Yesterday was I-84 west to I-81 south, then a right turn onto I-80 somewhere south of Wilkes-Barre, PA. [1] From there – well, it’s a straight shot .We hit massive traffic tie-ups in western Pennsylvania and throughout Ohio. If the trucks need to roll the ICBMs across this portion of the country any time soon, they better allow for traffic delays.

We cleared Ohio yesterday, crossing I-77 (turn left here and we’re Charlotte-bound) and I-71. Due to John’s (laudable) desire for a cheaper hotel room and (regrettable) lack of geographic awareness, our hotel last night ended up being in Michigan. Yes, a 10-mile detour to Coldwater, MI saved us $40 on the hotel room.

The current goal for tonight is Council Bluffs, IA. And now it’s off to find a decent breakfast and install the wiper blades.

[1] Speaking of salmon returning to their home creek, I had a palpable sense of longing  as we turned away from I-81 south – the road that would have taken me down into Maryland, through the center of Civil War history in Virginia, and then ultimately back to Asheville. It will not be too soon when I’m back in the Blue Ridge Mountains.