Lake View, Iowa, to Ft. Lee, Virginia

My twenty-two hour car ride from Lake View, Iowa to Ft. Lee, Virginia, began last Friday (July 2, 2010) around 9:00 a.m. (CST) (excuse me, 0900). Although I was sad to be saying goodbye to my family and friends, I was excited to begin training. For some reason that day, Lake View, especially Black Hawk Lake, had never looked more beautiful. Below is a picture I took just before I left town.



I don't know if you can ever mentally prepare yourself for twenty-two hours behind the wheel, but I do know a pit stop to say goodbye to great friends and their cute children, definitely helps with that. Below is a picture of me with my best friend Adam Bentz and his oldest, my Goddaughter, Brette, taken on my way out of Iowa.



After losing an hour (time zone change) somewhere in Indiana, my GPS directed me southward to my eventual resting place for the evening, Morehead Kentucky. I don't know whether it was because I missed Counciltucky (just kidding Council Bluffs, you know I love you) , or because Iowa enjoys CCW reciprocity with Kentucky, but staying the night in the "Bluegrass State" just felt like the right thing to do.

I woke up Saturday morning (yesterday I guess, feels like forever ago) feeling very refreshed. I stuffed my face with Super 8's world famous continental breakfast and I hit the road. Before leaving the hotel parking lot, my GPS asked me whether I wanted to calculate a new route that would bypass toll roads. Sure, why not. What harm could come with such a harmless little push of a button? Now, because I had seen Kentucky only at night up until this point, I didn't realize I had spent the night in the Appalachian Mountains. Kentucky is beautiful, and so is West Virginia. Below are some pictures of West Virginia.



There's coal up in them there hills! (above picture)



Overlooking a cool looking, isolated little mountain town - taken from a Taco Bell parking lot, so I guess not that isolated. (above picture)

I remember thinking I wanted to come back someday and spend some quality time up in the mountains. I didn't know it at the time, but my decision back at the hotel to haphazardly delegate all navigational responsibilities to my GPS so that I could save some pocket change, would soon take me there - and then some. Long story short, I ended up wandering the Appalachian Mountains for close to two hours before I got back on the interstate. Below are two pictures. One is of the Sauk Rail Trail, which is a jogging/biking trail back in Lake View, and the other is of an Appalachian Mountain "Turnpike". You guess which is which.





I guess the front of my car gives it away, but you get my point. West Virginia is so bold as to consider the road/trail in the above-picture a "Turnpike" . Anyway, like I said, my GPS eventually lead me back to the interstate (I've never been happier to see painted lines on asphalt!) and I coasted down the mountain to Ft. Lee. However, before I reached my final destination, I ran into an old friend (below picture).



Waffle House - no wifi access but some tasty pecan waffles!

I am safe and sound in Ft. Lee. We are actually one day into our training. It's only been one day, but I have met many great guys and gals. The 182nd JAOBC is definitely made up of true patriots! I hope to soon write more about our class and our training, but for now, sleep........