Feeling Minnesota

Woke up at 4 am today to pack up the Xterra and head out on my 5 week journey. I had to make a quick stop at my son's house at 6am and headed out then. Didn't sleep all that well last night but it was for a good reason so it's cool. I started yawning at the top of Iowa, knowing I had to make it to the bottom of Missouri. I turned up the music and opened the windows, it was still a little cool this morning up there, so that helped.

After a 10 and a half hour drive and 705 miles I made it to Sikeston, MO. When you have 705 miles ahead of you stopping to take pictures is not at the top of the list. Mostly a bunch of farm land anyway. As I was getting near to my destination I was wondering if I should just keep going and search with my phone for a different hotel further down the way, but figured I should just stick with the plan since tomorrow I only have 4 hours of driving, and that's with talking the long way around.

I've added a few pictures I took, but since I had so far to go they were all taking from the moving car. I know, I know, one of the many rules of good photography is never take a picture from the car, especially a moving one. Well I was in a hurry. :) Anyone who has driven down 35 will recongize the airplanes. Iowa is mainly farms but I love the areas where there are rows and rows of wind turbines! Missouri more farms and trees. Anyone who knows me will know I like old busted up farms so that is one of my pics of MO. My future images will be much better, I promise!

The X ran well even with having 176,000 miles on her, she acts more like 50,000! :) She is definitely up for the adventure ahead, with her new radiator and belts. We only get 18 miles to the gallon tho, and with 1330 miles each way that's gonna hit the pocket book pretty good! It's worth it tho. Couldn't image being in New Orleans for 5 weeks without a vehicle.

I was checking the weather for New Orleans for next week and by the end it will be a "real feel" of 115!! And it's humid down there, not like Arizona last June; hot as hell but a dry heat. But I can make it, right.

Besides helping the neighborhood I'll be working in, my other main goal is to meet someone new every day, get part of their story. I will be sharing those unique individuals with you all. I will probably start that Monday, taking Sunday to get settled in. Although, I guess I will be meeting everyone in the volunteer house on Sunday. Oh, yeah, the volunteer house... holds 24 for people, 8 to a room. That maybe harder to adjust to then the heat! :) Lord, please, bunk me with some neat & clean people!

Stay tuned... much more to come!