Residence Inn By Marriott Phoenix Glendale

... in Indianapolis we embarked on the most corn covered, flattest country we have ever seen (yet) in southern Illinois.

After a very successful driving day we reached our Super 8 motel in Blair, Nebraska. We drove between fourteen and fifteen hours which leaves us with a drive half as long to reach Interior, South Dakota where the Badlands are tomorrow.

Southern Illinois seemed to stretch on forever until we finally crossed the Mississippi and ...

Sophie and Tarrence ready with their Livestrong bands - taking the bus to Missouri Valley, Iowa, where we start our ride tomorrow. Des Moines Register: "RAGBRAI preview: Missouri Valley"

... the heat and the oppressiveness of the humidity. The monsoons had come early this July, so the three of us were just eager to get our trip underway. We had secured the keys to Jami's aunt & uncle's cabin in Pinewood earlier in the week and had completed what local shopping we needed for food and cerveza for our arrival. We figured we would head into Flagstaff at some point to complete the bulk of the shopping over ...

The transmission was in Omaha this morning at 6:03am... it's now 1:00pm, is it here in Missouri Valley? Nooooooooooooooooo... AAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! !!!!!!!!!! 1:39 PM So the parts finally arrived, and presumably the operation has begun. Let's hope. 5:28 PM Blue is out the hospital!!! We're going to try to make it to Des Moines!!!!

... again tonite... Unfortunately I am SO brain dead, I can barely think of anything to say. It's not like there's anything happening here. Well, actually, I did get a hilarious email this evening - made me laugh right out loud: Dear Adrienne I'm not sure if I have the right email address. But if your name is Adrienne Dearmas and you are an anthropologist please read on otherwise my apologies for disturbing you. I'm ...

... We think you've got a bad transmission" "Really." "Well, we just opened her up... we'll know more later." "Well, if it is the whole transmission, let me know, because I have a place to get parts." "Really." "So, you'll call me?" "Sure." Cut to the chase... it's the clutch, the transfer case, *AND* the transmission... in other words, everything but the engine. Unfortunately, by the time we get the news, it's almost closing time in New Hampshire where we gotta get ...

... coffee - we decided to check it out just in case (btw, it didn't work). Chris went to the bathroom and came back to alert me of yet another kitten at a roadside stop... So off I ran with food and water to set him up with a Thanksgiving style feast. Returning to the truck, I noticed Chris' brow was *VERY* furrowed and his hands were extremely dirty... "Whattup?" I asked... He showed me the copious amounts of oil dripping from pretty much everywhere... more ...

... trotting is spending time in new places, the worst part is getting there and back, so bring sleeping pills and be careful when making wishes. I'll be going back and filling in my travelogue with all the fascinating stuff I didn't have time to record while there, so stay tuned. I'll try to get some pictures posted soon also. In the meantime it's nice to be sleeping in my own bed again.

... and share the experience better. I've found myself doing a horrible job trying to sum up everything in a few words... "Um... it's really different in Ukraine." It is different, but wonderful, and I love it actually. The kind of way you love 2-year-olds. Sometimes they seem obnoxious, a little messy and full of trouble, but they are adorable with big eyes, and give great big hugs! And you have to love them because they are growing and changing so fast. Ukrainians I ...

Time to head home. We were not looking forward to the three days of driving that it would take. The worst part of a road trip out of Chicago westward is that you have to drive through the Prairie States before you get to the Mountains. The highways are good ...