Leg 3: Interior to Adel, IA

Miles Driven Today: 545.6

Miles so Far: 1832.5
Drive Time: 10h
Total Stops: 5
Gas Mileage: anywhere from 10 to 13.3 mpg (not getting any better...)
Hours Driving: Meg - 7h, Karin - 3h
Average Speed: 58.9

Today was kind of boring. Once out of the Badlands, South Dakota looks pretty much the same for about 300 miles. The change of scenery was nice in Iowa...for the first hour or so, then the acres and acres of corn fields got a little repetitive. We've stopped into the KOA outside of Adel, IA for the night and have some nice neighbors with huge RVs and some kittens that have decided they like us.

Oh, and we found out that we can't get into our place in Boston until Wednesday or Thursday. Lame. We're working on a solution to that dilemma. Also missing the fact that Seattle has no bugs...it's bug country out here.

the mighty missouri river

the south dakota rest stops have teepees

drunk kitteh had too much beer (that's for you kate!)

Leg 2: Bozeman to Interior, SD

Miles Driven Today: 607.3

Miles so Far: 1286.9

Drive Time: 11 hours, 2 minutes

Total Stops: 5

Gas Mileage: anywhere from 10 to 13.3 mpg (ugh)

Hours Driving: Meg - 7h 2m, Karin - 4h

Average Speed: 57.9

Leg 2 consisted of a lot of Montana, a corner of Wyoming, and a good chunk of South Dakota. Leg 2 also saw Karin get behind the wheel for the first time, showing no fear while driving 9200 pounds worth of car and trailer. It should also be noted that she somehow managed to start the car in third gear! and downshift from fourth to second while going up a hill. Buzz (Meg's car) was a little miffed, but she's doing much better on the third day.

On another note, South Dakota is bi-polar. We counted 7 Christian-themed billboards, informing us of our impending doom. We also counted 5 adult superstores, most open 24hrs a day. South Dakota, it should also be noted, is the home to Sturgis, the largest anual Harley convention (Hells' Angels are probably also going to hell). South Dakota, figure your shit out.

Finally, just before the sunset in Interior, SD (pop. 67), we drove through Badlands National Park. It was the most beautiful place we've ever seen. The pictures don't do it justice, but we'll try. You need to go here before die.

Animals seen today: bighorn sheep, lots of cows, wolves (we heard them), lots of roadkill, and a mosquito that died upon contact with Karin's "Jungle Juice" soaked arm (thanks REI).

our camp site

Daphne

Daphne is our GPS unit. She's amazing. Originaly named Judy, then The Queen (we changed her voice to a British accent), her final name is Daphne, which sounds British and has a connection to Seattle (Daphne on Fraser). Daphne knows a lot. For example, where gas stations and rest stops are. She also knows when you're driving on the wrong side of the road (there's a lot of construction in SD and a lot of times they have both directions of traffic on one side of the interstate - she's smart!). Anyway, glad that Daphne is with us. Here's a picture of her guiding us.

Leg 1: Seattle to Bozeman

Miles so Far: 679.6
Drive Time: 11 hours, 50 minutes
Total Stops: 7
Gas Milage: anywhere from 10 to 13.3 mpg (ugh)
Hours Driving: Meg - 11h 50m, Karin - 0
Average Speed: 57.4



Just a few pics from our first leg.

the u-haul
just a precaution outside of lind, wa

150,000 miles on buzz (meg's 4runner)

idaho

montana

bug casualty

bozeman sunset

oh, and check this out. we almost ran out of gas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeLV_eu0_k4

Monday we head to Interior, SD. Stay tuned for a tribute to Daphne, our GPS unit. We loves her.

Today, we went, tooo the beach

After the wedding, it was off to Moclips/Pacific beach with the Smithgalls, Saladiks, and Elstons. There was a lot of badminton, watching Phelps dominate, watching China cheat, and all around good times. It was so great to be reunited with old friends.

we don't condone this, just pretty funny :)

Wedding Week

Wow. What an amazing wedding. Emily and Todd kicked off their married life in style and we had so much fun being a part of it all. From the large family gatherings beforehand, to the rehersal dinner, to the actual (beautiful) ceremony, and finally the reception, we had a blast. Enjoy some choice pics below. Em and TT, we love you! (and miss you too)...

lunch on the roof

em and the bridesmaids

the fam

wedding party

vince and michael

david and meg

wind it up!

first grade smiles

the kids reunited

Hace Click

We're back and had an amazing time. Here's a quick summary of what we did and where...

In Mendoza, the country's wine-growing region, we rented bikes and toured several bodegas (wineries) as well as a chocolate and liquor maker, and an olive oil pressing plant. We spent the day riding with our new British friend Darren, who we met in our hostel, and two other dudes who had been doing some trail restoration in Bariloche. It was a fun day, with good wine and sore butts. We also made our way up to one of the coolest monuments ever - to the national hero San Martin. We learned from a very helpful tour guide (not sure why he wasn't telling this to his tour group...) that the frieze of the monument follows the farmers/laborers struggle to independence.

Next, we headed to Cordoba, where Kate is studying abroad. We loved having a fluent and local tour guide. She took us to amazing restaurants, markets, churches, plazas, and even helped us purchase bus tickets to Buenos Aires. Thanks Kate! We also took a small side trip to Villa General Belgrano, which really is like the Mercer Island Deli, Alpenland, exploded. Kate took us on a rugged hike there with rewarding views of the surrounding Sierras and Andes from the top! Finally, our last day in Cordoba consisted of an authentic asado (thanks Lucio!) and watching the Euro Cup with lots of Germans and one Spaniard (well, half Spanish anyway).





















Finally, we made it to Buenos Aires, where we had a pretty posh hotel room in the Recoleta barrio. Our balcony looked out over the Recoleta Cemetary, where famous Argentines are buried. We basically spent our final days in Argentina roaming the barrios of Buenos Aires, eating lots of good steak, and drinking many bottles of malbec. Buenos Aires reminded us of a lot of big European cities like Barcelona, Paris, and even London. The most moving part of our time there was watching the Mothers and Grandmothers of the Disappeared marching in the Plaza de Mayo. They march every Thursday in memory of the 30 thousand people who were "disappeared" in the 1970's.