They chased the western sky knowing in their hearts the futility like Gatsby staring at the green light on Daisy’s dock. If they pushed a little further or stretched their arms out a little farther, the unobtainable could be reached. Zooming out from Chicago through the countryside of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, they scanned the horizon for signs of Sioux Falls. Hundreds of miles and hours later with mediocre burgers from Applebee’s in their bellies, they finally reached the hamlet of Sioux Falls feeling like Odysseus returning to Ithaca. Unlike Odysseus, the star-crossed lovers woke early to pursue their fruitless quest to catch the setting sun.
They spied a temple of pure Americana, the Corn Palace, in Mitchell, South Dakota. A shrine to corn, the palace is adorned with patriotic murals made of corn.
They jetted out towards the Badlands, huge canyons carved out of the green rolling hills – out of place like Gulliver with the Lilliputians.
Setting out from the Badlands, the benevolent eyes of presidents awaited the couple at Mt. Rushmore. The sculpture eyed the couple whispered encouragement for the travelers.
Wyoming lay in wait for the couple, and they attacked the asphalt on the way to Cody. Towering, tree covered mountains guarded the road to Cody like Troy’s wall. They climbed the mountain roads that curled upon themselves like a snake in waiting, and they reached their destination for the night with dark rain clouds looming ominously in the distance. Tomorrow’s quest – Yellowstone National Park.
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