such a drastic move means....CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIP! now i love a good road trip, and have been across these grand united states three times in the past. but i've never had the pleasure of driving the northern route, so wanted to take advantage of every sight and opportunity this journey would offer. this post will have multiple installments, so bear with me as i catalog all the wondrous moments of this 9 day adventure.
our excursion began on a bright and sunny monday morning. i packed up the car, packed up the hound, and we set off on the open highway. our departure point was from my parent's house in my hometown of aberdeen, md. i had a stash of snacks (with emergency chocolate covered espresso beans), and an iPod filled with podcasts and songs to get me through some of the longer stretches of driving. (thank you s-town for getting me through ohio!)
i was close to pittsburg when it was time for my first snack stop. i've watched enough travel channel and food network to know all about the famous sandwich joint"primati brothers". the one that skips the notion that a sandwich should come with sides, and piles EVERYTHING between two pieces of bread. including the cole slaw and french fries. i was hesitant to drive into the downtown area, but as luck would have it, there's another location just two miles off the turnpike!
i ordered the "original" spicy capicola. you can get "double meat" and even "double meat with an egg". but i knew it would be a struggle to finish this sandwich even in it's most simple form. look at this monster! the french fries are boardwalk style and the cole slaw is a vinegar base. the bread is a hearty italian style white. the behemoth was enough to tide me over for the rest of the day! disclaimer....it is impossible to eat one of these without unhinging your jaw like a snake devouring a large prey. not the most lady like of meal options. but definitely something to try if you're near the 'burg.
as my first day of driving neared it's end, an omen of good fortune crossed my path just outside of akron, ohio. a strange vision appeared before me on the asphalt. yellow and orange. a strange shaped that defied logic and reason. as i came closer it dawned on me that i was seeing none other than the legendary OSCAR MAYER WIENER MOBILE!!!!!!!! i have seen pictures. i have heard stories. but i have never seen the actually giant wiener in person. and on the highway! clearly this was a sign of a good road trip.
admittedly the first day was a slow start to my epic trek. but the hound and i made it safely to our first stop in toledo ohio. mahjong loves staying in hotels....'cause it means she gets to sleep on the bed! she wasted no time claiming an entire king sized bed as her own.
day two and mahjong and i hit the road heading towards our next stop. the known center of the universe and previous home town to el gaio, iowa! on the way i snagged some lunch at ye old white castle. now normally i'm not a fan of chain restaurants on a road trip. but white castle is something special. if you aren't in an area where they are common, you take advantage whenever you can! and there happened to be one just past chicago on i-80.
and wonder of wonders, they now have chicken and waffle sliders! naturally i had to get a classic cheeseburger slider as well (as greasy and delicious as i remember). but wanted to sample the new wares. it was pretty freaking tasty! and completely devoid of any nutritional value. but hey....it's white castle. nobody comes here looking for a salad. a slider splurge every once in a while is a beautiful thing. and worth every moment of heartburn the rest of the way through illinois!
is this heaven? no....this is iowa. rolling fields of corn and soy greeted me as i crossed into the heartlands of the midwest. a friend of mine compared the fields of iowa to the open seas. and looking out at the waving corn silks, i can see his point it was like very much like looking across an ocean. serene and peaceful.
our second stop was to visit tony's parents in urbandale, just outside of des moines. they treated me to one of tony's favorite indulgences. tasty tacos! an aptly names taco joint close by. not your average tacos, this place fries their flour tortillas into the most delightful fluffy creations.
day three i took a little detour to do some sightseeing in sioux falls, south dakota. this is where my voyage really became an adventure. i've never been to south dakota before! so this is where everything became a new exploration. i didn't spend much time. just enough to see the scenic cascades of the big sioux river. worth the small side trip! they are impressive up close. and smack dab in the middle of the city!
there's a wonderful walk way and park that crosses over and around the falls. and it's dog friendly, so mahjong got a look at the water too! she was most intrigued and i like to think a little impressed.
once i crossed over the missouri river, it was very clear that i was no longer in the "mid west" i was in the "old west". signs for homesteads, ranches and pioneer experience were popping up everywhere! and a great deal of homage to the indigenous lakota people. there is an impressive rest stop off i 90 just east of the river that features some large sculptures representing the sioux way of life.
a glimpse over the river... everything behind me is farm land. everything in front of me is prairie
this is apparently a relatively new statue, titled "dignity". 50 ft tall and visible from miles away, it has amazing detail in the quilt and features of the woman's face.
and with that road side attraction, i left behind the east, and head into the west!
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