Hi Kayakwill:

___You will be traveling within 4 blocks of my present residence (as the crow fly’s) and it would be a shame if I could not meet up with you! I am working that weekend (Days) but from about 05:00 PM on, I am here. Where do you plan on stopping for the night on the second or third day? It isn’t that expensive here in Gurnee, IL. although there are much cheaper hotels and such just across the border in Wisconsin (off the Interstate of course). Maggiano’s for dinner (Tbaleno knows how much I love that place) or even Outback Steak just down the block with you and the misses would be nice. If you would like my family to join, I would be more then happy to meet up with you. If its just you, feel free to crash here for a quick overnight although I will have to get permission from the more significant other in my family (the wife) before saying yes first

___Take the northern route through ND for maximizing your FE IIRC? Less hills … But, you will miss out on quite a bit of our country’s history and drop dead gorgeous scenery. I haven’t taken the northern route in well over 20 years but the southern route sure has some absolutely stunning POI’s. Custer State Park, the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, The Bad Lands (exceptionally beautiful and a must see), the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD and the ever present Wall Drug. You will know all about Wall Drug well before you get anywhere close, I promise Even after exiting SD, there is always a quick visit over to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming? If you were a fan of Close Encounter’s that is? It is much smaller in real life then the movie portrayed …

___X-Country trips are the greatest and I hope you enjoy your trip in regards to what you see along the way and visit during your brief stops. Hitting the open road for a “Gotta Get There Yesterday” as fast as can be achieved is not my idea of the best X-Country trip (unfortunately, most of us do it that way) so I hope you find the time to enjoy the many sites you are going to pass …

___To finish, I sure wish I was going along for the ride and do not forget to keep a day by day – blow by blow- log of what you see and the FE achieved in your Insight! It will make it that much more an interesting X-Country trip for the rest of us here after you post the details.

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net