We continued and saw a sign for Lincoln Homestead State Park and decided to stop. \240The lady in the gift shop was very nice and informative. \240Cabins were cool- places Abraham’s parents grew up.

We continued on. \240Rob wanted a bourbon tour and I had found one doing research in the morning. \240Off to the Maker’s Mark distillery. Nice tour, beautiful campus. Very hot out!!! \240Rob enjoyed the tasting!!!

Next stop McDonald’s for lunch! \240Not first pick but we wanted quick and to keep moving. \240Drove thru Bardstown which was named the most beautiful small town in America in 2012.

Next stop Bernheim Arboretum to see the forest giants. \240Very hot out but beautiful pieces of artwork. https://bernheim.org/forestgiants/

Little Niss

Pregnant Mama Loumari

Next headed to Louisville. AC in car not working so quite warm - stopped at Autozobe for a relay (although replacedthst part last year). \240Ended up not fixing the problem. \240Booked a hotel in East Louisville- Baymont by Wyndham Louisville East

Showered and then went to Momma’s \240mustard pickles & bbq - amazing food, fabulous wings. \240

Day 2 down! \240600 miles traveled so far!!!!

- went to Churchill Downs & Kentucky Derby museum

-ate at White Castle

-stopped at Lincoln’s boyhood national memorial. \240Saw sheepies!!! (In Indiana)

-passed the 1000 mile mark for driving on this trip

-got to St Louis Missouri

-visited Gateway Arch - rode tram to top

- went to Fitz’s for dinner. \240Had their root beer - peach pop

-stayed the night in a western outskirt of St Louis

We stopped at a Starbucks- then drove into Kansas. \240We then went a little further North to St Joseph, Missouri- where we will spend the night.

It’s been extremely hot in the car w/o AC but we are making due.

We then went to the Old Market District for lunch. \240Ate at the Twisted Fork- Grill and Saloon. \240Yummy- portobello sandwich & sweet potato fries. \240 Then walked around and got 2 postcards and a pistachio cookie.

Next went to Pioneer Courage Park & Spirit of Nebraska’s Wilderness Park- very cool Bronze statues!

Next walked to a Starbucks to hydrate.

Then to the zoo!!! \240Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

It was a beautiful zoo- hot out but very nice time!!

We then headed North! \240Stopped at an Iowa welcome center- got cherry juice!

Stopped in \240Sioux City Iowa for dinner- Crystal Cafe. \240Yummy- breaded pork tenderloin.

Continued North to Sioux Falls South Dakota. Found hotel- went for a quick swim, showered and bed. 😀

We then tried to find a tourist site outside of town- 1880 Cowboy Town- but it was a combo of closed down & run down.

We started our journey West across South Dakota. \240Stopping at a Pizza Ranch for lunch- yummy!

Our next stop was the World’s only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. \240Very interesting place- never knew things like that existed!

We came across a rest stop outside of Chamberlain. \240There we explored some history of Lewis & Clark and the native people. \240Beautiful statute!

We continued driving- beautiful views. \240Expansive landscape- flat but with some hills.

We stopped in Murdo at the pioneer Auto museum but it was closed. \240We explored what was outside!

Continued driving- switch to Mountain standard time! \240Got to our hotel in Kadoka- Lakota Lodge. \240Ate near by at Sunset Grill. \240Hotel is different but still ok!

Drove to Philip to see fireworks. Drove up a dirt road to a field near Lake Waggoner. \240Parked and waited. Ended up seeing a nice display even though we were both tired. We had some bug friends get in but Rob escorted them out using his phone flashlight. Patriotic music played on their very local radio station. \240We were very close to where they were being set off. \240In the distance, the sky lite up with lightening! We drove back- very long dark road- and then sleepy time!

Next we entered the Badlands National Park. \240Absolutely beautiful!!! \240We saw Bighorn Sheep!!!

Then we went to the town of Wall for lunch- specifically Wall Drug. \240A tourist destination that started as a drug store in the 30’s. \240Cool place!! \240Had lunch & walked around!

Drove back through the Badlands- stopping at Roberts Prarie Dog town! \240Stopped in Rapid City to use the bathroom and then to Hot Springs for dinner at Taco John’s and then to our hotel. \240Laundry and then bed!!!

We continued on to Crazy Horse Memorial. \240Stunning sculpture and great museum. We took the bus tour which took you a bit close to the still being worked on sculpture. \240We had lunch in their restaurant looking out beautiful windows. \240We even got to take two rocks from the site!

And then we went to Mount Rushmore!!!!!!! We made it! It was beautiful! We walked along the presidential trail and took it all in. \240Cool weather and beautiful skies made it all the more wonderful 😀

We then headed to Deadwood. \240We read some town history and watched a shoot-out in the street. \240We walked around Main Street and gambled a bit in Tin Lizzie. I got an ice cream. \240Rob tried some moonshine! \240We then ate at Deadwood Dicks- rob had a Indian taco & I had cheese crisps!

We drove through the town of Sturgis. \240And then to our hotel - Iron Horse Inn. \240A definite biker hotel but still decent. \240Motorcycle posters hang on the wall!!!

We then drove through Wyoming and into Montana- city of Alzada. \240 We then started crossing North Dakota. \240We saw beautiful sites and stopped at Medora for lunch. \240Ate at the Cowboy Cafe.

We stoped at the Theodore Roosevelt NPS and got my passport stamped. We also saw beautiful sites. \240We ate at Pizza Ranch in Jamestown and onto Fargo for the hotel. \240Long driving day but still good! \240(Rob has more pics from today)!

Headed East through Morehead and crossed into Minnesota. \240Ate at a Chinese Buffet for lunch! \240Stopped and walked a bit on the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail.

Continued east toward Minneapolis. \240Got downtown and headed for the Wells Fargo museum. Found a stage coach- reading and taking a picture when a bank employee Charles Maccracken comes up and tells us there’s a museum upstairs. \240We say Yes that’s where we are heading! Rob then asks about a bathroom. \240Charlie then takes us upstairs into the banking area for the restrooms! \240We go through the small but cool museum. \240We ride a stagecoach (bumpy) and mail some “packages” via Wells Fargo express! \240As we are finishing up- Charlie comes back and leads us on a tour of the beautiful building and the adjacent building via skyway. \240He takes us up to see the skyline and shows us a wine storage “cell” of a restaurant. \240He thinks we are “dorks” but finds it funny!!! \240Awesome experience!

We then go to the sculpture garden to see the “spoonbridge and cherry”. \240We walk across a cool bridge partway. \240 We then go to the Mall of America. \240Eat dinner in the food court- Thai.

We then head about an hour east/south to Eau Claire in Wisconsin. \240Check in the hotel. \240Walk across the street to Randy’s family restaurant where we are first served warm pudding. \240Then we get a slice of Raspberry Supreme pie to share! \240 Yummmy!!!!

There we were given a tour of the very cool museum by a lady from Krakow. \240 Amazing place- lots of history.

We went downtown to Pierogi Heaven and had some! \240Yummy!

Then through a lot of traffic and beating sun we drove toward Indianapolis but didn’t make it all the way- stopped in Reminington Indiana for the night. \240The town where the time zone switches- so back to Eastern Standard Time.

Next we drove to Indianapolis. Ate shrimp quesadilla from the mall food court. \240Then walked to the monument in the center of downtown. \240Rob climbed to the top.

Next we had frozen yogurt at Pearings Cafe! \240Yummy!

We then went to the Indianapolis motor speedway museum at the site of the Indy 500.

Next we headed toward Cincinnati. \240Stopped to get fresh peaches from a local farm on the way.

Got to Cincinnati and went to their park by the Ohio River. \240Hot out but amazing walk and saw cool things!

Then we went to Big Boy for dinner. \240Had the Wednesday special- breakfast buffet.

Finally to our hotel for the night in Middletown! \240

Next we headed toward Wheeling, WV but first stopped for lunch at Muddy Misers In Zanesville. \240Good food- yummy clam soup.

We got to Wheeling. \240 Went to their visitors center and museum. \240Very interesting history!!!

Drove on into PA. \240A storm was rolling in. \240Got a hotel in Washington, PA. Tried two different food spots for dinner- either sketchy or closed down. \240Ended up at Bob Evans directly across the street- 2 reasons- 1 weren’t sure where else to go 2- street flooded!!!

Rode the Duquesne Incline round trip. \240Beautiful views!

When to the Heinz History Museum. \240So much info and many cool displays!!!

Had lunch at Belle Notte- white pizza. \240And walked along Penn street which was a very ethnically disverse collection of stores. \240Very cool.

When back to the museum for a bit before making the final leg of the journey home.

Home around 7:35. \240Total mileage- 4458. 14 days, 17 states, most days without A/C in the car!!! \240Amazing trip!!!