October 26 – Montana, Idaho, Home

Our trip of 4000 miles (each way) comes to an end today.

It’s dark as we set out. The brightening sky silhouettes the mountain peaks from behind.

We traverse the last piece of Montana and then Northern Idaho feeling the comfort of familiarity. Mostly green blankets the hills with brush strokes of yellow color sweeping in swaths like sunlight touching here and there.

We drive through a section where the yellow color descends and lines the road on both sides. It’s a bower of torchlight. Glorious.

The sun breaks through and lights up every tamarack needle (and leaf). A green and yellow extravaganza for miles.

Low wispy clouds appear caught in the branches.

Aaaah, home.

October 25 – Wyoming, Montana

We are back in the West where the mountains are real mountains, chiseled and snow dusted at summer’s end.

The untouched  unbroken vastness of these two states is unparalleled. 

Lodging:

WalMart

Missoula, MT

October 24 – Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming

We fight the wind across the flats of Minnesota. The clouds out race us. The trailer feels heavy.

We pass by the world’s largest bullhead, which can be seen from the road, and the world’s “only” corn palace, which cannot.

We pass the turnoff to the Laura Ingalls Wilder historic homes. Someday we’ll stop, but not today.

We ignore Wall Drug even though they make it a challenge. In a variety of signs they offer free ice water, (gee, thanks), 5-cent coffee, and free coffee and donuts for newlyweds. Easy to sail on by especially since their ice cream is expensive and they don’t offer Rocky Road.

We cross the Missouri River. Fields of sunflowers are dry and blackened. All faces are pointed downward.

Two F-16 fighter jets give us a flyby, loop around, come alongside then land somewhere off in the distance, presumably at Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.

Lodging:

Crazy Woman Campground

Gillette, WY

October 23 – Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota

It’s an ugly, rainy day in Chicago. Pair that with construction and the never-ending traffic and it’s miserable. Too much time spent traversing this city. And as soon as we leave the city the rain stops. Evidently a permanent cloud hangs over Chicago.

Illinoying – Tolls!

A rest stop on the banks of the Mississippi River provides  a peaceful respite.

Lodging:

Welcome Campground

Welcome, Minnesota

October 22 – New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana

We shuffle right by Buffalo, then on through Pennsylvania, Ohio and into Indiana. We pay a fortune in tolls.

In a 2-hour time period we count 15 dead deer and 1 red fox lying by the side of the road. Last night was a killer.

We are on a mission to get home….for example, we drive right past the exit to Niagara Falls.

A highlight of the day, (which is not saying much) is an airplane pulling an unreadable banner. Lake Erie on the other hand is a lovely sight.

It’s 80 degrees in Ohio.

Lodging:

Elkhart Campground

Elkhart, Indiana