Limbimtimwim takes a mighty dump on the US of A

**limbimtimwim** · 15th June 2009, 01:52

Today was an Interstate drone.

I did take a detour off to the side through the Bandlands National Park, which had some funky rock formations.

I also had a run in with a police man, 41 in a 35. He seemed nice enough, his name was Greg. Gotta watch out for the wildlife he told me. Let off on a warning.

I have ended up in a town called Luverne Minnesota for the evening. It is very quiet here.

**Hitcher** · 15th June 2009, 09:14

I wasn't prepared for South Dakota's Badlands and was completely blown away by them. Photos don't really do the scale of these justice.

And did that Trooper bust your sorry Kiwi arse?

**pete376403** · 15th June 2009, 18:11

Wow, USA cops have discretion? Cool, wonder if they could send some of that over here.

**limbimtimwim** · 16th June 2009, 02:46

No, policeman was cool.

Actually I think it might have being 51 in a 35. I didn't quite hear him right at that point, still had my 'plugs in.

He was a national park cop, not a 'state trooper' sheriff or city cop. In fact, I think I was the most exciting thing that happened all day. I think he'd spend most of his day helping people change tyres.

**Gibbo13p** · 16th June 2009, 20:14

Like the Stig photo bud, very cool...

Looks like a great trip, you seem to be getting through it pretty fast though, are you wishing you were doing it with someone else? I skipped heaps of stuff while i was travelling by my self, its good to have an extra input sometimes eh to share the experiences for bringing up later.

**limbimtimwim** · 18th June 2009, 11:49

Originally Posted by Gibbo13p

Like the Stig photo bud, very cool...

Looks like a great trip, you seem to be getting through it pretty fast though, are you wishing you were doing it with someone else? I skipped heaps of stuff while i was travelling by my self, its good to have an extra input sometimes eh to share the experiences for bringing up later.

Yeah, I have skipped lots. I didn't even stop to take a photo of Chicago or Cleveland

.

But it's okay, I know I'd love to come back one day with someone else. I'd know for sure then they'd like it.

**limbimtimwim** · 22nd June 2009, 00:40

The other day I made it to Washington DC. I took zero photos on the way there. It's being just tollway and interstate slog. There wasn't much to see anyway, the rain soaked up all the sights. I'm just going to combine a whole lot of days into one entry. Don't get me wrong, it has being utterly beautiful, but it has mostly being very similar since I left the Badlands and headed East to get to the East coast with time to spare to take care of my bike.

I stayed the night in Portage WI, which was a cool place.

At one point I instructed my little GPS friend to avoid motorways so I could see the countryside up close.

It was a very pleasant day, until I got the hostel I was aiming for only to discover it was full. Opps. So the next hostel was.... Well, who knows, but out of action for now. And the last hostel in Cleveland was simply gone. Nice. So today it was kind of rushed after that as I got out of Cleveland (And like in Chicago forgot to take a picture of the lake! Oh well, next time.)

In general, however, since Rapid City I have noticed a change. My path has gone Luverne Minnesota, Portage Wisconsin, Portage, Marion Illinois and Massilion Ohio. The streets are cleaner. The foothpaths/sidewalks are less smashed up, less pine trees and more variation. Cropping is the name of the game out here, livestock are not as common. And the flags. It's insane. There are flags on EVERYTHING here. Out off the freeway I am not surprised they have not pug flags on the horses. There is probably a horse with a flag out there somewhere painted on it's side.

Ohh yeah! I saw some Amish. First lot were in their buggy. Man and a woman. He was dressed in the way you would imagine, but I was quite surprised at the deep blue shawl she had on. Further down the road I saw some another couple working in a field. She leading the horse, him fighting with the hoe it was pulling. Yes they really do still do it like that. He again dressed not so surprisingly (And a beard like Lincoln) but her she wore an electric blue dress that looked pretty cool. How they kept their clothes so immaculately clean whiling toiling away is a mystery. A group of about 6 boys maybe 8 years old playing very happily in a field climbing the biggest fence and leaping down into some tall grass. Unsupervised as far as I could see too. Looked like heaps of fun. And I saw some more in a town further up the road. I even got a broad smile and a wave from a pair in a buggy coming the other way. Perhaps because I slowed down and moved the other way. A spooked horse, a buggy, a motorcycle and a minor highway would be a poor mix.

Then again, I am somewhat of a novelty myself in the USA. I have yet to see a single other person wearing a brightly coloured proper jacket, gloves and a full-face (Brightly coloured) helmet and boots at the same time. And I bet no one else is out there with the knee armour on under their kevlar jeans either. I know it's personal choice and all, but I can't help but think the locals are a bit stupid.

The Amish are one group of Americans that were all healthy and strong looking. Even the older guy driving the buggy waving at me would not be someone you'd pick a fight with. Each one had their heads up, shoulders back, faces either focused (very sternly) on the task at hand or smiling happily. Each with a purpose, a direction and a place. It was hard not to be impressed by them.

I've being trying to get the perfect shot of a red barn and a grain silo. I've seen a lot from the interstate, but it is illegal to stop there.