. A handful of pronghorns, including a young one. Even an eagle did a flyby to complement the various waterfowl. By evening we had largely surrendered hope of seeing one of the great grizzlies. As we drove to our campsite, however, we spotted a prime specimen walking along a ridge.

Sadly, we came up short on some of our hopefuls. We saw neither mountain goats nor bighorn sheep. My father had hoped to find one of them. As such I had worked hard to spot one out for him, but I fell short. The biggest disappointment was not seeing any wolves. I lament deeply that fate was plotting against us seeing the noble grey wolf.

Our evening was finished in camp. A fire warmed our flesh, and our dinners. Baked potatos and spam sandwiches. That is camp food. I managed to keep warmer that night for the most part. Still, I shall make a point of being more prepared for the chill the next time I venture to the northwest. 

We broke camp on a gray monday morning. My hands were numb by the end, but a hot shower waited. It was a long, hot shower, but I felt alive by the end. By the time I was out, the sun was starting to shine.

From our camp it was a short drive to the southern exit of Yellowstone and the entrance to Grand Teton. The sun was out in full to shine on the magnificent sight that greeted us. As we came around a bend the forest opened up to show us the magestic mountains being reflected in the great blue lake. Their tops were frosted in glacial ice that shimmered in the morning sunbeams. It was the kind of thing one would expect to find on a postcard.

Our first view of the Grand Teton range

Throughout the day, those great mountains would be constantly in sight. We moved from one angle to another, catching more and more views. At a central point, we could even see them stretching off in both directions to give us a scope of just how monumental they truly are.

Just me and some buffalo

We initially chose the path that seemed most likely to grant us a view of wildlife. There was something spotted at a distance. Bear, buffalo, moose? We cannot be sure, but I like to think grizzly bear. The heard of buffalo that we encountered was nothing compared to those in Yellowstone, but they still made for a spectacular view. Pronghorns and deer also made appearances, including a young pronghorn up close.

We visited a historic site, the log cabin of a rancher that had helped with the creation of the park. Dad was fascinated by the history and what it would have been like to live there a hundred years ago. I was slightly distracted by trying to take picture of uinta ground squirrels. Dad also enjoyed the discovery of some massive mushrooms, but realized he could not actually cook them given our lack of supplies. 

Dad loves the pioneer stuff.

We circled around the park, seeing almost everything that could be seen from our car. Grand Teton is more of a hiker and biker friendly place with a number of roads that require fourwheel drive. I look forward to returning someday to backpack into the backcountry. For me, looking at those mountains gave rise to a desire to hike up them as far as I can, to see just how far I can go.

Like seeing the backside of the Badlands

It was eventually time to bid the parks farewell. We drove out, heading eastward on a path that took us through the national forest. More mountains to see, including a few lookbacks at what we were leaving behind. There was even a point where it looked like we were back in the Badlands. 

Soon enough we reached Debois and found a hotel for the night. Its rooms were made to look like a log cabin, lending a great deal of atmosphere. After seeing the world's largest jackalope (and getting my picture on it), we searched for dinner. A surprisingly difficult task. Finally, we found a donut shop that served dinner (and beer for dad). 

So we reached out great goal and took in the many sights, sounds, and smells that the natural world had to offer. Tomorrow we start the grand journey home.

Me riding the world's largest jackalope. Could not get dad to get up there for a picture.

The Yellowstone Expedition: Day 5 - Bighorn National Forest

Today has ended up being something of a short day. Woke up early, but got a late start. Of course, we were not sure what our plan was to begin with. We did not have a relatively far drive to Yellowstone, but we would be arriving late enough that we would be hard pressed to get a campsite. Dad was not terribly eager to go camping yet anyway. After a little net search, we settled on a hotel in Cody.

Mountains, near yet far

The drive was not terribly special starting out. There were rolling hills and rock formations, but it was all across the broad expanse. In the distance were mountains. They served as kind of focal point to drive towards. The bigger they grew, the closer we were to our destination.

Everything changed as we entered Bighorn National Forest. Up we rose along the green path. Eruptions of rock broke up the terrain until they gave way to massive stone walls. The air grew colder and the wind whipped around us till it chilled to the bone. Soon we had ascended to Powder River Pass's 9,666 ft., the highest point in the forest. Despite the frigid wind I found myself in awe of the multitude of wildflowers growing at the top of the mountain. I captured photos of as many kinds as I could.

Vegetation growing sparse as we go up

Ready to warm up, we descended down the mountain. It was a good five degree change by the time we had reached a roaring creek. It was flowing fast with white water rapids. Sparse grasses gave way to trees and taller herbs.

Alpine flowers on the mountainside 

The best part was stopping along the roadway to see if we could spot some bighorn sheep. While we did not have any luck on sheep, there was plenty to observe. I watched mountain bluebirds dart about and hover in the air as they looked for prey. There were more wild flowers to look at. The air was rich with their sweet smell. I found some kind of cicadas chirping away in a bush. Oh, if only I had the time to sit and catalog every detail and key out every species I can find. So many things that are unfamiliar to my native lands draw me into a world of fascination. Even the elk scats on the ground were a sign to observe as part of the environment.

This boulder was covered in flowers

All good things must come to an end and soon we were out of the forest and back in the scrub land. Despite its own subtle beauty, it has an endless quality that makes you wonder if it will ever end. We did get a break from it though in the form of an airplane museum. While the museum itself was closed, we could still look at some of the planes just sitting out there.

Said Canadian Airforce

Mid afternoon we reached Cody. It took a while, but we found our hotel. While I hate to feel like I am not getting anything done, it was good to finally get a good rest. I have been running ragged for a while now. Even if it is not burning energy, there is an exhausting quality to riding in a car for hours on end. So tonight we shall rest and wake up refreshed. Tomorrow is the big adventure, the goal within sight. I imagine the next post will cover a few days.

The Yellowstone Expedition: Day 4 - Mount Rushmore and Jewel Cave

So, we got up early this morning, or at least tried to. Either way, we got to Mount Rushmore before the crowd really showed up. It was suppose to be a quick stop. See the Monument, get my Passport to the National Parks stamped, and get out. Did not work out like that though. 

Dad and I in front of Mount Rushmore

The weather was overcast and windy. There was even a hint of rain. So after a few good pictures we went into the museum. The history there was very interesting. Dad was particularly keen on how they did the construction. After about an hour we discovered that the weather had done a complete 180. I have trouble turning down a chance to take a hike. Even though I told he did not need to, dad went along with me. We got a great view of the monument up close. Turns out it seems bigger when you get close. 

One of the best angles. You can see them all pretty clear.

The final thing to take up a lot of time was visiting the gift shop, which was overflowing by this time. I needed a few things. Sometimes serendipity happens. I had been so tired on my way home from Origins on Sunday that I forgot to pick up a book for dad like I had planned to on my way home. In the gift shop, though, was one of the original workers, Don "Nick" Clifford, from the the Mount Rushmore project signing copies of his book about the experience. Naturally, I got a copy for dad.

All of the state flags lining the way to Mount Rushmore

 We finally bid farewell to Mount Rushmore and got on our way. That meant driving through the Black Hills National Forest. It was utterly breathtaking. I loved riding along those forested roads and through the gentle meadows. It was a welcome break after the vast expanses of flatlands in Iowa and eastern South Dakota. The Black Hills are the kind of environment that truly call to my soul with their wild beauty. I would have loved time to explore them more and roam freely among the great ponderosa pines. While the deciduous forests back east are the most welcoming to me, the pine and juniper have their own attraction as well.

The best part, though, came when we spotted some bison out in a meadow. We watched them for a while as they lay about and grazed. I tried to move in a bit closer, but did not care to wade to far into thigh deep grass (not to mention dodging buffalo dung). Dad was able to find some bison fur from a rubbing. I shall have to find a container for it when I get home. A shot time later we saw another one close to the road. I got as close to him as I dare, which was still just a bit shy of stupid close. A roadway and a ditch was all the more distance between us, and I was tempted to cross the roadway. Caution won out over courage though on the grounds that I would have then been a LOT closer to the bison than to the car.

One of the best close ups of wildlife I can expect

The next stop I had planned was Jewel Cave National Monument. We arrived and got tickets for the 1500 tour. Having some time to kill, I took a quick hike along the Roof Trail. I could see where fires had passed through the hills and left fallen logs. Prescribed burns had kept the fires from destroying the visitor center fortunately.

We descended 380 ft. beneath the ground (still 5,000 ft. above sea level though). The caves are constant 49*, so its good I knew to bring long sleaves along. The winding passages sported deposits of quartz and various stone formations. The most common where bumpy spars that covered most of the walls. I only wish that I had a better camera, or that I knew how to use mine better in low light conditions. I did manage a few good shots though, including one of a thing ribbon formation. Being down there has reawakened my love of geology. I suspect soon I will be doing a bit of research into amature spelunking.

Bacon! Or more aptly a ribbon formation

There is little to tell of the rest of the day. It consisted mostly of driving through Wyoming. Not a lot of fun there. We got a room and dinner, and tomorrow we will try to get as close to Yellowstone as we can. On a particularly happy note, I was able to identify the two birds from yesterday. One was a western meadowlark and the other was a mountain bluebird. I love when I can put a name to what I have seen.

The Yellowstone Expedition: Day 3 - The Badlands

Today is the first time in a while that I have woke up feeling really good. I grabbed a shower and a decent breakfast. Funny note, the hotel we were at had boiled eggs as part of its contenental breakfast. Never seen that before. After getting things packed up, dad and I headed down the road. Today was determined to be overcast, but that was not going to stop us.

The Badlands

We made a quick stop to get some tickets for the Minuteman Missle tour, before heading into the Badlands. I have to say that I was awestruck by their beauty. Even through the gray haze it was an amazing view. Looking out over these earthen spurs has a power to it. The recent rains had also made things far greener than expected, or so dad kept commenting. I walked out to the end of one spur so I could get a really good view. It was at this point that I discovered the rain had also made the ground fairly muddy. While the Badlands are stony, they are also covered with clay.

Taking it all in

We continued on to a trail where we were able to walk out along the stony paths. Well, paths is a misleading word. You get off of a boardwalk and occasionally there is a numbered marker to tell you if you are still heading true. Dad and I climbed up a little butte and got our picture taken. On the way back I climbed up another spur, but stopped short of going all the way up. To many people before me had left the path to slick with mud to go safely.

We stopped at another small trail for a bit. The scent of wildflowers filled the air. The visitor center was next. I was pleased to get my second stamp in my national parks passport for the day. They had a cool archaeology lab there as well. A few souvenirs and it was off to the next bit of fun.

If you look close you can see my dad down in the parking lot.

After driving for a while we stopped at the saddle back trail. Dad stayed behind while I clamored up the trail. I had not planned to go far, but there was an urge inside of me that kept saying "just a bit farther," until I was to the top. Even that was not enough though. While I am not normally one to do so, I ventured off trail so that I could climb up a stony point. Soon I was at the top of the saddle looking down, probably about 4-500 ft. I could see the edge of forever from up there. The wind whipped around me to where I could not hear over its roar. My flesh was chilled, but I stood above the outcropping to look down and take it all in, howling in triumph. I could even stop dad from up there, though he was like a spec.

Looking up from the bottom

Going back down was a bit rougher, and a lot faster. By the end of that hike I was pretty exhausted. After more than a week of sitting around, this sudden workout had zapped my energy. I was in a hurry though. We had a tour to take.

Missile Launch Control

We drove out of the park to Launch Control Facility, Delta 0-1. We were given a tour of this historic site by a former missilleer. We saw where the men had worked and lived during the height of the Cold War. It was informative and more than a little bit mind boggling. You can hear about those bunkers, but being down in them makes you realize just how extreme it was.

After that we headed back to the park. We drove around. We stopped here and there for some pictures and to look around. We stopped dead in our tracks though when we found a prairie dog city. It was fun watching them, and listening to them. Hard to get a good picture though unless you have a really powerful zoom. The sun did finally come out. This allowed for a particularly stunning view of a multicolored rock formation.

Some of the brightest colors of the day

By the time things were all said and done, we had seen about half of the park. The geological features were obvious attraction for their unquestionable beauty. However, my attention was often drawn to other aspects of nature as well. There were many beautiful flowering plants. I am glad that the cacti were in bloom. Insects were more often heard than seen, but they joined in with the bird songs. Birds were the most prominent form of wildlife. I saw a magpie and possibly a burrowing owl. I saw a beautiful blue bird and listened to a yellow and black bird, both of which I shall have to work to identify later. I mentioned the prairie dogs above, but they were not the only mammal. We also were able to spot some antelope.

Seen from the roadway

We were pretty worn out by this point. We waved farewell to the Badlands to go hunt down a hotel. That was a rough task. We settled on a place in Keystone, the town located by Mount Rushmore. Before we settled in we took a quick drive up to see the monument. I thought it would be bigger. Still, it is an impressive view. On the way back down, dad was rather taken with some chainsaw carvings. 

Today has been a great adventure. So many things to taking in have left me on the verge of sensory overload. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow holds. This adventure is just beginning.

Yellowstone Expedition: Day 2

Clouds

Today, Dad and I woke up bright and early to a not so bright sky. We got some breakfast and headed down the road and it started to rain. That did not last to long, but overcast seemed to be the order of the day. Given that there was nothing to do except for stare at clouds and the occasional windmill, I got in a nap. When I woke up, it was still cloudy and nothing to look at, because Iowa is boring. It is like looking out across this vast expanse. In my mind I kept wondering how long it was going to actually take us to cross the Dothraki Sea. We did make a very important stop at the smallest Walmart I think I have ever been in. I now have a charger for my camera!

Tepee?

Around mid afternoon we finally arrived in South Dakota. It provided a nice break from the monotony for a bit. They had a cool stone tepee kinda thing. As well, we found some maps and brochures that I started using to plan our trip out a bit more. Looks like we may see a bit more than just the Badlands and Mount Rushmore tomorrow.

Sadly, the break did not last terribly long. We were soon back on the road...and I was wondering how many men might have gone mad trying to cross the west on in the pioneer days. Clouds. So many clouds.

Lewis and Clark's boat. It stretched out through the wall.

Thankfully we finally got a true change of scenery as we neared the Missouri River. We stopped at a rest stop that was like a Lewis and Clark museum. It even had a replica of their boat built into its structure. Out back was a stunning view of the river and the hills beyond. We probably spent more than half an hour there taking in the sights and stretching our legs.

Missouri River

I was feeling particularly adventuresome and took a hike down a path that previous visitors had worn into the earth. It appealed to the naturalist in me. I watched a pair of bugs do battle and got some closeups of the foliage. I went about as far as I dared without tumbling down the ledge.

The final eye catcher of this stop was a marker that had been placed to commemorate the Lewis and Clark expedition. Its exact coordinates are used as part of global positioning system. I think they may need to update its relative height above sea level soon though...

Commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition

Down in the corner...

With a new jolt of energy, we started back down the road. Things were at least a little bit more interesting. Hills to look at. The occasional tourist attraction. I was partial to the guy walking the T-Rex skeleton. The cloud cover was back on us though. I thought for sure we were going to get stormed on. Instead, right about the time we found a hotel, the sun decided to come out.

The final adventure for the day came after dinner. I decided to take a jog out in a parking lot. As I was making my lap, a killdeer started trying to get my attention with quite a bit of insistence. I finally noticed her nest of eggs. I ran back to the hotel for my camera. Unfortunately, she had stopped posturing by the time I got back. I did get some nice shots of the eggs though.

Killdeer eggs

Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We will get in the Badlands, Rushmore, the Minuteman Missile, and perhaps some caves. I am excited to see these sites, not to mention get out of the car.

Also, here is a horse eating right next to the road. Why? Because it is South Dakota I guess.

Horse. Need I say more?

Yellowstone: Day 1

About a month back, my dad asked me what National Park I would like to visit most. My response was Yellowstone. So, as it turns out, he wanted to take a trip before I left for Taiwan. That is why we got up this morning for a cross country drive. A father and son trip right after Father's Day.

It is a trip that I find myself excited about, nervous for, and slightly exhausted by. I have long wished to visit Yellowstone. It seems like this place of wilderness wonder and beauty so far removed from my little corner of the world. On the other hand a trip with my father can be a daunting prospect. What to do and how to get along? I am never sure what to say to him. Then again, this is that kind of bonding trip, so prehaps words will find their way on their own. As to exhausting, it seems like my life has suddenly condensed down to where I have to plan about four trips all in the space of a few weeks. Sleep, how I miss thee.

While Sunday evening had more than a bit of bickering over what to bring, we woke this morning fairly ready to set out. After a good breakfast we got on the road. I was feeling pretty exhausted from my previous trip to Origins. I had just got home the night before after a week of barely any sleep. Needless to say, Dad was going to be doing most of the driving today.

Peoria

First we passed around Cincinnati. From there we passed through Indianapolis. I fell asleep at this point and did not even notice when we entered Illinois. We passed through Peoria and I got a nice picture of the skyline. We continued on into Iowa. There we stopped at the World's Biggest Truck Stop. I think I've seen bigger. At this point we were both getting tired of riding around so we picked a place to stop for the night near Iowa City.

The place we stopped, The Presidential Hotel, is nowhere near as grand as its name. That said, it is not bad, especially for the minimal price. Having a pretty good Mexican restaurant attached is a boon as well. It turns out to have been a wise choice, or we might have driven right into some tornadoes.

World's Largest Truck Stop

So, the day really has not been so bad. The scenery not as dull as I might have feared and the company not as rough as he can be at home. Windmills made for something fun to watch. I do not think Don Quixote would want to go tilting at these. The weather has looked grim, but we have yet to be really stormed on.

There have only been two real snags. The first being that the CD's for learning Mandarin I picked up require you to use the workbook with them, so I can only study when I am not the one driving. The far more worrying one, however, is that I apparently did not grab the charger for my camera. The thing does not have the greatest battery life and it has been a while since it was charged up. So I fear I will either have to buy a charger or a disposable digital camera before this trip is over.

So that sums up the start to this grand adventure. As long as I can gain net access I will keep up posts of the trip. I think that a lot of it will have to wait until once I have returned though.