The Heartland

1500 kilometers later, we've stopped in Rapid City, South Dakota for the night.  Between Chris, Alexei and me, the drive across the Heartland of America was humbling as were the people we met along the way.

The majestic, golden landscape gleamed as bright as the sun as we rolled along the highway.  Wheat fields and farms stretched out on both sides into the horizon. They were as simple as the road we drove on, straightforward and unassuming.  Places like these make me think of simpler times when the ordinary, such as a ladybug crawling up a blade of grass, could instill hours of wonder and admiration.

German Haus

We eventually took a lunch break at a restaurant called German Haus in Wisconsin.  If you're ever in the area, try the Bluff burger and battered mushroom caps.  They were juicy and delicious.  I was mostly impressed with the service as the waitress and staff were sincere each time they came by to help us with our meals.  There was no script to follow and no suggestion of pushiness, only slow and natural care and conversation.  We were treated like guests at the house rather than customers.  It was a welcomed change of pace from the usual big city routine, where the focus on service speed can seem too impersonal.

In the afternoon, we saw giant windmills scattered sparsely in the fields.  Glad to know alternate sources of electricity were being actively pursued.  There might be even more enormous spinning blades planted in the ground in a couple of years.

Later on in the evening, flashes of purple and orange streaked the sky as lightning brought rainfall into the region. It's fascinating to see how quickly weather changes as we drive.  Chris mentioned this morning how the thunderstorm made the car difficult to handle under overpasses.  It would swerve a bit as the wet asphalt would be colder under the bridges.  Either way, we arrived at the Fairfield Inn unscathed.

(One thing I'd like to remember is how the stars look at night while lying down in the back of a moving vehicle.  It's a view that I've yet to experience in the city and one I'll never forget.)

We just got word that the temperature in Yellowstone Park is dropping to -11ºC with a high of -3ºC.  Considering all our sleeping bags can handle down to -7ºC, rescheduling may be needed.  What's nice about having an itinerary is seeing the room for flexibility.

Everything is going smoothly in the trip's first 3000 kilometers.  Let's keep it that way (knock on wood).

Til next time!