Well, it's the beginning of day 4 of our 2009 Summer Road Trip Extravaganza and we're finally able to write a blog. We were hoping to write one sooner, but it turns out none of our National or State Parks are set up with wireless access yet - of course, there has been wireless at each of the six Starbucks we've stopped at....but we always have to keep moving...we've got a lot of miles to cover. Anyway, here are some highlights of the last few days:

Heidi: I want to take you on a brief "Tour of Restrooms" from our great nation.

Small town, Nebraska - this gas station restroom is not for the faint-of-heart. In this facility, you'll find old food on the sinks, stalls with damaged doors that you have to keep shut with one foot, and possibly two to three cockroaches (one of which may still be alive and moving around just below your feet).

Rifle Falls, CO- imagine you're in the woods and you have to chose between going to the bathroom behind a bush or using a random portapotty. which do you choose? If you chose the port-a-potty, you'd be mistaken. In this bathroom, you'll smell a thick and stale aroma that reminds you of very old leftovers. There will be flies doing their thing around the very top of the toilet. And don't expect to wash your hands after you're done. No sinks in this bano. Next time, go with peeing behind the bushes.

Rifle Gap State Park, CO- if you have a sense of adventure, check out this outdoor restroom. Many campers frequent this facility just for the fun of what lies behind the doors. While you're doing your thing, you'll be wanting to have a nice, secure place to do it in. Not going to happen here. The door has a mind of its own and will not, under any circumstance, shut. not. going. to. happen. You'll never know who or what will try to sneak in while you're going to the bathroom. See? Outdoor living can be fun!

Dylan: The one thing we've done a lot of on this trip is drive. I don't mind driving, and I still don't after we've covered about 1200 miles (and are only half done). However, driving this new stretch of road has led to a few tense moments. First, there was the stretch in Nebraska where our rental car started making a strange whining noise and smelling of burnt rubber. At first I contributed this to the semi next to us, but once we passed it and the smell and sound remained, I began to get concerned. We took the next exit and checked things over...no flat tire, no fluids leaking, not dragging part of a deer carcass, nothing....so we pulled back on the interstate and tried to remain calm over the damage we may be causing to our rental car when we saw a sign - "This mile of highway made with 47,000 recycled tires".... now everything was clear. I'm all for conservation, but.......

Heidi was kind enough to help drive some of this trip. She took on quite a bit of Nebraska - where every mile feels like an eternity - even when listening to the amazing playlist I compiled for the drive. However, when it comes to mountain driving...that's another story all together. I knew I would drive most of this, but I didn't know Heidi would hyperventilate just riding along in the passenger's seat. I don't know if it was the shear drop offs with no guard rail, ramps specifically designed for runaway semi trucks, warnings of falling rocks, or signs telling what to do if your brakes fail, but it was all a little too much for her. I also learned a lesson about turning over the wheel too soon. We were through the mountains and back onto flat ground when Heidi offered to drive. I agreed, thinking I could use some rest. I was just drifting off to sleep when I was awoken by the sound of a loud and pressured "Dylan!" I woke up expecting to see us careening off a cliff or swerving to miss falling boulders, but instead the problem was that there was a mountain, off in the distance, that we might...at some point...be driving in to.

Well, there's a lot more to say, and we'll be sure to write more (especially since we have a hotel for another night). So for now we're going to go lay down on our individual plush pillow top mattresses (they were out of King rooms, and while neither one of us wanted to admit it, after two nights in a tent - after we forgot to bring pillows - having to have a room with two queen beds, one for each of us, actually sounded pretty good).

Have a great day...we will!