McAllister Heartland Tour: Day 2 of Driving Across America

Originally, we were going to replicate the plan from Day 1 and leave North Platte at around quarter to six. But, the lure of a complimentary breakfast that didn't start until 6:30 was too great. So, we adjusted our plans a bit to accomdate the free food.

Getting showered and loaded into the car while in the same room as Ashley proved to be extremely difficult, but we were able to get out the door and into the car without completely waking her. Okay, well at least we got her back to sleep relatively quick.

The rest of Nebraska and most of Iowa was fairly straight forward. In fact, I-80 was so straight you rarely needed to touch the stearing wheel. We got to know the city of Adair, Iowa as we stopped their for lunch. While Geoff and I went across the interstate to grab gas and more Subway sandwiches (love that BMT) Amber and Ashley sat in the local cemetery while Ashley ate her lunch. Geoff and I joined the ladies as Ashley was finishing up, and we all enjoyed our sandwiches while surrounded in the history of Adair.

Somewhere between Adair and Morton a bird struck the windshield and flew lifelessly over our car. That in it self was quite memorable, but watching the dead fowl bounce off the motorcyclist behind us was priceless. Especially once it was clear that the motorcyclist appeared unphased by the encounter. We arrived in Morton with Ashley reminding us that she is only six months old and can handle her car seat only so much during two days. Scott was amazed at how much the little town where he called home during his high school years had changed since he'd been home.

At the house we were greeted by Grandma and Pop-pop The Pilot, aka my mom and dad. To make me feel at home they were playing the RSL game that Scott was missing on their new wall-mounted (verly large) flat-screen that perched above the fireplace.

Greetings were shared as other families arrived through out the evening. The only family not in attendance that night were the Andersen's who were in the process of relocating from Greer, South Carolina to Orem, Utah. They arrived Sunday night.

Due to the large numbers and limited capacities of the homestead, Amber, Ashley and I retired to the basement of the Nelsons who live next door to my parents. The extremely charitable neighbors allowed us to take over half their basement and commandeer their showers each morning we have been in Morton. The Nelson's basement also has given Ashley a quiet savehaven to use for napping away from the party that is the McAllister Cousins Bakers Dozen Reunion.