Goodbye Corn State…Hello Arbor State??? Where are the trees?? Just kidding…more corn.

Day 4

338.5 miles driven, 1,056.9 total miles, started in Des Moines, Iowa, ended in Odessa, Nebraska 

Well, finished Iowa…so tired of seeing corn everywhere. I was so excited when I saw the sign into Nebraska saying it was the “Arbor State”…yet after entering and passing through Omaha, I realized it was all a joke…more CORN!!! Even the rest areas didn’t provide much shade. 

Of course…the temperature has been fabulous up until Nebraska…then the sun came out with a vengeance. So… No shade + High heat + Cramped van = crabby Paco and Mama Bear. 

What’s the best way to cool things off??? A trip to the local Walmart of course!! Gotta get a dose of the local flavor. 

Although…this has provided the best area for people watching. Definitely interesting. Hazeltucky has nothing on these people. 

But seriously, driving through all of the hills and seeing nothing but farmland is beautiful. Surprisingly, no billboards for any Adult Superstores. Not many billboards to see actually. Things are kind of few and far between out here. The radio stations have been pretty good and their signals are strong too. Many of them are country, but they have a good mix. 

Okay…this may be TMI…but the if you EVER find yourself driving down (up) I-80 in Nebraska and you need to use the restroom. You MUST stop at Sapp Bros on Exit 263 in Odessa. They have the most AMAZING bathrooms!! The toilet seats are HEATED!!! Plus they have a bidet!!! So you can have your bum washed AND dried (yes, you read that correctly), while sitting on a heated seat, that also has massage settings. Who knew this gem was hidden here amongst the corn?? But then again…I’m seeing a pretty full lot of semi trucks…so they know where the secret is at. Wow!!! They weren’t lying on their sign when they said they had “Amazing Bathrooms”. Apparently, this is only for the ladies though. Sorry guys. 
  
But the van is running amazingly. No problems with any fluids, brakes, tires, or anything. (Knock on wood). Now onto finishing Nebraska and into Wyoming. We’re excited to see the mountains. We miss you all so much. Thank you for all of the prayers of support. Pictures of the mountains to come!!

From our heart to yours…Happy July 4th!!!

There’s corn! There’s more corn!! There’s an Adult Superstore??

Still no World’s Largest Ball of Yarn yet, but I keep looking. 
The TA at Exit 284 on I-80 is the Mecca for all tourists and truckers. This place is HUGE!!! It even has a movie theater in it!! Now that’s a truck stop!! Don’t forget the Truck Driving Museum. 

  
The Iowa welcome center had amazing sculpture pieces in the front. Looked like a montage to (you guessed it!) corn. There was one that looked like a Pac Man shooting flames from his mouth. It was funny to see.  But seriously, the rest stops here are beautiful…even the ones we see in passing from the interstate. Not many trees though. 

   
 
Gas station sign: “Kum & Go” -What were you thinking when you decided on this name??? It’s better suited for an adult store. We both had a giggle at that one. 
  
Driving along, nothing to see but fields of corn (no scarecrows though surprisingly)…except for the occasionally Adult Superstore surrounded by, you guessed it…corn!!! And cows. Hmmmmm….food for thought. 

Unfortunately we will not be able to visit the future birthplace of James T. Kirk. After reviewing our map (Wow!! Iowa has maps!!! How’s that Peru, Illinois?), it is just too far out of the way for our journey…much to my dismay. 

We didn’t get very far today (July 2nd)…the driving and confined spaces made me (the driver) feel as though there was a slow leak in my balloon and my body called it quits early. Looking to driving a lot more on Friday (July 3rd). 

Thank you for all of the prayers. From our hearts to yours…we love and miss you. 💖💖😢

Goodbye Great Lakes State…Hello Corn??

Well, yesterday was day 2 and it was a full day of driving. Drove a total of 302 miles. Finally got out of Michigan. So much construction. Will be so glad to be done with Orange Barrel Season. But we’ve been structuring our driving times smartly so we aren’t left stuck in a lot of traffic. 

Passed into Indiana without any problems. Rob saw a sign as we came across the border advertising for a Vasectomy. It said “Get 1 Side Done…Get the other Side Done FREE!” … Ummm…how does that work??! Wouldn’t you want them done together, let alone one at a time??? 

 

Wow the roads are so much better!! Driving is much smoother. We didn’t know what to make of it at first we have been so used to Michigan roads. 

Then onto Illinois. Wow!! The Illinois Welcome center feels more like an airport terminal food court than a welcome center. But it was beautiful. The weather has been perfect so far, not too hot and hasn’t rained a lot. 

   
   
And, Peru, Illinois Walmart…how do you not have any maps?!?!?! Especially for camping season?!?!?! (Response: “Well, I guess it’s because everyone has smart phones these days.” ~ Made our brains hurt)

We got to talk with cub who is planning a memorial service for her broken smart phone. Ugh…we miss her. We miss so many people. 😢

Ended at Exit 19 I-80 (Almost to Iowa!!) Gas $2.79/g!!! It seems to be going down the further west we go. We keep praying it stays that way. Today we enter the land of corn (Iowa)! More pictures to come. 

Thank you for all of the prayers. We miss you all!!! Love you all!!