Refund Check

Yesterday I got home from work and what was waiting for me in the Post...my State of South Dakota refund check for $15.00. Refund check you might ask...well, it turns out that the South Dakota office of Tourism offers audio tapes and CDs that you can listen to in your car as you are driving the highways and bi-ways of South Dakota. They charge you $20.00 for the set and then refund all but $5.00 when you mail it back to them. It's a brilliant idea and one that I wish more states did. Here's how it works, you stop in at the Lewis and Clark Rest Area--you can see the exhibit complete with Pocahontas. While you are there, you can pick up these recordings. Once you are back on the highway, insert appropriate interstate (there are only two) into your CD player and voila! the South Dakota story unfolds. Complete with history and acted out stories--it was a riot. They also had a specific CD on Western South Dakota and the Badlands. It showed that the people who live there actually like living there (who can imagine?).

Now, Brenda has completed her Ironman, I'm back at work, and life continues post road-trip. I'm so glad I went--it was a great opportunity to do nothing, see a part of the country I haven't seen before, and to spend time with my friend Brenda. What a great way to spend a week in the Summer.

I'll sum it up with a quote from Margaret Mead:

"As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own."

Fargo Pictures

Jay and Brenda Gettin' Corny

South Dakota including Wall Drug and the Corn Palace!

Last full day of the road trip

The road traveled has been a lot of fun and has been an amazing adventure. I'm sorry to see my segment come to an end. We've been in so many different places, seen so many people--some nice, some scary. All in all, it has been a great time! I've had the chance to really see a part of the country that I hadn't seen before and, really, probably won't see again for a long time.

Brenda and I did stick out quite a bit in Wyoming and the Dakota's (until we hit Fargo which was suprisingly hip). I have to think we stuck out in a good way--I'm ready to get back to the land of people and Starbucks (Fargo actually had several hip coffee shops). I've missed Iced Coffee and Romaine Lettuce.

I definitly found my inner road trip. We've had so many spontaneous adventures and no realy sechedule. We've seen Old Faithful, Wall Drug, and the Corn Palace. We ate a road side diner, a fancy-schmancy inn, and one local fast food restaurant. We found mountainside bagels, iced espresso, and a baked sweet potato for Brenda.

Tomorrow, I'll do my trip wrap report. Stay tuned.

Fargo...not all about the wood chipper

It is bright and early on Friday morning and we are in the most fabulous hotel in Fargo, ND. Fargo is surprsingly hip and happening - who knew???? The hotel is Hotel Donaldson and it is affectionately known as HoDO in Fargo. http://www.hoteldonaldson.com Last night was the first time since Missoula that I felt connected to culture and I felt like I did not stand out like a sore thumb. My friend Kent told me Jay and Hank and I would stand out as we were driving through this part of the country. I had NO idea what he was talking about until I started going to gas stations in the middle of nowhere South Dakota. South Dakota by the way is the LONGEST state in America. I felt like I was in hell and would never get out. Before I forget this thought I want to comment on Wyoming. Jay did not like Wyoming at all - I did not understand that until he put it in perspective. "Brenda, I do not like any place where I feel if I broke down my safety is in jeapordy." Food for thought my friends....

Travel is an amazingly personal thing. Jay and I are on the same trip but yet our experiences are different. I get up early every day and work out. I also get up early because Hank is having a hard time sleeping in strange rooms every night. He wants to play at 4am EVERY day. I got a chance to see downtown Fargo at 4:00am. I love being an athlete while I travel. I get a chance to see places in a VERY different way. I see it bright and early and I see things most people don't. Today I am heading off for a quick 25 mile ride and a short swim. I am riding on the local trails along the river and then swimming at the local Y. The combination of my two favorite things...training and travel makes me really whole. I actually meditate while on rides because it gives me a chance to connect with myself even while I am in a different place every day.

Jay is sleeping in every day, checking out the local coffee shops and sending fun postcards. We are having a great trip and we are having fun catching up. We have been friends for 20 years this fall and have had lots of laughs and lots of fun. We drink a hell of a lot less than we used to, but we still laugh hysterically at the same things. We have decided we should be married because we finish each others sentences and we think of the same wacky things at the same time. Keep watching for more funny vacation photos - we have stopped in odd places and taken pictures of odd things that only we would laugh at.

I drop him off in Minneapolis tomorrow and I will be sad for this segment to end, but looking forward to the next.

Jay and Brenda in South Dakota

4th of July Parade, Wyoming

Oacoma, South Dakota

Need we say more?

Yesterday we went to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments. Both monuments were more than we expected but Crazy Horse was really amazing. The work on that monument, to all Native Americans, is ongoing and doesn't look like it will be finished any time soon. But, I think that is the point. The people who are associated with the project are passionate about what they are doing and it shows. They have turned down federal funding just to keep the monument private and for the people that it represents. The sculpture, a man from Boston, committed his life to Crazy Horse and his family continues the work to this day.

Today, who knows…I know Fargo is next and then the end of Jay's leg of the trip-Minneapolis.

Welcome to Wyoming

Jay's July 5th Thoughts

Our trip is going great and we are having so much fun! We’ve discussed just about everything and there is no end in sight for topics that might come up. We spent quite a bit of time talking about what we are meant to do in the life--an amazing topic and one that opens up so many ideas and possibilities. Brenda is immersed in her new business and it is great to see her so focused and excited. She lights up whenever she talks about the amazing things she is doing!

I’m sitting in a coffee shop in South Dakota and a couple from Kansas City is AMAZED by Chai Tea. It is easy to forget that I live in a bubble. Brenda is out riding 110 miles to prep for her triathlon. Last night we stayed in a little cabin! It was perfect and had a little front porch and Hank loved hanging outside.

Yellowstone was amazing and Old Faithful was just that—the minute we were taking our picture in front of the sign, she erupted! It was really great. We also saw several bald eagles, a blue heron, an Elk (huge!), and lots of people who were actually being nice to each other. I don’t think I’ve heard a car horn in days. It is a bit unsettling!

There were some really scary towns in Wyoming! One has a population of 50—why even have a sign? The scenery was amazing but I would not ever want to live there. And, really, never need to go back. We really made a beeline out of Yellowstone and made it all the way to Gillette, WY (near the South Dakota border). We were lucky enough to make the Gillette 4th of July Parade! The entire town turned out—they closed up everything so everyone could go to the parade. Apparently the Gov. of Wyoming was there—we didn’t spot him. Lots and lots of Republicans. Every float had an elephant and a politician. The ProLife folks has a big presence. However, the veterans and the war hero’s had an amazing effect as they walked by. Very moving when the CD Player attached to the back of the pickup truck played “Glory Days”.

It has been difficult to upload pictures on Blogspot but we’ll continue to try.

Today we’re going to Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore, and the Badlands. On the way, we want to stop at Wall Drug and the Corn Palace!

A few more pictures

Pics from Montana

Here are a few more pics from our trip

South Dakota

It is bright and early (5:45am) on Wednesday morning. We are at the Holy Smoke Campground and Cabins outside of Keystone, SD. The goal today is Sioux City, SD and then onto North Dakota tomorrow. I am riding my last century today while Jay takes care of Hank. Hank has been great in the car and a challenge in the hotels. I will write more about Hank later. Off for a ride on strange backroads in South Dakota.

Motel #1 and Hotel #2--Note the differences!

This Brenda is a Hotel

We drove to Big Sky Montana yesterday -- just enjoyed the amazing scenery. We decided to take it easy...so we checked into a resort hotel, had an amazing dinner at the rainbow room and then relaxed in our in-room hot tub! Today, we'll drive through Yellowstone (I hope we see Yogi Bear!), see old faithful, and try to make it South Dakota. We'll see how far we get...we're more interested in having fun, exploring, and listning to the iTunes.

Oh, yea, here's our overheard quote from the Motel yesterday..."I'm not hanging the wet clothes out of the window of the car...what do you think we are, white trash?"

The road less travelled...what lies ahead?????

Every road trip must have a mishap somewhere along the way. I like to think since I had mine before I got on the road I got it out of the way early....This morning I was ahead of schedule and on my way to swim to Rhode Island and back, when my mishap occurred. I had the cargo box and bike rack installed on the top of the car yesterday and was not quite used to them. Well...out of habit I pulled into the garage and heard a horrible ripping noise!!! Oh SH....the box!!! I almost tin canned the rood of my car, the box came sliding down the front and the frame of the garage moved slightly. But, after assessing the damage and getting help from a friend I had the pieces reinstalled ($150 later) and now I am fully packed.

Jay and I are sitting in a hotel room in Missoula, MT on night #1. Jay experienced his first Montana Truck stop and he loved it. I had to stop him from taking pictures of everything! We are having friendship flashbacks as we listen to Jay's grad school and undergrad IPOD mixes. I am very glad he is with me today. I was slightly sad as I left Coeur d' Alene, but very excited about what is in front of me. Tomorrow will be another adventure....