COLUMBIA, MO TO SIOUX FALLS, SD

This morning we took our time getting on the road. We started out with a dip in the hotel pool, since everyone was too tired the night before. After being dragged in kicking & screaming, LS finally overcame her fears and floated alone with her floaties! She earned a call to Grandma for that. After breakfast we reorganized the van a bit & went to the grocery store for ice & lunch supplies.

We were back on the road maybe an hour when LS informed us that she didn't actually go potty back at the hotel, and needed to go "NOW." The closest place was a less than sanitary gas station bathroom ("Don't touch ANYTHING!"), and of course no changing table. Sorry, poor little LB, a pillow on the front seat of the van will have to do...

BS was excited to see a town named after her. We also played the license plate game to keep Hubby awake. Lunch was a picnic at a rest stop outside Mound City, MO. You haven't lived until you've eaten a bologna sandwich by the highway. LB was fine until he spotted a little girl at the next table over, and when we wouldn't let him go play with her he threw an everloving fit and refused to eat his lunch.

Back on the road, there were corn fields as far as the eye could see. Seriously, any flat land, no matter how small, had corn growing on it. Even though the weather was a bit dreary today, the farmland was gorgeous. The corn is already huge and tassled here, and The Boy and His Woof enjoyed seeing all the big trucks and tractors go by.

LS & LB finally sacked out for a 3+ hour nap. We passed Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, and the Omaha Indian Reservation in Iowa. We even spent a brief time in Kansas ("Toto -- guess what? We ARE in Kansas!").

Things we passed that would've been interesting to see if we had the time:
-- Le Mars, Iowa -- the self-proclaimed "Ice Cream Capitol of the World"
-- The National Music Museum
-- The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

All in all, it was a very FLAT ride.

We arrived in Sioux Falls, overdue for dinner and a rest, and discovered our "Country Inn" was downtown in the nasty district, complete with dilapidated buildings and street loiterers. Umm, time for "Plan B" -- a Staybridge Suites in the safe area with Ruby Tuesday room service and a very nice guest laundry room.

Well, it's been a long day and my dryer bell is probably ringing...