Day 3: Shittiest Day of the Country

I thought people were exaggerating when they talked about the extensive cornfields of the middle US states. They weren’t. The drive from Kansas City, MO through Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota showed that I was quite wrong and those others were quite right.

It is probably actually very beautiful land (though the pic at left is about par for the day). It just happened to fall on the longest driving day of the trip (about 13 hours in the car, Kansas City, MO to Rapid City, SD). Stress and tension were high, and the mile upon mile upon mile of straight highway, I-29 detours, and corn was...I can’t think of anything polite to say. Arriving at the Holiday Inn in Rapid City at 9pm was the best part of the day.

Today was Day 4, Rapid City to Gardiner, MT, and it was loads better! A morning jog, Mount Rushmore, a shorter drive through scenery that changed and roads that did more than stretch out straight…ahhhhh sweet bliss.

Arriving at Jean and Hal’s (and getting their subsequent hugs) was wonderful. As was eating food not packaged in foil or consumed with a plastic fork. I’m sleeping in Benny’s room, surrounded by sports and aviation.

How do I feel? Ready to do something besides drive. Ready to have a routine. Ready ready ready ready ready to run.