Day Nineteen

Egg and bacon for breakfast to set us up for another travel day. Packed up and said goodbye to Craig, Tara and Roxie at around 10am.

Headed about fifty minutes south and stopped in at the Gilmore Car Museum.

Looked around the first few sections and saw a lot of cars. Racing cars, 1920s and 30s, 50s and 60, muscle cars, Franklins, a whole Ford Model A museum and a Cadillac one. Here are lots of cars for your pleasure.

Franklin Model D - 100% original

Modern

Used in the Film Ford v Ferrari

Mustang

1937 Chevy

1931 Duesenberg 

1958 Chevy Impala

1963 Buick

'59 Corvette

1970 Dodge Challenger

'71 Dodge Challenger Convertible

Model A Ford

Paddy Wagon

'61 Cadi

'57 Cadi

After a while we were parched so got a drink from the cafe. Got the wrong biscuit. I wanted a chocolate chip cookie but only when I started eating it did I realise it was one with raisins in. 

There were other museums set amongst the grounds in different buildings, such as the Classic Car Club of America and the Pierce-Arrow museum, so we made our way around the rest of them trying to avoid families with crying children. There seemed to be a lot of them. Crying children that is, not museums.

Recreation of the first ever automobile

'79 Lincoln Continental

'32 Lincoln

'37Cord 812

1936 Lincoln K

Prototype of the first ever Jeep

Recreated 1930s Gas Station

Eventually we had seen pretty much everything so we headed to the Blue Moon Diner which was an original 1941 diner transported from Connecticut. It was small inside but not too crowded so we managed to get a booth. Ordered a chocolate frozen yoghurt and an old fashioned chocolate shake. Ann had something. By the time we came to pay the place was rammed with people trying to get somewhere to sit. The Roffe-Knightley Effect in full flow again.

Made our way to the shop. Was hopeful of some good purchases as it was a very good museum, reminiscent of Le Mays when were in Seattle. Wanted to get a t-shirt but although there were a lot of them, the designs and colours weren't great. Even the magnet choice was not good either. Eventually we only bought the least worst magnet and nothing else. Bit of a disappointing end to the visit.

Back in the car and headed off south towards I94, joined it for short while before dropping south again into Indiana to join the I90. Did nearly a couple of hours before stopping at a travel plaza. Got a Starbucks before hitting the road again.

Another couple of hours east and arrived in the outskirts of Cleveland. Stopped at a Walmart to get supplies for the next couple of dinners and breakfasts. Not the most salubrious place. The shopping baskets had alarms on them.

Ended up at our Airbnb in Lakewood. Had dinner and now trying to get this done so I can sleep. I am now almost recovered from whatever illness I've had for the last few days. Unfortunately, Ann is now in the middle of it. We are both knackered despite not having done that much.

States visited - 11

Car watch - high

Day Eighteen

We were up and ready to go at 10am and headed out to IHOP. Our first visit of this trip. Contemplated what to have, but thought I have to have pancakes so did. Ann had something.

We then headed back to Ada which was having an event called Cars and Coffee. Basically a lot of cars parked with people looking at them. 

Cars

We had a wander around but it was already hot so Craig suggested we go into the Ada Hotel and get a drink. Ended up at the bar on the top floor where they gave us menus to show the drinks/cocktails available.

Bottles

Luckily they did Sprite too. Sat at the bar for while cooling off before heading out to the car. 

As we left Craig turned out of a street and we ended up in the middle of a procession of the cars from the event queuing at the traffic lights. A lot of people were lined up to watch and take photos. When the lights changed all the cars pulled away so Craig joined in. At one point a photographer put his long lens down when he saw us coming towards him.

Having left the joys of boy racers we headed to the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. It was a very warm day so we took a trolley tour of the sculpture park. Downside was it seemed to be warmer in the trolley than it was outside. Upside was we didn't have to walk. Man driving told us he'd had some Brits in last week who, when the trip reached a sculpture by Henry Moore, stood up and applauded. Doubted that very much, doesn't sound like something British people would do. Unless it was sarcastic applause.

As with all these things there were nice pieces and not so nice pieces.

Red thing

Horse thing

Silvery thing

When the tour finished we managed to peel ourselves off the seats and went inside to cool off. Had a look at some sculptures in an exhibition called Busted. It wasn't art work of the band Busted.

Ship

Sam the Eagle and Kermit the Frog

We then went into the large greenhouse which was hot for obvious reasons.

Tropical

Had another sit down in the cold after this before we headed out for a walk in the garden. Went to a waterfall and sat in some Adirondack chairs in the shade. 

Waterfall

It was in the high nineties now so even the shade was warm. Eventually we headed back inside to the shop and got a magnet. As we were leaving wedding parties were getting ready to go out and get married in the gardens. Didn't fancy the idea of sitting in a suit outside.

Back home to a dinner of the rest of last night's Jet's pizza and watching Jaws. Were going to watch it in the garden but it was still too hot.

Ann now asleep.

States visited - 11

Day Seventeen

Woke up a 3.30am and struggled to get back to sleep which didn't bode well for a day which involved an early start. At that point I suddenly thought I'd better check time zones for our journey today. Realised we were changing to eastern time but that it was after the important point. Ann's alarm went off at 6am and she went and showered whilst I tried to sleep for another half an hour. That was going well until her alarm went off again as she had hit snooze despite getting up.

Eventually gave up all hope of anymore sleep and got up. Went down to breakfast in the lift with a woman who was carrying a tray. She went to the buffet and filled it up with as much stuff as she could fit on and then went back to the lift. Watched on in astonishment. Somehow she also seemed to be in the way of the whole breakfast buffet at the same time so you couldn't get to anything.

Eventually managed to get something to eat and we were packed and ready to go by 8am. Hit the I90 and entered back into Wisconsin. Covered about a hour and a half before a quick rest break stop. Carried on a saw an important sign.

The most important sign ever

Ann sent a shout out to All Request Friday on Radio 2 but we didn't get a shout out, well not before we stopped listening anyway.

Eventually joined the I94 and headed all the way into Milwaukee and made it to the port. Pulled into the entry lane of the Lake Express High Speed Ferry. We were an hour and ten minutes early for our sailing but already there were people ahead of us. A woman checked under the car with a mirror and then asked us if we were carrying any firearms or explosives. I said no. She didn't check in the car which seemed to render the checking under the car pointless. Told Ann it was like the Torpoint Ferry but more sinister.

Another woman took our passports and eventually we got them back with our tickets and we were allowed to move to the waiting zone. Got out the car to go and use the facilities. Eventually got the call to get ready to board but unlike the last time we used this ferry in 2010, only the driver was allowed in the car. Ann had to board as a foot passenger.

We're going to need a bigger boat

I went back to the car and got it ready to go. Had a practice to make sure I could put on the parking brake as I thought it might be useful. I couldn't get into the boot due to the proximity of the car behind so had to put the back seats down to get stuff. Got back in the drivers seat and then made a sandwich to take on board. Didn't have a knife so had to use a fork. Realised I needed to get the sandwich bags from the boot but by now the cars exiting from the previous ferry journey were going past so I couldn't open the door to get out. Clambered back out of the drivers seat into the back and lent into the boot and then tried to get back into the front. Finished making the sandwich and then it was time to board. Man guided me on right to the front of the ferry which was no mean feat with the size of the car. Scrambled about a bit more to pack a bag to take up to the deck and then went looking for Ann. Found her sat in some seats.

Eventually we departed and I managed to do all the research for a Masters Degree in human behaviour from my seat during the two and a half hour crossing. From watching the food ordering and collection process to watching people aimlessly wander past a lot of signs saying they were going down a dead end corridor to a guy trying to go into the staff only kitchen area instead of the toilet, I felt I had enough research for my thesis that people are a: weird and b: stupid.

Eventually the ferry made it across Lake Michigan and we were sent back to the car deck, this time with passengers allowed.

We got off the ferry first and hit the road into Michigan for the last hour or so of the journey. Also we had lost an hour as we were now back to Eastern time.

Eventually we arrived in Grand Rapids at my cousin Craig and Tara's house. We last visited them back in 2010, the last time we used the lake ferry!

Had Jet's pizza for tea. The third time in our lives we have had it. Still as good as the first two times, although this time I definitely couldn't eat as much.

The best pizza

Craig and Tara then took us out to Ada township nearby which has had a lot of recent development. It is also the home of Amway, a very large company that has been investigated as an alleged pyramid scheme. Amazingly Amway have also paid for the redevelopment.

We had a wander about and saw the sights, then ended up here.

Good tag line

Had coffee with chocolate chip. Ann had something.

Nice

Sat out in the very warm evening trying to eat it before it melted. Took a walk to a covered bridge. It was a bridge.

Do you know were Jeff Bridge is?

Headed back to the car and home. Saw a chipmunk in the garage. Had a chat with Kyle and his girlfriend. Found out Kyle doesn't wash his hair. Watched Roxie the dog be sick. A very eventful evening.

Now Ann is asleep as usual.

States visited - 11

Day Sixteen

Didn't rush up this morning as it was purely a driving day. Had breakfast in the hotel as it was included. Had to show a woman how to use the waffle iron. Then had to show her how to use the coffee machine. And no, before you ask, it wasn't Ann. Finally got to eat breakfast.

Set off at 11am and headed the short distance straight for I90. Turned on to it and then off of it almost instantly so we could see the Dignity of Earth and Sky which sits on a bluff overlooking the Missouri river. It's a fifty foot tall sculpture of a native woman honouring the Native Nations of the Great Plains.

Wanted to take a picture but a woman was stood in the way for ages. Eventually there were a lot of people waiting for her to move so they could also take pictures. And no, before you ask, it wasn't Ann. Eventually she did move and we could all take our pictures.

Sans woman

The cape includes 128 diamonds of colour which will shimmer depending on where the sun is.

Got back in the car and just drove east on the I90. That was all we had to do. All day. 422 miles of it. Stopped a couple of times at rest stops for comfort/drinks breaks. Crossed back into Minnesota. 

Eventually we stopped at a rest stop for lunch. Had just finished eating when two guys arrived on motorbikes. One bloke had his jeans waist band around his mid thighs with his stomach hanging down in front and his arse fat hanging down the back. He then decided to lean over his bike which exposed more than you would ever want to see. Luckily at that moment a car pulled in between us.

After being sick we quickly moved on and carried on driving. Saw a large horse and what either is an antelope of some sort or the devil.

Not sure

Also saw a sign for the Spam museum. Didn't stop to look at it. Ann was annoyed.

Stopped once more with about an hour to go and then hit on a new idea to pass the time of the last leg. I said to Ann we should see how many different states we could see on vehicle license plates as we travelled. The first nine we saw were all from different states which seemed quite fortuitous. Eventually they all started being just Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Eventually arrived at the Best Western Plus in La Crescent, right on the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Checked in. Better quality room than last night.

Decided to try out something for dinner, so ordered online from the TimeOut Tavern which is just across from the hotel. It said it would be ready to pick up in twenty minutes. Drove to the gas station near the hotel and filled up ready for tomorrow but also got some drinks to go with our dinner.

Drove back to the hotel and walked across to collect the food. It was there waiting. Got back to the room before Ann said where is the cutlery? I said I presume most people who get takeout take it home where they have cutlery. Went off and found her cutlery. I ate a desert with a knife instead of a spoon.

Watched The Six Triple Eight whilst eating dinner. Another good film.

States visited - 10

Day Fifteen

Ate breakfast in the room as none was included in the stay. Packed and out the door by 9.15am. Stopped for fuel in Wall before we headed ten minutes or so due south to the Pinnacles entrance of Badlands National Park. Unlike Monday it wasn't free, paid the fee and drove in.

Decided to turn right and follow the Sage Creek Rim Road which was a dirt track about 7 miles long. Stopped at all the various overlooks and took photos of the stunning scenery.

View

Another view

Saw some prairie dogs.

Awww

Then saw this sign.

Not so awww

We didn't get out of the car as we didn't want the plaque. Also saw some bison but they were quite far away.

Good bison

We hit the end of the dirt track which joined a tarmac road. Decided although we could go on further that there was nothing anymore interesting that way. Turned round and headed back along the track. Suddenly I slammed on the brakes because I saw this fella on my left.

Is goat

Eventually we joined the main road again and headed on the Badlands Loop Road. As this was tarmac it was a lot busier. A lot busier. Thousands of motorcycles once again. We stopped at various places again along the route when there was room. Stopped for a quick drink on the Conata road before heading back to the main drag. Carried on stopping and taking photos.

Vista

More vista

Then saw this sign at another stop.

Keep off the grass

Said to Ann it would be cool to see a rattlesnake. She didn't agree.

Eventually we got to the Ben Reifel Visitor Centre. I think he is the brother of the former Aussie cricketer Paul or something. Had a look around the displays and got the obligatory magnet. Got back in the car and headed towards the Northeastern exit but pulled over in the Big Badlands Overlook for lunch. 

Big Badlands

I got out and took some photos. A man asked me if I wanted a picture taken. I said no. He then asked me to take his photo. Of course he did! They always do!

Eventually we left the park and headed east on I90. Lost an hour as we left Mountain time and moved back to Central time. Pulled in to the carpark of the 1880 town as we had thought about stopping to have a look. It is a mock up of an old western town. There was a brief discussion in the car and then we left without going in.

Carried on east bound with an 80mph speed limit. Saw a car and caravan on its roof just off the carriageway.

Eventually crossed the Missouri river and ended up in Lee's Motor Inn in Chamberlain, our stop for the night.

Nipped out to Maccy Ds to get some food. Back to watch another golf film on Netflix. This time it was The Long Game. A solid film.

Now going to attempt an early night as my left sinus has been agony all day.

States visited - 10

Bison watch - High

Prairie Dog watch - Even higher

Day Fourteen

Woke up to find it pouring with rain. By the time we had had breakfast and packed it was staring to ease and when we packed the car it had almost stopped. Left Watford City just after ten and got on highway 85 and headed south. Listened to Bryan Adams on Tracks of my Years on Radio 2. Definitely worth a listen. Stopped at a gas station in Bowman to get some drinks and a snack. We got a salted caramel Twix and a cookie dough Twix and shared them. We both agreed the salted caramel one was the winner by some distance.

The entrance to Bowman

Carried on heading south on the 85 and crossed the border into South Dakota. The whole morning was on the same road and it was only single lane but there was so little traffic I put it in cruise control for hours and it was so straight it took hardly any steering.

Straight

Flat

Another couple of hours past and we arrived in Belle Fourche.

Parked up and went in the visitor centre. There was a Tri State museum too. Had a mooch about. Saw some old western things. Bought a magnet. We then went outside to see this.

The middle

Middle of the middle

When planning this journey last night I noticed that Belle Fourche was the geographical centre of the USA, so we stopped by to go and stand on it. We then sat in the car to eat a packed lunch and I read a leaflet we picked up in the visitor centre. Turns out this was just the monument, the actual centre was a few miles north but even that may not be the actual centre by up to ten miles. Hawaii is included but not its actual position. I don't really know as I got bored reading about how they try and work it out. The thing is this isn't the actual centre.

We'd started to see a lot of bikers on the journey today and this just got more and more as the day went on. The reason being is we were approaching Sturgis which holds a massive bike festival. We found this out on our first trip here in 2010 when we passed this way. Turns out the festival is currently on and as we joined the I90 west we passed through it. Let's just say there were about a million bikers in Sturgis itself and the surrounding towns. The number began to dwindle as we got further away. We discussed how we have now been in the Black Hills of Dakota on three trips, 2010 when we went to Mount Rushmore, 2017 when we went to Deadwood and now passing through this time.

Eventually we arrived in Wall our destination, only to find it full of bikers too. Checked in to the Hansen Inn and Cabins. Like a motel except people own the rooms and let them out, a bit like the hotel in New York.

Went for a walk about in the town. Went to Wall Drug which is a big store, apparently quite famous. It was just full of tat. The whole place seemed full of tat. Very much like Sedona we visited in 2015 except without the psychics. Luckily we are only here for the night before setting off again tomorrow. Went to a grocery store and picked up some things and headed back to the room. Watched Happy Gilmore 2 whilst eating tea. It wasn't as bad as you think.

States visited - 10