Loooong Day

We spent about 12 hours on the road today, much of it driving directly into the sun, so we're exhausted. We almost made it to the Badlands, but the sun was just starting to go down, so we've stopped a few miles west and will head into the park in the morning. Highlights from the drive through eastern South Dakota:

Dirt road off Highway 81:


Eastern South Dakota is filled with miles of gorgeous farmland, and some horses too!


The rolling hilly things as we got closer to the Badlands. It was a nice change to see some landscape that didn't look like we could possibly still be in Ohio.

The I States: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa

We got a late start today, but almost made it to Des Moines Iowa. Nothing too exciting today, just a lot of driving. Here are the highlights:

Roger the Rhino and Morris the Moose, our trip mascots, enjoying the ride through Indiana.


Our first stop was in Indianapolis at Yat's, the most amazing Cajun place ever. Here is my lovely plate of spinach and mushroom etouffee complete with Cajun Power.


Sign to Chillicothe, Illinois. I got a kick out of it.


Finally, our stop for dinner in Iowa. The place was enormous.

Okay, that's it for now. The plan for tomorrow is more driving and hopefully a quick visit to Badlands NP before dark. Updates asap!

Phone Info

Just a note to let you know: calls in Canada are ridiculously expensive, so if you call me while I'm there, I won't answer my phone. If possible, I'll call you back from my mom's phone (she put some sort of Canada plan on hers, but it's still pricey), which will be a 740 area code.

Bottom line: if you get a call from 740, answer it: it's me! :)

Updates to the Old Blog

Just an FYI: today I added a few pictures to last year's blog in case you didn't get to see the pictures I printed from Alaska and wanted to.

http://akw2008.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

Three More Weeks!

A bit of information before we leave:

I've changed the settings on this year's blog so that (hopefully) you will be able to leave comments even if you're not a member of blogger. There should be an option to post anonymously; if you do this, please be sure to sign your name in your post so I know who you are.

Here are some links you might be interested in as well:

Route (well kind of. It's not exactly right through northwestern Canada, but it gives you a good idea).

Badlands National Park (SD)

Glacier National Park (MT)

Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta, CA)

Banff National Park (Alberta, CA)

Jasper National Park (Alberta, CA)

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (AK)

University of Alaska at Fairbanks