Why did the AKs cross the country?

Surely not to get to the other side because they are on their way back home. But seeing this magnificent country is a treat of which every American should partake.

We saw it all: the amber waves of grain, the purple mountains' majesty, the fruited plain. We saw the people: city slickers, bible belters, red states, blue states. We saw the cities and national parks; strangers and relatives; young and old; rich and poor; interstate highways and bumpy back roads. Perhaps the most amazing thing about this trip is how much we didn't see. There were dozens of places we would have stopped if we did not have a schedule to meet.

Would we do it again? You bet! Will we do it again? If there's any way we can afford the time and money we surely will.

So what would we do differently? I think the biggest difference is that we would not have a schedule. We would take time to stop in Wisconsin Dells or spend another day in western South Dakota.

Our family in Chicagoland has been their usual gracious self. Judy filled you in on the details. Tomorrow it's off to Cleveland and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Then home. More thoughts on that in a day or two.