South Bend, IN

Tuning in from (a shaky connection) in South Bend, Indiana! We're in a freaky little, but clean, motel. The kind of motel like in that movie Drugstore Cowboy where Heather Graham o.d.'d on Dilaudid and it freaks me out. Thankfully, there is no "under the bed" in this place. It's boarded up, and I'm not going to try to look any further to see if anything is making a home under it! Actually, it's not that bad. I'm embellishing a bit, it's a bed and a tv and a clean bathroom so I can't complain.

The Field of Dreams was as magical in person as it is in the movie. I had tears welling up a few times as we watched dads having catches with their kids. I almost really lost it when we walked into the corn. It really is a dream, and so beautiful. The drive out there is so pleasant, you almost forget you're driving. I drove us out of Iowa into Rock Island, IL, which I have to say is a sad, dilapitated place. Maybe it was just the area we were in, but all the homes and storefronts in Moline and Rock Island were falling apart. We left as quickly as we came in and decided we'd just try to get closer to Cleveland. I know Cleveland has been called "The Mistake on the Lake", but there are plenty of things we'd like to see while there. Since we're a day ahead of schedule, we should be in Cleveland tomorrow in time for the better part of a double header at Jacobs Field, it's dollar dog night and they'll be having fireworks at the stadium. That's a lot better than our plan to be driving during any July 4th traffic.

John took over driving in Rock Island and brought us onto the interstate and did a fine job of navigating the hellish traffic on the toll road as we came into Indiana. We wondered what in the hell the toll money is used for as the whole freeway was ripped up and looked as if it'd been that way for quite some time. The traffic was horrible, and the nice people on the scenic route all but disappeared and were replaced with monster truck driving sacs who tried to muscle their way in and out of every available space. I would've been freaking out too much so I was glad that we had traded seats earlier. John is so calm in situations like that. He's just great :)

Now we're going to head off to bed early and get a good start in the morning. We get to sleep with the sounds of fireworks blasting off every 5 seconds...at least, I hope they are fireworks! I'll sign off now.
Nitey-nite, bitey-bite, love to you all!!
R&J

Roadkill report: Mostly raccoons, a black and white kitty, lots of indistinguishables. I was sad for all.

Todays mileage: 360

Todays tolls: $0.60 Portage, IN; $1.55 South Bend, IN

Todays tunage: Stranglers, Suburbs, Son Volt, Super Tramp, Suzi Quattro, Swingers, Cajun stuff (can't remember who), Tesla, Tommy Roe, Beatles, Big Country, Bobby Darin, The Bomb, Bruce Springsteen, Buddy Holly/Crickets, Camper Van Beethoven, Cheap Trick, Cornershop, Cyndi Lauper, Donna Summer, English Beat, Gloria Gaynor, Johnny Horton, Lipps Inc, Utah Saints, Iggy Pop, Joan Jett, KISS, Monkees, Naked Raygun, Sex Pistols, Social Distortion, Stiff Little Fingers, Tom Petty/Heartbreakers, Voice of the Beehive and U2.