As on the entire trip, we tried to avoid highways, and ended up on the alternate route. Route 24 didn't offer mountain passes or stunning waterfalls, but it did present a memorable snapshot of middle America.
Soybeans to the left, corn to the right, Illinois plowed into Indiana and if you blinked when you drove by the state line sign, you would never know the difference. Modest farmhouses were surrounded by thousands of acres with state of the art farm equipment. An area that has obviously seen rain, crops thrive. To us, farms are the attraction in this part of the US. The life blood of our existence, I finally understood the term "Heartland".
Excited by water towers of small towns and a detour taking us 20 miles off the route, we enjoyed driving slower and talking to each other when our Internet radio lost its signal. Stopping at a train crossing, we once again realized the importance of rail service across the country.
A fishing lake appeared as our picnic spot. Off the road, silent and peaceful, we settled into a bad bottle of wine and thunder rumbling heavily from the west. Quick lunch and quick getaway, we turned once again to the east. Running with the wind, we made tracks toward clear sky.
The path of blue narrowed as Fort Wayne offered up hotels. Rain drove us in. Wide awake, into our home time zone, anticipation for reunion with family and friends is gaining momentum.
Never out of our minds as we travelled to the far Northwest, into the fog and down the rocky coast of California, over Colorado's snowy mountain peaks and into sage brushed dotted Southwestern desert, our daughters, sons and grand daughter have been with us. A full heart has room to spare.
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