dinosaurs and belugas (from wednesday)

i apologize for the delay; with getting ready to continue the journey, a friend's birthday, and then on thursday everything that happened, i forgot about these until now.

on wednesday, we went to the museum of contemporary photography, which inspired me (many of the exhibits were around road-trip themes), and seemed to interest the kids.

then we headed down to the shedd aquarium and the field museum. with differing interests, we split up.

R charmed her way into the beluga show and got to touch one.





meanwhile, S explored the field and had conversations with the dinosaurs, especially sue.





so many wonderful memories from chicago.

from that dirty water to muddy river

as we get ready to rush back home, i felt we needed to see and feel the mississippi river, which has defined so much of early u.s. history.





rivers always have some appeal, if not as strong for us as shorelines.





that lasted about 5 seconds. fortunately, there is also a playground here. :)

back home in two days of insane driving... then regroup and reconsider...

sunshine on a cloudy day

because kids can find joy and sunshine anywhere, in a depressed town where more stores are for sale than open, the girls found this...

heartland... how you thwart me...

this morning started so promising! beautiful day, left on time, making good progress.... about 200 mile west of chicago, right near scenic rock falls (see picture below), we got an unexpected detour.

first, i lost the statey lottery. i got picked of everyone to be pulled over for going the speed of traffic (which was in fact nearly 20 mph above the speed limit.)

then the kind gentleman came back because my license expired last april, something i was stupidly ignorant of. we were towed (first detour) but then released.





with the world on the internet, i thought i could maaaaaaybe renew online and figure that out. sadly, that is the wrong-answer buzzer sounding. my picture is determined to be "too old" (i swear i haven't changed!), so i am required to go into the rmv to renew. i can't drive from here (1200 miles from boston) to the rmv, and can't fix it from here.

now we are in east moline in a seriously questionable motel, waiting for my more-amazing-than-words-can-express spouse to fly out tomorrow morning and drive us all home. trip aborted. for now.

more of chicago

we saw and went in a submarine today and a coal mine.





we also visited the dusable museum.




and the lake shore.



the girls say chicago is great!

sweet home, chicago

hi de hi de hey...




we checked put the lincoln park zoo and greek town.




lots more tomorrow... :)

cleveland rocks...

random beauty





and fun




walking to the rock and roll hall of fame involved a dance troop, an anti-rape rally complete with pole-dancing lesson, climbing outdoor sculpture and listing to a band... a day well spent. :)

niagara falls

the bleak skies cleared as we waited in traffic.





but the wait was worth it.



S says,
i sooooo loved it!!!!!! :)

buffalo

bleak buffalo (S seems to feel buffalo is boring.)





a long day on the road, through sunshine and wild flowers, until we were almost in buffalo. then grey skies and rain.

today's the day!!

and, george thurogood likes to say, out the door we went. :)

kalo mas taxidi!