Des Moines - where ??

Des Moines is in Iowa (of course I knew that...); it is the state capital, has a population of approximately half a million people and is very close to where John Wayne was born. I wouldn't want to offend any Iowans reading this by saying that we would never have stopped there in a million years if it wasn't for the fact that it is on the way to Chicago, but of course it's true !!

We are staying at a Sheraton for the second night in a row (last night it was Sioux Falls) and the two hotels are so similar, it feels like we just drove in a 450 mile circle. Everything is exactly the same...from the plastic hamburger that they serve in the restaurant, to the air-conditioning which is so cold that it literally takes your breath away. Thankfully, one difference is that the Des Moines Sheraton doesn't supply the same large unqualified stain to the bed sheets as is thoughtfully supplied by the Sioux Falls Sheraton; but SDM does offer guests their exclusive room wireless "so frustratingly intermittent that you'll throw your laptop out the bedroom window" service; together with their unique "wakeup (if we can be bothered) call" which avoids annoying guests by telephoning them first thing in the morning when they may be asleep...

Iowa itself is more interesting than we had thought it would be. In fact it resembles the English countryside - rolling green hills and fields. Having said that, it does lose its charm after 200 miles or so and it did leave me a little short on stuff to write. And so tonight, I thought I should pass it over to some of my fellow travellers (the under-18's who live on the Tahoe's back seat - you know - the one's who start complaining every time the Ritalin wears off). So here goes - age before beauty....Harley first :-

Harley

Dear Blog Readers - as one of the casualties of this road trip, I feel that it is my duty to warn you all of the dangers of blogging. Nothing on our 10 days on the road has sucked up as much time as the accursed http://sugarmanroadtrip.blogspot.com/ (including the driving) !! From pulling a sharp (and illegal) U-turn in order to photograph the Idaho state border sign...to posing as Presidents in front of Mount Rushmore and drawing a crowd of sniggering onlookers, the blog has unofficially taken over our lives. If any other families feel the urge to pack and drive 4,000 miles in a cramped SUV, I have only one thing to say - "keep it to yourselves !!"

Cody

Dear Blog Readers - don't take any notice of what Harley says - I'm really enjoying this trip. I get to wear my favourite T-shirt every single day (I sleep in it most nights too !) I finally visited my home town of Cody and bought another T-shirt with my name all over it - so that's my wardrobe sorted for the next six months. The only thing bothering me on this "vacation" is what is happening for my birthday on August 1st. I was hoping to celebrate it with more than just a bottle of coke and a bag of Trail Mix !!

Brandon

Dear Blog Readers- during this trip I have learned many things - some are quite useful and others would only come in handy if you're a crazy, British family who have decided to drive across America. If you are planning on driving for six hours straight, always bring Trail Mix (a mix of nuts, pretzels, raisins and M & M's). Don't lose your camera the week before you leave (like Cody did). And never, ever volunteer to sit in the middle seat.