destinations

"turtle soup?! No way am I eating that!"
Poor Susie couldn't bear the thought of eating her reptilian favorites. The rest of us were pleasantly surprised with the flavor of South Side Soda Shop's original recipe for snapping turtle soup. The little diner sits on the corner of Franklin and Main in Goshen, Indiana...and serves more than turtle soup.  Authentic down to the coat hooks beside our vintage booth, the 50's style soda shop was a welcome breather after 10 hours of driving!
The next day, America's one and only Corn Palace greeted our visit with an enormous wind storm. The blustery night did cut our drive short, but South Dakota redeemed itself this morning. Miles of silhouetted bluffs standing before bursts of oranges, blues, and yellows...we witnessed a gorgeous sunrise over the Badlands.
Then there was Wall Drug...since 1931...with $0.5 coffee... free ice water...and a whole lotta western gear.  We'd seen billboards sporting corny advertisments since the Iowa/Nebraska border...over 370 miles away. Mom was filling us in on her previous adventure at Wall Drug when Dad made a left hand turn that put our van at the end of an Olde Western street lined with "saloons," dining, and shops. The quiet Sunday morning pace gave the vintage shopping center a leisurely atmosphere for us to peruse the western art gallery, candy shoppe, camp supply store, book shop, and souvenir rooms.
And yes! We have now made it to Montana! A four day detour has been planned to visit family before my classes start, but I'm learning that all these little stops aren't distractions. Each one is a destination.

Devil's Tower

The Mount Rushmore adventure!

The infamous Wall Drug!

South Dakota sunrise.

South Side Soda Shop where we tried the snapping turtle soup. 

down to the last coin

"ah man, why does it take so long for these guys to get through this toll booth?"
Finally it was our turn...all travelers be warned, there is a toll booth just across the Indiana border that speaks only coin. Well, if you pay it a $20 and expect to get bills back in change you are mistaken.
We didn't need to borrow Susie's $2...we needed the change anyway. And change is what we got. Clink. Clink. Clink clink...followed by a torrent of metal currency! Seventeen dollars and fifty cents of coin, coin, and more coin came crashing into our lives as we regretted not taking Susie up on her offer. But it did give us all a reason to laugh after waiting in line so long. :]

holly, ivy, packing, and road trips

"you're leaving the day after Christmas?"
Yes, indeed, the 26th of December was the departure date for our little band of travelers. Not many families make a cross-country road trip between Christmas and New Year's...but being the adventurous clan that we are, we plan to make a 3,000 mile (one way) expedition via Dodge Caravan. Or maybe it's just my incredible family making sacrifices to see that my abnormal life goals are fulfilled.
Whether the road trip decision was due to the adventurous clan factor or inspired by a hardly stereotypical vision, the journey so far has been surprisingly thrilling, yet relaxing...full of anticipation and planning. Equipped with road trip essentials: audiobooks, my Smash book, and snacks, we have successfully completed the Highgate to Davenport stretch ~ 2 days of driving.
Priceless advice from seasoned travelers, prayers and love of my familiends (some inexplicable, inseparable combination of family and friends), and the hands and heart of my Father are the things that prepare us, minister through us, and sustain. I am so thrilled to be this small part of a much bigger Adventure.
Stay tuned :]