Yeah. So. A few years ago I began this SF trilogy that takes place during a cross country journey from Maine to California. A large chunk of book two and three takes place in the mid-West. Two has a huge “Mall of America” type thing in it, and book three features Yellowstone National Park as well as a town called Thermopolis. Places I’ve never been. I researched, of course, but nothing is as good as experiencing something for yourself, so I’d often said I wanted to visit Thermopolis and Yellowstone.
This was the summer to do it. So we rented a motorhome,
packed up two weeks’ worth of stuff and headed off. And oh, the sights we saw! We hit Chicago (driving downtown in an RV!) Then on through Wisconsin where we put cheese on our heads…
Then to Minnesota for the Mall of America —
which wasn’t really on our trip list but hey, I needed to see it. Then we found this super funky place off i-90 called Porter’s Sculpture Park….
where we saw the world’s largest bull’s head…
and then down to the Badlands National Park which was AMAZING!
From there we drove a bunch more and went to the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore,
Jewel Cave and the Cosmos Mystery Area. (I survived it.)
We also went to Devil’s Tower.
and of course, Yellowstone.
where you’d better not step off the path…
and you’d better stay away from buffalo…
I saw a cowboy in Jackson Hole. (I saw real cowboys elsewhere but none took their picture with me.)
I swam in hot springs-fed pools in Thermopolis.
Where apparently people like to get frisky…
and we saw a giant ejaculation ball of hot water that made this funky fountain. It’s called the Teepee fountain but we just like to call it the ejaculating mineral ball.
Stayed at the infamous Stanley Hotel right down the hall from the dreaded room 217!
Yes, this is, literally, my hair standing on end.
I also crossed the continental divide a couple times…
and of course, stopped for gas.
A lot.
Oh. And I sat on a jackalope.
WHEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
I have, literally, close to 2,000 pictures, so these are just a couple. I might post more if requested but it’s taking me a lot of effort to do just these few and I actually have to, you know.
Write. 
M
August 26th, 2008 at 12:14 pm · Link
Looks like you had a great time! Did you wave as you drove through MN? I’m sure I waved back.
August 26th, 2008 at 4:32 pm · Link
Love the pics – looks like you had fun! How did you like traveling in the RV?
August 26th, 2008 at 5:05 pm · Link
@Karen: It was very bouncy and very loud, but it was better than riding in a car! No stopping to pee or eat!
August 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm · Link
@MIchele Hauf: LOL! I did think of you as I drove through. I’d never been to MN before. What’s up with the whole ‘this road is closed when lights are flashing’ business on the highway? I think it’s I-90.
M
August 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm · Link
Awesome pics!! Are you aware there is a hat in the hole in a cliff on the picture where you are in the water? maybe someone from room 217 was watching you!!
Thanks for sharing your pictures!!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:08 pm · Link
Karrie, haha! Invisible man!
August 26th, 2008 at 8:43 pm · Link
TRIVIA: Crazy Horse is a strip club chain in Australia
Have a lovely day!
August 28th, 2008 at 11:37 am · Link
Awesome pictures! I would love to go to the National Parks and Monuments you visited. The Badlands Nat’l Park looks amazing as does Yellowstone, of course.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:14 pm · Link
You’re back, you survived, and I love the pics! Also, this is probably a measure of how tired I am – but … you have really long arms! Or are really good at taking self pics. (Either way I’m jealous.)
August 29th, 2008 at 3:16 pm · Link
@limecello: actually my arms are short, my sleeves are always too long!
August 29th, 2008 at 3:26 pm · Link
Wow, what an awesome trip! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful journey and of course all the great photos.
~R