On the Hard, On the Road (cont)

 So, where were we?  

Oh yes, Cleveland.  What is there to say about Cleveland?  How about, "Goodbye."

Heading further west on the Pathway to The World (i.e. I-90), we crossed into Indiana.  Faithful readers of this blog will recall that our last impression of Indiana was not altogether positive.   Nothing has changed, except that encountered their toll system this trip.  We remain unimpressed.

Past Indiana (Whew!), we entered the land of the Illinois highway tolls which were thankfully 100% electronic.  We expect Alamo will catch up with us (or our credit card) for these eventually.  Our day ended back in Geneva, Illinois at the home of Charlie McLaughlan (our Labor Day guest aboard Irish Lass).   Daughter Laren Mc Laughlan recently threw off the corporate yoke and is spinning up her own company to produce food items for those (like her) with significant food allergies and/or intolerances.  Eventually, she will employ both an on-line and trailer-based (i.event) delivery channels.   Meanwhile, the dinner of pesto shrimp and rice pasta she prepared for us was wonderful.  You GO girl!

On Tuesday, we set off on a new route, crossing Iowa instead of the northern I-90 route thru Wisconsin.  On the whole, we liked Iowa.  Picturesque,  Bucolic.  Light traffic. Few speed traps.  No tolls.  What's not to like?  Well, we will tell you.  Iowans need to learn how to speed.  The 4-lane state highway we traveled had a limiting speed limit of 65.  And people drove, well,  65.   What's up with that?  One always wants one or two drivers going slightly faster to serve as "rabbits" to attract any law enforcement attention.  In some 375 miles, we could never locate these decoys.  On I-5, these folks would be a traffic hazard, Running a cautious, watchful 72-ish mph, we were never passed.   I guess we were the "rabbit" that day.  Thanks for nothing.  Sheesh

Fortunately, after a quiet night on the banks of the Big Muddy in Sioux City, we crossed into South Dakota.  Now, these folks understand that the purpose of an Interstate Highway is to effing get somewhere.  Rural limits of 80 and a common cruise of 85. And "rabbits" running 85+.  Yeah, BABY! 

We arrived in Rapid City (428 miles) early enough to make a side trip to see Mt Rushmore.  What a majestic monument. 

No matter how many times you see it, your first words are always, "Oh, Wow!"  Plus we found a steak house that served us what was quite probably the best steak we have ever eaten.  

Thursday morning found us hustling east again, skirting the Black Hills and across a corner of Wyoming, (another state that "gets it") into Montana.   Where the Sky is Big, the mountains are tall and the speeds are high.   We allowed time for a visit to the Custer Battlefield National Monument. 

We have both visited this site over the years, (beginning n 1967 for Kathleen).  And over that span of time, it has been interesting to see how the interpretation of those bloody days of 1876 has shifted.   The view of Custer has evolved from Colorful, Romantic, Tragic Hero to Egotisitcal, Narcissistic, Tactical Idiot.  In the end, all he contributed to military science is this: If you blindly attack a better-armed enemy 5 times your size on ground of their choosing, odds are you are gonna lose.   Sheesh.  

Friday, we departed Bozeman (38 degrees. Brrrr) for our LAST DAY ON THE ROAD!  And no one was more thrilled than Admiral Maggie.   She has been a wonderful traveler, but she seems close to the breaking point.  We fear she may refuse to enter the car again at any moment.  We cleared the Continental Divide and Lookout Pass in record time despite the first rain we had encountered on this drive.  We broke for lunch in Wallace (The Center of the Universe), Idaho, and took on the final 87 miles to....

HOME!

Amen

Thanks for watching!

Wade and Kathleen