Day 44, Wed, Oct 15, Indianapolis, IN to Bloomington, IL

The further we went westward across Illinois from Indiana, the more the countryside began to look like driving down a Chandler, Arizona farm road (in the old days at least) with mile after mile of land under cultivation.

We have seen a lot of corn fields today. The stalks are all dried and ready to be cut down.

This picture was taken on US 136, west of the town of Rantoul, Illinois.

When we tried to take a photo of the Indianapolis downtown skyline while we motored along through the city our tiny digital camera wouldn't function. We thought we would have no pictures to make record of our day's travels. But, later just for the heck of it we tried again, and presto! It worked!

So, here is another of only three photos taken today as we passed through all the little villages and towns on US 136 between Indianapolis, Indiana and Bloomington, Illinois.

It is great therapy for the modern man and woman, getting off the "fast lane" of every day life and taking the "road less traveled" as we have expressed before, but which we say once more.

This drive today was so pleasant. The scenes weren't as breathtaking and spectacular as some we've had but beautiful and very refreshing none the less. Driving at speeds well below 50 mph (30 mph through most townships) with time to actually see the countryside and the houses and small businesses; the old historic buildings and the quiet, modest middle American homes, so many decorated for Halloween and the Autumn season was just a delight.

This morning we checked out of our lodgings in Greenfield, a community on the east side of Indianapolis, and kept to the Interstate until we got on the west side of the big city. Then, to Linda's immense relief we hopped onto US 136. This is a quiet 2-lane road through the countryside, going from one little farming community to another, like this village of Hillsboro.

We stopped and turned around so we could take a photo of the interesting statement on the sign welcoming travelers to their little town. This is truly middle America!

Day 43, Tues, Oct 14, Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN

We found accomodations at a Days Inn on the west side of Columbus, Ohio Monday evening. We needed to be in a larger urban area so we could find a Nissan dealership and keep our car on its maintenance schedule.

Leaving Linda at the hotel I took the car over to a nearby Nisson dealer Tuesday morning for a quick oil change and systems check. They found unusual wear on our front tires; much more than 11,000 miles would normally cause. But, by 12:30 pm they had the alignment corrected and two new tires mounted, all under the warranty thank goodness. The hotel was happy to grant us a little extra time and we packed up and made a later than usual start down the road, stopping for the night in Greenfield, Indiana on the outskirts of Indianapolis.

Another warm, although cloudy day, with just a touch of rain, but without the spectacular views we have been spoiled with for so many days. We can tell we are heading into America's heartland; cornfields on every side, mile after mile.

We were on the Interstate, trying to make time and took no pictures today, so we give you this shot, taken by Linda two days ago, looking off to the northwest from US 40, in the beautiful Allegheny mountains of Maryland. It is places like this that makes her want to buy a home in the country.

Day 42, Mon, Oct 13, Uniontown, PA to Columbus, OH

As we crossed the mighty Ohio River from W. VA and began our journey toward our nighttime destination, the city of Columbus (on Columbus Day!) we realized that we were leaving the forests and mountains of Appalachia and experiencing the increasing openess of farms and fields, leaving behind the great hardwoods and their Autumn colors.

So, here is one last shot of such Fall splendor, taken along US 40 near the town of Centerville, PA.

As we continued our way westward along "Historic National Highway" US 40 from Uniontown, PA today, we were again blessed the beautiful colors of Autumn.

Temperatures ranged in the high 70s, as they have throughout the eastern part of the country for several days.

This picture was taken west of Uniontown, near the Monongahela (say that!) River. Linda kept saying, "It is just like a picture post card," as we tried to take in scene after scene with every turn of the road.

We left Uniontown on US 40, but missed our turn and had to turn around and retrace our route for several miles. With the confusion that again occured as we made our way through the city of Washington, PA, we decided to get on the Interstate.

17 miles west of Washington, PA we saw this sign, welcoming us to "Almost Heaven, West Virginia!" Linda grabbed the camera and snapped off a quick shot. OK!

Like Maryland, West Virginia has a narrow arm extending between two other states. In this case, Pennsylvania on the east and Ohio on the west. Just a little over 10 miles further on and we were crossing the Ohio river at Wheeling, W. VA, and saying hello to the State of Ohio.

To be in West Virginia, however briefly, touches our hearts. Not only is it the area where we have been called to serve as missionaries, come January 2009, but it is where our son Jeffery served his mission in 1982-83, and where he met his wife-to-be, fellow missionary, Sister Kristi Fraughton of South Jordan, Utah. It was our special privilage to pick Jeffery up at the end of his mission and to meet our dear Kristi and her companion. It will always be a treasured memory for us. So, when we return to West Virginia as senior missionaries this January we feel that we will not only be representing the Church, but also Jeffery and Kristi, who touched many lives for good in the West Virginia Charleston Mission.