Headwinds and Fifty Cent Pieces

Today, we headed East. 570 miles worth of heading East. Marci, who has been working and schooling on this vacation, happened to look online while we were driving at the weather report for our destination today. The quote is, "Tonight - damaging winds up to 70 miles per hour - hail the size of fifty cent pieces - tornadoes spread throughout the region - tornado chasers being dispatched at midnight." Great camping weather. We checked into a hotel.

En route, we stopped at Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota. What a great American success story. For those that haven't heard it, during the Great Depression, a family bought a drug store in Wall and was barely making it. They could hear the autos out on the highway passing by one hot summer day and decided to put up signs offering free ice water. The business hasn't stopped streaming in since. I had my cup of coffee for a nickel (bad coffee, by the way - I kept my spending to 5 cents) and the kids enjoyed the backyard featuring a giant Jack-a-lope, shooting gallery and T-Rex.

(okay, I liked the backyard, too)

We now sit in our hotel room in Albert Lea, Minnesota. We checked-in, went to dinner (no camp food today - I have to admit, that was nice) and then went for a dip in the pool. Ella started swimming without her life jacket today.

This is the view out our hotel window. It's a biker party. They brought a DJ. Maybe the fifty cent sized hail will start soon.

Ella, in the back seat, reaching her hand forward: "Mom, here is my band-aid off of my toe. Do you want it?" Marci said no.

Sam, after many hours in the car: "Have we passed Seattle yet?" And I was so proud of all of the geography that I thought I was teaching my kids.

Marci, trying to help me park near Wall Drug: "A car just left, take that spot there." It was a pull in, diagonal stall on main street. We have a trailer behind us.

Brent, reading the trip computer and wondering why the gas mileage was going south in a hurry: "There must be a headwind. This car feels like it is driving through pudding." At the next gas stop, many miles down the road, I discovered that the car-top storage had come open in front causing it to act as a giant wind scoop. After re-latching, the MPG improved by almost 10. Someone forgot to latch the front (I don't know who that could have been). We didn't lose anything, but there were quite a few squished bugs on our suitcases.

Off to Amish country and Morrison, Illinois tomorrow. Thanks to all those that are following along the FROG. We love the comments and emails. Brent

PS - Jody, thanks for holding down the fort while we are gone. Glad to hear that the kitten is still up to his tricks and that Max is still, well, special.

PSS - Dog Boy, the biker party DJ just played a Doors tune.