Laughs, Landmarks & Long Roads – 12 Days, 11 States, 7 Rivers, and Countless Memories

Day 12 - Road Trip Complete: Laughter, Landmarks & a Lot of Coffee

We were up and out of the hotel by 7:15 am, ready for the last stretch of the trip. Almost immediately, we crossed into Pennsylvania—only to make a quick and necessary stop at Dunkin’. One last road-trip coffee run felt like the perfect send-off. (And for those who’ve asked what Mark gets at Dunkin’? Nothing. He’s the driver who pulls up so I can roll down my window in the back seat and place the order,  then to the window so I can scan the app, and grab the drinks—while he sips his own hot tea or bubbly water like he’s just our chauffeur.)

I realized I forgot to share something from yesterday morning—Linda texted to say they had been awakened in Nebraska by tornado sirens, with winds topping 100 mph and instructions to take cover. We were so relieved to hear Mark’s family was okay. Then, of course, we pictured what would have happened had Michael been there—probably out in the middle of it, looking for Dorothy, Toto, and the Wicked Witch. 😂

We seemed to have gone back and forth for a while into Pennsylvania and over the Monongahela River, then back to West Virginia, dipped into Maryland, crossed the Potomac River back into West Virginia again, and eventually crossed both the Shenandoah River.

We took a scenic drive through West Virginia before rolling into Winchester, VA, for a fuel stop at Sheetz and a quick break. From there, we jumped on I-81 toward home.

Before lunch, Mark asked Google, “Where’s the nearest Roy Rogers?” and instead of directions, we got a Roy Rogers & Dale Evans playlist. Michael swore there wasn’t a Roy Rogers anywhere nearby, so we settled for Arby’s. Back on the road after lunch—what did we see a few exits later? Yep, a Roy Rogers. We all laughed, and Mark cranked up the playlist. This had us singing Get Along Little Dogies, Home on the Range, Yellow Rose of Texas, and Cool Water.

By late afternoon, we were home safe and sound—unpacked, laundry going, and dinner handled by a Walmart delivery order (no grocery store energy left in me today).

After 12 days, 11 states, 7 river crossings—including the Platte River, where we learned about the Sandhill Cranes—and more Dunkin’ visits than I should probably admit, it’s back to weekday routines tomorrow. Michael and I had such a great time on this trip, and we’re so grateful to Mark and Susan for sharing their family vacation with us. The time spent with his sisters and extended family was full of laughter, stories, and moments we’ll carry with us for a long time.

This trip gave us so many laughs, unexpected detours, and memories we’ll be telling for years.

Until the next adventure…

Laughs, Landmarks, and Long Roads: 12 Days of Fun!

 Day 11 – Four States, Four Rivers, and a Hot Dog Worth the Drive

We met for breakfast at 7:00 am, and I have to say—our hotel really outdid itself on the free breakfast. Everyone found something they liked and left happy. We rolled out of the parking lot around 8:15 am CDT.

First stop—yes, you guessed it—Dunkin’. One XL coffee for me, one medium for Michael, and one medium hot chocolate for Susan. After topping off the gas tank, we left Normal, Illinois, and I commented on what a nice town it was. My husband, full of wit, replied, “Yes, everything looks Normal,” and off we went toward Columbus, OH, our first planned stop.

Around 10:30 am EDT, we made a quick restroom and leg-stretch stop at the Indiana Welcome Center—crossing back into our home time zone. 

By about 1:15 pm, we were officially in Ohio.

At 2:55 pm, we pulled up to Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace in Columbus. Susan had spotted it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and knowing Michael’s love for NYC-style street dogs, she figured this was a must-do.

For those who’ve never been, Dirty Frank’s is a quirky, casual spot famous for over-the-top hot dogs with creative toppings, along with hand-cut fries, onion rings, and sides that make you want to stay a while.

Here’s what we ordered:

Susan – Brisket & Slaw Dog: Juicy beef brisket and creamy coleslaw.

Mark – Slappy Pappy Super Sloppy Dog: Fries, coney sauce, cheddar, sour cream, and bacon bits, plus onion rings.

Michael – Doginator: Bacon-wrapped dog topped with beef brisket, BBQ sauce, cheddar, and onion rings, with Boston baked beans on the side.

Me – Chili Dog: Coney sauce, onion, yellow mustard, and cheddar, plus an order of onion rings.

Verdict: Definitely worth the stop!

Leaving Columbus’s Discovery District, I snapped a picture of a ladder truck with its ladder raised—it looked like they might have been cleaning it.

By 3:30 pm, we were back on the road and heading toward Wheeling, WV, where we had hotel rooms booked. We crossed into West Virginia at about 5:30 pm. 

After checking in, we grabbed a casual bite at Cheddar’s, nothing fancy, and headed back to the hotel so I could write this blog and we all had time to relax before falling asleep.

Tomorrow, it’s the home stretch back to Fredericksburg. I’m guessing we’ll mostly be focused on getting home, unpacked, and ready for a busy Monday—but if anything interesting happens along the way, you know I’ll share it.

Today’s stats:

• States traveled through – Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia (we’ll wrap up WV and enter Virginia tomorrow).

• Major rivers crossed – Today, we crossed the Ohio River, making it the fourth river we’ve crossed on this trip.

Laughs, Landmarks, and Long Roads: 10 oops I meant 12 Days Together

 Day 10 – From Sunrise to Statues – A Day of Bridges, Rivers, and Road Miles

We got up early and caught a few pictures of our last sunrise in Omaha before hitting the road.

 Loaded the van and by 7:15 am, we were backing out of the driveway, waving goodbye to our home base for the week.

First stop… you guessed it: DUNKIN. One XL hot coffee for me, one medium hot chocolate with whipped cream for Susan — then it was road trip mode!

Our first real stop was Winterset, Iowa to see some of the famous Bridges of Madison County — the ones from the novel and movie. We visited four:

• Roseman Bridge – Built in 1883 and one of the most iconic bridges in the county. This is the bridge featured in the movie, where much of the story takes place.

• Cutler-Donahoe Bridge – Built in 1870 and later moved to Winterset City Park. Its delicate latticework makes it one of the prettiest bridges. Right near the bridge are beautiful bronze statues that capture the spirit of small-town Iowa — perfect for a photo stop, and yes, I’ve got those pictures to share.

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When in Madison County… you kiss on the bridge.





Loved all the statues around the park!































• Holliwell Bridge – At 122 feet, it’s the longest covered bridge in Madison County. Built in 1880, it was also in the movie.

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• Hogback Bridge – Built in 1884, named for the limestone ridge nearby that looks like a hog’s back

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Between Holliwell and Hogback, we detoured into downtown Winterset for a quick photo stop at the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum. The museum holds the largest collection of John Wayne memorabilia in the world and is right next to the small white home where he was born in 1907.

John Wayne Museum – Honoring the Duke in the town where it all began.

We found the Fire Hall and the Fire House - 

Not the best picture of the fire house but it was right across the street from the fire hall.

We also popped into the local quilt shop — and there may have been a purchase 😉. 

Oops caught my reflection in the window. 😂

Winterset Courthouse Square – At the heart of town sits the Madison County Courthouse, a striking limestone building completed in 1876. Built in the French Renaissance style, it features a 136-foot clock tower and serves as the centerpiece of Winterset’s historic courthouse square. Around it, you’ll find charming shops, cafés, and boutiques that make the square a favorite stop for visitors exploring the Bridges of Madison County.

Then it was on to Hogback Bridge before getting back on the highway. -Pictures above

Next stop: Culver’s. Had to get it at least one more time before heading home. Kids’ meals all around, and a free scoop of the Flavor of the Day — Chocolate Peanut Cup for Susan and me, vanilla for Mark, and a root beer float for Michael.

From there, we made our way to the World’s Largest Truck Stop on I-80. This place is massive — full of shops, restaurants, a trucking museum, and even a movie theater. And guess what? No purchases made… can you believe it?

Back on the road, we decided to find a place to stay for the night. Mark found us a Hyatt Place Hotel I got it booked and found a restaurant right nearby for us!  Maggie Miley’s, a cozy Irish pub in Normal, Illinois. Warm atmosphere, great menu, and service that went above and beyond — even the chef stopped by our table. Definitely a road trip dining win.

Susan had Bangors and Mash -my pictures were not so good on this or Mark's Shepherd's Pie 😓

Michael had Corned Beef & Cabbage with mashed potatoes and it was fork tender - had to ask the chef his secret!

These were some of the best onion rings I have had in a while not a great picture 

We covered three states today — Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois — and crossed three rivers: the Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Illinois. Most of the drive was through miles of lush farmland, dotted with small towns and terraced hillsides that looked like green staircases.

Terraces Help Prevent Erosion
Water gains speed and power as it runs downhill, similar to a sled on a snow-covered hill. Terraces are constructed on hillsides to reduce the length of the slope to slow rain water, capturing it and reducing its erosive power. They catch water much like eave spouts on a house. Slope is the rise in land over a certain distance. For example, if the land rises 10 feet in height over 100 feet, it has a 10% slope.

Tomorrow… the adventure rolls on! We’ve got more miles to cover, more bites to eat, and who knows what quirky roadside stops will make the list. One and a half more days on the road — and we plan to enjoy every mile. Stay tuned!