Road Trip 2008

State Count

2008-12-08T23:11:00.002-07:00

People have been asking me how many states I made it to on my journey. I finally counted them up!!! I went through 35 states! It's amazing how many states you hit in the east. They are all so close together! So now you know. :)

My Route

2008-12-02T22:23:00.004-07:00

The End Allows for a New Beginning!

2008-11-24T21:27:00.003-07:00

I'M HOME!!!!

I spent a total of 72 days on my adventure. I traveled approximately 15,000 miles around the USA. I arrived home the night of Tuesday November 25. I saw my parents , their cats, and my dog!! It was a great reunion. My dog was so excited. It was good to be home. I was very excited.

The drive home was good. A couple passes were slick in spots, but overall the weather and roads were good. I think I left at the right time to avoid poor weather. I saw eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and southern Montana. I saw many cows and horses, one accident, and almost collided with a deer in Wyoming. I saw a couple beautiful sunsets and amazing mountains! The desert/mountain/plains area is definitely beautiful but so cold!! There was a huge drop in temperature from Washington to Idaho. I think it was around 40 degrees in WA and dropped to 28 degrees in ID. I was in shock!!

I am thankful to have been able to experience all that I have! This has been an amazing adventure! Thank you to everyone who made this a reality, through gifts, thoughts, prayers, etc. I'm sure I'll have more to add about my adventures, so keep checking back!!

Seattle, WA

2008-11-24T21:26:00.003-07:00

November 23 (Day 70)

I was awoken at 10am to have brunch. We went to a nice restaurant with a breakfast buffet. The food was great...well, at least the scrambled eggs as I wasn't too hungry. I was still waking up! Haha. After brunch, we got ready to go to a movie. We went to Twilight. It kept my attention, but I wouldn't say it was good; it was okay. It made me laugh, although I'm pretty sure it wasn't meant to! Later in the evening, I had homemade lasagna and spent the night listening to music and talking to people. It was a pretty laid back day!

Partyin' it Up in Seattle

2008-11-24T21:25:00.002-07:00

November 22 (Day 69)

I woke up early for some odd reason. I knew I was too tired to get up, so I laid there until I fell back asleep. I finally fell back asleep and then didn't get up until noon! My aunt made us grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. I know this will sound weird - but I felt like I was living the high life. When you're not able to make these things it is a great feeling to have them!

Later that afternoon I headed to Seattle to see my cousin. We went to a birthday party which started at a hotel room in Downtown Seattle. We then headed to Cowgirls. It's kinda like what you see on the Coyote Ugly movie, but with a huge western theme. Some of the girls had chaps on with only underwear underneath. It made for...well as Jackie termed it...a sausage fest. There were a lot of guys there! There also was a mechanical bull. I thought about riding, but wussed out when almost everyone of the people landed on their heads. I didn't need a concussion, I was sure I'd be feeling the alcohol the next day!

We left Cowgirls and went to Neighbors. It was all techno music. It was pretty packed. Apparently, it is the only place that stays open later than 2am, although alcohol is stopped serving at that time. I think one of my favorite parts of that bar was watching people from the second story. That is always entertaining!

I think we arrived "home" at about 4am. I was exhausted!

Enumclaw, WA

2008-11-24T21:24:00.001-07:00

November 21 (Day 68)

I drove to Enumclaw, WA to see my aunt and uncle. We sat around and talked, played with the animals, and watched some TV. My aunt made an awesome home-cooked meal - steak, mac and cheese, and salad. It was so good! They go to sleep pretty early, because they get up really, REALLY early. They fell asleep watching TV. I must've been tired because I did too! I finally woke up, got ready for bed, then hit the sack, but I couldn't go to sleep!! I tossed and turned until I finally fell asleep.

Vancouver, WA

2008-11-23T18:50:00.003-07:00

November 20 (Day 67)

I was so exhausted that I stayed in bed most of the day. Then I decided to check out the Vancouver Mall. It was conveniently located next to the Days Inn I stayed at. I told myself I was not going to buy anything as I walked in the door. That didn't last long. The people at kiosks showed me their awesome products, and I was sold. I bought some facial products that were a part of the Tori Spelling line. I didn't buy it because of her, but the products are awesome. The magnetic mask is really cool. If you run across, I highly recommend the product.

I made a new friend! Her name is Li and she is from Tel Aviv (Israel). She was so friendly and we had a lot in common. Her energy made me smile so much. I hope to see her again soon! I was satisfied with the short day I had. After the mall I tried out many of my new products. It was a day of pampering!

Oregon

2008-11-20T01:32:00.002-07:00

November 19th (Day 66)

Before I left Eugene I stopped at the 5th Street Market. It's a really neat place with some cool shops. It's an outdoor mall with historic buildings. There were some unique shops like the place with handcrafted African items. There was a store that had everything you could dream of for dogs. I found Peanut a gift I think she'll like. There were also clothing stores. The clothes were very expensive. You pay for brand names that's why I try to avoid them, but I did end up buying a cute Doctrine tank top!

I drove through Salem. I saw historic downtown and the City Center. I also saw the capital building. It looks like a really nice city. I decided not to stay, as there would be more to do in Portland. Plus, it's getting close to being time to go home, so I figured it best to move on. I went to downtown Portland. I had dinner at a Red Robin. It was the first time I had eaten at one. The burger was great! The service was wonderful. Totally worth the stop! I looked for a hotel. Everything was ridiculously priced. I found a coupon book for hotels and found a reasonably priced hotel in Vancouver, WA. So, I decided to stay in Vancouver.

On the Road Again

2008-11-18T23:30:00.005-07:00

November 18th (Day 65)

Dick treated my grandfather and me to lunch. When my grandfather and I got back to his house we loaded up my car. He gave me a couple of the storks he made and a set of lady bugs. He then loaded me up with food and soda! We really had a lot of fun together!

I drove to Eugene, OR. I took Highway 38 to I-5. There were lots of elk along the highway. They had places you could stop along the way and take pictures, look through binoculars, and read about different animals you might have seen. The drive was beautiful the entire way! It was a pretty short drive (maybe 2 and a half hours), but very pretty!

I found a hotel to stay the night and then started thinking about what to do next. The Steelhead Brewery and Restaurant was recommended to me, so I had dinner there. I tried some of their award winning brews. The beer, service, and food was great!

A Little Bit of Work

2008-11-17T20:17:00.004-07:00

November 17 (Day 64)

I rode in a dump truck all afternoon. We were transporting rocks and my grandfather was spreading them out with the grader. I shared a seat with a 2 month old Blue Heeler puppy. She was so adorable. I actually looked like I worked, because she got me muddy. She sat on my lap the entire afternoon. We played a little and then she would sleep. It made for an entertaining afternoon.

My Buddy

(makes me miss Peanut even more)

Inside the Dump Truck

The Grader

Adding to the List

2008-11-17T20:16:00.005-07:00

November 16 (Day 63)

Today, was a busy day...well primarily for my grandpa. I slept in and woke up right before he got back from work. He decided he was going to change my oil, so I went out there to pretend to help. I was hoping to get a little dirty, but he had it covered (and himself covered with oil!). I went with Dick to go get a new air filter and some more oil. Grandpa worked on Dick's trailer while we got the things I needed. He put my car together and we rested for a bit. Then we got ready to have dinner and go to a bar. There was a band playing at the Fireside, so we went there. We danced the night away. I learned another two step, a swing, the waltz, fox trot, and a one step. I danced with an 88 year old man! I'll tell you what, seniors can get down! We had a great time. Like before, I was the center of attention. Apparently, that crowd enjoys teaching grandchildren to dance! I was even told not to stop dancing and that I was a natural. A dance teacher was one of the people who told me that, so I'll keep that in mind! :)

Fallin'

2008-11-15T20:55:00.007-07:00

November 15 (Day 62)

My grandfather took me to the Silver and Golden Falls a little outside of Coos Bay. It was so beautiful! A lot of the area was green. There were some trees with yellow and red colors. As we walked up the path to see the Silver Falls, we could see them through the trees. As we moved closer, a mist from the falls sprayed us. There were birds chirping in the background. When we went to the Golden Falls there were rocks blocking the way to the falls. I wanted to get closer, so I decided to climb the rocks (okay, it was really just walking over them). They were slick, slimy, and wet. When I was going back to the path, I had a feeling I was going to fall, so I put my camera in my zipped jacket. Shortly after that I lost my footing and tumbled gracefully to the ground. Haha. I got a little muddy. What fun is it going to the falls and not getting muddy?

Silver Falls

Pesky Rocks

Golden Falls

Dancing Fool

2008-11-15T01:23:00.003-07:00

November 14 (Day 61)

Today was a pretty mellow day. I slept in and laid around most of the day. I think my body needed a rest. I've been going nonstop lately. It is amazing how much energy driving takes. You would never guess until you do it for days at a time. I spent time with my grandpa. He made some awesome spaghetti. In his sauce he put various peppers, onions, tomatoes, and hamburger. It was really good. For garlic bread he put garlic spread on potato rolls. I always appreciate a home-cooked meal!

After dinner we went to the Elks club in Florence, OR. Grandpa got me out on the dance floor. I even danced with some other gentleman. I did the two step mostly. Although, I even got out there and line danced. The people were so nice. I got to experience two toasts that the Elks do. That was pretty cool. During the first toast we all stood in a circle holding hands and swaying to "Proud to be An American" performed by the Norwoods. Everytime they sang "And I stand up" everybody put their hands up. Then at the end (11pm), they did the 11th hour toast (again holding hands in a circle), which included 11 chimes. It was a touching toast, in memory of all the Elk members wherever they may be. I even got a special mention at the end. The host of the night told me I made their night and welcomed me back. My grandpa was thanked for bringing me. I felt pretty special. Everyone was so great, and I met some great people from all over Oregon!

The Coos Bay Beaches

2008-11-14T02:30:00.006-07:00

November 13 (Day 60)

I checked out of the hotel and headed to my grandfather's house. When I arrived he was washing his truck. We talked for a bit and then decided to go see the ocean. We went to Charleston, a cute little fishing community, and then headed to the beaches. The waves were crashing. Grandpa said they were only 4 or 5 feet high and that they are usually higher. They looked huge to me! It was so beautiful! We went to Simpsons Reef. As soon as we got out of the truck we could hear the sea lions. There were so many of them!! Their barks echoed through the wind. It was so cool. There were also some harbor seals there. They just kind of flopped around. I always love getting to see animals in their natural habitats!

After we spent some time at the different beaches we drove through Coos Bay and North Bend. They are some happening little towns. We had dinner at Sizzler in North Bend. It was very good. After dinner we went to my grandfather's brother's house (yes my great uncle). This was the first time I met my great uncle and his wife. We had a nice visit. I learned that I had seen Squaw Island. Apparently, it is a hollow rock and that's where Native American women and children were hidden during conflicts.

Squaw Island (or Rock) - doesn't look hollow does it?

It was a great day. I had so much fun. The Pacific Ocean was amazing. It's very different from the Atlantic Ocean (or at least the parts I saw). The Oregon Coast is very wooded. The eastern coast was not so wooded. I don't even know how to describe the eastern coast. I guess harbor would be the best way to describe it. It is harbor-y in the north part of the east coast and tropical in the southern part of the eastern coast.

Headed to Coos Bay, OR

2008-11-14T02:05:00.006-07:00

November 12 (Day 59)

The Beauty of Northern California

I headed to Coos Bay, OR. The drive was beautiful. The Ashland/Medford, OR area is so beautiful. I went through mountains. The air was so crisp and clean. There were some cows and horses outside of Ashland. For a brief moment, I wanted a ranch. Haha.

I was planning on stopping at about 6pm, so I wouldn't have to drive in the dark. The GPS said I would be exiting in a few miles, so I decided to wait to stop. I hit Highway 42. Then there was nothing. So, I kept driving until I hit Coos Bay. It started raining, there were patches of fog, it was completely dark - I could barely see the road. For about 60 miles it was the most miserable drive! I was beginning to worry I was not going to make it to Coos Bay. I thought I was going to go off the road. The curves were so sharp. It was insane. I would suggest not making the drive to Coos Bay in the dark! Thankfully, I made it safely. I stopped at a Best Western and settled in.

I had the wrong number for my grandfather (Thanks Mom, :) hehe), so I called my aunt to get his number. She called him, so he would be expecting my call. He insisted on coming to the hotel. I waited for some food to arrive. We chatted for a bit then went to his house. He showed me some of the things he has made. He has a shop where he makes things from wood and works on cars. He makes the cutest little lady bugs and storks. We talked until about midnight, then he brought me back to the hotel. I told him I'd stay with him for the rest of my time in Coos Bay.

The California Coast

2008-11-12T00:04:00.004-07:00

November 11 (Day 58)

The Pacific Coast was absolutely beautiful! At the beginning of the drive, I was parallel to the Pacific Ocean. The bright blue water went on for what seemed forever. It looked like there were pirate ships in the ocean. (You become quite creative when you're by yourself) Then I was surrounded by hills and mountains. It was so peaceful. I saw vineyards and farmlands. I even saw happy cows (if you've seen the commercials, you'll get it)! I loved the area between Malibu and San Francisco. It wasn't anything I would imagine California to be. There wasn't too much traffic and the sights were breathtaking!

Then I hit San Francisco. The traffic was ridiculous!! It was stop and go for an hour and a half! It looked like a nice city but busy. I saw the Golden Gate Bridge and went over two bridges. One bridge went on for miles! I decided to take the interstate into Oregon, so there was a minor switch in direction. There was not a lot on the route to Oregon from San Francisco (at least from what I've seen when trying to find a place to stop for the night). I stopped in Williams, CA. It's a small town, but has restaurants, a couple motels, and gas stations, so it worked!

California

2008-11-10T23:26:00.004-07:00

November 10 (Day 57)

I woke up early, so I could say goodbye to my grandma and grandpa. I went back to sleep, because I was so tired. I finally hit the road around 2pm. I headed west. I spent two hours stuck outside Barstow, CA. I was about an hour away from LA. Apparently, there was an accident involving a semi and they had all the lanes closed. They were letting people by on a shoulder. When I got there two lanes were open. It took so long! People were pulling to the side of the road and urinating. Might I point out, they were all men. I finally broke free and headed to the nearest gas station. The line there was very long. I think we all had the same idea after being in traffic so long!

California Traffic

LA actually wasn't that bad. It was like other big cities I have been in - lots of cars going fast. I expected to be trapped in traffic from stories I had heard, but it was moving smoothly. Then traffic mellowed out when I hit the Pacific Coast Highway. By that time it was dark, so I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I could have in the daytime. I found the nearest hotel, which happened to be in Oxnard, CA, got some food, and slept.

Time with the Family

2008-11-10T23:25:00.004-07:00

November 9 (Day 56)

I checked out of the hotel in Kingman, AZ and headed back to Henderson, NV. I went through the Hoover Dam for the third time! It looks bigger every time! I stopped to take some pictures of Lake Mead. It is such a beautiful lake!

I then spent some time with my Grandfather. When he went to run errands, I went over to my aunt and uncle's house. We had some dinner and watched a couple movies. My uncle and I stayed up talking about various things. He had some good advice. This is a piece of his advice:

"Do what makes you happy. If you're not happy, change it."

Seems simple enough, yet often we don't live by that. I was also reminded to live in the moment. That is such an important concept! It was awesome spending time with my family!

The Grand Canyon

2008-11-08T22:01:00.003-07:00

November 8 (Day 55)

My parents and I headed our separate ways. I was headed to the Grand Canyon. They were headed back to Wyoming. Saying goodbye was difficult. It's always fun being with them. I knew it was still not time to go back to Wyoming, so I had to keep trekking on. (Love and miss you Mom and Dad!!) Plus, I knew I wanted to see the Grand Canyon! It took about five hours to get to the Grand Canyon. It was completely worth it.

The elevation is 7000 ft. Is was a little chilly. I arrived around 4pm. The sun made some of the canyon sparkle. There were so many different ways to see the canyon. Depending on what part you were at, it would look different. Some of the rocks were really red, some were a brown or gray. It was so far down! It was amazing to look into it. Words cannot even describe how it looks or the thoughts that went through my head! There were quite a few people there, but it was so peaceful. It was like everyone disappeared as I looked at the canyon! Here are some pics.

Reunions

2008-11-08T21:56:00.003-07:00

November 7 (Day 54)

A day of rest is the best way to describe today. My parents and I had brunch together and spent time catching up. We went to the Hilton Casino and lost some money, but it was a lot of fun!! We then went to my grandparents' house in Henderson, NV. They made us a home-cooked meal. It was wonderful to have a home-cooked meal! I haven't had a meal like that since I was in North Dakota! My aunt and uncle were there too. We talked and laughed. It was a great day!

Las Vegas Baby!

2008-11-07T00:06:00.007-07:00

November 6 (Day 53)

Today, I saw my parents for the first time in 53 days!! It was so great to see them. Before we were reunited, I drove through Arizona and stopped at the Hoover Dam. It was pretty cool. I also went to a laundromat. I had never been to one before. It's interesting to watch the people who come there. It was entertaining to me. I also went through a police check point. I don't know why they had it, but they did. Basically, the officer just sent me on my way. Weird.

While I was waiting for my parents to arrive in Las Vegas, I hung out at a Walgreens. I had to wait for them to check into the hotel. I did some shopping, then read in the car until they made it. We found the hotel. It was so nice! They had valet parking, bell service, and the room was like a small apartment. There was a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room, washer and dryer, and a kitchen table. The kitchen was fully stocked with silverware, glasses, cooking utensils, blender...fully equipped!

One of the hotel employees was from Rock Springs. I found this out, because he asked if I was from Casper. Only people from Wyoming can tell what city you are from by your license plates. I suppose others could tell, but I imagine that as unlikely. Anyway, I told him yes and asked how he knew. He told me he was from Rock Springs. It always surprises me when I run into people from Wyoming. I'm not sure why; it's not like Wyoming people stay only in Wyoming...case in point!

Driving through the Desert

2008-11-07T00:00:00.010-07:00

November 5 (Day 52)

Another day of lots of driving. The area was desert. It was unusually cold. I think the warmest it every got was the low 50s. Mostly, it was in the 40s. There was a little bit of snow in New Mexico. I thought it was supposed to be warm in the desert!!

New Mexico

There were some cool rock formations in New Mexico and Arizona. There were lots of tumbleweeds and sagebrush. My car smashed a huge tumbleweed but some of the tumbleweed was still stuck to my car. For miles parts of the tumbleweed flew off my car!

Arizona

I kept driving through Arizona. There was a town I was anticipating staying, but it ended up being a creepy podunk town, so I drove to the next town. I think I was on the road for 9 or 10 hours. I also took a small detour to see the meteor crater in AZ. However, they have it completely fenced off. You can only see it between 8am and 5pm. I'm sure you have to pay to see it. It would've been cool to see. Now you know: If it's after 5pm, don't even bother trying to see it!

Headed West on Election Day

2008-11-04T21:58:00.007-07:00

November 4 (Day 51)

I went through Oklahoma. Close to the Arkansas border it was quite like Arkansas (weird I know). Then, as I moved west, there were more trees. However, the trees were bare. It actually began to look like November! Then there was flat lands. As I got closer to Texas, I saw cows. I have never been so excited to see cows in my life! The flat lands of nothingness, wide open spaces, wind, and cows reminded me of home. I could tell I was getting to the west. Another sign was that everyone was going the speed limit or under it. I'll admit at times it was annoying, but overall, it was a very laid back drive.

Texas has two speed limits- one for the day and one for the night. That was the first time I had seen that. They also have deer. Luckily, I didn't see any, because if you see one in the dark it's usually because it darted in front of your speeding car. But I did see a deer sign and (this is a little morbid, so skip this part if you can't handle morbid) massive blood spots on the road. I have seen a lot of roadkill on this trip. It always makes me sad, because, as those of you who know me know, I have a big place in my heart for animals. I have to say the saddest things on the road I saw was a beagle and a wolf. :( It was sad. So, moral of the story, watch for animals. If it's night watch for their beady little eyes glowing as they reflect the light from the headlights.

A reminder for people who are not for the west: The towns are very spaced out. Make sure you watch the fuel gage and how far away towns are. Some towns have no services. Plan ahead! Also good to keep in mind for pit stops! :)

I didn't see much of New Mexico, as it was dark. I can see it tomorrow. I enjoyed the little drive I had in New Mexico. Shortly after I crossed the state line there was a sign stating Mountain Standard Time. Hour gained instantly. Sweet! Then the speed limit changed to 75mph! I was so excited. I haven't gone 75mph in almost 2 months!! Okay, that sentence may have a couple...uh...half-truths, but you catch my drift.

I'm staying at a La Quinta tonight in Santa Rosa, NM. Highly recommended! I have enjoyed my stays at La Quintas. Side note - tonight, I found out it is pronounced La Keenta. I never was very good with Spanish.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling...

2008-11-03T21:03:00.005-07:00

November 3 (Day 50)

So, not only is today day 50, but I also have driven over 10,000 miles all around this beautiful country of the USA!!! I'm pretty excited about that...not sure my car is! Tennessee really is a beautiful state. I drove through part of Memphis and saw the University. It looks like a castle. It was cool. FYI - Interstate 40 in Tennessee is patrolled heavily. Although, they seem to be okay as long as you're not going over 80 in a 70mph zone.

Arkansas had less trees. It had tons of winding roads. I think I got motion sick, because I was getting nauseous! I wasn't sure if it was the roads or because I've been sick. There was a lot of space between towns, until I headed south to Fort Smith. It was almost like being in Wyoming, except with more trees! It was kind of entertaining, when I entered Arkansas there was a sign saying speed limits were strictly enforced, but I saw maybe one police officer the whole trip. And I've almost driven through the whole state. Also, the roads were really rough for awhile, which could also lead to motion sickness. I'm not too impressed with Arkansas. However, when I made it to Fort Smith, the people were really friendly. That's always a bonus!

I'm staying at a Super 8 in Fort Smith, AR. The only complaint I have is that the pillows are not big and fluffy. It is so much better than the hotel last night!! It's clean and the air conditioner works great!! Even better, it is less expensive! Of course, I had to do a little negotiating to get the price down. I was pleasantly surprised. From my experience, Super 8s are hit or miss. This is a good one.

Headed West

2008-11-02T19:09:00.005-07:00

November 2 (Day 49)

Today, I felt better. My stomach still hurt, but I figured I would be okay to hit the road. I decided to program the GPS to the Grand Canyon. I figured I could stop at places along the way if I wanted. My main goal is to get to Vegas to see my parents! And, of course, see Vegas, because I love that city!

So, today was a day of driving. Northwestern Georgia and Tennessee are beautiful!! There was so much foliage and so many colors! Atlanta and the surrounding areas was insane! There were 7 lanes of traffic going one way. I almost smashed into a car in front of me, because I wasn't paying attention and they stopped. It wasn't even rush hour! Luckily, my brakes work well and I stopped in time! My stomach was in my throat!

When I got to Tennessee there was a mountain. It made me miss the west. I was so excited to enter the Central Time Zone, because it meant I was closer to the west. I have spent so much time in the east, I'm ready for a change!!

I drove as far as Nashville, TN. I got a hotel that is famous for its guitar-shaped pool - The Ramada Limited! It's pretty cool. I was not too impressed with the room though. It was dirty. I thought about complaining, but I didn't want to move my things again!! The sheets are clean, so it'll work for one night. So here's a pic, so you can say you've seen the pool and won't have to stay here!

The Famous Pool

Pics of LP Field - Home of the Titans

Sick on All Saint's Day

2008-11-02T19:06:00.003-07:00

November 1 (Day 48)

I woke up sicker than the day before. My congestion was better, but I was sick to my stomach. I spent most the day sleeping, trying to get better. I'm disappointed I didn't get to see Savannah, but I figure it will be there another time. It probably will be better to see it with someone else anyway! I remembered the time change!!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T22:18:00.006-06:00

October 31 (Day 47)

When I woke up my sore throat was gone, but my chest hurt. I was so congested. I had to be out of the hotel room in a half hour, so I got my things together and left. I decided to skip Key West and head to Savannah, GA. I decided that if I could make it to Savannah by the evening, I would be able to stay two nights. Then I would be able to sleep and hopefully get better! So, I headed north.

The drive was beautiful. The sky would change from sunny to partly cloudy. Every once in awhile some rain would fall. The palm trees passed by and then eventually stopped passing altogether. Before the palm trees disappeared I decided to take a detour. I kept seeing signs for Cocoa Beach, which so happens to be my friend's favorite beach. We didn't have time to go there, so I decided I needed to check it out. It was absolutely beautiful! The water went on and on. I love the ocean! I didn't stay long, because I didn't feel well.

Cocoa Beach

Waves of the Ocean

Below is a little bird that was hilarious to watch. It would run from the waves, then follow them back out seeing what they washed up. He was a cute little guy.

A drawbridge I had to wait for

The drive to Savannah seemed to take forever! I didn't know if I was going to make it. I felt sicker and sicker. Each mile felt like it took an hour to pass. I finally arrived in Savannah only to find most of the hotels were booked because of college homecoming. A woman overheard a hotel employee tell me there was no vacancy. She stopped me outside and told me she had reservations she wasn't going to use. She told me to see if I could have her room at the Fairfield Inn. I thought that was really nice. I went to the hotel and they had vacancy. So, I took the room and found the closest restaurant that was open...Denny's.

I looked online to see what there was to do in Savannah, GA. Apparently Savannah was named America's most haunted city (or one of them). They had many ghost tours. I decided if I felt better that is what I'd do the next day.

Headed South

2008-10-31T22:06:00.005-06:00

October 30 (Day 46)

So, I woke up after sleeping so wonderfully, and I felt ill. My throat hurt and I was coughing. The more I moved and woke up, the worse I began to feel. I packed my things up, said my goodbyes, and headed south. I was headed to Key West. I kept feeling worse and worse. I thought about how long it would take to get to Key West. I decided Miami was probably a better place to go, because the drive was shorter. It also would be a more happening place, if I felt like going out on the town.

So I arrived in Miami around 3pm or 4pm. It was beautiful! There was water all around me. I went to Miami Beach (the town, not an actual beach) and then decided I wanted to be closer to Miami's South Beach. I had a coupon for a hotel between Miami's north and south beaches. It seemed like the perfect place to be! There was vacancy, and the hotel was beautiful! It had a great view. Luckily, the view was great, because I did not feel like going anywhere! I did a load of laundry. The dryer went through three cycles before the clothes were finally dry. Then I went to sleep and hoped I would feel better in the morning.

Random Thought: I'm told Burger King does not have fry sauce in the east. I don't know if it's just Florida or the entire east coast. Word on the street is that they have never even heard of it!!! How bizarre!

Miami Views

Note: I didn't really see a skyline. There were groups of tall buildings all around, so I'm not sure what would qualify as their skyline.

Sea World Orlando

2008-10-29T20:52:00.014-06:00

October 29 (Day 45)

We went to Sea World. I had never been there. My friend works at Sea World, so we got some pretty sweet deals. Our first stop was the dolphins. They had a place where you could feed them and another area where you could watch them swim. There was nothing preventing you from touching them or their water. The dolphins would swim by and splash around. Then one dolphin came to where I was and put its head out of the water. It stayed there for awhile, and I was able to pet it. I was a little nervous, because it could've easily bitten me, but it didn't. One dolphin tried to take a guy's camera. It had the camera strap in its mouth! It was spectacular!!

We went on Kraken, the roller coaster at Sea World. It was the first roller coaster I had ever been on. It was a little intense. I couldn't tell which way was up or down, so I just shut my eyes. My body was flipped every which way and at times I thought I was going to fly out of my seat. We had so much fun!

I saw lots of different animals. I saw dolphins, whales, birds, seals, sea lions, a walrus, a polar bear, penguins, dogs, and cats to name some. I also saw the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. I saw many of the animals in the shows they have.

The first show I went to was Pets Ahoy. There were dogs, cats, geese, birds, a pig, and a rat in the show. All the animals had been rescued from an animal shelter, humane society, or rescue agency and trained. The stage was set up like a little town. The animals would do tricks and make changes on the stage. They even did things humans would do. For example, one of the dogs called his girlfriend, got money from the ATM, and bought flowers. It was a really cute show!

The second show I went to was the show with dolphins. The dolphins did all sorts of neat tricks. They are very talented creatures. There were also trapeze artists and birds. It was an exciting show. At the end there were parrots flying around. The trainer gave them the sign to land and one's wing brushed against my head. It caught me by surprise, but I felt special.

The last show was the show with killer whales. They had little killer whales and a huge one! The show is called Believe. They talk a lot about believing in your dreams. It was kind of cool. The whales did a lot of splashing! We were a few rows up from where they were splashing. This was fortunate as it was only in the 50s or low 60s. It was unusually cold in Florida!! The animals really were amazing!

I also went on the Wild Arctic. It is a helicopter simulator ride. It takes you through the arctic. There are many different animals you see on the screen. The ride gets a little rough! It take you to the base, where you can see animals "in the fur." That is where I saw the polar bear, beluga whales, and the walrus.

Sea World was awesome!! I had so much fun. We were starving after all the excitement we experienced, so we went to the Cracker Barrel. I had never been to a Cracker Barrel (that I remember). They had great food and great service! It was a great end to the day!

Orlando, FL

2008-10-29T00:37:00.008-06:00

October 28th (Day 44)

The drive to Orlando went by really fast. It took a little less than two hours to make it to my friend's house, which is technically in Kissimmee. He lives in a gated community and getting in was a bit difficult. The directions on the screen for the directory said to press # to begin, but when I pressed it, it went blank. I had never used one of those things and had absolutely no clue how to use it. I finally found the directory but couldn't figure out how to scroll down. A guy who was leaving the gated community told me to type in some numbers to get it to open. It didn't work. Then, another guy stopped and told me to put in his code. He waited for the gate to open. I don't know if the code worked or if the person who was coming in behind me opened the gate, but it opened. It was crazy!

We went to a Chinese buffet for lunch. It was nice. It was a lot like the Dragon Wall in Casper but cleaner. They had good food but poor service. It was convenient, because it was near downtown Disney, which I went to! Downtown Disney was a lot of stores and vendors and a few restaurants. I went to a Planet Hollywood, House of Blues, and Virgin Records store. I also finally got to go to a Rainforest Cafe!! We only had drinks, because we had just eaten, but I still got the experience. I had some frozen drink with vodka in a light-up souvenir cup! All I could taste was vodka the first few drinks. It was strong!

There were lots of Disney stores. There was even a part of the big Disney store where you could have your hair done like a princess. I assume this is for young girls, but I bet they'd do it for adults. It's all about making money. Well, and of course the magic! :) There was also a lego store with giant creations made completely from legos, much like the Mall of America. The coolest creations were the tourists made from legos.

We went to Orlando's Ale House for dinner. My friend described it as an Outback with pool tables. I think that's a pretty accurate description. I would also add that instead of having lots of steaks on the menu like Outback, they have lots of seafood. We had some crab and mozzarella sticks. It was an interesting combination.

After dinner we headed to Revolution. It was the first gay bar I had been to. It was pretty slow there, because the talent show wasn't until midnight. From my understanding, the talent show is made up of drag queens. There were a few drag queens while we were there. We left before the talent show. The weirdest thing for me was that while there were separate bathrooms for men and women, no one paid attention to it. They were pretty much co-ed.

Headed to Florida

2008-10-27T23:53:00.005-06:00

October 27 (Day 43)

My friends treated me to breakfast at a local restaurant. I had grits for the first time. I wasn't too impressed. I think they may be an acquired taste. I wasn't really sure what grits were until I made it to North Carolina. They were described to me as being like cream of wheat but with corn. I like cream of wheat better!

It was getting later in the morning and I needed to get on the road. I made some adjustments with my supplies, restocked my overnight bags, and said my goodbyes. I wanted to get as close to Orlando as possible.

The drive was long. I went through the rest of North Carolina and part of Georgia. I stopped at a gas station in Georgia and tried to hold the door open for a guy. He told me I wasn't going to hold the door open for him. He was a southern gentleman. It's definitely a different culture in the south. I saw the Coosawhatchie River. I only remember that, because the name seemed so odd to me! There wasn't much else that I saw. Pretty much just cars, rivers, and trees. There also were many clouds. It was a beautiful drive, just not much to report!

I finally crossed the state line into Florida around 9pm or 10pm. I kept driving until about 11pm and stayed at a Super 8. After staying in Comfort Inns and Days Inns, Super 8 was disappointing. It was also kind of creepy, but it was reasonably priced, and I was tired! I was in Ormond Beach, a little less than 100 miles from Orlando.

Oriental, NC

2008-10-26T20:26:00.007-06:00

October 26 (Day 42)

Today was a beautiful day! It was warm and the sun was shining. Everyone decided to sleep in, because it was a late night. We walked around the town for a bit. We went to a little store that had souvenirs. I found a snow globe. I haven't been able to get a snow globe from every state, but I've been trying! I learned about the "sound." There are rocks that protect the boats in the marina from wind. The sound is beyond the rocks. I also got on a sailboat. It is not as easy as it looks. Apparently, many people fall in the water when trying to get on or off the boat. I didn't! It is also difficult to walk around on the boat. There isn't much space!

We had to be to an oyster bake at 3pm, so we headed back to the house to regroup. The neighbor came over with wine, so we had a glass and chatted a bit. We were running late, so we finished the wine and headed out. On the way, we stopped at a cotton field, because I had never seen cotton growing. Unfortunately, most of it had been cut down, but there was still some around. I was able to see the different stages of cotton growing. Some of the cotton was still in the buds, some were partially bloomed, and some had completely bloomed. It was pretty cool.

I ate my first oyster at the oyster bake. The oysters had been steamed, although some people were eating them raw. I liked the oysters better on crackers. Some of the oysters had small crabs in them. I was told they were delicacies. One of my oysters had a crab in it, so I ate it. The slimy oyster, kinda ruined it for me. It wasn't as cooked as the oysters I ate previously.

We went to the tiki bar, because I'm told it's a "must" in the south. Unfortunately, it was closed. So, we went to a bar and restaurant on the same property to see if they had sweet tea...another "must" in the south. They did, and it was so good! I liked it with and without the lemon. I think I would have to say I liked it more without the lemon, but I'm not really a lemon kind of person.

Lounging on the sailboat

The oyster and crab

Views of Oriental

Flying Solo

2008-10-26T00:47:00.006-06:00

October 25, 2008 (Day 41)

I brought my aunt to the airport. There was a small drizzle on the way there. It was so dark, it was hard to see anything! I don't remember seeing any street lights. It made for a rough drive. It was even worse driving back to the hotel. It was raining harder, there was more traffic, and I got lost a few times. I finally made it back to the hotel and went back to the room for a few more hours of sleep before I headed to North Carolina.

The drive out of the DC area was horrible! As always the traffic was heavy. It was raining so hard it was difficult to see in front of me. The heavy rained probably lasted for about 10 miles. As I got closer to North Carolina the rain became less and less and the sun started revealing itself. I finally reached Oriental, NC at about 7pm.

I went to a fundraiser and listened to live music. I stayed with friends, one of which was in the band that played at the fundraiser. It was a great time. I met a lot of really nice people. After the fundraiser I spent some time talking with my friends. It was great to catch up! We had some great conversations! As I was going to the place I was going to be sleeping, I was informed that cockroaches are a normal thing in houses and restaurants in the south. Apparently so are green lizards and giant spiders the size of rats, although they usually stay outside. I'm told the rats are the size of small cats. Everything is bigger here, including the cockroaches. Although in the south cockroaches are called waterbugs, apparently because they are so common and "cockroach" sounds dirty. And yes, I saw a cockroach for the first time and it was the biggest bug I have ever seen. It was at least two to three inches in length! I'm really over the bugs! My friend, and her friends, tell me I should move to Oriental. It's a nice town. I like the attitude, but the bugs are pretty much a deal breaker. I couldn't live with cockroaches in my house!

I was told cockroaches avoid people and will not enter a room with the lights on and a person in it, so I slept with the lights on. A cockroach was still there, but at least it was only one. Apparently, there were more in other rooms of the house. Eww...it creeps me out.

Leaving DC tomorrow

2008-10-24T17:15:00.004-06:00

Friday October 24 (Day 40)

The last two days were not very eventful. On Wednesday, we were still in DC. We were so tired from the day before we decided not to go sightseeing. We both needed a day of relaxation, so we stayed in the hotel for most of the day, slept, and then went to Outback for dinner.

Thursday we checked out of the hotel and found a place to get our hair done. Aunt Wanda's hair looks great! Mine is okay, not completely up to my standards but is presentable. Then we headed to Stafford, VA to meet some of my uncle's family. We had a great time there! There were four dogs there, and I had so much fun with them. I miss my puppy. :( It was nice to have some animal attention.

Today, we spent some more time with the family and then headed to Arlington Cemetery. My uncle's father and grandparents are buried there, so we found their headstones. We also saw the Changing of the Guards Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown. That was really cool. I was also able to see a ceremony they did after the changing of the guards, where they changed the wreath in front of the tomb. It was a heart-touching ceremony. We did a lot of walking around the cemetery to find the headstones. Aunt Wanda was pretty much done walking. We were going to drive by some of the highlights of DC like the white house, but it is insane driving around DC!! So we skipped it and found the hotel. I was parking my car at the hotel when a woman asked if I was from Casper. I was surprised, because it was not something I expected to hear and answered yes. She told me she and her family were from Worland. They had just gotten back from Arlington Cemetery where they had attended a funeral. What a small world!

The tomb

Changing of the Guards

Washington D.C. Day 1

2008-10-21T19:47:00.008-06:00

Washington D.C. is amazing!! There are so many things to see. We caught the shuttle from the hotel to the metrorail. We figured out where we were going and how to use the metrorail and headed to downtown DC. I think my aunt described it best when she said the metrorail is like a mix of a train, elevated train and subway. That thing goes everywhere! We looked into a couple tours and decided to use the double-decker bus tour. It was a great deal for two days.

We stayed on the bus the entire loop and discussed where we wanted to stop when we rode again. We drove by the Capital Building, the White house from a distance, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean Memorial, WWII Memorial, many Smithsonian museums, and many buildings. We also saw the house where Lincoln died and the Ford Theater.

The White House

Jefferson Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

The Nation's Capital

Wyoming Flag Outside the Capital Building

The House Where Lincoln Died Sign

The Actual House

We spent a few hours at the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. There were so many things to do there. They had many interactive things like cracking a safe and standing in a line-up. At the end there were things to do that you would do in a crime lab like match fingerprints and ballistics. There was information about punishment in the early days, which was usually torture methods. One guy was punished for kissing his wife on Sunday. They talked about different types of crime from murders to white collar crimes committed by the mob. There was information about the plausibility of Hollywood images of crime and punishment. My favorite part was the info about K9 units and the CSI set-up. It was definitely worth the admission charge. We even got our picture taken with McGruff the Crime Dog. Not everybody was lucky enough!

Tomorrow we plan on seeing more of DC, including the White House and Arlington Cemetery, and getting up close to the memorials and monuments! If we have time we'll check out some of the museums. We're told all the Smithsonian museums have no admission fee!

Traveling to Washington D.C.

2008-10-20T21:52:00.004-06:00

Before we left Philadelphia, we used the GPS to find a post office, so I could mail my absentee ballot. The GPS took us to what appeared to be a mail jail. There were tall fences and the building was huge. We went in to see where we were. There were rotating doors with thick bars. We apparently were at a bulk mailing station and it was for employees. Luckily, the people were very nice and informed us where we could mail a letter.

We arrived in Washington D.C. today. It was a nice drive. We had to go through Delaware and managed to find some souvenirs! We're staying in a hotel in Capital Heights, MD. It's only a few miles from downtown D.C. We'll take a shuttle to the metro tomorrow. We're planning on finding a tour to take us to all the hot spots. There are so many things to see!

We were going to have dinner at an Irish Pub. We spent over an hour trying to find the place. The drive was insane. There were two lane streets (four if you count the traffic going the other way), but one was used for parking, so we really only had half a lane. I had never seen anything like it! Then we were following a car through a rotary, then it just stopped. Apparently, he decided that's where he was going to park. The GPS wasn't much help. We were so lost. I'm still not sure where we were. We were in some bad neighborhoods. I think the breaking point was when we saw a drunk guy stumbling across the crosswalk in soiled pants. We programmed the GPS to take us back to the hotel! We made it and ordered delivery. I'm excited to explore DC tomorrow!

Philadelphia, PA

2008-10-19T22:11:00.007-06:00

The hotel we stayed at in Philadelphia was very nice. It was nice to have soft pillows! It’s amazing how that makes a difference in one’s sleep. We went to a diner not too far from the hotel. The portions were huge! I had the biggest slices of French toast I have ever seen! They probably were an inch to an inch and a half thick! It was also very good.

We spent the day in Philly. We saw so many things! We took the double-decker bus tour. We say Betsy Ross’ house. Contrary to popular belief she did not design the first flag, although it was sewn in her shop. We also saw the steps “Rocky” trained on. Apparently, Sylvester Stalone’s stunt double did most of the work. It is said he only ran up eight of the steps.

Betsy Ross House

We were told the shutters on houses were used when tax collectors came. When they would see the collectors, people would shut the shutters. The more windows you had, the more taxes you paid. Not sure how the shutters did such a good job hiding the windows, but apparently the tax collectors were easily fooled. Also the number of steps outside your house was an indication of wealth. This is where the phrase “stepping up” came from. On a side note, the tour guide in Salem, MA stated that the more nails that were in your door in the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th centuries indicated more wealth. Status symbols certainly have changed!

There was a beautiful fountain in Love Park. They colored it pink in celebration of breast cancer awareness month. Very cool. We stopped at Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River. There were sailboats and a couple ships on the river.

The architecture in Philadelphia is amazing! We saw the first building designed by a woman. The tour guide commented that only a woman would have designed so many windows in one building! City Hall was once the tallest building, and there was an agreement that no one would build taller buildings. Someone broke the agreement and then other buildings followed. The tour guide says this is why Philadelphia sports teams don’t win championship games. I believe he called it the Penn curse.

The first building designed by a woman

Part of City Hall

There was a statue of Lincoln signing something with a pen in his right hand. However, Lincoln was left-handed. Minor error. Haha. We also saw the playground where the opening credits for Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was filmed.

Of course, one of the main attractions of Philly is the Liberty Bell. The display was awesome! There were guards everywhere! We were searched before we could enter. They had a movie that talked about the history of the Liberty Bell along with displays about the history. There was a piece that was supposed to feel like the inscription on the bell that you could feel. This was to reduce the temptation to touch the actual bell. I would advise against touching the Liberty Bell. You would probably be tackled! The whole exhibit was very informative. I never realized how important the Liberty Bell is to people in other countries! It is a sign of our Liberty. I feel blessed to have seen it!

Liberty Bell

Intercourse, PA

2008-10-19T21:52:00.003-06:00

We had a good time in Intercourse, PA. Intercourse is an Amish community. We found the little village they have shops and restaurants in. It sort of looked like an outdoor shopping area. I was surprised how commercial the area was. A lot of the items for sale were brand names. I was slightly disappointed. I enjoyed the ride to the village more. I saw horses and buggies. There was a woman mowing her lawn with one of those really old, round mowers – sort of shaped like a barrel. There were men in the fields; one was using what appeared to be oxen, plowing the fields. We did see some shops that had things that were made by the locals. There was beautiful furniture in a furniture store. The woodwork was breathtaking! Another shop had homemade candles, lamps, furniture, rugs, and paintings. The paintings were very nice. I think those shops were better than what we saw in the village. After visiting Intercourse, we decided to see Delaware. Before me made it to DE we saw a place to get our nails done, so we stopped. By the time we made it to DE it was dark, so we didn’t really see much of DE, but we were there!

A Little About the Drive from MA to NJ

2008-10-18T22:45:00.002-06:00

So, we tried to avoid Boston's rush hour and did a good job, because we didn't hit any stop and go traffic. I decided we should just keep driving to our next destination, because it would be best to go through New York City traffic at night. We hit NYC around 10pm and the traffic was crazy! Most of the signs giving directions were so faded you couldn't read them. Everything was marked so horribly! There were lanes and exits everywhere. The drivers were insane! I tried to get over once, had plenty of room, so I went to get in the lane and a limo sped up and honked at me. It wouldn't let me in! They are not very nice drivers. I thought the limo was going to take me out! New Jersey wasn't as bad, but still not great. NYC and New Jersey toll workers were rude. It made for an interesting night. I think those are the highlights of the drive to MA to NJ! NYC is the worst city to drive in! Aunt Wanda seconds that!

Atlantic City, NJ

2008-10-17T22:48:00.006-06:00

I've heard some disappointment about not posting the number of days I've been on the road, which has been difficult for me to track and post on these blogs. It's hard enough for me to keep track of the day and date, let alone the number of days I've been on the road! So for those of you who want to know, this is day 33 of the trip.

Since I've been in the east I have not had yellow cheese. All cheese has been white. So,

THE THOUGHT OF THE DAY IS: Do they have colored cheese in the east?

I'm currently in Atlantic City, NJ. I'm staying at the Quality Inn in West Atlantic City. This is a great hotel. The staff is wonderful! The rooms are nice. My only complaint is that the pillows are hard. However, I would recommend this hotel. It's not too far from the boardwalk. We took a cab. The cost was about $25.

It was a great day in Atlantic City! Well, I guess it was an afternoon, as I slept in! We walked the boardwalk. There were a lot of interesting people on the boardwalk. Some people were singing and playing music for money. One person was talking to herself and shaking her change cup. A few other people were standing on the boardwalk with missing limbs, trying to get some money. There were what appeared to be drunk people sleeping on benches and wandering around. Then there were tourists and people just out to have a good time. The most interesting beggar I saw was a woman who was yelling at this guy, "Not now, I'm trying to make money." Then she yelled down the boardwalk, "Steve, tell him not right now. I'm trying to make some money." I don't know what the guy wanted from her at that moment, but it was amusing. Then she started singing some song that sounded horrible. I laughed so hard.

I spent some time walking along the beach. Watching the waves and letting the water from the Atlantic Ocean hit my hands. The view was amazing. All the chaos on the boardwalk was completely washed away as I watched the ocean!

There was a lot to see on the boardwalk. There were tons of shops, restaurants, psychics, and massage shops. Then there were the casinos. They had big flashing signs. They certainly could grab your attention. We had lunch at a nice little restaurant. Then we walked some more. Night came and we watched as the boardwalk died down and more...we'll stick with the term interesting people...came out. We decided it was time to go somewhere with more people. Thus, it was time to gamble!!! I was off to a great start! I left with $24 more dollars than I walked in with. That was at the Trump Taj Mahal. I'm pleased to say I took Trump's money. Haha. Then we went to another casino and I lost my winnings, but I still walked out ahead. It may have only been $4, but I was still a winner! It really was a lot of fun on the boardwalk and of course, gambling!

Sleeping it off

The Atlantic Ocean

Seashells are Everywhere!

Trump is everywhere on the boardwalk!

This is the casino that was going to give me money to listen to their timeshare sales pitch, but apparently you have to make at least $60k to hear it. Haha.

We also went to the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum! It was awesome!

The Museum

Ripley Hologram

Real Shrunken Head

The First Count Dracula

Salem, MA

2008-10-17T21:51:00.008-06:00

Salem was so amazing!! The people were very friendly there. They also drove better than in Boston! I used a parking meter for the first time. It's amazing what you miss out on when you live in WY!

We were lost in Salem for a bit. We drove around not really sure where we were going. We stopped at Salem's pizza spot. I don't quite remember the name, but I know it had Salem and pizza in it! We had turkey club wraps. They were huge and extremely delicious!

We then came upon the House of Seven Gables. We took a tour of the house, which was quite small. The ceilings were very low. That was how they kept houses warm centuries ago. We also went through a secret passageway. It was so tiny with steep stairs! Luckily, the walls would probably catch you if you fell, because it was that tight in the area. You also had to watch you're head. The walls were low in some areas. We couldn't take any pictures of the inside, so I only have pictures of the outside. We also saw the house where Nathaniel Hawthorne was born. The house was originally a couple blocks away from the House of Seven Gables, but they moved it to preserve it. Nathaniel Hawthorne only lived there until he was about 4 years old. We also learned that Hawthorne never saw the House of Seven Gables. He was only told about by his cousin, who owned the house. When she lived in it there were only three gables. It started out with two gables. Then when the original owners had more money they slowly added on to it. Then they removed a section of the house, because it was more fashionable - reducing the number of gables. The house was restored to seven gables when it was to be used for tours.

The House of Seven Gables

The Birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne

Behind the House of Seven Gables

We finally found the tourist part of town, which had a wide range of activities. We went through two tours. One was a self-guided tour of a wax museum, talking a little bit about the history of Salem, primarily about the witch trials. I think I had seen all of the things they displayed in a movie. It wasn't worth the entrance fee.

The second tour was at the witch's village. It was a short tour about the history of witchcraft and present day witches. It turned out they provided more history about Salem than the wax museum. Salem was the first harbor city. They had many pirates. Witches apparently did not live there until about 30 years ago. Even though their symbol for the city is a witch riding a broom. Apparently, it is also the school mascot and on all the police cars. The symbol is everywhere in the city!

There is an interesting story behind the association between witches and brooms. The people who would use natural healing methods from their homes because traditional medicines were too expensive were considered witches. These people, usually women, would use a broom to brush dirt over seeds, so they would grow. When the moon would become full they would go to their seeds and hold their broom up in front of them or between their legs and jump. They believed the higher they would jump, the taller their crops would grow. Thus, in the middle of the night under the glow of the full moon, people who passed by thought the witches were flying on the broom. I asked our entertaining tour guide, Tony, to demonstrate this for us. He did, and I can see how one could make this mistake. I also learned that people dressed up in costumes of what they wanted to be in the upcoming year on Halloween. I think I'll rethink my costumes in the future!

Dragons are a sign of protection. It's said you can rub their bellies for good luck. We rubbed his.

We also went through a haunted house. As we entered, a man led us in. He yelled, "Fresh meat!!" He then disappeared. I hadn't been in a haunted house since I was a child, so I was a little nervous, especially after we watched a special on the scariest haunted houses on the travel channel. As we walked through things would jump out and people came behind me making a snorting noise. That sounds funny and it was, but for some reason I screamed every time! They continued picking on me, because I clearly had a better reaction than Aunt Wanda who was laughing hysterically. She even had to stop, because she was laughing so hard. I was laughing between my screams. It was hilarious. We had so much fun!! When we walked back by a few minutes later, one of the guys giggled as we walked by. I think I amused them as much as they amused me!

Salem was a blast! I'm sure we didn't get to see as much as we should've, but when you're on a budget (both time and money) you can only see so much! So, we decided we would head to Intercourse, PA. After driving for a few hours, I talked to my mother who was confused as to why we were going to Intercourse before Atlantic City, NJ. It made sense to me at the time I made the plan, but I decided to consult the atlas, and it appeared it didn't really matter if we went to Intercourse, PA or Atlantic City first. But overall, it looked like we might save time if we went to Atlantic City first, so we changed our destination. We finally got dinner, found a hotel, and made it to the room at 2am. We decided to stay 2 nights, so we could sleep in and party it up in the afternoon/evening.

Boston, MA

2008-10-15T21:41:00.003-06:00

We didn't do much today. I slept in as long as I could before we had to be checked out. We hit the road and headed to Massachusetts. While in Maine, I saw a Subaru dealership and stopped to see if they could get my car in for an oil change. Of course, they couldn't get it in until later, so we decided to skip it. I'll find a place somewhere else. We stopped at a service plaza in Maine and apparently it was a "full service" station. I didn't know it, so when a scruffy looking guy came up to me, I was a little hesitant. I'm not used to having people fill up my tank. Then he topped it off, which is something you're apparently not supposed to do, so I was annoyed. I also had to clean my windshield, which isn't a big deal, but I don't know why they even bother with the whole "full service" thing. It really isn't. It's more of a pain.

Anyway, as we got closer to New Hampshire the trees became more colorful. It fascinates me how different the scenery is in different states. It's almost like you can tell when you hit a different state. A little information for you - the rest stops in Maine are not that great. They have running water, but they are not pleasant stops.

So, we made it to Massachusetts. We hit rush hour. The traffic was insane! We were going to check Salem out but decided to just head to the hotel, because the traffic was ridiculous! We stopped at a gas station, so I could program the GPS to a hotel we had a coupon for. I selected the first hotel with the name. We let the GPS lead the way. The traffic got worse and worse. Cars and people were coming from every direction. There were no arrows for left turns, so people would just pull out in front of you. Aunt Wanda said the traffic was worse than Chicago. So, after going in circles (because I kept missing turns) we finally found the hotel. We went in and found out that practically everywhere was booked because Madonna was having a concert that night. We also learned we were at the wrong hotel and were actually in Boston! All I could do was laugh. I was driving all around Boston and didn't even know it. The hotel we were looking for was in Andover. The person at the front desk called the hotel we were looking for and had them hold a room for us, so we could get some food and miss the rest of rush hour.

I also saw a rotary for the first time. I think it may be the same thing as a giant roundabout. We had to dart into traffic to get to the other side. It was pretty intense. Luckily, I only had to go through that once!

So, we ate at 99. The food was good...service not so much. We made it to the right hotel and got a great deal with the coupon we had. You can find coupon books for hotels in the east in rest stops and welcome centers. Be sure to grab them. I made the mistake of passing up the first one I saw. Now I grab them all the time.

The hotel is the best I've stayed at yet! The beds are so comfortable! We're staying at a La Quinta. The staff is great! The pool was heated! They also have a fitness center. I spent a couple hours in the pool and hot tub. It was a good end to the day! We will check out Salem tomorrow!

Exploring Bar Harbor, Maine

2008-10-14T20:36:00.005-06:00

We went on a nature cruise on the Atlantic Ocean. It was beautiful! It got a little cold but the sights were amazing! We saw different animals including bald eagles, eider ducks (black and white ducks), and seals!! The seals were resting on the rocks and playing in the water. They were fun to watch! We also saw a lighthouse. Apparently it is battery and solar powered. No one lived at the lighthouse. We also saw many different islands and followed the coastline for a bit. There were some beautiful houses! We could also see parts of Acadia National Park, including Cadillac Mountain. The summit of Cadillac Mountain is the place to see the sunrise first! I learned there are a lot of evergreen trees here, because they survive better with the salt and the waxy needles keep moisture in. It was a beautiful and educational experience. The people were also very friendly!

After the cruise, we were going to take the trolley tour, but it was sold out. So, we decided to have some fresh Maine lobster. Aunt Wanda said it was good but not the best she had ever had. It was the first lobster I had ever eaten, so I had nothing to compare it to, but I thought it was good. Opening the lobster was interesting...and entertaining! It was a good thing we were in the corner. Sometimes, I lack elegance! The lobster liver weirded me out a bit and I refused to eat it. I also had a crab cake for the first time. It was good but a little too rich for my liking. Overall, the meal was good.

We decided it was still too early to go back to the hotel, so we decided to explore downtown a little more. Let me tell you, it is a tourist trap! Haha. Since the season was almost over practically every thing was on sale!! It's hard to pass up a good deal and I didn't pass up many! They had so many great things. There were a lot of items made by locals for sale. I found some great things...mostly tourist items! :)

We had a great time today! We're headed to Salem, MA tomorrow!

Ostrich

2008-10-13T21:42:00.002-06:00

I forgot a memorable moment in Bar Harbor! I had an ostrich burger. It was alright, a little dry. Beef is better. But I can say I had one!

Now in Bar Harbor, ME!!

2008-10-13T19:28:00.008-06:00

I am currently in the US city that sees the sun rise first in the states - Bar Harbor, ME! I probably won't be up to see the sunrise but I am here! Haha.

The drive to Maine was absolutely beautiful! We went through New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire! It was amazing how the colors of the trees changed. It was very colorful in upstate New York. Massachusetts lacked color, and New Hampshire was very colorful. When we hit Maine, it was still colorful, but the trees looked like the trees in woods, very tall trees with the leaves at the top.

Upstate New York

I decided I like the thruways/tollways, because you get a ticket and drive until you get off where you pay based on where you get off. There are service plazas along the thruway so you can get gas or food quite often and are very convenient. Plus, the roads are very nice! Maine apparently does not have thruways, as we stopped a few times to pay tolls.

We had to go through Salem, NH to get to Maine. It was a gorgeous town with beautiful old houses!! It was also very colorful. The New Hampshire license plates have "Live Free or Die" on them. I thought that was pretty cool.

We stopped for the night in South Portland, ME. The area looked like an industrial town. We didn't see much as we both weren't feeling well. Aunt Wanda caught the cold I had. We stayed at an Econo Lodge in South Portland. I believe it was the only one. I would not recommend it. The room was okay, but not too great. The staff was not very nice.

When we got to Bar Harbor, ME we decided to check out downtown Bar Harbor. We found a parking spot and were sitting in the car when two women walked by looked at Lock and started laughing. I later realized that they probably thought he was real! We searched for a hotel and finally found one that was reasonably priced. There are hotels everywhere, and they are all expensive. We also saw the Atlantic Ocean! It is beautiful! We both had psychic readings and did some shopping. Apparently, I have a broken aura or something that can be fixed for $230! I passed! We're planning on seeing more sights tomorrow and eating some fresh lobster!

Downtown Bar Harbor

Albany, NY

2008-10-11T20:15:00.003-06:00

We're in Albany, NY! The drive was so beautiful. The trees were so colorful and full!! I've come down with a cold, so I'm taking cold medicine and trying to pretend I'm not sick. We drove on a toll road on I90 east for a really long time. We stopped at some service stations. There was this dinosaur game at one, where you try to grab a toy with the dinosaur's mouth. I won two with one try! I won a lizard and a killer whale. I gave the whale to a little boy. He was scared of it. Haha. Maybe he'll like it one day. He looked like he was just over one year old. I kept the lizard, and we named him Lockhart, Lock for short. He is sitting on my dashboard watching over us as we continue our journey. We'll head further east tomorrow. Not sure where we will stop tomorrow.

We're currently at the Quality Inn near Albany. The price started out at $90, but I guess the front desk person was feeling nice, because the final price was $65! There is a pool and hot tub, so we spent some time there. We're currently doing laundry. I am very glad the hotel has laundry facilities!! I was getting low on clothes. We had dinner at a restaurant nearby. I had a filet mignon. After I ate it I thought about how I should've saved that meal for a time I wasn't sick, as my taste buds are a little off. It was still nice. We also found a mall, so Aunt Wanda could buy a swimsuit. Good thing we did, because the hot tub was so nice, especially after all the walking we did yesterday at Niagara Falls!

Lockhart AKA Lock

Hard Rock Cafe - Niagara Falls, NY

2008-10-10T23:23:00.005-06:00

While waiting to see the falls at night we explored the area. We stopped by the wax museum. I learned a lot about Niagara Falls. They had a whole wall about a 7 year old boy who was washed down Niagara River and fell down the falls...a 171 ft drop. He lived. They also had wax figures of famous people who have visited Niagara Falls including Julia Roberts, Mother Teresa, and Abraham Lincoln. We had a lot of fun!

We also went to the show at Hard Rock Cafe. Leslie Stanwyck, Delta Goodrem, and Emerson Hart played. We weren't able to see Emerson Hart play, as he was playing the same time the fireworks show was happening at the falls. The artists were very good. I really enjoyed Delta Goodrem. I actually almost met Emerson Hart. He was standing by me and I didn't know who he was. A few people came up to him and thanked him. I didn't eavesdrop enough to know for what. Then he was talking to someone he knew and I looked over at him and finally saw his face (since he was standing next to me I had only seen him from the side). I looked down at the flier which happened to be right beneath me and realized it was him. Then he was called over to do some publicity things. It was amusing to me!

Leslie Stanwyck

Delta Goodrem and guitarist Rich

Delta Goodrem

Some of the awesome cancer survivors of Hope Chest and the pink Fender I'm going to win

The Falls of Niagara Falls

2008-10-10T22:42:00.015-06:00

Today was an amazing day! We went to Niagara Falls State Park. The park itself is so green and beautiful. We decided to go on the Maid of the Mist boat tour. This is a must when seeing the falls! A lot of people told me the falls were prettier on the Canadian side. It appeared you could get a better view of the falls from that side. However, the Maid of the Mist tour gives you the full experience. You are at the bottom of the American and Horseshoe Falls! There is so much mist from the falling water. The falls spray you. You can hear the powerful rumble from the falls. The water looks like it's coming from the sky! The experience is completely breathtaking!

After the tour there was a place you could walk up right next to the falls. I would estimate I was only about 20 ft from the American Falls when I hiked to the top of the stairs. The humorous part was I had already thrown my poncho away that I was given for the boat tour, because I did not know about the path to the falls. So, I went without. I came down sopping wet. It was worth it. As I walked up the mist would hit me. Every once in awhile a gush of water would hit like when a whale splashes the crowd. I ended up buying some dry clothes, because mine wouldn't dry fast enough and I began to get cold. No regrets!

We also were able to see the falls at night. They light the falls with multiple colors every night and happened to have a fireworks show tonight.

Niagara Falls, NY

2008-10-09T21:46:00.003-06:00

We arrived in New York today. We had some New York Style pizza from Buzzy's. It was very good!! I spent some time online seeing the different attractions in the area. We rested up a little bit and then headed to Seneca Niagara Casino. It was so much fun!! I'm now a member of the players' club and can get $2 off the buffet! Haha! I cashed out with $23 of winnings, then decided to play some penny slots. I did fairly well, but eventually dropped down to only $10 of winnings, so I cashed out again. Unfortunately, I got bored waiting for the waitress to bring my water, so I put another $20 in and walked away with $0.15, not in winnings. So, basically I lost $10, bet hey it was a blast.

We then went to Hard Rock Cafe. We had a good time. The service was a little...well let's say lacking. However, the woman in the Gift Shop was amazing! She was so helpful and nice, and also a good saleswoman. I ended up spending a pretty penny. However, a couple of my items contributed to breast cancer foundations. I also joined the "All Access Club." It allows me to get money back and not have to wait in line. Not having to wait in line was a huge selling point for me (the free bag also contributed)! I also got a guitar pin exclusively for All Access Members. Seems like a good deal to me!

It's been a great day. I'm still learning how to stay on the correct side of the road. Haha. We do not have all the lanes that exist in cities in Wyoming. Usually it's one or two lanes. I'm learning I have to make wide turns, because I have to cross many lanes! It does make for good entertainment. I'll be a pro by the time I get home!

Tomorrow we'll see the falls. There is supposed to be a fireworks display tomorrow night above the falls. That should be incredible! Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Erie, PA

2008-10-08T23:29:00.003-06:00

Hello! Aunt Wanda and I are in Erie, PA. We had a wonderful dinner at Olive Garden! We've had a great time today. I have been feeling a little ill but making the best of it. I even managed to run over a median. Note: If you have to choose between going towards oncoming traffic or driving over the median...drive over the median!! It gave us both a good laugh! Of course, we had many of those today!

Tomorrow we'll head to Niagara Falls. It's only a couple hours away, so we will have plenty of time there! I am so excited!! I will post pics when I get them!

Also, Aunt Wanda and I were talking about Amish communities. She had been to one and said it was neat. We decided we want to go to one. So, the one that is near a place we'll be is in Intercourse, PA. We'll visit there when we visit Philadelphia. If nothing else the name is interesting! I'll keep you updated on that!

Change in Passengers

2008-10-07T21:28:00.002-06:00

I spent the last two nights in Wisconsin. I was staying with my awesome cousin in Kenosha. We saw some nice things in Kenosha like shops, the lake, and a coffee shop with an amazing view of the lake. We also spent some time in Waukegan. So, I had the chance to spend a couple days with family!

So, now I'm in Dearborn, MI...again. My cousin decided she did not want to continue with the trip, so I brought her home. While in Waukegan I picked up my aunt. She decided she would go on the trip with me for a couple weeks so I wouldn't be alone. I have a great family! So, we will head east tomorrow. We know we want to see Niagara falls, but I don't know where we'll stop along the way. We're just going with the flow...see where the wind blows us. We eventually will end up in Washington DC.

Interesting thought for the day: Truck drivers know where everything is

While driving down the interstate we pulled up beside a semi truck. My aunt rolled down her window and the driver rolled down his. She asked (well yelled the question) where the next rest stop was. We hadn't seen one for almost three hours. He said it was right beyond the Michigan border, which turned out to be one mile further. Sure enough, there was the rest stop. Apparently, the driver of the semi needed to stop too, making it even funnier as we followed behind him. Never have I seen any drivers/passengers talk to each other while driving on the interstate. It made me laugh!

So, my aunt and I will continue on tomorrow!

Czech/Polish Delicacies

2008-10-05T01:32:00.002-06:00

So I'm in Kenosha, WI tonight with two cousins now! We're staying with our wiser cousin, Angie. She's been a great tour guide thus far...and a great hostess!! (Thanks!) We were going to go to Chicago tomorrow, but decided we'd save money and explore Kenosha tomorrow. They have a free museum! After spending a fortune at Mall of America, saving money is in my best interest right now!

One last update for the night... Before we left Minneapolis we stopped at a restaurant called Kramarczuk. They serve Czech and Polish food. I decided to be adventurous and try foods I had never tried before. I'm glad I did. I don't remember exactly what I had. I couldn't pronounce them in the first place! I had crepes filled with meat and covered with cheese with a side of pasta salad. I also had some little dumpling type things, some were filled with meat and some with cheese and potatoes. It was all so good!! If you get the chance go there! It is worth it!

Thanks to Judie for recommending the restaurant, theater, and museum!!! I had an amazing time!

Mall of America

2008-10-05T01:04:00.005-06:00

So, I can finally say I've been to the Mall of America! It was huge!! I spent more money than I probably should have, but I got some great deals and cool stuff! Like I've said before, almost everything is negotiable! We explored three floors (we skipped the fourth floor, I think it was just a theater and a restaurant), the amusement park, and the underground aquarium. I even pet 3 types of sharks and 3 types of sting rays. The sting rays were so soft!! We spent 6 hours at the mall!! We had a late lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp. Always fun to go there! Here are some pics of the day!

The Lego Store (for you mom)

Lego Fido

Lego Dino

Giant Turtle at underground aquarium

Sea Horses

The guy who sold me red hair extensions

Suit at underground aquarium

Jellyfish at underground aquarium

Octopus

Before the mall (yes I know it's out of order!)

Minneapolis, MN

2008-10-04T23:42:00.004-06:00

Minneapolis is beautiful!!! It is one of the cleanest cities I have ever seen...okay it is probably the cleanest city ever! We actually stayed right outside of the city. We found the hotel then drove around the city for a bit. We were starved, so we ate at Ruby Tuesdays in one of the shopping centers near the hotel. We also walked around the shopping center a little bit. I found an awesome shirt that says, "Republicans screw better."

Then we checked out the Guthrie Theater. It is an amazing building!! We took the audio tour. Check it out!

Bridge pic from endless bridge

On the walls

Then we went a little further down the road to the Mill City Museum. Very cool! There was a video that gave a history about Minneapolis. There was also an elevator ride/tour. The tour was narrated by people who used to work in the mills. There was a live display on each of the floors and then we got to go out on the observation deck. There was a beautiful view of the Mississippi River! We learned a lot about the mills that Minneapolis is famous for!!

Here's what would be an awesome pic, if I could've got one that wasn't blurry. This was taken in downtown Minneapolis.

The Badlands in ND

2008-10-04T23:11:00.003-06:00

Ok, so there are some cool things to see in North Dakota!! I wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong impression. So here are some pics of the Badlands in ND!

A semi tried to kill me on this bridge. It was carrying a wide load and came speeding through the bridge. Needless to say I stopped and waited for him to clear the bridge!!

A little tidbit about North Dakota: It is a blue law state. All nonessential businesses must close from 12am on Sunday morning to Sunday at noon. Apparently this is to promote spending time with family and going to church. I didn't have to worry about it because I was never up that early. Haha! :)

Also Montana residents aren't charged sales tax at some stores in Williston, ND including Wal-mart. Heads up - they check IDs!

FREEDOM!!!

2008-10-03T00:35:00.003-06:00

My car is fixed. See for yourself:

We left Williston on Wednesday and drove through Melrose, MN. I had such a great time with my wonderful friends in Williston!! (Love you guys!) It was sad leaving, because they are awesome and were so good to us...well minus denting my car! :) We made it to Melrose at 12am. I saw a shooting star. Of course I made a wish! More details to come. I'm currently in Minneapolis! It is such an awesome city. I'll post pics soon.

Escaping North Dakota?

2008-09-30T20:12:00.002-06:00

So today is day 16 of the road trip for me. I'm going to try to see the Northern Lights. I am told they will be visible tonight. I hope I will be able to see them! Today, I was told my car should be done tomorrow at about 10am. I think they are still waiting on the part they had to order. I hope it arrives! We're headed to Minneapolis next. After some guidance from a friend, I have found out some of the best places to see in Minneapolis and am very excited!! I'm ready to hit the road. Now if only I had my car! :)

Driving Directions

2008-09-29T16:39:00.002-06:00

So, I've complained about driving directions from mapquest.com. I did some research to see if other websites appeared more accurate. Drum roll please-

My recommendation for driving directions is:

http://maps.google.com/

Devils Lake (Day 12)

2008-09-28T22:08:00.003-06:00

Devils Lake was huge!! I was told it makes Alcova Lake in Wyoming look like a pond. I'd agree with that statement. I didn't think Devils Lake was as beautiful as Alcova, in that I didn't see any cliffs, coves, or many different colors. There were some trees on the beach and leafless trees in the water (that's something I had never see before), but for the most part it was water as far as you could see. Some of the camping sites were surrounded by trees with changing leaves, making for some beautiful sights! Here are some pics from Devils Lake!

Prairie Village Museum (Day 12)

2008-09-28T20:06:00.013-06:00

The Prairie Village Museum (I also refer to it as the pioneer village) was an interesting place. They advertise that they have 30 buildings. I didn't keep a count, but we went through a lot of buildings! The first building was a variety of things. They had old cleaning machines, old avon bottles, key chains, and weapons. It was pretty much the miscellaneous building.

We then walked out to a village. It is probably something you would see in the late 1800s or early 1900s. There was the land office, a dress shop, a covered wagon, a train, western union, churches, toy store, school house, general store, dentist office, and many more!

They also had a display of quilts and military uniforms from WWI to Iraqi Freedom.

I enjoyed walking through the displays and learning about how things used to be. I really liked the old photos and the old fire truck!! If you get the chance stop by the Prairie Village Museum. You can get more info at http://www.prairievillagemuseum.com.

Devils Lake, ND to Williston, ND (Day 13)

2008-09-27T23:38:00.009-06:00

I slept horrible in the tiny tent and rocky, bumpy ground. My back hurt so much when I awoke! I remember waking up and opening up my eyes during the night to see if the sun was rising yet. I woke up many times to darkness. I guess I wanted the night to be over! I finally opened my eyes to light. My back was so sore. Amberle was sniffling and coughing. I think we both didn't get much sleep and were a little crabby. It made for a rough morning.

We knew that we were not staying at the same campsite, because if we stayed another night we were going to upgrade to non-primitive. When we were packing up the site, the gentlemen who gave us the kindling drove by, reversed, and stopped by to check on us. He offered to let us stay by their campfire that night. I told him I was unsure if we'd stay another night as Amberle appeared to be coming down with something. He told us he thought the campsite next to them was open and let us know we could join them around the fire. The invitation was so touching. We would've taken him up on it, but we decided it was in Amberle's best interest to get some cold medicine and go back to the warm house in Williston. So, we did. I had no complaints!

So, here I am in a nice warm house, sitting on a comfy couch, watching satellite TV, and enjoying Internet access! I mean camping would be nice, but this is good too! Amberle seems to be feeling better. Not so many sniffles and hardly any coughing. And as for me, I am ready to get a good night's sleep! I'll post pictures of the trip to Devils Lake as soon as I get them uploaded to my computer! Goodnight!

Minot, ND to Devils Lake, ND (Day 12)

2008-09-27T22:13:00.023-06:00

So, it was a nice stay at the hotel. The staff was great! The continental breakfast was not good at all. It was made up of cookies and dry donut bites. Thus I am recommending the Dakota Inn, but I wouldn't count on enjoying their breakfast. There is a restaurant next door. That may be better!

The drive to Devils Lake proved to show some true beauty in North Dakota. There were hills and trees covered with multiple colors identifying the beginning of autumn! We found the Geographic Center of North America and a pioneer village and museum! I'll post pictures soon and more details!

We wanted to make sure we made it to Devils Lake in plenty of time So, we kept our eyes on the time and made sure we'd be there by 5pm. It is a good thing we did as we ran into a few...well snags. I think we arrived around 4pm. The bait shop where you pay and register was closed. We only had the notes on some plywood. We had to fill out a little envelope and enclose the appropriate fees. I, always looking to save a buck, figured we didn't need electricity and water in our camping site. Thus we decided to get what was referred to as a "primitive" campsite. Figured no big deal. I was wrong! They really separate the primitive side from the non-primitive side!! Let's start with the bathrooms (very important to most women). On the primitive side you got what Amberle refers to the "black hole of death." It's one of those nasty old outhouses lit only by a skylight. No sinks, no running water. On the non-primitive side (for only $5 more) you get a nice well lit bathroom (with electricity) with flushing toilets and a shower!! These two facilities are separated practically only by a road.

My advice: Pay the extra $5 and DO NOT stay on the primitive side!!

Alright so, let's move on to the next snag. The bait shop was closed, so we could not purchase any firewood. I figured it wouldn't be a big deal, we hadn't even planned on having a fire. No worries, right? Wrong!

It was so cold!! Amberle came up with the bright idea to set twigs on fire. Now let me tell you it had rained not much earlier. The ground was wet and so were many of the twigs. I told her it would not work but she insisted. Let's just say I was right. Damp twigs don't light no matter how much paper you set on fire.

Oh, yes...it gets better. So as I'm lighting paper on fire, trying to create some kind of heat, my phone rings. The voice on the other end says, "OH THANK GOD!! LET ME TALK TO AMBERLE!" I knew something bad was about to happen. I handed the phone to Amberle and whispered, "You're in trouble. It's your mom." I could hear her mom yelling through the phone. I was not sure what she was yelling about. Amberle asked to take my cellphone to the bathroom (the ones on the non-primitive side). I asked why and found out she had left her cellphone in the bathroom when we had gone to see the difference between primitive and non-primitive bathrooms.

Apparently, Amberle's mother had called her phone and a strange woman answered. The woman had found the cellphone in the bathroom. So, we headed toward the bathroom to find the people who had the cellphone. A man flagged us down with a cellphone. We chatted a little and informed him of our master plan to light twigs on fire. He was kind enough to offer us kindling. We spent probably another hour trying to create fire, but it would not work. We finally gave up, layered on clothes, and climbed into our sleeping bags. We decided sleeping would be best as it was cold and we didn't want to get up again to use the non-primitive bathrooms, because it was a pretty good hike, especially in the dark!

Williston, ND to Minot, ND (Day 11)

2008-09-25T17:13:00.011-06:00

So mapquest was wrong again. (I'm trying to find a site that is more accurate. When I find it I will let you know!) It said it would take 4 hours to get to Devils Lake. Luckily, Micheal came home from lunch and informed us it was at least a six hour drive. Tom-tom seconded that information. He suggested we stay in Minot, which was about a two hour drive. We took his advice.

The drive to Minot was pretty boring. We got so bored we played the game where you list things following the alphabet that you would take on an island. We changed the game to the things we were taking on a road trip. Let me see if I can remember the list...

Alcohol, bags, car keys, dogs, an elephant, furniture, gas, an hourglass, ice, jolly ranchers, a kangaroo, lemurs, movies, a net, oil, pencils, quiznos employee, rainbow, sailboat, timber wood, umbrella, vixen, walkie-talkie, x-ray machine, yo-yo, and zamboni. Yay! We remembered!!

So, we made it to Minot. We drove around the town a little bit. It's a nice little town. We had dinner at a nice little restaurant - Ground Round Grill & Bar...yes it is Grill & Bar not Bar & Grill! The service was great and so was the food! I highly recommend it!

We then went to the Roosevelt Zoo. I haven't been to a zoo in a long time. It's kind of sad to see the animals behind bars and fences. I like the places where the animals have more space and their areas are built like their natural habitats! It was neat to see some of the animals. It was weird seeing deer and elk, because I see them so often (well deer more so than elk). Here are some of my favorite shots. Due to the explicit nature of some of these picture you will have to go to here and here to see the pics of the frisky turtles.

So overall, the zoo was nice. We found a nice hotel in Minot to spend the night at. It has a pool and a hot tub. That was a wonderful treat!! I'll give you my rating tomorrow, or whenever I can log in again. So tomorrow we're really going camping, maybe for two nights. It should be a blast!! I can't wait to see the lake. I hear it is huge! Here's hoping for good weather tomorrow (and the next day)!

Still in Williston (Day 10)

2008-09-24T19:27:00.004-06:00

So today was a day of relaxation. I pretty much did absolutely nothing. We did have an amazing dinner. I am loving these home cooked meals! I am feeling a little cabin fever. I have been thinking about all the things I thought I would have done or would be doing by now. There is just so much to do in the USA!! I've decided to take advantage of what I have around me. We're going to check out Minot tomorrow and then camp at Devils Lake. I think it will be a lot of fun. The news said the temp is supposed to get back into the 80s tomorrow, so it should be a nice day! I don't know how long we'll spend at Devils Lake. I'm pretty certain we will not have internet access, so my blog will be a little behind. I'll be sure to catch you up as soon as I can! I was told there is a winery near Devils Lake, so we may stop by there. I believe we will also be going by the Geographical Center of North America on our way to the lake. Sounds like there will be a lot to see!

A Few Thoughts (Day 9)

2008-09-23T20:29:00.004-06:00

So, I'm in Williston. The insurance company has approved the estimate I received from the body shop. Unfortunately, the part that has to be ordered will not arrive until Tuesday. I suppose this could be a good thing as my absentee ballot should arrive by then! There are a few places within decent driving distance I could go. My car doesn't go into the shop until Monday.

We were going to go to the International Peace Gardens, but unfortunately cannot. Apparently you need proof of US citizenship to go there. My cousin doesn't have ID. We thought we could stay on the US side, but it looks like you can't. It was a good thing we checked the website. My cousin also called US Customs to double check. So that trip is a no go.

We looked at some things around here. There are some state parks, national parks, and historical sites in the vicinity of North Dakota and Montana. I think we may check out Minot. They have a zoo. We may also go to Devil's Lake.

I've been enjoying this time to rest, eat home cooked meals, and practice patience and going with the flow. So far I think I have been doing well. I believe one of the greatest lessons I am learning is to relax.

Stuck in Williston (Day 8)

2008-09-22T21:06:00.005-06:00

So, I got a quote for my beautiful dent. It is going to be very expensive to fix! I'm currently awaiting for the insurance company to approve the repair. Unfortunately the closest place to get the part we need is in Minnesota, thus the earliest the part will get here is Friday. That was if we ordered it today and we couldn't because the insurance company hasn't approved it. I've never had to deal with accidents and insurance companies, especially in a small town! Try not to have an accident in a small town! However, we could be stuck in a hotel, wasting money, so I guess there is an up side. It looks like I'll be in Williston for another week, depending on how things go. Although, the people here have been very nice here and very helpful. Staying here also allows me to have an address to have my absentee ballot sent. Apparently, the ballots are being sent out Thursday and Friday, so hopefully mine will arrive while I am here. Cross your fingers!

There are NOT a lot of things to do here. We went to Wal-mart and Quiznos. We also did some babysitting. I thought about picking up a job for a week, but I'm really enjoying not working. Exploring is much more fun! Hopefully, tomorrow I'll get my car repairs figured out. Perhaps we'll go play putt-putt golf or go for a small road trip. We'll see!

Williston, ND (Day 7 - 9/21)

2008-09-21T20:36:00.004-06:00

I thought I'd have nothing to write about today, since it was going to be a low key day. I was wrong. My car now has a dent and I may be stuck in Williston for a couple more days, so it can be fixed. My friend accidentally backed into my car when backing out of the driveway. Apparently, he's not used to a car being there! Haha. All I could do was laugh. What else can you do?

The Dent

The Culprit

The damage I left (Yes, there isn't any)

On the brighter side we had a nice dinner at Gramma Sharon's Family Restaurant. If you're ever in Williston check it out! My friend gave me a jar of homemade apple butter! I love apple butter! We also gained access to my friends' wireless internet. We were having a few problems gaining access, but now we're on! That's pretty much the extend of my day. Tomorrow I'll be trying to get my car fixed!

Melrose, MN to Williston, ND (Day 6 - 9/20)

2008-09-20T23:02:00.005-06:00

So, it was a pleasant night at the hotel last night. I went out to get my camera last night and ran into an attractive man with an accent! We had a short chat. I was more interested in the fog that was hovering over the interstate (it was late and I was cold). It was pretty. When I checked out of the hotel, the guy who checked us in was there. He asked if we were going to come back through Melrose when we headed east. He said he'd give us the same deal. We'll see when we head back that way.

I love Minnesota and this is why:

The drive today was so long and boring! North Dakota is a lot of nothing! It was a lot of construction and road. I think the trip took about 10 or 11 hours. We stopped for a little site seeing and food, so we weren't on the road the whole time. The drive to Williston from Dickinson (I think that was the town we ate dinner in) was very entertaining. We went through the badlands. The formations are beautiful! When it got dark I started creating various stories about how we could die in podunk North Dakota. The best was the car being picked up by a tractor...you really had to be there. Then we got lost on a dirt road. Apparently my stories started getting to my cousin! My friend found us and led us to her house.

So, here I am in Williston, catching up with friends. I get to save a little money for a couple nights. That will help in the long run. Williston friends- Thank you for your hospitality!

I found out that the Geographic Center of North America is nearby, as is the International Peace Gardens near Canada. We're thinking about going there Monday. Tomorrow we'll probably just hang out, go to Wal-mart, have a REAL breakfast (yay!), and spend time with my friends. Well, I better get some sleep.

Random Question: Can anyone tell me why the poles are like this?

Madison, WI to Melrose, MN (Day 5 - 9/19)

2008-09-19T22:57:00.006-06:00

So, I'm actually posting on the day I'm writing about! This is a nice improvement! I have to let you know it will be hard to post daily, as I'm not sure when I will have internet access. Last night we stayed at a horrible Motel 6! It smelled weird, the remote wouldn't work, the lamp wouldn't turn off, the pillows were hard, and there were holes in the bedding. We could've had internet access, but I refused to pay the $3.15. I know it's not a huge amount, but it's the principle.

Anyway, tonight we are at a Super 8 in Melrose, MN. It is an extremely small town. This is the only hotel in the town. There are 4 places to eat, excluding the gas station we picked up a pizza from. That was one of the best pizzas ever! I also was very hungry! The room is much nicer here. We actually have an alarm clock! The microwave and fridge are nice additions to the room as well! Hopefully, we'll make it to Williston, ND tomorrow.

Today was a pretty cool day. We started off my getting some beverages and food at a gas station in Madison before we hit the road. I decided to get another lottery scratch card. I broke even! The one I bought in MN, I didn't make any money, nor break even. But it was fun, esp. cuz I can't play them at home! We also stopped at a place called Black River Falls. It is a little trail behind a rest stop. I think it is in WI. So, you hike up this trail and find the most amazing view. It can literally take your breath away. I'm so glad we stopped. I can't wait to take more unplanned stops. This trip has been such a blast thus far. I think it will only get better!

Dearborn, MI to Madison, WI (Day 4 - 9/18)

2008-09-19T22:17:00.006-06:00

My uncle and I really wanted to avoid the detour traffic. We spent some time plotting how we could do that. We couldn't take I-80, because apparently it flooded also. My uncle suggested we take a ferry across Lake Michigan. If you ever want to save time and take the ferry I would advise against it. It is $70 PER person PLUS $80 for a vehicle! That seems ridiculous to me. However, I seriously considered it to avoid what my uncle calls being in a "parking lot" (i.e. stuck in traffic with no movement). Unfortunately there was no room for a vehicle on the ferry, so we had to drive the route again.

It turned out we would take another route. We were stuck in Gary, IN and southern Chicago. Those are not nice places to be. I'm told it's very unsafe and it definitely looks the part. My advice: Avoid south Chicago!

The drive back to Waukegan only took 7 hours this time. We even got to go on the Chicago Skyway. I didn't know what a skyway was but assumed it had something to do with being in the sky, which it did. It was cool and creepy all at the same time. It was neat to see the city from above, but at the same time it seemed somewhat...well...I guess, unnatural? Yes, it seems unnatural to be driving above a city!! We also ended up hitting the beginning of rush hour, so traffic was a little thick and slow, but it wasn't too bad. It was kind of nice going slow, because I had time to look at the skyline. I love city skylines!! I have always been fascinated by them.

Besides lots of driving and a few stops the only other interesting thing is that I won $50!! My uncle claims it should be his. Let me tell you the story and you can decide...

I walked out of a convenience store and my uncle asked me to redeem his winning ticket (he broke even) of one of those lottery scratch off tickets. When I went in I realized I can actually play, so I decided I would buy myself a ticket. I went to the cashier and told her I needed to redeem the ticket and that I would like to buy a card. She asked what kind of card I wanted. I told her I wanted on that I could purchase for $5 and asked her to pick any one for me. She gave it to me and gave me that look like our business was concluded. I realized she just did a straight exchange with my uncle's winning ticket. I walked back out gave my uncle my $5 and told him what happened. I then scratched my card. I won two rows totaling $25, so I went in to redeem my money. The cashier gave me $50. I then realized the card said all winnings were doubled! So, I walked out with $50 that I'm sure belonged to me! :)

Wyoming to South Dakota (Day 1 - 9/15)

2008-09-17T19:01:00.024-06:00

I'm sitting here with my family in MI. We have no clue what time it is between all the time changes! The three of us all live in different time zones! Anyway,I thought I'd give an update.

So the drive to SD was very long!!! Mapquest was a little off! I got to Sioux Falls at 12am central. I had planned for 9pm. I did stop at Wall Drug. I had seen so many Wall Drug signs. I thought it was fake, because of the weird signs and no exit listed. The signs went on for hours!! The signs said things like "$0.05 Coffee," "Free Donuts and Coffee for Vets," "Free Donuts and Coffee for Honeymooners," "Fast Food," "Western Wear" and the list goes on and on!!! It was a pretty neat place. There were rows of stores. It sorta looked like an old western town. Jewelry, clothes, and souvenirs. There were a few bars and a cafe. They even had a store where you could go "digging." I'm not quite sure for what. I had dinner at the Catcus Cafe. The service was great and the food was wonderful!

On my long journey by myself I played the "ABC" game. I've heard of many versions of this game, but my rules included finding the ABCs in the correct order on cars and signs. Each car or sign could only be used once. There are very few signs in WY and SD. I didn't complete the game...I kept forgetting where I was in the alphabet!

I found there are a few essential things for a road trip. These include an ipod (or any MP3 player) water, pepsi, chex mix, and peach ring gummies. Those are the things that got me through the day!!

One interesting thing is that not all WY rest stops have flushing water! I thought they were all upgraded long ago, but apparently not. It turned out the only rest stop I stopped at had to be the one with no water in the toilets!! Bummer!

Another interesting thing is roadside tables exist! My dad told me to bring a table (because I pretty much packed everything else). Turns out, I wouldn't need one! Although the whole sitting in the middle of nowhere is kinda a creepy idea! Haha.

Remember: This is the USA, practically everything is negotiable as I proved to myself when I negotiated my hotel room price at 12:10am!

Waukegan, IL to Dearborn, Mi (Day 3 - 9/17)

2008-09-17T19:01:00.022-06:00

My uncle woke me up at 10:15am. I discovered my uncle is a stickler for time!! For those of you who know me...I am not a stickler for time. Haha. My uncle claims that not worrying about time or being late is a Wyoming mindset. I'm thinking not so much.

We had a great time on the road...for the most part. We spent most the time talking. Apparently my uncle usually sleeps during car rides. He didn't sleep at all and it was about an 8 hour trip. I must be a pretty interesting person! We discussed philosophy, ways to improve society and infrastructure, and inventions!

The part that made the trip less than ideal was the 2 hour detour! I-94 had flooded, so we had to take a detour through an Indiana town. We moved at snail speed for two hours! When we finally got on an interstate all I could do was yell, "FREEDOM!" It was a good feeling! Haha! Ah...it's the little things in life.

I learned some things on the road trip. I now know the difference (and similarities) between an interstate, highway, freeway, expressway (which I learned is abbreviated expy), express lanes, and a turnpike. We don't have all those things in Wyoming! I thought things were either an interstate or highway. I also had never experienced cross traffic on highways.

We finally made it to Dearborn! It was difficult to find. The only reason I found it was because my cousin's boyfriend did jumping jacks in the middle of the street! My uncle didn't see Matt doing jumping jacks and thought I was insane for looking for a guy doing jumping jacks! Apparently he thought we were looking for an ornament! Haha.

Anyway...I spent time with my family and got a little bit of sleep. It seems like you can never get to bed a decent hour when you're catching up with family! Overall, I'd have to say it was a good day. Oh, I actually had a real meal too, which I hadn't had for a couple days! We had some Chinese food.

South Dakota to Illinois (Day 2 - 9/16)

2008-09-17T19:01:00.020-06:00

Another long day. I drove through South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois (I have been corrected it was only Lake County, IL). When I finally reached Wisconsin the number of cars grew! It was so exciting. I had been alone on the road for so long. I actually began talking to my GPS system (Tom-tom). We (well, I) primarily argued. Tom-tom was usually right.

After much driving, I finally arrived to Waukegan! I'll admit I got a little lost. And then Tom-tom and I argued again...Tom-tom was right. Between the GPS and my uncle standing in the road, I found my family's house! I met my cousin's new wife. (Note: They had their baby today. A baby girl named Autumn Jo Lynn.) I saw my cousins that I haven't seen for years!! My little cousin Joey is so big and a daddy! His daughter is darling. I spent some time with my aunt and uncle. They stayed up just to visit with me! I also spent some time with my cousin who I never really got a chance to spend much time with. It was good to get to know him on a different level.

When speaking with my uncle he wanted me to be aware of the craziness of Chicago driving. Basically he painted the ugliest picture in my mind I could ever imagine. My aunt insisted it wasn't going to be as bad as my uncle described. I became a little nervous, but was sure it'd be fine...well at least I hoped! My uncle then insisted on going with me to MI, to be my "security blanket." I think it was just as much for him to make sure I was okay as it was for me. I accepted his invitation.

I had a great time spending time with everyone! I had such a great time that I didn't go to bed until 5am! I had to get up at 10am to get on the road.

Update 1

2008-09-17T03:47:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm alive. I made it to Waukegan, IL! I'm headed to Dearborn, MI in the morning. I'll post more details later!

The Beginning

2008-09-14T21:25:00.003-06:00

So, after changing my mind a million times, I'm actually leaving on my original leave date...tomorrow! The car is packed and I'm wondering where I'll fit my cousin. Haha. I hope she packs light!! I'll hit the road some time tomorrow morning and probably drive until I get to Sioux Falls. I need to be in Dearborn by Wednesday, so I can meet Matt. Yay! I'm excited to get started! Thus I should probably get some sleep! Until next time...