Road Trip Day 5: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana

Day 5:  Wow, it is exhausting traveling 4 states in one day!!  As you can tell now that I have my "wallpaper" machine working overtime, the text is minimal, it is my hope that details will be forthcoming in the days ahead.  Traffic has picked up dramatically and traveling thru Chicago was quite the experience.  Nothing like have jet planes right in front of you.  The cityscape of Chicago was a first time experience for the passengers.  


Here are a few pictures from the day:

Morning sunrise (Albert Lea, Minnesota)

The warming sun, and ground fog are an interesting sight

The elder in the car wanted this photo

Such a cutie!

Lunch at Lake Wisconsin

Lake Wisconsin 

Curious totem

A pageant winner...at our hotel..she just won!!

Norte Dame Campus

Norte Dame statue of Jesus

We were blessed by an incredible sunrise and many sights and sounds of the beauty around us.  Everyone is getting "into" the routine, and today was a record departure.  We are keeping track of the counties as we pass thru them and making our predictions first thing in the morning.

Day 6 is going to start in Indiana and end in New York-hoping to take in Niagara Falls from the US side of the border.  We have traveled 2,500 miles in 5 days...the ultimate destination is just around the corner.  May the rest of the trip be just as enjoyable.
Arose with the sun, and ended the evening with attending mass on the campus of Norte Dame church.

Miles of these in Wisconsin

What story do you think this reflects?

Peaceful tree grove, the bird sounds were abundant.

Farms and windmills were plentiful and pleasing to the eye.

 Great stop!!

The road ahead of us....all day!!

Mississippi River

Not sure this is accurate!!

Corn fields and these signs are everywhere!!

For my quilt friends

The toll booths are numerous, thought we wouldn't have to deal with it by purchasing a iPass at an Oasis, of course, the booths are not open on the weekends!!!..  Our accommodations were much to be desired and starting off with all participants lacking adequate sleep, makes for a very interesting day.  

Road trip Day 4 South Dakota-Minnesota (519 miles)

Day 4:  South Dakota-Minnesota

Yes, we DID have to re-pack and reduce some of the bulk items to fit all of our gear INSIDE the car!!  A car check revealed a potential issue with a tire, thus we needed to seek out a tire repair shop.  Using our trusty "DAVE-the navigator" who tried to take us various ways which only encouraged the driver to make some interesting turns along the way, we found Bargain Tire Barn and Repair in Rapid City, South Dakota.  They were AWESOME, after throughly checking the tire inside and out we were given a clean bill of "health" and sent on our way with cheers and good wishes.

The day presented itself with many different views of corn, beans, baled hay, highway as far as one could see, but we did capture a few photos of some of the things we saw:

Pretty classy rest area's.

Black Hills

A frequent sight along the route.

What's with fire trucks on huge acreage-didn't capture the one that was planted vertical in the ground-wish I had?

Missouri River

Bales were quite abundant!!!

How we look at the end of the day.

Corn...you could even smell it!!!  You could almost taste the kernals just from the sweet smell.

Evidence of the drought was seen while traveling through South Dakota

Lake in Minnesota behind a rest area  (there is a story relating to this picture topic-it will be shared later.

Hitchhiker assisting Dave the Navigotor

Spam Museum, Austin-Minnesota

Yup...this is a fascinating cemetery in Austin, Minnesota

Day 3: Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota

Sights on the High Plains

Black Hills

Notice the fire impact on the right, Yup, that is the road we have traveled .

Sturgis sign above the town.

Firehouse Saloon...it used to be a Bill's Bowling 

Just had to take this picture.

Downtown Sturgis...

Downtown Rapid City, South Dakota

Flowers blooming at Mt. Rushmore

The road just kept appearing in front of us.

Seeing this was the highlight of my day!!

While our travels were fairly short in terms of miles driven, we have been in 3 states and have had some exciting times which I will share soon, but it is growing late and we need to once again re-pack the rig in the morning due to the roof rack having an issue...so best get a good nights sleep.