tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61484776059457450142024-03-13T20:56:02.482-07:00Seattle or Bust-2011A coast to coast road trip from Portsmouth, NH to Seattle during the summer of 2011Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-46624902425222971052011-09-12T17:48:00.001-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.037-08:00Day 8 - Monday August 29, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Day 8</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yr7sDAjVwd8/Tm7RyzXQqXI/AAAAAAAAS6I/dP2vIGXxrjM/s1600/DSC_2217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yr7sDAjVwd8/Tm7RyzXQqXI/AAAAAAAAS6I/dP2vIGXxrjM/s320/DSC_2217.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3139 miles done</span></b></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">476 miles to go!</span></b></span></b></div>
<b>Medium coffee $1.75</b><br />
It's our last day of the road trip. I'm relieved we've made it this far, happy to have slept last night, sad that it's almost over, and scared as hell of what comes next. I’m so grateful to Anna for coming with me on this trip – we’ve laughed so much together and turned a potentially cramped and boring week into the ultimate adventure. I have to admit, even though I had to drag her away from every person she encountered and struck up conversation with, I’m glad she did it. People were so unbelievably friendly everywhere we went on this journey – and sometimes I wondered if it was because they felt our excited and curious energy and were opened by it. There is nothing like connecting with strangers on the road, and sharing moments that you’ll both remember for the rest of your lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBs07MFVeNQ/Tm7R2uFVxLI/AAAAAAAAS6Y/a1rv4reeafA/s1600/DSC_2211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBs07MFVeNQ/Tm7R2uFVxLI/AAAAAAAAS6Y/a1rv4reeafA/s640/DSC_2211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A landscape taken straight from Twin Peaks rolls pass our windows, as we drive through Coeur D'Alene National Forest. Obama’s ARRA money is hard at work as the highway frequently turns into two-way streets for construction. The sky in front of us is looking darker and Sofia wonders if it really will rain everyday in Seattle.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8_qe2cANxM/Tm7SA7xAcjI/AAAAAAAAS7A/b0biiF17owY/s1600/DSC_2239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8_qe2cANxM/Tm7SA7xAcjI/AAAAAAAAS7A/b0biiF17owY/s640/DSC_2239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Welcome to Idaho, the sign switches by the last state before we enter Washington state, once we get there we can add 13 states and and a visit to Canada to our trip report. We pull in to Wallace, ID and immediately meet a freaky David Lynch character. "I’m Diana, Wallace's Wolf lady," she slurs, and invites us to see her chained up hybrid wolf dogs, as she tries to draw us a map. She misspells every word and we decide to head straight out of town, secretly wishing we had run into the log lady instead... so much more peaceful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7ThoApczcM/Tm7VA20K8FI/AAAAAAAAS-4/5GFYgW6M9NU/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7ThoApczcM/Tm7VA20K8FI/AAAAAAAAS-4/5GFYgW6M9NU/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_lMHOx-K7zA/Tm7R_wl8tBI/AAAAAAAAS68/MFCtxO2g5KA/s1600/DSC_2237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_lMHOx-K7zA/Tm7R_wl8tBI/AAAAAAAAS68/MFCtxO2g5KA/s640/DSC_2237.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The landscape continues to change, climbing up and down fir-clad mountains, to swiftly change in to vast prairie. We stop at the Colombia River viewpoint and learn about the petrified wood forest on the other side. All of a sudden we get a glimpse of what is to come... at a rest stop we see a sign declaring proudly MOUNT RAINIER (at a distance). We squint but can't see it yet.... we continue on. The sun breaks through the clouds, a heart shape is formed as if to say "Welcome Sofia, you will like it here"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAWtDr6n2ko/Tm7SIeRbJII/AAAAAAAAS7o/Q_ocjcHdd4c/s1600/DSC_2254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAWtDr6n2ko/Tm7SIeRbJII/AAAAAAAAS7o/Q_ocjcHdd4c/s640/DSC_2254.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OKaTWctRvu4/Tm7VFO_AvWI/AAAAAAAAS_M/bFy2E-3YoSE/s1600/IMG_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OKaTWctRvu4/Tm7VFO_AvWI/AAAAAAAAS_M/bFy2E-3YoSE/s640/IMG_0073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Seeing Mt. Rainier for the first time, it hits me in the gut. It's beautiful and majestic. Right now it also feels like a symbol of my unknown and challenging future. It sits in the distance, tangible and waiting, and then the next time I look up it has faded behind the trees. I’ve arrived at my destination and this is where my true journey begins. How am I going to make it happen? Am I following the right path? It seems so random, ending up here. But the mountain is there - I've seen it with my own eyes now, and all I can do is start climbing….<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uD-VSBsESyc/Tm7SDP64T_I/AAAAAAAAS7M/FbXo60EdbVs/s1600/DSC_2243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uD-VSBsESyc/Tm7SDP64T_I/AAAAAAAAS7M/FbXo60EdbVs/s320/DSC_2243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Two-lane highways turns into three and then four lanes, the city is near...traffic gets heavier and we are there. Seattle or Bust - we made it! 3652 miles down and 0 to go!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKso9lE-G_0/Tm7VNZeOsfI/AAAAAAAAS_s/r7wNcIZl8Q0/s1600/IMG_0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BKso9lE-G_0/Tm7VNZeOsfI/AAAAAAAAS_s/r7wNcIZl8Q0/s640/IMG_0077.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from day 8, check out the slideshow below!!</span></b><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651685244494397089%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-28269106492407999722011-09-12T17:45:00.000-07:002020-11-21T19:37:24.898-08:00Day 7 - Sunday August 28, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 7 </b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtMldTFLyZE/Tm7PMatpr9I/AAAAAAAASzs/u9RIP0gr3hs/s1600/DSC_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HtMldTFLyZE/Tm7PMatpr9I/AAAAAAAASzs/u9RIP0gr3hs/s320/DSC_1954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2816 miles</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>8 am departure</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
6 days of travels hit us like a ton of bricks, a sleepless night brought on by the Chech republic booze party in campsite 254 did not help either.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEmd2yPbUDI/Tm7PQWNAqyI/AAAAAAAASz8/b_3_ariS4Xw/s1600/DSC_1933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEmd2yPbUDI/Tm7PQWNAqyI/AAAAAAAASz8/b_3_ariS4Xw/s400/DSC_1933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
No coffee in sight and a quick look on the map of Yellowstone made us realize the Morfar Coffee index salvation was 35 miles away at Mamouth Springs. Sights that the afternoon before thrilled us to pieces could barely move us. We pulled into the Artist Paintpot and almost did not make it out of the car...slowly like zombies we walked through a landscape that looked just like we felt. Everywhere we heard the sound of eluding coffee pots boiling only to realize it was small geysers and mud holes boiling, the sulfur smell gave us vague remembrance of breakfast eggs gone bad....<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHfRLgG86HI/Tm7PdDmNleI/AAAAAAAAS0o/Flc_iTPabjs/s1600/DSC_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NHfRLgG86HI/Tm7PdDmNleI/AAAAAAAAS0o/Flc_iTPabjs/s640/DSC_1958.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BEfJZxoNnE/Tm7Pn5E7anI/AAAAAAAAS1I/D3hncS6Rs8s/s1600/DSC_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BEfJZxoNnE/Tm7Pn5E7anI/AAAAAAAAS1I/D3hncS6Rs8s/s640/DSC_1989.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HQCVuJPKm7o/Tm7PtY-ej3I/AAAAAAAAS1c/v1zhsIC85t8/s1600/DSC_1996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HQCVuJPKm7o/Tm7PtY-ej3I/AAAAAAAAS1c/v1zhsIC85t8/s640/DSC_1996.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Next stop the Norris geysers provided us with a rainbow landscape from an odd Sci fi movie.. beautiful but surreal. Despite our state of delirium, we struck up a conversation with Nate the Park Ranger. A dream job he wanted since he was 6 years old, the salary is swell $15/ hour and makes it really easy to pay of those college loans. A quick bye and we stumble back to our car.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3VVPNuJFD4/Tm7Pxr5LoUI/AAAAAAAAS1w/jBfV3ZWQihg/s1600/DSC_2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a3VVPNuJFD4/Tm7Pxr5LoUI/AAAAAAAAS1w/jBfV3ZWQihg/s320/DSC_2011.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GFs43PKOCkI/Tm7Pyq46cmI/AAAAAAAAS10/oLJKOY47Rpg/s1600/DSC_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GFs43PKOCkI/Tm7Pyq46cmI/AAAAAAAAS10/oLJKOY47Rpg/s640/DSC_2012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8UTqffYQ3U/Tm7P1VOj--I/AAAAAAAAS2A/BNWNxxBAbKQ/s1600/DSC_2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8UTqffYQ3U/Tm7P1VOj--I/AAAAAAAAS2A/BNWNxxBAbKQ/s640/DSC_2024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnyCfaRSPC8/Tm7P4u-ITHI/AAAAAAAAS2Q/B6nz5EzwyoA/s1600/DSC_2037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cnyCfaRSPC8/Tm7P4u-ITHI/AAAAAAAAS2Q/B6nz5EzwyoA/s640/DSC_2037.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A bison grazing on the side of the road stirred us enough to move us out of the car to snap a few more shots... How we ever completed the 35 miles to Mamouth Springs will forever be a mystery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xge57kvFMnU/Tm7Pv1BDGiI/AAAAAAAAS1o/Emt9Jq3eGz4/s1600/DSC_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xge57kvFMnU/Tm7Pv1BDGiI/AAAAAAAAS1o/Emt9Jq3eGz4/s640/DSC_2008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Mammouth Spring general store provided us with the much needed caffeine relief and after stocking up in coffee at the incredible price of $2.18 for a small cup, life slowly returned to our bodies. We decided to part ways with Yellowstone and head out of the park. A group of people with binoculars on the side of the road alerted us to some form of animal sighting. Sure enough 3 wolfs where wandering the hills.. The wolf sighting completed the count of big wildlife sightings. Bye bye Yellowstone, we will be back, 1 day visit doesn't even scratch the surface of the magnificent sights that the park offered. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzP-hgG-SIA/Tm7U8vUk5MI/AAAAAAAAS-k/kw51lyVSA3k/s1600/IMG_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FzP-hgG-SIA/Tm7U8vUk5MI/AAAAAAAAS-k/kw51lyVSA3k/s640/IMG_0059.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
My lead foot sparked to life as we crossed into Montana. The speed limit sign flashed by 75 mph for cars and 65 mph for trucks...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2cS97lW1Tc/Tm7QdLdJfUI/AAAAAAAAS4g/6nXyWzfi0Bc/s1600/DSC_2135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L2cS97lW1Tc/Tm7QdLdJfUI/AAAAAAAAS4g/6nXyWzfi0Bc/s320/DSC_2135.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
Even though our car is loaded to the hilt as a truck I am pretty sure we are still classified as a car. Rt 89 a two way road cutting through the heartland of Montana, pedal to the metal and I was still getting passed by trucks pulling horse trailers. The speed demon in me silently sighed..."I could live here". <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kj364e7zMw/Tm7QTUZ3ONI/AAAAAAAAS34/OT228miBs4o/s1600/DSC_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1kj364e7zMw/Tm7QTUZ3ONI/AAAAAAAAS34/OT228miBs4o/s640/DSC_2101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBZ60fKMDFo/Tm7QZoYw7_I/AAAAAAAAS4Q/d9Omj4zpAM4/s1600/DSC_2123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VBZ60fKMDFo/Tm7QZoYw7_I/AAAAAAAAS4Q/d9Omj4zpAM4/s640/DSC_2123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqQ8NNLjqOg/Tm7QbCSY8cI/AAAAAAAAS4Y/9XMw5h_-FI0/s1600/DSC_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CqQ8NNLjqOg/Tm7QbCSY8cI/AAAAAAAAS4Y/9XMw5h_-FI0/s640/DSC_2127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Big Sky here we come.. A landscape forever changing, vast meadows with grazing horses and cattle, roaring mountains full of wilderness. An outdorsman person's mecca. A quick pitstop in Bozeman, Mt fulfilled our organic needs, then back out on I 90. Sofia snored as I zig zagged up and down the mountains. Smoke from the wildfires that licking the mountains around Missoula, MT filled the air. Finally our destination in sight, a room in an actual house awaiting us, courtesy of Marcia, a dear friend from New Hampshire. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qXRDj5797aM/Tm7QnTxhiGI/AAAAAAAAS5Q/egHxXBZjVoc/s1600/DSC_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qXRDj5797aM/Tm7QnTxhiGI/AAAAAAAAS5Q/egHxXBZjVoc/s640/DSC_2170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Walking into that house, I realized how good it is to be home. Even if it's not my own, there is something about a home that a hotel room and a campground can't hold a candle to. I felt myself relax more than I had in 7 days. I felt grateful for family, generous people, stillness, and a safe harbor. And I would be kidding you all if I didn't mention gratitude for a shower - my, my, how stinky we were. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d6yv8FfCQtA/Tm7QslykEcI/AAAAAAAAS5k/AqCXlXaJwYQ/s1600/DSC_2182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d6yv8FfCQtA/Tm7QslykEcI/AAAAAAAAS5k/AqCXlXaJwYQ/s640/DSC_2182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After removing everything that had grown on our bodies during the past fe w days and putting on clothes from the beginning of the trip that now seemed fresh, we set out on a wild goose chase trying to find the Big Sky Brew pub at Sausage Seth's suggestion. Torey, a new roommate of Marcia'a and a fellow New Englander who had arrived a week earlier from Pennsylvania, was only happy to practice her weeklong navigation skill and to share some New England jokes, able to say "wicked" without getting crazy stares. After many wrong turns, we realized the pub was closed - it was, afterall, Sunday evening. We settled for the next best thing, Flathead Brew Pub. Conversation flowed easily; was as if we had known Torey all our lives as we shared cross country road trip stories, hiking tips and photos. Hers from Mt Murango Tanzania, ours from Cascade Canyon, Grand Tetons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NaJklQvi5c/Tm7QxJ5wF5I/AAAAAAAAS58/VYKzx0E0Y0k/s1600/DSC_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9NaJklQvi5c/Tm7QxJ5wF5I/AAAAAAAAS58/VYKzx0E0Y0k/s320/DSC_2197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
When we arrived back at Marcia's place, satisfied from a local Amber ale, grass-fed Montana beef, nice salty fries, and fun conversation, we were greeted by the homey smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and popcorn. Torey's roommates were home and they were as welcoming and friendly as we had come to expect in the west. We shared brief life summaries, learned about river floating, ate some cookies, and called it a night. Well at least I did. While I closed my eyes to dreams of bears chasing me through the streets of Seattle, Anna stayed up until midnight, daydreaming about her future as a dude on a Montana ranch, just like Torey's brother.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from Day 7, check out the slideshow below!</span></b>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651682380097255729%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-37508942376777081512011-09-12T17:44:00.000-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.117-08:00Day 6 - Saturday August 27, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 6</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykXLi07dsZg/Tm7MLSyQzUI/AAAAAAAASs4/pvlO1RUwDRQ/s1600/DSC_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ykXLi07dsZg/Tm7MLSyQzUI/AAAAAAAASs4/pvlO1RUwDRQ/s320/DSC_1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2690 miles</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-7D2tfVCtg/Tm7MMcDUucI/AAAAAAAASs8/7nDoExi1PUM/s1600/DSC_1643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p-7D2tfVCtg/Tm7MMcDUucI/AAAAAAAASs8/7nDoExi1PUM/s320/DSC_1643.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
We woke up after a restless night at Colter Bay Campground. I thought Anna had slept well in our tent, seeing as how she'd been snoring and whistle-breathing while I spun in my sleeping bag like the Tasmanian devil, but since she could recount how many times I had gotten up to pee (twice) and could imitate my shushings of the neighbors, I guess she didn't get that much sleep either. Thank god for caffeine and adrenaline.<br />
<br />
We restocked our food supply in the seriously gourmet camp store that could rival Philbricks in Portsmouth. Despite the influx of tourists... The Morfar coffee index is still holding strong - 1.89 for a large!!! We got bagels with cream cheese, granola, cheddar cheese (they only have the gross orange kind - no seriously sharp cheddar in these parts - so much for the rugged hunter image), apples, and yogurt, and then ran back in for a bag of ice and a big sugary cinnamon bun. Cuz that's the Swedish way. We ate on a log bench with a view of Grand Teton herself and the sun streaming through the pines, and felt ready for a new day of exploring the wild west.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAf0QiX4ybw/Tm7MQ-esCoI/AAAAAAAAStQ/LBEChXhXy1g/s1600/DSC_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAf0QiX4ybw/Tm7MQ-esCoI/AAAAAAAAStQ/LBEChXhXy1g/s400/DSC_1658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMnYzYZTFiU/Tm7MS9i-geI/AAAAAAAAStY/K-51t_rgvpA/s1600/DSC_1665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BMnYzYZTFiU/Tm7MS9i-geI/AAAAAAAAStY/K-51t_rgvpA/s640/DSC_1665.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vaaImdSe06s/Tm7MTiYnTDI/AAAAAAAAStc/50gi_512Goc/s1600/DSC_1667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vaaImdSe06s/Tm7MTiYnTDI/AAAAAAAAStc/50gi_512Goc/s640/DSC_1667.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_sn5xvOu5Q/Tm7MfcF4N-I/AAAAAAAASuA/1krudCS_NfE/s1600/DSC_1708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_sn5xvOu5Q/Tm7MfcF4N-I/AAAAAAAASuA/1krudCS_NfE/s400/DSC_1708.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
And whaddaya know, within 15 minutes we had our first wild animal encounter of many to follow; a mama bear with her cub ran across the road 10 feet behind our car on the scenic route around Jenny Lake! High on Bear adrenaline we arrived at Jenny Lake for the quick ferry ride across to enjoy a scenic waterfall and gorgeous viewpoints. We met people of all sizes and shapes and from all parts of the world. Some were prepared with Bear mace to fight off any encounter, while others carefully tried to climb the trail in their high-heeled sneakers. We never made it up to 10K, but the Cascade Canyon in the Grand Tetons was amazing. Careful research (a 2 second chat with a ranger) had made us to decide to hike in past Inspiration viewpoint and to follow the Cascade Canyon. In an ideal world we would have stood on the dock that day at 6 am in the morning ready to complete the 14 mile roundtrip hike up to Lake Solitude, but instead we settled for a 7 mile loop and oohed and awed over the beauty around us, checked out the moose and the baby brown bear cub that was sleeping on the mountain hill. Okay, so we didn't actually see this bear cub, but Anna took enough shots of his supposed whereabouts that she'll be able to spot him with a little zooming on the computer at home. Same diff.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gv5SMkjwSes/Tm7MoUpQVAI/AAAAAAAASuc/iXrhM7uPm24/s1600/DSC_1717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gv5SMkjwSes/Tm7MoUpQVAI/AAAAAAAASuc/iXrhM7uPm24/s640/DSC_1717.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uu2qGGFbuQ/Tm7MqrLbhrI/AAAAAAAASuk/t6s9QIQrJ9c/s1600/IMG_4923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uu2qGGFbuQ/Tm7MqrLbhrI/AAAAAAAASuk/t6s9QIQrJ9c/s640/IMG_4923.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8u8nxIvA-iU/Tm7M1-j3PeI/AAAAAAAASvI/66mV1U10iaI/s1600/IMG_4936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8u8nxIvA-iU/Tm7M1-j3PeI/AAAAAAAASvI/66mV1U10iaI/s640/IMG_4936.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbgbzpMoSUQ/Tm7M91py16I/AAAAAAAASvg/qtOc7QHzNwY/s1600/IMG_4946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gbgbzpMoSUQ/Tm7M91py16I/AAAAAAAASvg/qtOc7QHzNwY/s640/IMG_4946.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvS9fGOKIQs/Tm7M56j5NPI/AAAAAAAASvU/uT72C-u49F8/s1600/IMG_4940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvS9fGOKIQs/Tm7M56j5NPI/AAAAAAAASvU/uT72C-u49F8/s400/IMG_4940.jpg" width="300" /></a>"Hur mår du" (how are you in swedish) comment passed us and intrigued we set out to investigate. On a pebbled shoreline along the river we caught up with Jeff and Guy, two old college roommates gone wild on a "man-cation". Anna chatted with Guy and found out both he and his wife were radiologists, which may explain how they could afford to fly directly into Jackson Hole from Tuscon, Az via Salt Lake City. I started my conversation with Jeff by asking him if he and his buddy were married, to which he replied "I'm straight but I have no problem with gay people. Ya are what ya are." As it turned out they are married, but each to a woman. Jeff and I discussed the Haves and the Have-Nots, that is what life is like if you have children vs what it's like if you don't. He has 3, I got none, and we decided it's a crazy idea to have them but still a fine choice. Everyone was a winner in our heartwarming, spontaneous chat about life. Then he asked me for my number. Just kidding!!!!!!! After parting ways we caught up with them again, sat another while together on the side of the trail, and discovered we were all born in '69. Anna and I were delighted to inform them of this after Guy told us he was going through a midlife crisis that we wouldn't understand because we were MUCH younger. Happy for our growing kinship, we formed the Four 69'ers Club, shared a round of hugs, and followed the trail in opposite directions.<br />
<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CvS9fGOKIQs/Tm7M56j5NPI/AAAAAAAASvU/uT72C-u49F8/s1600/IMG_4940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRUpg0i-YPI/Tm7NczX47GI/AAAAAAAASxA/Sm7kdIs6DME/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QRUpg0i-YPI/Tm7NczX47GI/AAAAAAAASxA/Sm7kdIs6DME/s320/IMG_5002.JPG" width="320" /></a>A few fat raindrops and giant gray cloud formations over the mountaintops heralded a gathering storm as we made our way back to the boat. Still only threatening as we got to the parking lot, we passed a guy slicing a summer sausage on his truck bed. " That looks yummy," I said hungrily, and he immediately turned and offered us some. While we tail-gated with our newest buddy Seth, the storm hit the mountains and we got the fireworks show of a lifetime. Chain lightning ripped from peak to peak while we screamed and laughed on the sidelines, still dry. Seth gave us some tips on what to do when we got to Missoula (a brewery and a skanky bar - he's 24), and the rain came down Wyoming-style - big, warm, and certain. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L08Ja0qJDNE/Tm7Nf_cC8yI/AAAAAAAASxI/jF49M6RIBvA/s1600/IMG_5012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L08Ja0qJDNE/Tm7Nf_cC8yI/AAAAAAAASxI/jF49M6RIBvA/s640/IMG_5012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zcbm-DJAazI/Tm7NjWYmgFI/AAAAAAAASxc/5zHre9VO0w4/s1600/DSC_1813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zcbm-DJAazI/Tm7NjWYmgFI/AAAAAAAASxc/5zHre9VO0w4/s640/DSC_1813.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As if this weren't enough for one day, we still had the evening in Yellowstone ahead of us. A short drive north and we were already at the southern entrance to the park. Anna flirted with the hunky, bearded, 20-something Ranger at the gate, flashed her park pass, and in we drove. More ridiculous vistas along the road in, which is also the Rockefeller National Highway and a mere medium of transportation for the lucky locals. Every corner yielded new beauty; the rushing Yellowstone River tossed itself through deep red canyons, evergreens stood behind birches, and the blue sky welcomed all of us. Suddenly Anna hit the brakes and turned onto a dirt road - there was our first geyser, bubbling up from the Earth with a constant puff of white, sulphury steam. Just like she'd read about in the American Cowboys and Indians books from her childhood bookshelf in Sweden. Freakin' wild.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-009j78IYtPE/Tm7NzXfC-CI/AAAAAAAASyY/Wr39CBKSQ-Y/s1600/IMG_5046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-009j78IYtPE/Tm7NzXfC-CI/AAAAAAAASyY/Wr39CBKSQ-Y/s640/IMG_5046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQgUQGXWd6s/Tm7NyXEtnAI/AAAAAAAASyU/MhnIl3YS_HM/s1600/IMG_5045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vQgUQGXWd6s/Tm7NyXEtnAI/AAAAAAAASyU/MhnIl3YS_HM/s640/IMG_5045.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The geyser area was crazy and gorgeous. We walked on boardwalks winding through the moonscape of this thermal phenomenon. Mini volcanoes burst forth water at 200 degrees and small holes in the clay bubbled up like giant clams in a horror movie. We asked a Swiss couple to take our picture and they did so happily. They were the first ones to ask the question of the day: "Did you see the grizzly?" "WHAT GRIZZLY?," we screamed, and they told us that around the corner was a grizzly bear chowing on a freshly killed elk. We freaked out, glanced around at the boring geysers, and ran for the car. <br />
<br />
Sure enough, there was the Ranger along the road, herding tourists towards the feast. A group of about 50 people, most of them fat middle aged men with lenses hanging down to their knees (also called "Compensation Lenses"). The bear was there, 2 or 300 yards away, napping next to his kill, his belly full of elk steak. A Ranger stood and answered questions while he repeatedly reminded wandering Facebook photographers to stay back behind the line. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6A4VgiEmcb8/Tm7N7fi79qI/AAAAAAAASy0/U4HYa7wxcv4/s1600/DSC_1884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6A4VgiEmcb8/Tm7N7fi79qI/AAAAAAAASy0/U4HYa7wxcv4/s640/DSC_1884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyzyFqrdDtA/Tm7N-NaeydI/AAAAAAAASzA/P5nrMwVvURg/s1600/DSC_1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SyzyFqrdDtA/Tm7N-NaeydI/AAAAAAAASzA/P5nrMwVvURg/s640/DSC_1903.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
All of a sudden Swedish words are spoken, surprised and pleased to finally encounter my own nationality I am instantly engaged in rapid swedish conversation with Seth, a fellow Swedish/American from my alma matter Lund University. Sofia yawned and decided for once not to take the opportunity to display her flawless Swedish, instead she quickly immersed herself into a deep conversation with Seth's partner Jared. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkpnGRDuybw/Tm7N8UsXsAI/AAAAAAAASy4/V3aUGtlYh3Y/s1600/DSC_1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tkpnGRDuybw/Tm7N8UsXsAI/AAAAAAAASy4/V3aUGtlYh3Y/s400/DSC_1895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As we are walking to our car, people started to yell "he is moving", we turn around and se the grizzly slowly strolling over to the river, quenching his thirst after his feast, he demonstratively turns around to be sure that all we can see is his giant behind.... Yes grizzly we get it you mooned us.... Then the grizzly delivered his final punch... He sank down on his behind and a shriek was heard from the four year old that had his binoculars glued on the grizzly " he is pooping" !<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hTTilPraF4/Tm7N_ejp57I/AAAAAAAASzE/haqID7G3WWc/s1600/DSC_1906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_hTTilPraF4/Tm7N_ejp57I/AAAAAAAASzE/haqID7G3WWc/s320/DSC_1906.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvT1_bpqOjM/Tm7OC1WFcUI/AAAAAAAASzU/wB06zaayapo/s1600/DSC_1915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvT1_bpqOjM/Tm7OC1WFcUI/AAAAAAAASzU/wB06zaayapo/s640/DSC_1915.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P98RS81Tatk/Tm7OFZMJxdI/AAAAAAAASzg/BnjW2R1odPA/s1600/DSC_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P98RS81Tatk/Tm7OFZMJxdI/AAAAAAAASzg/BnjW2R1odPA/s640/DSC_1928.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from Day 6, check out the slideshow below!</span></b>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651679065052631313%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-40643834641106802312011-09-12T17:43:00.000-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.199-08:00Day 5 - Friday August 26, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 5</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8LSV-qyC-0/Tm7KL6c6iAI/AAAAAAAASno/8xsyRhFLZs0/s1600/DSC_1316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o8LSV-qyC-0/Tm7KL6c6iAI/AAAAAAAASno/8xsyRhFLZs0/s320/DSC_1316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>2,382 Miles</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>10:45 am </b></span></div>
Morfar's coffee index is still good. $3 total for full egg and bacon breakfast including coffee. Later a the gas station we bought some refill at the cost of $1.19!for a medium coffee<br />
<br />
Our late start was due to some excitement from the drive the night before, ... Jay was right, we did see antelope yesterday evening - a whole family of them, big-eared and sweet eyed, standing like statues next to Rt 18W. What dear Jay Red Hawk forgot to mention, however, were the prairie fires- and we ran straight into one of those. What a new, western smell those prairies held for our New England noses, accustomed to brine, coffee, green grass and exhaust. We didn't realize the smokiness of the prairie air was in fact smoke. After passing a few black patches of the normally gold colored grass, we wondered if these were controlled fires, perhaps for fertilizing the grounds. We quickly realized that was not the case when we saw flames licking the road. Sofia quickly stops and gets ready to turn around as I am clicking away with the camera. She does not want to die from smoke inhalation I just wanted to gun it and go pass it, a judgement I made based on all the cars that passed us coming from the other side. We chatted with a hot rocker dude on a Harley, he shared Sofia's concerns about the inhalation but decided to go for it, we followed his example. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3bIHMtqr7w/Tm7I16TLsoI/AAAAAAAASmw/smCQLN5C5Us/s1600/DSC_1264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a3bIHMtqr7w/Tm7I16TLsoI/AAAAAAAASmw/smCQLN5C5Us/s640/DSC_1264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2oIvhFZh5U/Tm7I2xr80yI/AAAAAAAASm4/zHafc02lJN8/s1600/DSC_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T2oIvhFZh5U/Tm7I2xr80yI/AAAAAAAASm4/zHafc02lJN8/s400/DSC_1271.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This trip has been about the stories of the people we met. It is amazing how people just open up and spill their hearts out with the encouragement of genuine curiosity and a kind smile. Tears were welling up in our breakfast waitress Jenny's eyes as she told us that today was the first day she put her 6 year old son on the school bus. The bus left at 6:15 in order to get him to school by 8:30. She worried that he might wonder of while waiting at his layover where he waits for bus number two. "He is a good kid, nothing faces him, rattle snakes, horses you name it, he just might get impatient". It turns out they live on a farm 25 miles outside Casper, WY with no running water and a generator for electricity. This has some of the authorities worried and they feel she endangers her child and are trying to force her to move to more civilized places. not easy when she as a breakfast waitress earns more money than her carpenter husband. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ssRkr8AIE/Tm7KO_h-NrI/AAAAAAAASn0/8AiodwEaUB4/s1600/IMG_4872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x7ssRkr8AIE/Tm7KO_h-NrI/AAAAAAAASn0/8AiodwEaUB4/s640/IMG_4872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Andy was the bartender at Plaza Hotel. 17 years of service. He just finished his first 100 miles bike ride he told us as he simultaneously tended to the increasingly intoxicated Texan barfly. Casper's claim to fame is that Dick Cheney was born there. He recently attended his High School reunion that was hosted at the hotel we stayed at...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMYVS69ao_k/Tm7KWNDhhnI/AAAAAAAASoU/5arNpXpsD3s/s1600/DSC_1326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NMYVS69ao_k/Tm7KWNDhhnI/AAAAAAAASoU/5arNpXpsD3s/s320/DSC_1326.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br />
Sofia noticed that many of the people we met had bad teeth. My response was "teeth are expensive" this was especially true for our hostess, with the mostes in this case not teeth. Her broad smile displayed one brown front tooth and diagonal across it at the bottom was another tooth. the rest of the mouth was filled with dark weird looking stumps. She liked my camera and shared that her brother is working on an oilrig in North Dakota, 2 weeks on and 2 weeks of.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVxBbQWH_JM/Tm7KbA4aq8I/AAAAAAAASow/-KLyoYgIWiM/s1600/DSC_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QVxBbQWH_JM/Tm7KbA4aq8I/AAAAAAAASow/-KLyoYgIWiM/s640/DSC_1355.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We finally peel out of Casper to be met my an ever changing landscape of rolling hills. We pass small towns like Highland, population 10 and elevation 5998. Wow, imagine living on top of Mt Washington and have everything around you be flat. We stop in Kianna, population 44 and elevation 5430, a cute variety store owner try to sell us Indian Necklaces and a variety of bits for our imaginary horses. The postmaster had been to the East Coast and actually seen the White mountines. Compared to the Tetons they are like this and he made a wavy motion with his hand. "It's nice,' he said. "You can keep it".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tns6SQA6M88/Tm7KeGm9uVI/AAAAAAAASpA/X0000Yiv8ks/s1600/DSC_1378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tns6SQA6M88/Tm7KeGm9uVI/AAAAAAAASpA/X0000Yiv8ks/s640/DSC_1378.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DXEpeytu9DE/Tm7KoZth4nI/AAAAAAAASps/buDAjqmjLs0/s1600/DSC_1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DXEpeytu9DE/Tm7KoZth4nI/AAAAAAAASps/buDAjqmjLs0/s640/DSC_1408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMYAXQW5t_Q/Tm7KtRH_4NI/AAAAAAAASqM/VHxZgm25dLA/s1600/DSC_1440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMYAXQW5t_Q/Tm7KtRH_4NI/AAAAAAAASqM/VHxZgm25dLA/s640/DSC_1440.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We stop for lunch at Wind River, a fly fisher mans mecca with a stream that could have rivaled any of the ones pictured in the movie "a river runs trough it". The sun is baking and the water is inviting, the fact that no one would fine us $10000 for a swim made us peel of our clothes for the first river swim of the trip.... Refreshing<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT_lP3TW0QE/Tm7KzchtHBI/AAAAAAAASqo/7Pi6VRk-E0E/s1600/DSC_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sT_lP3TW0QE/Tm7KzchtHBI/AAAAAAAASqo/7Pi6VRk-E0E/s640/DSC_1468.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90Cg2N3qxLE/Tw5WGqgLIUI/AAAAAAAATdk/4uhzVV6-Hsg/s1600/_DSC5393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-90Cg2N3qxLE/Tw5WGqgLIUI/AAAAAAAATdk/4uhzVV6-Hsg/s320/_DSC5393.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vGGPiJBxuRU/Tm7K2A7jbYI/AAAAAAAASqw/HEBTSoKAWJw/s1600/DSC_1479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vGGPiJBxuRU/Tm7K2A7jbYI/AAAAAAAASqw/HEBTSoKAWJw/s640/DSC_1479.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />
The landscape quickly changes and more and more trees shows up, we slowly climb over Tobawago pass at 9200 feet and get our first glimpse of the Tetons. the view is breathtaking. Every turn just reveals more and more of natures beauty as we finally makes it into the park. Hungry and tired we pitch our tent and then go in search for food. it turns out the park offers gourmet restaurant and our meeger camp dinner turns into a feast on bison filet with a demiglace and haricoverts... Who knew such amenities existed in the wild!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Na-GIDb8Kp8/Tm7K_gxeLpI/AAAAAAAASrc/Xi70bOnZ2Kg/s1600/DSC_1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Na-GIDb8Kp8/Tm7K_gxeLpI/AAAAAAAASrc/Xi70bOnZ2Kg/s640/DSC_1507.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGfGtJVHA-I/Tm7LECVjcZI/AAAAAAAASr0/N6X8_8A59bo/s1600/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGfGtJVHA-I/Tm7LECVjcZI/AAAAAAAASr0/N6X8_8A59bo/s640/IMG_4898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9ry1KN9yCU/Tm7LKqC4R1I/AAAAAAAASsU/Fiyts8ZX7lA/s1600/DSC_1598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9ry1KN9yCU/Tm7LKqC4R1I/AAAAAAAASsU/Fiyts8ZX7lA/s640/DSC_1598.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from Day 5, check out the slideshow below!</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651676870023558977%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-29499779532122357532011-09-12T17:42:00.001-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.281-08:00Day 4 - Thursday August 25, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 4</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BJfsBMR3pLg/Tm7G1KZg5JI/AAAAAAAASdU/H5eJ4_ZOsUo/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BJfsBMR3pLg/Tm7G1KZg5JI/AAAAAAAASdU/H5eJ4_ZOsUo/s320/IMG_4816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>1899 miles</b></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>9:05 am</b></span></div>
</div>
</b></span></div>
Got a late start since we didn't get into Pierre, SD until midnight!<br />
This mornings Morfar coffee index is $0 thanks to Chase the cashier at the Shell Station!<br />
<br />
My driving rating is down to below 0 after I pulled a "duke of Hazards stunt". Sofia did not appreciate me going straight thru the stop sign giving the car some air as we jumped over the railroad tracks and landed on a dirt road with a big thump. This all happened on a dark lonely Rt 14 road thru SD; the road took a sharp left and I missed it. Sorry.... Car, driver and passenger are all OK - all that is gone is trust. <br />
<br />
The sunset through South Dakota was so stunning, only to be replaced by a nights sky so bejeweled with stars everywhere. We stepped out of the car and reached our hands up to the sky to take some with us home... From horizon to horizon stars everywhere, milky, creamy beautiful milky way. <br />
<br />
Wow...big sky, this is the prairie and it is so expansive. I get it! Rolling hills and lots of sunflowers! The wind is ever present and the smell of fresh grass far surpasses any of Yankee Candles scents. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgz04HG5j2w/Tm7HCAAtgtI/AAAAAAAASeM/A9ClipyJkLo/s1600/IMG_4842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qgz04HG5j2w/Tm7HCAAtgtI/AAAAAAAASeM/A9ClipyJkLo/s640/IMG_4842.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLv3Hf2TuS4/Tm7HGmZ9roI/AAAAAAAASeo/jaUBPp9kMNY/s1600/DSC_0794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sLv3Hf2TuS4/Tm7HGmZ9roI/AAAAAAAASeo/jaUBPp9kMNY/s640/DSC_0794.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rmXXyiCiWv4/Tm7HQ2c-XlI/AAAAAAAASfY/C3mDPrEGeDQ/s1600/DSC_0842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rmXXyiCiWv4/Tm7HQ2c-XlI/AAAAAAAASfY/C3mDPrEGeDQ/s640/DSC_0842.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Later... But with another free extra hour..... It's freakin' HOT today!! We are a little jealous of you guys who get to experience Hurricane Irene, especially Anna who is dying to get back on her board and hit some surf. But we've got some weather of our own here in South Dakota, USA. It's at least 95, and even the clouds look a little sweaty and bloated. That's not true. They're sweet little wispy things, serving only to add depth and contrast to our shots of the Badlands. We just drove the Badlands Loop, and it's another gigantic testament to our youth as a species, and to our puny size. At the same time, it reminds us that we're part of something so much bigger than we can fathom. Wait, are we in the Bible Belt?However you look at it,the geology of this place is amazing and we have a million photos to prove it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUDD8QWmCdA/Tm7HwxCgZPI/AAAAAAAAShk/StKEIjH6Syw/s1600/DSC_0953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EUDD8QWmCdA/Tm7HwxCgZPI/AAAAAAAAShk/StKEIjH6Syw/s640/DSC_0953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF_XM2QvU0k/Tm7H2fq0jrI/AAAAAAAASh0/a9JG6c3t4mw/s1600/DSC_0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF_XM2QvU0k/Tm7H2fq0jrI/AAAAAAAASh0/a9JG6c3t4mw/s640/DSC_0968.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We've talked with many people again today. Shocking, I know. The woman at the counter of the gas station in Philips has lived here all her life, and she was the subject of our Daily Coffee Question: "Do you drink the stuff?". She assured us that she loves the new coffee system they have at the store, and she made us a fresh pot. Good thing, too, because our "free" coffee from the Shell station was disgusting, due to a half&half gone bad. So much for winning Moofa's Cheap Coffee Index! A cup can only win if you can actually drink it! Anyway, the fresh stuff at the Philips place was $.99 for16 oz. Into dumt, eller hur, Moofa?! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yd8w4oE2Kvg/Tm7Hc83KbkI/AAAAAAAASgM/drVdgsw-3c8/s1600/DSC_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yd8w4oE2Kvg/Tm7Hc83KbkI/AAAAAAAASgM/drVdgsw-3c8/s320/DSC_0902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0s_B-0AJ0Gc/Tm7HeearfII/AAAAAAAASgU/nidDsem4EEQ/s1600/DSC_0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0s_B-0AJ0Gc/Tm7HeearfII/AAAAAAAASgU/nidDsem4EEQ/s320/DSC_0909.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
Our socializing also included the coffee lady's grandpa, Walt, a seasoned farmer who wasn't sure what Anna meant by the word "crop", and who gave us a big yellow squash which he brings to the store to get rid of. "They keep coming". When Anna told him she was from Sweden he asked "Where's that?", to which she replied "Oh, you know, somewhere in Europe." A perfectly acceptable answer when the farthest east you've been is Wisconsin.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rrg6y5P7Ow/Tm7Hmug-EpI/AAAAAAAASg4/WWlnphyzvnc/s1600/DSC_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Rrg6y5P7Ow/Tm7Hmug-EpI/AAAAAAAASg4/WWlnphyzvnc/s320/DSC_0927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuryu5VR5cg/Tm7U3tZ6MgI/AAAAAAAAS-Q/_bGveFTlGYA/s1600/IMG_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vuryu5VR5cg/Tm7U3tZ6MgI/AAAAAAAAS-Q/_bGveFTlGYA/s320/IMG_0052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We also met a Swiss couple at Pinnacles Overlook in the Badlands National Park. We had a great conversation with them in Gerdishglish, which is a combination of German, Swedish and English. Anna and I impressed each other with our excellent fake-it techniques, taking Swedish words and spitting them out a little harder to make them sound like Deutsch. Anna is actually really good at speaking German, and I was able to use the few concepts I learned freshman year of college combined with the Swiss influence from a cute traveler from Zurich a few years ago. You gotta use what ya got!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-le8ibNfycrM/Tm7IOIQasXI/AAAAAAAASjY/EqNaY9QX-xw/s1600/DSC_1060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-le8ibNfycrM/Tm7IOIQasXI/AAAAAAAASjY/EqNaY9QX-xw/s640/DSC_1060.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnVWrp3WW84/Tm7ISLihYmI/AAAAAAAASjo/upeuFV59BdY/s1600/DSC_1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hnVWrp3WW84/Tm7ISLihYmI/AAAAAAAASjo/upeuFV59BdY/s640/DSC_1075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So far for wildlife we have seen: <br />
2 dead porcupines<br />
7 deer (3 dead, 4 alive)<br />
1 turkey vulture (alive)<br />
1 blue heron (flying)<br />
Lots of horses (so sweet)<br />
Hundreds of cows, all sorts<br />
Pigs in a truck (approximately 80)<br />
Cows in a truck (still alive)<br />
Grasshoppers (some hopping, others flattened)<br />
1 giant spider, black with yellow spots<br />
3 antelope (kickin' it prairie style)<br />
1 very tiny turtle (probably dead by now; it was crossing Rt 14)<br />
Bugs of all sizes and varieties, obliterated on our windshield, and on my bike handlebars<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdsbZL2ZBtg/Tm7IKizxPpI/AAAAAAAASjI/S7Em3dqS5WU/s1600/DSC_1030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UdsbZL2ZBtg/Tm7IKizxPpI/AAAAAAAASjI/S7Em3dqS5WU/s640/DSC_1030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On the outskirts of Rapid City at Flying J's truck stop a white dirty pickup truck pulls up. The driver fumbles but quickly finds his tank top and pulls it over his head. He jumps out of the truck, his long black braid bouncing on his back, as he walks into the store. Let me introduce you to Jay Redhawk, a ranch owner who breeds Spanish Mustangs. He just ended a long day of work building fences. He is a bit embarrassed when we ask to take his picture at the same time his bright blue eyes light up. It turns out he is no stranger to modeling since his family is filled with artists. His body is tanned after long hours working under the sun, chaps on his legs are their for protection when he builds fences. He is of to his own ranch, where he offers classes on how to shoot bow and arrow from the horseback. Look me up on Facebook he says as he hands us his business card. The truck pulls out and he shouts his parting farewell, "Drive safely and look out for antelopes"...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1dmQw5FRjI/Tm7IpuQ6tII/AAAAAAAASlU/AsMu9P5GGH4/s1600/DSC_1164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u1dmQw5FRjI/Tm7IpuQ6tII/AAAAAAAASlU/AsMu9P5GGH4/s640/DSC_1164.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfR8sFGOA-Q/Tm7IqXieSlI/AAAAAAAASlY/Ts5c1ErWxIo/s1600/DSC_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FfR8sFGOA-Q/Tm7IqXieSlI/AAAAAAAASlY/Ts5c1ErWxIo/s640/DSC_1166.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxfYT8NWt2s/Tm7IyVEI-FI/AAAAAAAASmU/YYE_qzpiiKg/s1600/DSC_1236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxfYT8NWt2s/Tm7IyVEI-FI/AAAAAAAASmU/YYE_qzpiiKg/s640/DSC_1236.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more photos from Day 4, check out the slide show below!</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651673179376610305%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-34848557460731667052011-09-12T17:41:00.001-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.361-08:00Day 3 - Wednesday August 24, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 3</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMLk11bufKY/Tm7EQ0qlt8I/AAAAAAAASXE/N9m7l-yI8aQ/s1600/IMG_4636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lMLk11bufKY/Tm7EQ0qlt8I/AAAAAAAASXE/N9m7l-yI8aQ/s320/IMG_4636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>1176 miles</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7:30 start</b></span></div>
Stayed at Red Roof Inn at Rockford, Illionois<br />
We pushed through and got in really late. Woke up to a super foggy and dreary morning.<br />
Medium coffee at the local gas station, best $ so far, the "morfar coffee index" is of the charts $1.18 for a medium coffee! We asked the attendance lady is she drank the coffee "occasionally, but I mix it with Cappuccino". Rockford is a fun city of about 100,000 people all you can do here is go to bars! Sounds like my kind of town! You know you are in the Midwest when they offer you 2 "pahp's" for the price of one! Translation="pahp" is the same as pop or as we call it on the east coast; soda!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDbD1gV7eFM/Tm7UnQ7yPVI/AAAAAAAAS9U/gO3IADi4aCU/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDbD1gV7eFM/Tm7UnQ7yPVI/AAAAAAAAS9U/gO3IADi4aCU/s640/IMG_0022.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It is amazing how much Wisconsin looks like Sweden and Skåne, driving thru cropfields in a pea soup fog! The fog burned of and the rest of the day has been gorgeous blue sky and sunshine!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ClSSErXeiU/Tm7ETjWbPSI/AAAAAAAASXU/XXHuz0rY6ss/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ClSSErXeiU/Tm7ETjWbPSI/AAAAAAAASXU/XXHuz0rY6ss/s640/IMG_4647.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmcsSU17d9c/Tm7EU0FxISI/AAAAAAAASXc/QHprLcdJziw/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GmcsSU17d9c/Tm7EU0FxISI/AAAAAAAASXc/QHprLcdJziw/s640/IMG_4652.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yesterday as we drove through the border in to Canada, the Canadian border guard asked us the usual questions like "got any tobacco or alcohol, fire arms..etc. Where are you heading?" Sofia answered "I am moving to Seattle" the guard looks at our car and says "what is all that stuff for?" Really? What part of moving did you not understand? I AM MOVING! dumbass! <br />
<br />
A snack of peanut butter on sourdough bread with cuke slices. It feels good to have won an extra hour, even though it meant that when Anna woke me up this morning and said "It's 7:00", what she meant was "It's 6:00". After going to bed after midnight (Chicago time) and driving ~700 miles, I coulda used that hour. But we got up, took showers, played with the iPad (Anna), did our 6 sun salutations, washed our hands with annoying almondy soap, and ate our yummy breakfast of yogurt, high fiber/fart-minimizing cereal, and freshly picked New Hampshire blueberries which Karen delivered to me alongside the NewCastle shore the morning I left town. Thanks Karen!!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8mvJzV4KfU/Tm7Us3mQ3DI/AAAAAAAAS9o/x8VwE0efRHc/s1600/IMG_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m8mvJzV4KfU/Tm7Us3mQ3DI/AAAAAAAAS9o/x8VwE0efRHc/s400/IMG_0041.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There are a lot of um..... What are they called again? Oh yeah, TRUCKS on this road. They are part of the plan for a better future for our children. None of this newfangled "sustainability" shit for me! I like my t-bone tortured, my peppers poisonous, and my dairy deathly. And I want it all to be wrapped in as much plastic as possible and shipped from Wisconsin. Or better yet, maybe Mexico! Israel is interesting! Chile is Charrrrrrming!!!<br />
<br />
We are now driving alongside the Mighty Mississippi! We saw Huck and Jim a ways back, but Huck was texting so he didn't see us. Jim was sporting an Armani suit and all was well on the yacht. I even caught a quick glimpse of T-pain, who was on the upper deck making a smoothie. Or so it appeared to me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dm_8BJJ1lMQ/Tm7Ec7X7y0I/AAAAAAAASX8/YNBLB22zzy8/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dm_8BJJ1lMQ/Tm7Ec7X7y0I/AAAAAAAASX8/YNBLB22zzy8/s320/IMG_4685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So sarcastic! What has gotten into me? I'm betting it's FEAR of CHANGE. Let's face it, this is all kinda nuts. I'm leaving my cozy little Portsmouth community, driving 3,600 miles WITH ANNA, and starting a whole new life in an unfamiliar environment WITHOUT ANNA. It would be less insane if I had my tuition in order.... But that's another blog altogether.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZuocjzLrdE/Tm7EjM8GdbI/AAAAAAAASYU/ROuRa3Ctsvs/s1600/DSC_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BZuocjzLrdE/Tm7EjM8GdbI/AAAAAAAASYU/ROuRa3Ctsvs/s640/DSC_0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
In Minnesota. Gonna stop for lunch and listen for Swedish-Midwestern accents. It's another gorgeous day, a few puffy clouds in a sky the color of the ocean we've left behind us....<br />
<br />
Met three cute Norwegian brothers at Cabin Coffee shop in St.Charles Minnesota. they sure did their ya and Nay and okey dokey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hWU03kwvWI/Tm7Ek3uLhyI/AAAAAAAASYc/ZZREi8AqFEY/s1600/IMG_4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hWU03kwvWI/Tm7Ek3uLhyI/AAAAAAAASYc/ZZREi8AqFEY/s640/IMG_4723.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Corn corn corn... Endless cornfields. We are driving on Rt 14 through Minnesota and South Dakota to inhale some more local flavors. Gorgeous road with beautiful landscape filled with... Do I need to say it CORN! What happened to the other crops? Or do they grow those in other parts of the US? Oh yeah we are finding the other crop...SOY, oh so native to the area.<span id="goog_1801037205"></span><span id="goog_1801037206"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVpWbP6-kUM/Tm7E5yd1lkI/AAAAAAAASZ4/kf6NPx225v0/s1600/DSC_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XVpWbP6-kUM/Tm7E5yd1lkI/AAAAAAAASZ4/kf6NPx225v0/s640/DSC_0545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Dipped our legs into "Clear Lake", what a misleading name.....<br />
<br />
We just passed Tyler, Minnesota they celebrated Danish heritage last year with the able skiver fest or in English apple slice party. finally we are approaching the board to South Dakota and we are seeing more and more windmil parks popping up.since it is the prairee it is always windy, just like it is in Skåne. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWG663YKbxA/Tm7FDG7olkI/AAAAAAAASas/1rEQ_GWPPS4/s1600/DSC_0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWG663YKbxA/Tm7FDG7olkI/AAAAAAAASas/1rEQ_GWPPS4/s640/DSC_0596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QFariE2DhpM/Tm7FCTaRACI/AAAAAAAASao/_LW6Huzgo_A/s1600/DSC_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QFariE2DhpM/Tm7FCTaRACI/AAAAAAAASao/_LW6Huzgo_A/s640/DSC_0594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Driving thru Minnesota really makes me miss Sweden and Skåne, growing up in Swedens agracultural headquarter. You just take for granted rolling fields, farms, crops, silos the whole production that goes into producing the food that ends up on our tables. So far we passed through fields and fields of of corn broken up by fields of Soy. Both are 2 very heavily genetically engineered produce. You wonder what hapened to the prairie the way it used to be?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4y_2ywqZ4g/Tm7FdkhC2hI/AAAAAAAAScQ/K8bA2cZO8gw/s1600/DSC_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x4y_2ywqZ4g/Tm7FdkhC2hI/AAAAAAAAScQ/K8bA2cZO8gw/s640/DSC_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1801037200"></span><span id="goog_1801037201"></span><span id="goog_1801037198"></span><span id="goog_1801037199"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94w9HwxGJ2I/Tm7FTYYfnPI/AAAAAAAASbk/xxYWic2qzUA/s1600/DSC_0661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-94w9HwxGJ2I/Tm7FTYYfnPI/AAAAAAAASbk/xxYWic2qzUA/s640/DSC_0661.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxlj_8_YsBA/Tm7FY5LF3zI/AAAAAAAASb0/T7hWcA3zKso/s1600/DSC_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gxlj_8_YsBA/Tm7FY5LF3zI/AAAAAAAASb0/T7hWcA3zKso/s640/DSC_0694.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The smell of menuer is sometimes overwhelming as wwe drive thru the farmland.<br />
Passing through Cavour, SD population 163, wow.....<br />
<br />
The
sky and the sunset driving through SD has been one of the most
spectacular one that I have ever seen. It is flat flat flat but
gorgeous... <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNUjeRlNh4U/Tm7Fl2Pj7JI/AAAAAAAASc4/qcf8HZ-rjck/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNUjeRlNh4U/Tm7Fl2Pj7JI/AAAAAAAASc4/qcf8HZ-rjck/s640/IMG_4782.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WF-NKYWM2Y/Tm7Fm_kubzI/AAAAAAAASdA/clwSFTu0vyo/s1600/IMG_4797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2WF-NKYWM2Y/Tm7Fm_kubzI/AAAAAAAASdA/clwSFTu0vyo/s640/IMG_4797.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Hoping to make it to Pierre were we are hoping to sleep.....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKvQcPzOa_Y/Tm7FoefWTxI/AAAAAAAASdM/PBI83lVmmiM/s1600/DSC_0758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aKvQcPzOa_Y/Tm7FoefWTxI/AAAAAAAASdM/PBI83lVmmiM/s640/DSC_0758.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from Day 3, check out the slideshow below!</span></b></div>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651670364551371345%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-2062353664278453692011-09-12T17:28:00.001-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.443-08:00Day 2 - Tuesday August 23, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 2</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekl1PoinG7M/Tm7B55eY-SI/AAAAAAAASSs/cP6NyyYh5BQ/s1600/IMG_4491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekl1PoinG7M/Tm7B55eY-SI/AAAAAAAASSs/cP6NyyYh5BQ/s320/IMG_4491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>436 miles</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>7:45 am</b></span></div>
Started the day with six sun salutations on a not so clean smelling rug in Budget In, Farmington, NY. Heading towards Buffalo, NY and Niagara Falls, crossing over to Canada and across to Wisconsin. Had our first coffee at Tim Hortons, a canadian franshise according to the morfar coffee index a large coffee for $1.98 not bad.... The coffee lady when asked if she drank the coffee replied "not this stuff". Already encountered diversity in the form of giggling girls and hazidic Jews. Beautiful rolling landscape,with cows and fields... Reminds me of Skåne back in the olden days when the fields also were covered with beech and oak trees.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfYxhvmfYZI/Tm7Ufmx3XxI/AAAAAAAAS80/ksos5PdINL4/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wfYxhvmfYZI/Tm7Ufmx3XxI/AAAAAAAAS80/ksos5PdINL4/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6YBLS-Svkk/Tm7Uo_TBwCI/AAAAAAAAS9Y/zOv1Iv1_gIM/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6YBLS-Svkk/Tm7Uo_TBwCI/AAAAAAAAS9Y/zOv1Iv1_gIM/s320/IMG_0025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
First larger roadkill on the road...<br />
...a little later...<br />
We've now seen Niagara Falls for the first time! It was beautiful and huge and there was a giant rainbow that wasn't even an app - it was REAL! The tourist racket was a little annoying, and it's kind of a shame that one of the Natural Wonders of the World inspires so much chintz. Oh well, landfills can be beautiful too. We met some nice people again, particularly a guy from Slovakia named David. He's been living in NJ since June ("it's okay") and now he's seeing some sights. He tried to visit Canada but got sent right back over the border once they realized he was born in Rumania<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfo8oQFk-2s/Tm7CRf0nKWI/AAAAAAAASUU/C11HlIlUeeQ/s1600/DSC_0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kfo8oQFk-2s/Tm7CRf0nKWI/AAAAAAAASUU/C11HlIlUeeQ/s640/DSC_0470.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJzzB7Z4_tM/Tm7CYCM_l6I/AAAAAAAASUw/YNoE7XQ3wpA/s1600/DSC_0478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RJzzB7Z4_tM/Tm7CYCM_l6I/AAAAAAAASUw/YNoE7XQ3wpA/s640/DSC_0478.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
I must say Niagara falls was everything I thought it to be, amazingly swift churning river that rolled over the edge into the bowl. I kept thinking of the Japanese student that fell into the falls a couple of weeks ago. what was her final thoughts? "Oh shit?"and then she must have felt like you do at one of those free fall amusement park rides as she plummeted to the bowl...well they did find her after they plucked up unidentified man.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svl8rOPUM54/Tm7Cgbb4CBI/AAAAAAAASVQ/sqZ6hS-JgWM/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="427" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-svl8rOPUM54/Tm7Cgbb4CBI/AAAAAAAASVQ/sqZ6hS-JgWM/s640/DSC_0486.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
The ranger told me that just last week they pulled up two girls who were going for a "swim" right at the edge of the falls, they thought that was a great idea after a couple of drinks. The fine for these events are $10,000 per person. One of the tributary rivers where just so slow an peaceful and ended in what looked like an infinity pool edge.... Once you got close you saw that it was a roaring fall...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pR7EESVStaQ/Tm7Ckqn0C_I/AAAAAAAASVg/OdKHQFqoYiU/s1600/DSC_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pR7EESVStaQ/Tm7Ckqn0C_I/AAAAAAAASVg/OdKHQFqoYiU/s640/DSC_0494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We decided to take the route thru Canada... We kind of got a sticker shock when we put gas in the car. $1.265/liter. 1 gallon equals 3.8 liters... Do the math! Then the conversion from Canadian dollars to US dollars. Canada did provide some relief from converting miles to kilometers since they use the metric system!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLW04jcoL04/Tm7Cq-s0WWI/AAAAAAAASV0/8iCB53G7U2U/s1600/IMG_4555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLW04jcoL04/Tm7Cq-s0WWI/AAAAAAAASV0/8iCB53G7U2U/s320/IMG_4555.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It is incredibly beautiful, lots of roaring crop filled hills, with farms splattered everywhere<br />
Everything looks very Swedish. Orderly towns and cities, well maintained roads and bridges. "just right" houses, stores, shopping malls, you name it. Everything is just "lagom". <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuscPLDOU_U/Tm7CujH2VPI/AAAAAAAASWE/572PA1Bd2Vc/s1600/IMG_4583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CuscPLDOU_U/Tm7CujH2VPI/AAAAAAAASWE/572PA1Bd2Vc/s640/IMG_4583.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The main crop seems like it is corn, no wonder when corn syrup and other corn derivatives makes it into all the food we eat somehow. <br />
<br />
Yeah, we made it in to the US crossing the Bridge over Lake Huron. Entering the state of Michigan where they really value their road workers. "injure/kill a worker $7,500 fine + 15 years" . Heading west on I69 then south on 69 until we met up with 94 towards Chicago. More rolling hills, farmlands, the Michigan barns are tall and cool looking with fun silos. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnCtjr7TBsk/Tm7C2aaSX2I/AAAAAAAASWk/AaTS6wT3qDY/s1600/IMG_4610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jnCtjr7TBsk/Tm7C2aaSX2I/AAAAAAAASWk/AaTS6wT3qDY/s640/IMG_4610.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We stopped at MacDonalds for coffee and right next to it this giant 18 wheeler pulls in. It is weird looking with crates/cages in the back. It comes to a screeching halt and as it comes to a stop all you can hear is this loud "oink"!! Welcome to MacDonalds, here we serve all our meat just fresh! Yep the truck was filled with pigs, stacked 2 stories high!! Sofia ran inside horrified at the squealing from the pigs, she wowed never to have pork again... Until a nice cob salad was offered her at Panera. <br />
Life is full of irony. And bacon is full of iron.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTZlEXmSrOQ/Tm7CzU3SNBI/AAAAAAAASWY/xJCgZQxLBD0/s1600/IMG_4604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OTZlEXmSrOQ/Tm7CzU3SNBI/AAAAAAAASWY/xJCgZQxLBD0/s640/IMG_4604.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from day 2, check out the slideshow below!</span></b>
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651667771332555057%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6148477605945745014.post-71408099745886901642011-09-12T16:33:00.000-07:002020-11-21T19:37:25.524-08:00Day 1 - Monday August 22, 2011<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Day 1</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiFscm0GqpM/Tm6uST9VoGI/AAAAAAAASQc/WiDoEq6cHzU/s1600/IMG_4399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiFscm0GqpM/Tm6uST9VoGI/AAAAAAAASQc/WiDoEq6cHzU/s400/IMG_4399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tripmeter 0</b></span></div>
Leaving the Guth house at 14:47<br />
Gorgeous blue sky, windy<br />
Road trip here we come<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6W_f0WUV67I/Tm6u0iqWBGI/AAAAAAAASQw/imrzEYORWj0/s1600/IMG_4382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6W_f0WUV67I/Tm6u0iqWBGI/AAAAAAAASQw/imrzEYORWj0/s400/IMG_4382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Took a picture downtown, asked an older man having coffee with his wife to take our picture afterwards he asked Us to have his wife take our picture as we sat in his lap.... We declined. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9DMFJjTdjs/Tm6u93DEhaI/AAAAAAAASQ0/ri63Hm85lX0/s1600/IMG_4392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9DMFJjTdjs/Tm6u93DEhaI/AAAAAAAASQ0/ri63Hm85lX0/s640/IMG_4392.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-387OmaAFycY/Tm6uaW5zufI/AAAAAAAASQg/zhC3rknrjrw/s1600/IMG_4404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-387OmaAFycY/Tm6uaW5zufI/AAAAAAAASQg/zhC3rknrjrw/s640/IMG_4404.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hIZyh1zCQM/Tm6ugRtI24I/AAAAAAAASQk/kUeoBecfe4A/s1600/IMG_4467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hIZyh1zCQM/Tm6ugRtI24I/AAAAAAAASQk/kUeoBecfe4A/s640/IMG_4467.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
dinner. At Tony's pizzeria and Deli in Ilion, NY<br />
Met Ken and Kathe<br />
We have been following the eerie canal align I90 but no one knew that was it<br />
Ken said he found Kathe at a yardsale in the freebie bin, ha haha<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFbQHbvQOwc/Tm6upAeK4LI/AAAAAAAASQo/HmjXn6j8mQc/s1600/DSC_0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mFbQHbvQOwc/Tm6upAeK4LI/AAAAAAAASQo/HmjXn6j8mQc/s640/DSC_0405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Remington gunmaker is the big employer<br />
Slept at a Budget In in Farmington New York, very clean $76/ night<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For more pictures from Day 1, check out the slideshow below!</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><br />
<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Faleijonguth%2Falbumid%2F5651664892607174625%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="392" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="488"></embed>Anna Leijon-Guthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05105611572381734666noreply@blogger.com0