Blogs from Nebraska, United States, North America

Let the adventure begin!!! The first official day of the trip starting at my brother Jeff’s house in Carmel, IN and driving to York, NE. We feel like the first pioneers riding west in their covered wagons, except that we have a comfortable truck with all the luxuries, sleeping in hotels and eating in restaurants. Ok so we are nothing like the first pioneers except enjoying the scenery. I have always felt that the journey to our destination is as exciting as the destination itself. There is so much to see in our beautiful country and you just need to slow down to see. Once while traveling to Alabama, Kevin, Nathan (my cousin) and I stopped at a rest area in Elkmont. They have a Saturn rocket, lots of info about space travel and a Korean ... read more

June 26 This morning we had another fun walk down the road and thankfully most of the mud had dried up from yesterday’s hot weather. We met two ladies on the walk with two dogs and two young girls, one about 8-9 was bawling her eyes out complaining of having to walk. Seems mother’s remedy was to walk off and leave the bawling child behind about 100 ft. We were sympathetic to the mother and glad to see her generation letting her daughter understand the harsh realities of life. Yes it is hot outside! Since we had to put Red and Dottie back on leash it was a shorter walk than normal, just too noisy. LOL. It was a quiet afternoon, took a nap and did some chores. Late afternoon we started fishing. Yesterday, we only ... read more

June 24 Oh the dogs woke us up early this morning 6:30. I could hear Dottie scratching at her crate. She rarely gets up before Red but then he went out about midnight last night. I got up and put my robe on telling both the dogs and David I’m going to go back to bed. It was a quick trip for them and I had Dot go right back to her crate. Red followed as did David shortly thereafter. I was asleep I’m sure by 6:45. When I finally woke up it was 8:16 and everyone was still asleep. I got the dogs and just put my cloths on and closed the bedroom door as David was still fast asleep. The dogs and I went outside and there it was, the most glorious, warm sunshiny ... read more

INSTAGRAM- @vangogh50states Weather: Sunny and 30s States: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska Miles: 747 Hours: 10 hours and 22 minutes Capitals: Drove through Lansing University Campus:Creighton University Omaha Restaurant: Cottage Inn Pizza Hotel/Home: Springhill Suites Marriott Movies: Audible: A Phone call from Heaven by Mitch Albom Paul and I began the last hour before our departure with the usual scramble of gathering, shoving, remembering forgotten things, consoling shaking dogs that think we are abandoning them and cleaning up the house. Kind of like when you are moving to a new house. Except, our new (but temporary) home has four wheels, captain chairs with Sparty printed on the headrests and a 26 inch tv. We raced to grab a pizza (cheese pizza of course-Lent) on the way to pick the kids up at school. I had ... read more

Mileage: 240 miles Des Moines, IA – Lincoln NE Last night’s hotel (Hyatt Place) was using Claire’s Hyatt points. Another free hotel. Susan had a rough night sleeping, she slept in the black hole bed. It sunk into the middle from all directions and she said it was like sleeping in a hammock and Pam noticed that the fitted sheets had also come up off her bed. I’m glad Susan didn’t pass thru the event horizon. Susan and Claire also had really weird dreams. After we got up, Pam had to primp. She did her nails and ironed her shorts. Susan and Claire told her no one would care. We couldn’t take our suitcases down before breakfast (remember we had to valet last night). At breakfast, Pam tried to get hot water and it had coffee ... read more