From Michigan to Illinois to Iowa

We had such a nice stay at Poonam's house in Michigan. Family, a beautiful house on a lake, and wonderful food - thanks again, Poonam and all!

We had intended to drive north through Michigan and northern Minnesota, but decided to save that for some future trip and take the more expeditious route, south of the Great Lakes. Yesterday afternoon, we drove through lower Michigan and some of Illinois, stopping for the night at Illini State Park in Marseilles, on the Illinois River. We enjoyed watching the tugboats push long rows of barges up the river in front of our campsite. Why are they called tugboats when all they ever seem to do is push things? Sandeep built a small campfire and sat outdoors for a little while last night, which he loves to do at home and enjoyed even more while really camping! It was a chilly night last night, but not too bad in our little van with our down comforter. We made nice hot oatmeal for breakfast, played with Molly and tried to keep her from seeing (and wanting to chase!) wild bunnies around the campsite, and then set off. We've stopped for lunch just outside Iowa City (and have a wi-fi connection - yippee!). Western Illinois and Iowa so far are beautiful - lots of flat and mostly flat farmland, with tall, dry cornfields that look like corduroy from a distance and huge fields of soybeans, which are short and turning yellow. We'll stop tonight in either western Iowa or the southeastern tip of South Dakota, depending on how much we feel like driving!