Omaha to Cleveland - it's gonna be a long day ahead. At least 13 hours on the road. It is 5 degrees and bone-chilling COLD. I won't even address taking Jack out for his morning walk. We hit the road before 8:00am, get on Interstate 80, and cross into Iowa almost immediately. Interesting landmarks appear instantly, and they will keep coming. Danish Windmill, Danish Museum. And it is the first time in 1,500 miles that I see a cow that isn't black (it's tan). The billboard that REALLY catches my eye is one for Jethro’s World Famous Pork Chop Barbecue in Johnston, IA. Hmmm. Sounds delicious. There are more wind turbines. These turbines make me happy, there are so many all across this country!

Got wind? Apparently we do. So many wind turbines across the USA!

I next see a sign for the Freedom Rock? It's a thing. Pretty, pastoral rolling hills, beautiful blue, pink, yellow and white skies at 9:00am. We get the sense that local farming is lifeblood here, lots of signs supporting local farms. All good. And apparently Jethro has a second barbecue location in Ames IA. I have never wanted a pork chop more in my life!! Too early for that, unfortunately, but I bet the smoker has been going for some time now. We next pass the John Wayne birthplace museum in Winterset IA, then the covered bridges of Madison County. Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. THAT looks interesting, but we have no time for anything. Next time, we will stop more. We are now approaching Des Moine, IA. I see my first condo development in a while. Again, it has been all beautiful farmland. We circumvent Des Moines on Int. 80 because the GPS tells us to. The outskirts are a little more industrial than what we've seen so far. There is one high rise on the horizon, but not much more than that There is a large casino and horse track in Altoona. And more condos. Those abate pretty quickly as we pass through Des Moines and we get back to farmland. Bring on the roadside attractions! Trainland USA, Tallgrass Prarie Center, and another Lion’s Den Adult Super Center. What is it with these "adult super centers"?!! They scare me. Hey, there's the Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA. We pass a sign for Wyatt Earp’s birthplace. Rural, rural, rural! A few little wineries here and there. More attractions for which we do not stop. Amanda Colonies. Kalona Village Museum. Iowa City, U of Iowa, just north of Cedar Rapids. WAIT! We are going to pass the World’s Largest Truckstop on Iowa 80 exit 284! It is underwhelming. But there is a Dairy Queen, so hey, it can't be all bad.

This place bills itself as the world's largest truck stop. I am unsure.

We pass the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum. Boy I wish we had more time! We are hungry, though, so I convince Bob to stop in Davenport for lunch at Panera Bread. We even go in and sit down!! Then, it's time to cross the Mississippi and head into Illinois. We see the Ronald Reagan birthplace, and then it becomes eerily quiet for landmarks - no biggest ball of twine, no other attractions. Maybe Iowa just pimps itself more? There is more farmland. And steam stacks. Settlement starts to thicken, there is some industry appearing, and shopping centers. Approaching Joliet. Passing Harrah’s Floating Casino and then the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. We are closer to Chicago. Billboards, houses, business, civilization. And a massive granite quarry.

Now we are in Indiana. 80 becomes 80/90 east towards Ohio, our final stop for this leg. We pass the Indiana Dunes National Seashore. Lake effect snow slows down travel for some time and it is no joke! Lots of tipped over trucks and spun out cars. Knute Rockne Travel Stop. Notre Dame College. It is now dark. We still have 3.5 hours to Cleveland, which puts us there at 9:45 pm. There will be room service tonight. And a chilly dog walk. We are starting to miss home.

A full moon over the highway somewhere in Ohio.

Omaha, NE to Cleveland, OH