Lake Erie, Cleveland and Pennsylvania

We stayed at a hotel in Ohio that was only about 6 blocks from Lake Erie, so we did venture down there to check it out before we hit the road the next morning.  These inland, fresh water seas are a sight to see.  

Looking east towards Cleveland, OH

As cool as it was to check out the beach at Lake Erie, we both admit to an 'Oh crap' moment when we realized we had to haul our hot, sweaty asses back up those stairs to the car, as it was a very hot, humid morning.  lol

Cleveland

Russell very sweetly offered to get off the highway since the museum was right there, but I knew that it'd take  HOURS to see the place, so I opted not to stop, as we were hoping to make it through all of New York State that day.  I'll get back there someday.

I missed the entering PA sign too.  There's a teeny tiny sliver of PA that separates Ohio from NY State and which abuts Lake Erie.

Illinois, Indiana & Ohio

I was now entering states that I'd been to twice before.  The only new states I added to my "Total States Visited" list were Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota.

We were also now entering Toll Country.

We left a little later this day because we wanted to get to Chicago in the mid-morning, after rush hour.  This is a rest area and restaurant over the highway.

Plane coming into O'Hare International Airport.

First glimpse of ChiTown.

I think this is the John Hancock Tower that my dad took me up in when we had a 5 hour layover between trains, on the trip home from Milwaukee in 1980.  

Where the Chicago White Sox play.

We lost our final hour when we crossed into the Eastern Time Zone between Illinois and Indiana.

I bet this company's business was booming this summer with the horrible heat and humidity the midwest experienced!!

I didn't see any planes making this X in the sky but I thought it was pretty cool.

Where I-80 and I-90 become one.

Wisconsin: Land of Cheese, Beer and Sausage

I totally missed the Entering Wisconsin sign so this one had to suffice.

Billboard for the Wisconsin Dells.

Entering the Heartland of America.

But running out of things to shoot

We stopped here to get some cheese, beer and beaucoup souvenirs.  Didn't buy the fudge, or any sausages either.  

My parents and I traveled to Milwaukee in the summer of 1980 for my cousin Cathy's wedding.  It's a really pretty city with great German restaurants.

My car at the hotel, the morning we left.

I had no idea Hormel Foods was in Wisconsin.

South Dakota to Minnesota

1880 Town, Murdo, SD

I love the electric and Shell gas signs in the olde western towne.  

Lost another hour here too.

We stopped for gas in this teeny tiny town, and now I wish I'd take a few more pictures and found out what town it was.

Missouri River in South Dakota.

Mirage of water on the road.

I SO want to see this someday.  But it was very far out of our way.

Porter Sculpture Park in Montrose, SD.  Who knew South Dakota had so many things to see?

We'd stayed in Brandon, SD overnight and arrived in Minnesota the next day.  Shooting into the early morning light made for bad photos.

I cannot believe there's a museum devoted to SPAM.  I mean, ew.  Ew ew ew.

Crossing the Mississippi River, which divides Minnesota and Wisconsin