Tuesday, May 19

We have been on the road since Sunday, leaving Missoula early, and spending time in Billings with the family. We got to play on Drew's new swing set and have dinner with them. Then on Monday we were up EARLY and drove late. We went across the southeast corner of Montana on US Hwy 212 through Broadus and on the BelleFourche, SD. Then the LONG and boring ride through the Badlands, arriving in Mitchell about 8:00 PM. We didn't check mileage, but it must have been at least 600 miles! Then this morning we were up early again to find an RV wash to get rid of some bugs (LOTS!) and on the road about 8:30. Today we stayed on I90 all the way across Minnesota and now we are in Oakdale, Wisconsin. That is one state which we hadn't spent the night, so I get to add it to my map. Maybe it isn't a big deal, but it is fun to see how much of the good 'ol USA is getting filled in! We took a little drive to find a restaurant called Smitty's, which the campground host says is a local favorite. Yes, we finally found it and the food was great, and we also saw where all of our cranberries for Thanksgiving are grown--right here in these amazing bogs or marshes or whatever they are called. Tomorrow we will see Illinois and stay west of Chicago, then on the Goshen on Thursday. It is VERY hot here, in the 90's both yesterday and today. Guess when summer comes we better be ready!
Drew's new backyard toy. He had a good time on the slide and swing while we were thereSomewhere between Crow Agency and Broadus, Mt.. We drove through three Indian nations on Monday. The Crow, Cheyenne and Sioux. National Cemetery at Spearfish, South Dakota.Wind generators were numerous along I90 in Minnesota. Crossing the Mississippi River between Minnesota and Wisconsin.Fishermen on the Mississippi