So call me a liar.... or a slacker

Trip Start Sep 18, 2005

Trip End Oct 02, 2005

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Where I stayed

Mitchell-Days Inn

(Mitchell hotels)

Flag of United States Mitchell, South Dakota, United States
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

So I didn't camp... so sue me. I got off for the KOA campground (pricy... but...) and then I proceeded to drive right past it and into Mitchell where I found a lovely Days Inn with a business center. Real reason: my phone was dying. And though I have a cigarette lighter and a power outlet in my car, only the outlet works to charge things. And that outlet will remain in use for the remainder of the trip (ipod!)

Today's adventure started late. My alarm went off at 7:30, but I didn't climb out of my very comfortable bed until 8:30. Oops. So I got ready and was out the door with banana and coffee in hand by 9:15. I was feeling great today- rested and ready. It couldn't have been a more beautiful day- warm and sunny.

The day started out winding through more of the wonderful Illinois countryside. So anyway...

I battled tractor trailers and multiple cars all the way through Illinois and West of Madison. But eventually the road opened up for me. Wisconsin was more of the same landscape (flat... corn...) until I suddenly came upon these huge gray rock formations. They looked like the drip sand castles we used to make as kids- big blobs of rock piled on each other. I think they were around a National Guard base, but I can't remember the name of the place. The rocks were huge though- and I pulled off, got gas, and snapped a few pictures.

Right around the Minnesota border and the Mississippi River was the best part of my day. The fields had turned to rolling hills that backed up right against the road (which was curvy for 70 mph).

Big Rocks in Wisconsin

I felt like I was driving through Italy. The Mississippi is as big as I ever remember it being down south. But I don't remember the southern states don't have the rolling hills that Minnesota does right there on the river bank. It was beautiful. Eventually, the rolling hills turned into flat land filled with corn, grain, and dotted with silos, tractors, and livestock.

I started aiming for Sioux Falls, SD when I realized it was definitely within reach. I figured I could find a place around there to camp or settle down for the night. The only problem is that I was expecting a city- with suburbs- so that I could avoid the city rates, but get a decent place to stay. But then Sioux Falls came and was gone... and there was nothing else except barns (filled with cows) until Mitchell (Home of the Corn Palace!) So here I am.

Info for the day: I finally made it through every David Gray song I have on my ipod. Gee, it only took about 20 hours or so...

Scary part of the day: tractor trailers suck. Wind sucks. And big blocks of wood in the middle of the road suck. I thought I could pass over the block (it was maybe a foot wide and 6-8 inches high), but it definitely hit me in some capacity. It scared the crap out of me, but the car seems to be just fine and is running perfectly.

I am VOWING to camp tomorrow- not only to save money but save myself the hassle. I packed all my things very carefully (clothes here, soap here, electronics here...) The only problem with doing that is digging it all out and putting it back together to drag into a hotel room. Secondly, I'm still trying to dart across these (relatively) boring states and get to the fun places to relax a little. So with that said- I'm off to plan and read and relax until early tomorrow morning.