Elk, bison, and bears – Oh my!

Gather ‘round people and listen up. Pack your bags and the car this moment and head west. Yellowstone beckons and you must heed her siren call. Jagged mountains, lush valleys, and pristine lakes await you. The Lewis and Clark of this adventure started their morning in Cody, Wyoming, a city that pays homage to Wild Bill from yore. They skedaddled through the east entrance of Yellowstone and took the southern loop around the park.

After setting up camp, the two Columbuses made a b-line for Old Faithful. True to her name, she erupted shooting forth a volcanic blast of super-heated water into the cerulean sky.

Yellowstone sits on a caldera, and both De Gamas explored hot springs, bubbling mud pits, and vents that spewed forth putrid smells from the earth.

During their circumnavigation of the southern loop, the twin Magellans encountered the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and two waterfall behemoths.

Wildlife spiced up the Ponce de Leons visit to Yellowstone – elk, marmots, coyotes, and bison. A diamond encrusted sky sparkled as the Marco Polos bed down after a long day exploring the sites of Yellowstone. The day’s scuttlebutt centered on a Japanese hiker who was attacked by a mother grizzly after surprising the mom and her cubs. Glacier National Park awaits the explorers.

Chasing the Western Horizon

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.

The Magnificent Mile

The warm afternoon sun relented to the shadowy evening, and the road weary travelers watched Chicago reveal itself like clues in a mystery. Comiskey Park, the Sears Tower, and Lake Michigan introduced themselves like people at a party, and the loving couple traversed the labyrinth of the city to their hotel on the Magnificent Mile. High end boutiques and famous American brands mingled with comfort food and chic restaurants. The couple dragged their bodies along the clogged arteries of the city for a little sightseeing before dinner at a wonderful Thai restaurant. A long night sleep in a comfortable bed beckoned to them, and they turned in for an early evening. We will be spending this Independence Day trekking across this great country to Sioux Falls, SD. It doesn’t get more American than that. Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Escorted out of Canada by the Border Patrol

The happy couple woke groggy and sluggish from the previous day’s adventure. They repacked their traveling home and headed towards Chicago, and one wrong turn trapped them on a collision course with Canada. One small problem – neither possessed passports – no turn around – no escape from a confrontation with the border patrol of Canada and America. The polite Canadian border guards asked a few questions and pointed them towards the Canadian Port Authority. Inside the Canadian Port Authority, surrounded by guards, the terrified travelers handed over their I.Ds and feared the worst. The port authority checked the database and concluded that these Americans must be escorted out of Canada – a true danger to the security of the Great White North. Led out of the port authority to the glaring sun and blaring sirens, they were escort by the Border Patrol to the American gates with paperwork that indicated that they never officially entered Canada. The rude American border guard snatched the paperwork and barked orders at the anxious American couple. The bespectacled Napoleon of the border was dubious of the couples answers and intentions. After further investigation on his computer terminal, he eventually relented and let the Americans back into their home country.

Over the falls in wooden barrel

We rollicked along the rocky shores of the Niagara River and Falls on Saturday. We jumped aboard the Maid of the Mist and gained a new perspective of the power of the American and Horseshoe Falls. Decked out in plastic raingear, we trudged up to the Cave of Winds where we experienced gale force winds and a drenching mist. For the afternoon, we explored Whirlpool and Devil’s Hole State Park. Ann and I strapped on our hiking shoes, and we descended hundreds of steps to the riverside and hiked to see the Whirlpool rapids. We scampered over the bolder strewn trail and beheld the turbulent and tumultuous river. Exhausted, sweat soaked, and awed, we returned to our campsite for our last evening in Niagara Falls – next stop the Windy City.

We packed our bags pre-flight, zero hour 9 a.m. and we are going to on a dri-iiii=iii=ive by then

Cooperstown to Niagara Falls was a weaving, snaking drive through the rolling hills and dense forests of central and Northwestern New York. Our destination was 4 Mile Creek State Park, an emerald field squeezed between 4 Mile Creek and Lake Ontario. Our gargantuan campsite lay on the shore of the lake, and from our camp chairs we soaked up the rays of the sun. The summer sun sunk slowly over the horizon, and we were left with purple, pink, and orange painted across the sky and water.

Two Outs in the Bottom of the Ninth

There was joy in Mudville today – no rain, beautiful sunshine, and Casey didn’t strike out. Friday morning in Cooperstown, New York, home to the most sacred shrine of baseball. The hall echoes with the voices of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Hank Aaron. Artifacts of the greatest game created by men danced in my mind like sugar plum fairies. Our drive from Rehoboth Beach to Cooperstown took us through the rolling hills and small mountains of Pennsylvania and New York. Small family farms were sprinkled sporadically in the shimmering river valleys. We camped at Glimmerglass State Park, a breathtakingly beautiful lake-front park in the middle of New York State. Our campsite was a shaded paradise, and the evening chill was a welcome respite from the furnace-like heat of the Outer Banks. Our travels, today, will take us to Niagara Falls, NY.