Westward Ho!

Well, after one last week of visiting, we are finally heading West toward Nevada! The last week was spent enjoying visits with Andre's sister Lucie and her husband Rob in Ann Arbor Michigan before Andre had to fly off on Monday to the Phoenix Arizona area for one last work engagement. It was hairy for him getting off, as the Detroit Airport was abruptly closed for a tornado warning. Three hours after his scheduled fight time, his flight finally took off and he did arrive in Phoenix in time to get to the hotel for a few hours of sleep and to the first school on time for morning classes.

 I enjoyed a few more days with Lucie and Rob (and some quality time with their dog, Cooper) while Andre was gone, then drove to Pittsburgh on Thursday for one last dinner with Nick and to pick Andre up at the Pittsburgh airport later in the evening. After breakfast with Nick on Friday morning, we headed out of the East for good, heading West and slightly north through Ohio, Indiana, a bit of Illinois and finally Southern Wisconsin for a return trip to the New Glarus Brewery. 

The Rest Area's in Illinois are called Oasis'
 I thought that was pretty cute.

We are obviously not in Florida anymore!!
 This sign was posted on a house in Pittsburgh

 I am currently posting from New Glarus, WI, from our room at the SWISS AIR MOTEL.  It turns out that New Glarus is not just home to an amazing brewery. It is also known as America's "Little Switzerland" and is home to countless cheese factories, historic Swiss farmsteads, craft shops, restaurants and more cheese factories, including the famous "Swiss Colony" in Monroe, a neighboring town. New Glarus was established as a Swiss Colony in 1845 and retains it's Swiss charm in the Alpine-Style architecture, the food, drink and good cheer of the Swiss people.

 

 

We will spent most of the day today exploring Monroe and the other Swiss towns that make up this area before settling into the van again to head basically South and West into Iowa. If you read my last post you will note that Iowa will be a NEW state for us, one of the remaining fifteen, as will be Nebraska that comes next. Can't wait...