See the USA in a Chevrolet... Or Honda... Whatever.

After two and a half days, 2,065 miles, and about 60 gallons of gas, I made it! We set off from Ogden after a few days of training and hit the open road. Driving across the country let me see states that I had absolutely zero desire to see. Let's review the drive state by state...


Utah-- (Thursday 4:00 pm)

We left Ogden and made our way up I-80 to our friendly neighbor to the east, Wyoming.

Highlights- 1) Henefer.

Wyoming-- (Thursday night)

Highlights- 1) Getting 40 mpg until Evanston 2) Stopping in Laramie to get gas, and seeing a guy in his 60's selling switchblades, butterfly knives and brass knuckles in the gas station. 3) Sleeping in the Cheyenne Motel- this place was so disgusting that I slept on top of the blankets until about 4 AM when I woke up freezing and got under the top blanket. 4) Successfully leaving the state WITHOUT contracting some sort of disease.

In Wyoming I remembered a quote by Lavell Edwards, "I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Laramie." I agree...


Nebraska-- (Friday morning/early afternoon)

Nebraska was a pleasant surprise. Once we passed through the western part of the state, the landscape went from brown to greenish brown. I liked Omaha.

Highlights- 1) Kimberly the Assistant Manager KFC who laughed hysterically at everything we said. Kimberly also spoke Spanish surprisingly well.


Iowa-- (Friday evening)

Iowa was everything you'd expect it to be- rolling hills, farms, and country folk.

Highlights- 1) Getting out at the Kum and Go gas station in Boonesville and having it smell EXACTLY like Grandpa Salmon. 2) Briefly considering buying a Kum and Go gas station t-shirt, but ultimately deciding against it. 3)Getting a mediocre beef brisket at a BBQ place in Des Moines. 4) One of the guys in our little caravan getting lost, despite the fact that he had a GPS system in his car. 5) Cody getting upset about #4.


Illinois-- (Friday night/ Saturday morning)

Well, after having slept in the Cheyenne roach motel, we were all a little hesitant to stay in another cheap hotel after our Wyoming experience. So we roll into Joliet, a Chicago suburb, at around 1:00 am central time, find the local church building, pull out our blankets and pillows, and curled up under the stars and the stake center's satellite dish for a good 5 hours' rest. We got up around 6 and headed out.

Highlights- 1) Feeling safer sleeping on cement outside the church than I did in a motel room in Wyoming. 2) Delicious french toast sticks from BK.


Indiana-- (Saturday morning)

So Indiana was SWEET! I would totally live there.

Highlights- 1) The whole drive 2) Driving through South Bend, where Notre Dame is located.


Ohio-- (Saturday afternoon)

I had been in Ohio only once before, on a church history trip. This time was almost as good.

Highlights- 1) Driving by Bowling Green and reminiscing about my days studying abroad in St. Petersburg with the kids from Bowling Green. I wonder how they are doing...


Pennsylvania-- (Saturday afternoon)

Pennsylvania was nice, it was good to see some green. I'm surprised at how lush it is in the suburbs of these big, metropolitan cities.

Lowlights- 1) Paying $14.75 to the toll booth lady because I didn't get a ticket at a previous booth. This kinda left a bitter taste in my mouth... PA can secede from the union for all I care...


Maryland-- (Saturday afternoon)

So we finally made it to Silver Spring at 5:55 pm, which was great because the office was closing at 6:00, and we had to get there to give them our deposit. phew!

Highlights- 1) Remembering that people out here don't need to use their turn signals when changing lanes-- Yeah, apparently you just get over if you want to... It's wild.

That's it for now. Check back for updates!