Taking advantage of this year's hurricane season to rediscover America. We're calling it the R.A.T. (Rediscover America Tour). While Sanibel sits on dry dock at Safe Cove boatyard in Port Charlotte, Florida, Jimi and I will be traveling 49 of the 50 U.S. States. Along the way we're going to recapture what America's made of, visiting out-of-the-way and well -known places, reconnecting with friends and family and much more.
Day 36 - August 25th. We stopped by Jeff's house (Jimi's brother) in Round Lake, IL. He was at work, but we picked up a couple of solar panels and batterys for Sanibel. We visited briefly with Tracy (Jimi's niece) and her husband, Tom, before driving on to Wisconsin for the night.
Total miles driven: 5973
Day 37 - August 26th. Going through Wisconsin, Jimi recognized the name of a town roughly 18 miles out of our way, It is where his grandparents are laid to rest. We decided to take the detour. We talked to a nice man in the cemetery office, who gave us some history and a small tour. The structures on the property are somewhat made up of a museum. Here are some snapshots we captured.
Total miles driven: 6207
This larger than life size "Last Supper" with Jesus and his 12 disciples was carved from one piece of marble by Italians. it is quite amazing.
His grandfather passed in 1996 and his biological grandmother passed in 1965. They lay together here in this mausoleum- head to head.
Day 38 - August 27th. Wisconsin take pride in their cheese. Walking through Wal-Mart we found cheese hats. Do I look like a cheese head?
Total miles driven: 6465
Day 39 - August 28th. Driving along, we stopped at the Mall of America. Everything you can imagine could possibly be found there.
Total miles driven:6739
This group of college students stopped us to ask some questions about a project they are working on. They made our day - we so enjoyed talking with each of them and wished we'd been able to talk longer.
From left to right - Emma from PA, USA, Abigail from France, Haruna from Japan, Jimi and Lorie, Vihan from India, Erle from China, and Trung from Vietnam.
The entrance to the mall from where we parked.
From left to right - Emma from PA, USA, Abigail from France, Haruna from Japan, Jimi and Lorie, Vihan from India, Erle from China, and Trung from Vietnam.
We parked in the Florida lot - how appropriate is that.
Massive Lego displays hang above the Lego store.
Even a helicopter.
It took an employee 5 months to build this Lego battleship with amazing detail.
The Nickelodeon park and famous roller-coaster inside the mall.
Enjoying Chipotle.
Day 40 - August 29th. West it is and in to South Dakota. We stopped for the night in the State's Capitol, Pierre.
Total miles driven: 6986
Peterbilt.
Day 41 - August 30th. We drove to the Little Missouri Grasslands where we camped for the night.
Total miles driven: 7304
This is us...camping! Nice place, all alone except for the coyote calls nearby, curious antelope and an occasional distant cattle groan.
Day 42 - August 31st. We went to the South Theodore Roosevelt National Park and drove the loop before heading on to the North Theodore Roosevelt National Park where we camped for the night. We saw herds of buffalo...one herd was within ten feet from my passenger window of our Astro.
Total miles driven: 7404
Jimi captured this great photo.
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