Day 05 - Iowa

July 29th - UPDATE

We received the following comment after posting this blog:

Dear Scotty and Deb, I am an Underground Railroad researcher in Michigan. Unfortunately the supposed quilt codes are considered by UGRR researcher throughout the world to be only an urban legend. Is seems that since the book titled "In Plain View" has been printed, people seem to consider the quilt codes to be historical fact and are teaching others, especially children, that this legend is true. Could you help spread this message, so that the truth is told? Thank you R Westra.

July 25th - We left Omaha and drove to Winter Quarters to see the Temple and Visitors Center...


After leaving, we drove through Council Bluff, Iowa...

we also visited Audobon, the birthplace of my Grandfather Edwards.

Audobon is the home of the world's largest bull - Albert!

Iowa's rest stops are amazing compared to Oregon's! Each showcases artwork of some kind. This one had an interesting display based upon quaker quilt patterns that were used as signals or messages on the Underground Railroad.

The symbols are explained on this plaque... We thought this was very interesting to know!

Just before getting into Mapleton, Illinois, we stopped in Galesburg to see the birthplace of Carl Sandburg.

We arrived at Brandyn and Jen's home around 9:00 p.m. and had a great reunion with the grandkids! They have grown so much in the last year... tomorrow we are going to the Caterpiller Demo which will be exciting!

Day 04 - Nebraska

July 24th - Happy Pioneer Day

We left Cheyenne and crossed into Nebraska onto the longest, straightest, road I think we have ever driven on... if there was one degree deflection side-to-side across the entire state, I would be surprised.

Along the way, we took a potty break at the world headquarters of Cabela's...Deb finally got to see her moose!

At the crossing of the North Platte River, there is this archway monument crossing the freeway.

Tonight, we spent the night in the honeymoon suite of the Comfort Inn in Omaha. It cost us less than the Motel 6 we stayed in the night before! Tomorrow, we get to Illinois to be with the grandsons!

Day 03 - Wyoming

July 23 - We spent the night in Jackson, Wyoming. Then we enjoyed a beautiful drive through the Teton National Park. Along the Sweetwater River, we visited the Willie Handcart Monument at the sixth crossing point of the Sweetwater. A group of youth were beginng a ten mile handcart trek as we arrived. It was going to be a hot walk at 90+ degrees. After, we travelled to Cheyenne for the evening.

Day 01 - "Where is it?", you say...

Well, once you pass Multnomah Falls, there just isn't a whole bunch to blog about on the way to Rexburg, Idaho! I mean photos of sagebrush and highway construction... not so interesting. Deb and I had some much needed time to just talk and get caught up on life in general... it has been a very busy summer so far...

Today we head through the Tetons toward Nebraska!

Here we go again... Road Trip 2008 - Day 02 Yellowstone

This one is for Katy... she will know why.

We were looking at this herd of Elk when...

this bad boy grizzly appeared about 15 feet in front of us!

Deb took this beautiful shot of Lower Falls...

What a beautiful way to end the day... a double bow over Yellowstone Lake after a great lightning storm!

Deb didn't get to see her moose but it was a great day anyway! We will spend some time in Jackson Hole tomorrow and then it is points east... we need to be in Illinois on Friday.