lost in Albert Lea

We don't know who Albert Lea was but the town in Minnesota named for him is pretty nice. We got in here very early, a combination of leaving early this morning and picking up an hour because of the time zone. Since we had to wait until our room was ready, we took a tour of the town. And, for the only time on this trip, we got lost, made a wrong turn and ended up driving five miles the wrong direction on the interstate before we could exit and return. If that becomes our biggest travel misadventure, we will be doing well. We liked the town, and we found that the corn fields are just as big not matter what direction you drive.

Two of our earlier concerns have amounted to nothing. The van is a easily big enough to hold Alison's stuff, and it drives well. And Smokey has been an ace traveler. She was noisy for the first hour or so in Pennsylvania but has been fine since then. We have driven nearly 1200 miles in two days, with four days (and three nights) to go. So far, so good.