Today we put the “I” states behind us. The rest of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and we started tackling the huge state of Nebraska. We drove in rain and gray skies since just before Nebraska. Kind of strange since the last time we drove that stretch of road after over-nighting in Lincoln, we drove in driving rain and small hail. We’ve never stayed in Grand Island before and in pouring rain we were wondering just where “motel row” was since they are not clustered next to the exit.

We peered through the windshield trying to read the hotel signs and saw a flashing LED display saying “Pets Welcome” and pulled right in to the Rodeway Inn. All pets accepted with a credit card number in case of damage. For $60 a night we got free WiFi, a huge room, and a view of the lake behind. Just look at our view!

What a lucky break after 12 hard hours on the road! This hotel even has a little patio that overlooks the lake with a BBQ for hotel guest use. How cool! We won’t be using it tonight as the weather is not good, but what a lovely place. Plenty of room to walk the dogs too. A huge super WalMart just a block down the road yielded our bottle of wine and our Domino’s pizza is on they way as I type.

Here are the daily snaps:

Sunrise in my side mirror in Indiana.

Iowa barn.

We saw lots of wind turbine blades being transported headed East.

The great Mississippi.

Iowa cornfield.

Here is what all those wind turbine blades are all about.

Lots of mini wind farms in Iowa.

I don’t know if you are enjoying these views of America as we traverse this great country of ours, but I know I will look back and remember it fondly.

Here is Sam enjoying his view on the world tonight.

Tomorrow: destination CABIN.

Goal achieved today: Elkhart, Indiana. We left the house at 7:40 a.m. and pulled into the Ramada Inn at 7:20 p.m. The dogs and cats are just amazing travelers, and other than Bella slipping her collar two different times at two different rest areas and causing me heart failure, all has been good. She is the problem child.

We don’t usually admit to having cats when we check in. Our two cats are so good we just don’t feel we need to tell them. We cover the beds with sheets and our impact is minimal. At least we like to think so.

This Ramada is a great place. They take pets, have a great dog walking area, and there is a Bennigan’s Restaurant on the premises. No need to leave the dogs unattended in the room. Just walk to it and order. We always eat in with the crew in tow, and sometimes order Dominos Pizza since they deliver.

Here are a few road shot from today. I should have done more.

Del Water Gap:

And I few more miles down the road. I whipped out the camera at the last moment, so it’s a bit blurred. Hey, we were on the move!

And, what is with this pic halfway through Pennsylvania? I don’t think so folks! We just left there!

Well, it’s taken me about 45 minutes that could have been better spent just to upload all this nonsense you have just slogged through, and I know it’s not much. But it’s getting late, the dogs need to be taken outside for final pees and eBay is curled up on my pillow. She needs to move.

So, until tomorrow night. We have the rest of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and on in to as much of the big ole state of Nebraska that we can handle. Onward!

Happy Birthday to Bella! She turned one year old on Wednesday. I like the above photo, blurriness and all because it shows movement. It wasn’t planned. Just what happens when you try to take photos of a moving dog as it’s getting dark. Which it seems to be doing earlier and earlier every night. The seasons they are a’ changin. No doubt about it.

She got plenty of new toys to play with and chew on. Grandma Vicky (her breeder) even sent her a present. She enjoyed a dessert of Frosty Paws too. I think she had a good birthday.

It seems like just yesterday she was a puppy. She grew so fast it’s hard to believe she was ever that little. She had her first bath and blow-dry at the groomer’s yesterday; another rite of passage. And, she left most of her juvenile coat on the floor and walls there. It’s time for that adult coat to start making an appearance.

Next week she gets to learn all about the cabin as that is where we will be by late afternoon exactly one week from today. Dog paradise. People paradise too. Can’t wait. (More on that in another post.)

hey look at me — i’m clean!

After seeing Bella so muddy and dirty after the last entry, you might be wondering what happens next. Certainly they don’t let her in the house that way? Well, here is your answer.

Is she not smart?

LOOK OUT! Here it comes! Don’t let it get near you!!!

Good grief. This has been happening at least twice and sometimes three times a day! I think it’s Bella’s way of cooling off with our hot temperatures over the past five days. This is the downside of having lots of rain and moisture—the boggy part of the woods in our yard stays full all the time.

I can understand that the mud feels good on her feet and legs, but can anyone tell me why she sticks her nose in it too?