After leaving the Maquoketa Caves, the air conditioned drive to Dubuque was heavenly. I did the parking lot thing outside an Anytime Fitness (yay for a 24-7 bathroom!), and then decided I needed a down day on Sunday not being on the go. I visited Dubuque Community Church in the morning, and then spent the afternoon at the public library. It was such a peaceful quiet atmosphere I came veeerrry close to having a Sunday nap right there in the library chair. Instead, I got up, drove to a 24-hour laundromat, got some clothes clean, and spent the night there (as I said, bathroom).

The next day was a day of driving. All the way to Pierre, South Dakota with a stop-off in Sioux City, Iowa for lunch and an afternoon Zoom with the Passion and Fire mentorship group. I don't think the pictures below do justice to the openness and vastness of this part of the country. I keep thinking of how the covered wagons that crossed the Oregon Trail were called "prairie schooners" because it really does look like a land ocean out here. Notes: 1. The odd-looking oversized load is a single blade for a wind turbine on one of the many wind farms in the region. 2. You know you've crossed into South Dakota because you start seeing a million-and-one billboards for "Wall Drug" where you can still get a cup of coffee for 5¢.

Gallery

Camping Must-Have of the Day

Sleeping Pad

As I researched camping gear in preparation for this trip, ads for this company started popping up in my social media. The reviews on YouTube seemed to be fair, and the price was budget-friendly compared to similar offerings on the market. After a week and a half on the road, it is very admirably holding up to what I have asked of it. And there's NO WAY I would be able to sleep on less substantial cushioning.

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