Road Trip, Day 4, Sioux Falls, SD

Picture this if you will: 

Now imagine that for 7 hours.  

Welcome to the Upper Midwest, where we join our fearless travelers as they venture across the insect-filled vastness that is America.  

First, a stop in the capital of Wisconsin, Madison.  

Then, continuing on for hours to cross the Mississippi River

No visit to Minnesota would be complete without a stop in Winona.  What's in Winona, you ask?  Only the greatest donuts known to man, available only at Bloedow's.  Speed laws may have been broken to arrive 10 minutes before closing, but I will neither confirm nor deny that.  

Obligatory photo of consumption of donut: 

Re-fueled with pure sugar, our adventurers continued on into the evening, following the sun as it sank below the horizon.  (Fun fact here: due to the curvature of the Earth, the sun is actually already below the horizon, but the light is being bent so we still see light.  Astronomy slam.)  

Eventually the border into South Dakota was crossed.  On a darkened back road, surrounded by nothing but fields, and probably cows.  

In the morning, the beautiful Sioux Falls were in full effect, and gave a good send-off before the next leg of the journey: the Badlands.  

Road Trip, Day 3, Chicago, IL

Yeah, it's been a while.  Driving through the west will do that to a man.  Weak internet, cows, more weak internet, and the vastness of the region all have an effect on my ability to get onto the web.  Nevertheless, I'm back.  With more pictures of our eventful, albeit short, stop in Chicago.  

Here, we see the Road Trippers embarking in a long and arduous journey.  Yeah, that's how long we had to drive before doing anything but go straight.  

Plus, it was raining.  Northern Indiana, in the rain.  

Once we got to Chicago, however, we were handsomely rewarded with Lou Malnati's deep dish.  Or, as some call it, "pizza casserole."  Doesn't matter, had deep dish.  

Had to walk off deep dish, so after getting caught in the rain on the way back from dinner, we ventured forth into the night of Chicago.  

Long day needs to be rewarded.  And what better way than with "free" martinis?  

Tomorrow, we will join our fearless travelers as they journey across America's heartland in search of their sanity.  

Road Trip, Day 2, Cleveland, OH

Our second stop on the Road Trip was Cleveland, Ohio.  And what stop in Cleveland would be complete without a visit to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame:

Yeah, I'm from New Jersey, deal with it

 Terminal Tower, it was pretty: 

And I got a little creative at the Cleveland Fed: 

Road Trip, Day 1, Pittsburgh, PA

Hello friends, family, lovers, and others.  We welcome you to the next two weeks of our lives, complied in pictures.  Why?  Because we decided to get in the car and drive around the country.  Why are you here?  Because you love me and my witty charm, and wanted to join us, even though it's after the fact.  

Opening scene: Exterior, Pittsburgh, PA.  We join two adventurers on the first leg of their epic journey.  

Fasten your seat belts and begin.  

Interesting architecture: 

This cool fountain, at the confluence of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers...with Heinz Field in the background:

Pittsburgh skyline:

Even Mr. Rodgers was in the 'hood:

PNC Field, where the Pirates were getting ready to play a game tonight:

Tomorrow, get ready to rock.  It'll all make sense soon...

Weekend of Culture

Family came into town.  We hit the Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum, and Mt. Vernon!  

Baby, you're a firework...

First Attempt at Starfields

While up in Maine for a week, I attempted to take advantage of the lack of light pollution.  Here are some of the results.