INDIANA! It greeted me with 2 big ole thunderstorms and some hail. Covered myself up with my tent groundcover by a corn field and waited them out. Dry as a bone except the sweat already hanging on me. Put the Adventure Cycling maps away and using my own routes now. Silly things the last four days have led me over gravel roads and road construction. Need a mountain bike! Gravel and a loaded touring bike do not get along. The couple in the pics invited me to their house for ice tea. She is a fifth grade teacher and he heard me tell a guy at a store that I was on summer vacation from teaching. They lived just down the street in this beautiful Victorian house. We swapped house and school stories and I hit the road. I am in Rensselaer, IN. Bill, when I get home, I am stripping PJ of all the racks, etc and we're going for a fast, fun ride. A couple days ago I road to the store without my stuff and didn't know what to do with all the speed. Scared me! :-) I thought , "oh so this is what riding a bike feels like." Greg, thanks for educating me about the house. I just thought it was a roofer's house. Joanie, I didn't keep the dog but I would have if I thought I could ride home with him. Some info: 1. The most disaapointing state was Montana. 2. The most beautiful was Minnesota. 3. The most difficult climbs were in Iowa. 4. The worst roads were North Dakota and Iowa ( tied ) 5. The nicest people were in Montana. 6. The hottest has been Illinois. 7. The state I would most like to live in WEST VIRGINIA! 8. Least friendly people were in Iowa. 9. Most interesting thing so far was watching the sheep being moved through the streets of Lincoln , MT. 10. The scariest thing was the moose standoff in Washington! Be home July 31 I think! ONE WEEK! Gonna jump off the bike and mow my yard!! Miss that! Miss you all too!