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!