After two days in New York City we were more than ready to get out. Not to say we didn't love our time there. Highlights included a kickass wiffleball game under the lights (for Jeremy), falling asleep to Robin Hood in the movie theater, and I got to meet my new baby cousin, Avery. Wednesday came and Pugs navigated us miraculously out of the city and into America's heartland. Along the way we encountered the most intelligent people. At a grocery store in Nowhere, Ohio we were asked if our avocado was in fact an avocado upon check out, and then if our purchased bottle of water was going to be for "here or to go." 15 hours later (13 hours of driving and 2 hours of getting lost in "south side" Chicago), we found ourselves in the Courtyard Marriott of Highland Park.
The fact that Jeremy is still sitting next to me means he survived a long weekend with my extended family...barely. Not that it was incredibly difficult. We ate, drank, ate some more, went for a swim and then planned for our next meal. (Side note: Jeremy and I are both 5 lbs heavier). We were graced by the presence of my grandfather (aka Wodad, in his 98th year and still talking shit), Lenny, Uncle John, Cousin Richard and Cousin Josh. Together we toured the Botanic Gardens and Baha'i Temple then feasted on oysters and softshell crab. (Shout out to our hilarious waiter, Tim in the Hawaiian shirt who told us all about his sister's water-birth).
Four days later, as we were gearing up to set out for the Badlands at 5am so we could make it there by 10pm and pitch our tent, I got sick. Food poisoning or the usual shit-show that my life has become since Nepal that kept me up alllll night (Jeremy too thanks to the paper-thin walls). Needless to say, we didn't hit the road until about noon and I was still doing everything in my power to keep from vomiting.
But with Pugs carrying at little extra weight, we hit the open road and busted through Wisconsin, Minnesota and into South Dakota. Highlights included filling a bag at the Jelly Belly Factory in Wisconsin situated next to the coal-burning, smog-pumping, acid-rain inducing power plant (which was slightly depressing) and then driving through the massive wind turbine farms that span Minnesota (which was extremely uplifting).
We didn't quite make our destination that night, but early the next morning we arrived in the Badlands. The Badlands were not as 'bad' as I expected. I blame the almighty Himalayas and volcanic landscape of Iceland for spoiling all other mountain ranges for me. So we took a few photos and kept on driving to the equally unimpressive Mt. Rushmore where we met up with Jeremy's friend, Zach and his girlfriend, Amanda. We formed a caravan the rest of the way to Jackson, passing through Yellowstone National Park to take a dip in the icy mountain lake, pet some buffalo and have lunch in the Yellowstone caldera.
Now, 11 days and 2,600 miles since the time Jeremy first threw me over his shoulder, we settling into our new home in Jackson Hole and beginning our lives together. Over the past few days, we've been hard at work unpacking, rearranging the apartment and setting up my life here. The change is huge and we're getting used to it, but so far so good.
Pictures of the place coming soon.
