Second Jedediah Smith Trail 1824 — 1826

Day 12: September 2nd, 2010 Iowa City — Chamberlain

Map Iowa City to Chamberlain

Last night, I have put in my ear plugs, just to be sure. But instead, I needed the bathroom a couple of times. I am really wondering, when I will be able to sleep the whole night without interruptions!

Well, but for now I must get ready. Then I am checking out. While doing this, I briefly chat with the employee about hurricane Earl, which is currently approaching the east coast.

Then I drive over to IHOP for breakfast. While waiting for my breakfast, I am eventually writing a text message to my dance friends back home. Unfortunately, I am not able to find the breakfast which I had last year. Therefore I order regular pancakes. They are good and plenty.

Next, I am looking for a gas station. There is one in the shopping mall area. But this one is closed. Therefore I am driving back to the BP on Highway 6. However, I don’t remember that the gas station was this far back. Now I am almost back at my motel!

I–80, IA

I–80, IA

I–80, IA

I drive directly to I–80. Currently, it is still warm with 80 degrees. Let’s see how long this will stay like this.

I–80, IA

I–80, Des Moines, IA

I–35/80, Des Moines, IA

First, I drive on I–80 to Des Moines.

I–80, IA

I–80, IA

In the area of Walnut, I have my first stop at a gas station.

I–80, IA

I–680, IA

Then I continue on I–80 West up to Omaha. There, I turn onto I–680 which takes me to I–29. On I–680 is also a nice rest area, where I have my lunch break. I meet a biker, who is completely wet through from the short but heavy rainfall before. But he only drives up to Yankton in Nebraska.

I–29, Sioux City, IA

I–29, Sioux City, State Line IA and SD

Then I continue on I–29. The headwind is really killing my truck. Not only that it is almost blowing me off the road. But also my transmission unlocks permanently. The cruise control completely quit working due to the amount of throttle I need. So I try to give just enough throttle that the transmission does not unlock in overdrive. But even so, I sometimes have a hard time to keep up at least 55mph! Is this now due to my setup on the roof or is it a problem with the bad gas, which has 10% Ethanol?

But thanks to my gauges, I exactly see how my engine and transmission is doing. There I also see the difference between the temperature sensor on the outside of my transmission to the real transmission outlet temperature! But even though the outlet sometimes goes above 240 degrees, the inlet has never more than 200 degrees, perfect!

Also my engine runs always clearly to close to 210 degrees and not like last year up to almost 240 degrees! Sometimes, I must also throw in third gear. Otherwise, I would not be able to really proceed. Later in my motel I will see that mileage was down to 12mpg. That is really a lot!

But for now I drive on. The weather changes between cloudy and sunshine. But I make good miles. At Sioux City, I cross the state line to South Dakota.

I–29, SD

At Lennox is my second stop at a gas station.

I–29, Sioux Falls, SD

I–90, SD

I–90, SD

I–90, SD

I–90, SD

I–90, SD

I–90, SD

On I–29, I reach Sioux Falls. There, I turn onto I–90.

Sunset I–90, SD

Sunset I–90, SD

Sunset I–90, SD

Sunset I–90, SD

Sunset I–90, Missouri River, SD

On this one, I continue up to Chamberlain. Around eight in the evening, I arrive there. At the motel, I ask for a restaurant and they recommend Casey’s first, then McDonald’s, Pizza Hut…

When asking, if there is also a place where they serve steaks, Casey’s is recommended again. But when he sees that I am not happy with this, he eventually says Anchor Grill or Charley’s. The latter, I already tried last year. This time, I want to test a new location. Therefore I drive over to Anchor Grill.

Again, I drive through the 20mph zone to Downtown. This is a real Downtown with all buildings in a western style. The restaurant is pretty small and has only a few tables in 50’s style. But the steak is pretty good, whereas it is as expensive (or even more expensive) then the Outback Steakhouse!

Around half past ten I am back in my motel and check my video taping of today first. Then I copy my pictures, eventually download my virus and Windows updates (Internet for the first time!) and do my motel reservations. Whereas, these are really causing a problem for me because I cannot remember my Motel 6 account name. But when I start creating a new account I see, that you also must have a number in your name!

Then I remember what my name and credentials were. Indeed, this works and I make a reservation for Billings first. Without reservations I will never again travel around here on a Labor Day Weekend! Next, I try to reserve Missoula. But this motel is already completely booked. Therefore I take a Super 8, which is way more expensive but also close. Finally, I book the motel in Hamilton and my weekend is now safe.

As finish for the day, I write an Email to my parents, then I write my diary. Due to the late hour, it will be a bit more compact. However, it is already a quarter to one when I am able to get ready for my bed!

The next day is in preparation…