Monday, 9.10.2007

Beth: After more than 2 weeks of visiting in the midwest, we finally drove away from our families and friends on Friday morning, fueled by a hearty breakfast made by Jesse's big sister, Tracy. We found a great campground that night in the northwestern reaches of Missouri, in a place called Big Lake, close to the Louis and Clark trail. Jesse made it all the way to the Badlands of South Dakota by Saturday night (he has driven all but 200 miles of this trip thus far, and i think we both like it that way), where we camped right inside the park and woke to moon-like scraggy peaks surrounding us, followed by a great hike through chalky white and red lands. I'm starting to be grateful that we're taking this trip through the U.S., because it reminds me of how much beauty and resource we are surrounded by, and how much I could love my country, if only I could agree with my countrymen. Jesse is committed to the blue highways (the back roads), and I am looking forward to the adventures of the coming weeks, as well as shaking off this feeling that i should be getting back to work sometime soon.
Here are some of my notes.

Notes on Missouri:

• Very small pickup trucks for sale. I mean tiny, with a little flatbed that goes up at an angle, like a toy. I want one. Mariah would, too.
• One can see just where a rainstorm might end in these flat lands, and drive that way to get out of it. It's nice to be able to modify a driving route based on trying to get out of a storm. I think it's like that in Illinois, as well.
• We got a little dog (pup) tent for Sugi, who tries and tries to get into our big tent whenever we're camping, from the time we leave our car. Thankfully she likes it, and we liked that it stopped her pacing and panting. Now we can all enjoy the outdoors in our own special ways.
  
• Mosquitos and mosquitos, but they don't bite as bad as in Ohio and Illinois. Carcasses all over the inside ceiling of the van after one night of battles.
• Crossed the Missouri river several times. How did that happen? I'm supposed to be the navigator, but I don't always do so well.
  
• Tales of okie noodling (look for the informative documentary at your local library!), as well as huge japanese carp jumping from Big Lake, knocking water skiers from their sport. We heard some heavy splashing at dusk and dawn - maybe it's not just a myth.
• Our first official night camping in the van. We should have chosen the tent because the mosquitos forced us to keep the windows closed and we about suffocated.
  

Notes, Nebraska:

• Government corn.
• Cranes flying like a silver school of fish overhead, while birds of prey tried to tear one from the group. We stopped to watch.
• Nebraska is like a little Idaho, with the rolling hills and green everywhere. Beautiful - I never knew.

South Dakota:

• Feels like we're in the clouds - they are so close we could touch them. as within the clouds, it has become very cold all of a sudden.
• Badlands and indian territory. Tons of poverty in this moonscape.
  
• I failed to capture any of the beauty of this state on film. Alas.