The End

Jake is home safely in Utica and I'm back in Concord. We made it 8,000 miles through 17 states and 8 national parks in 4 weeks. By all accounts, mission accomplished.

Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible for us- we'll never forget it. We met so many amazing people and had so many incredible experiences that will be a part of our lives forever.

Happy anniversary Mom & Dad- you are the best!

The Heart Of It All

There's no place like home.

Crossroads of America

We got a bright and early start to the day, leaving Gorsky's house at 630am to beat the Chi-town traffic. Now we're in Indiana, "The Crossroads of America"- our last state short of home.

A New Alternator (Part II)

As we made plans to stay in Iowa City for a second night, we received some surprising yet very welcome news. The shop had just discovered a proper alternator in town, meaning that the seemingly impossible prospect of having the car repaired today was suddenly possible. At this point on our trip we have learned to never get overly excited when car repair is involved, nonetheless the news lifted our spirits slightly. Ever the optimist, Sean found a place for us to stay with a friend in Chicago in the event that we were able to depart Iowa City today.

Well automobile karma has suddenly rejoined us and the thoughts and prayers of our friends and family have finally paid off because as I sit blogging before you I am riding shotgun in a repaired vehicle on a date with Chicago, IL!

The Sears Automotive Center of Iowa City has really come through for us. The removal of our first "new" alternator of the trip required no wrenches as the nuts used to restrain it were only finger-tight. Whether or not this is the result of shoddy workmanship by the mechanics of Canyon City Auto of West Yellowstone we cannot say for sure. Regardless, it feels good to know that the car has finally received the treatment of assuredly competent technicians. Thank you Sears Automotive! We will be sure to 'steer' folks in need of auto repair your way (in the admittedly rare chance that we will ever know someone in Iowa City requiring assistance).

With Our Powers Combined...

Quite the reunion at the Iowa City Bennigan's. The Powers family and Pat's girlfriend Christina joined us for a lunch pitstop while we wait for news on the car.

We're so excited for them as they are just beginning their cross-country adventure. Be safe and have an amazing time guys. They are going to a lot of the same places we were able to see- we wish you well.

Who's Driving This Thing?

The cab got us back to the Quality Inn and the car, we said goodbye and thank you to Patti, and then luckily the car made it the 6 miles to Sears Auto Center.

Now we are in any-mall-USA until we hear back from Sears. Also, the Powers crew is en route for our lunch date.

We are able to admit that we are not the ones driving this journey. Everyday is an adventure.

Change of Plans

So we've come to find out that the Powers mobile is also having some engine difficulties that is delaying their departure today. Breakfast with Pat will now hopefully be lunch with Pat.

Luckily, the staff was nice enough to re-open breakfast for us downstairs so we could start our day with some fruit, coffee, and waffles.

We have a taxi coming to the Baymont in a few minutes to take us back to the car and then we'll try to drive it to Sears Auto about 6 miles away.

Re-Learning Lessons

Everything happens for a reason.

So the car started acting up again last night even after we replaced the battery (so our problem is probably the alternator... again). We decided to backtrack a few miles into Iowa City instead of risking a breakdown in the middle of nowhere between Iowa City and Davenport.

Our best bet was pulling off at the Quality Inn to see if we couldn't get the car right and hopefully have a place to stay if we couldn't. We had no luck with the car, and there were no rooms available at the hotel. We came to find out that almost no hotel in Iowa City had any vacancy due to all of the flooding from the past month. Displaced families and FEMA workers are competing over every last room.

Luckily, we were provided once again with a host. Patti G, of the Quality Inn, noticed our situation from the front desk and when she got off around 11pm she came by to help. Calling one of her friends, she tracked down a vacant room for us at the Baymont down the street. She even offered a ride which we were happy to accept given the state of the car.

It was funny, one of the first things she said in the car was, "My mother always said that everything happens for a reason, and she was a very wise woman." It couldn't have been scripted any better.

So she took us to the Baymont to check-in, then we decided to check out the city a bit since she was going out anyway. As we drove across bridges you could see how abnormally high the water level was, and she pointed out strips of buildings and homes that are already being torn down from flood damage. Out West, when we told people we were from "Ohio" they kept mistaking it for "Iowa" and would say, "Boy you sure have had a lot of flooding out there, huh?" This is what they were talking about.

So anyways, we ended up checking out the downtown scene, which is essentially a college town centered around University of Iowa. We had a surprisingly good time and at the end of the night we slept like Kings in our beds and air conditioning.

Today we're going to get the car 5 miles down the road to Sears Auto one way or another to see if we can't straighten her out and get us home.

First, we're going to meet up with Pat Powers and company for breakfast- too bad we couldn't make it to the campgrounds last night. The car made it 820 of 900 miles before deciding to call it quits. Thanks for saving us a spot either way!

New Battery On-The-Fly

Another automotive upgrade. The car practically died as we pulled into the parking place at Walmart, and 15 minutes later we're on the road again with a new battery. Hopefully this is the last issue we run into before getting back home.

Yesterday, the battery light started showing up dimmly and then just before we navigated to this Walmary (thanks to the Blackberry) all of the lights and guages dropped out. We hope that this isn't the alternator again somehow.

Anyways, onward and upward towards Geneseo.

500 Miles Down, 400 To Go

We're almost through Nebraska and into Iowa. Our target is getting closer and closer- can't wait to get these miles behind us.

Tomorrow we'll just be a stone's throw from Columbus if we make it all the way to Geneseo, IL tonight.

80 towards Omaha...

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and potentially able to reach Illinois by day's end."

A great breakfast doesn't hurt either. My aunt helped get us back on the road with some eggs, sausage, biscuits and well wishes. We then left Estes Park at 7:30 and headed east. Our goal is to meet up with our friend Pat and his family in Geneseo, IL. Interestingly enough, they are just embarking on a vacation around the western United States. Perhaps we can enlighten them with some of our newfound 'expertise' on that subject.

One lesson we may offer them is to watch out for the Wyoming Highway Patrol right at the border. Officer Wilson was none to pleased with our "80 in a 75" (nor our out-of-state license plates). He gave Sean a warning and one mile later we entered Nebraska. Coincidence? I would plead 'no'.

Thanks again to Margi and Gary for the hospitality and car advice!

Grand Finale

Fireworks at Lake Estes.

Happy Birthday America- I feel like I know you so much better now.

The Road Less Travelled

We went down the other side of Deer Mountain (about 5 miles down this way) and into Estes Park to check out the town. On our way down we barely saw a handful of people.

Our feet will surely rest easy tonight after all of that hiking.

Deer Mountain Summit

We made it up the 3 mile hike to the top of Deer Mountain- elevation 10,028ft. Our Ohio lungs start to burn at about 7,000ft- the air is noticeably thinner at that height.

Across the way you can see a ton of other mountains- including Long's Peak (the tallest mountain in Rocky National Park at about 14,000ft).

Goodnight from Estes Park, CO

We woke up early this morning to beat the heat on our way to Estes Park. My aunt Margi and her husband Gary have a summer home there and have taken us in for the next few days. It feels good to relax and forget about driving even if just for a short time. This evening we all drove into Rocky Mountain National Park to look for animals and check out the views. Even after all that we have seen, the size and majesty of these mountains continues to take us aback.

Tomorrow we hope to wake up early and explore the park before the holiday crowd hits.

Vail Pass

Elevation - 10,603ft