Bust.

We woke up in the car around 8:30 or so. It was about 30˚F. The sun was just starting to hit the car and thaw our frozen bodies. Who knew it got so cold in Bumblefuck, Indiana? Seriously, we couldn't see where we were when we pulled into the parking lot the night before, and we woke up to what looked like the middle of nowhere. Corn and windmills ruled the land. Two lane highways stretched into the horizon for what felt like an eternity. We had to get the hell out of this prairie land.

I turned the car on and started cranking the heat. It never seems to work fast enough. Once we reached a healthy temperature we got the hell out of there in search of the nearest McDonald's for some "breakfast". Don't judge us, we're hungry and on a budget.

I wanted to get out of there, but I must admit, the scenery was really beautiful that morning.

After driving for a solid 20 mins, I go over a railroad crossing, naturally hit a slight bump, and suddenly my check engine light comes back on! I was so pissed. This time the car wasn't burping and gurgling like it was in Tennessee, but it didn't matter. I couldn't afford to ignore any warnings, especially after witnessing the landscape in which we'd be stranded.

I went to a gas station to fill up and asked the gas station attendant if they were able to diagnose a check engine light and they couldn't, but they confirmed that there was an Autozone about 10 miles away that could help. We went there and a very nice mechanic was able to tell me that my car had sensors going off. Sensors that sense important things. Sensors that require $700 to correct. The mechanic said without taking the engine out, there was no way to see how serious it could be. God dammit. Chicago was another 6 hours away.

Should I find a place in Indiana where I could keep the car overnight for repair and find a place to stay? That would be terribly boring. I could try driving to Chicago and do the same thing for a lot more money? We'd get to see the city but we'd go broke... Nah. What if I just drive straight to Des Moines, Iowa to stay with my cousins? We planned on heading there after Chicago anyway, and it would help my anxiety if I could get my car repaired while I was in a familiar place. Plus my birthday was coming up and I didn't want to spend it in a Motel 6. Six and a half hours to Des Moines it was!

We reached Des Moines unscathed! It felt like a long ride with that check engine light on. It was staring me down for the whole ride.. "Only another 200 miles John! You think we're gonna make it?! Wahahaha!"

We made it! And we went straight to my cousin's house. Well actually we stopped at another chinese buffet because you know...

After that we went straight to my cousins. Dennis is my 1st cousin on my Dad's side as well as my Godfather. Dennis rules. A true renaissance man. He's the chief medical examiner for the state so he's a busy guy, but when he's off the clock he'll make you laugh, feed you a 5 star homemade meal, drink a beer with you, and make you feel right at home. Dennis is married to his wife Darca and is father to my two second-cousins, Elsa and Maia. Darca was away visiting Elsa at college, in Scotland. That meant the weekend would be spent with Dennis and Maia, who are a ton of fun together.

We ended up staying there for a long weekend. Arriving Thursday night, after visiting the mechanic twice and the dentist once, we would be ready to leave on Tuesday morning. In that time we had a blast. The first night we had dinner at a lebanese restaurant and it was amazing. The next day all four of us went to the sculpture park in the city. It was freezing cold so we got hot chocolates at this shop called Ray Gun, a popular clothing store and Des Moines staple. I also found this sticker which couldn't have been more fitting for the trip thus far:

Speaking of that, I was able to pick up the car on Friday night. After $700 I drove away without my check engine light on so I was happy. Until I heard horrible noises coming from my suspension. Noises that weren't heard before. That following monday I would have the guys at Midas check it out. Nothing fatal, it was a condition that the mechanics refer to as "Just some annoying sound. I think you'll be fine though." ....OK

On Saturday, the 28th, I got to start my birthday with a phone call from my brother, Will, it was a really nice way to start my morning. Later, after watching some Stranger Things 2 with Louie and Maia, we migrated to the screened in porch to sip coffee.

We took a breather from skating at this overlook. That building in the distance is the tallest building in the city.

That afternoon, after Dennis got home from work, we went to the park where Louie and I could skateboard while Dennis rollerbladed alongside us. We went for quite a while. It was cold but sunny. We had a really nice time and worked up one hell of an appetite.

Chowing down. I didn't feel like wasting time taking pictures of our meals.

We had dinner at a french restaurant called D'Jango, and it was incredible. We got wine flights, cheese and meat, the whole bit. I'm not french but I have to hand it to their chefs, they know how to cook. I savored my seafood gnocci, featuring a mix of scallops, shrimp, crab, and lobster. I think Louie had the salmon which they topped with a friend egg per his request. Maia ate the Coq au Vin and Dennis' meal escapes me. Ah details!

Following that luxurious meal we had a beer at the Iowa Tap Room. We were stuffed. After getting home Dennis presented me with a birthday card and a red velvet cake. I was touched. We ended the night watching Conan O'Brien on my laptop. It was a perfect birthday.

After a few hiccups on the road leading up to Iowa, this was a perfect way to recoup. Great memories with some great company. On Tuesday morning we were packed and ready to head west for Rapid, City South Dakota. It was going to be a long nine hour drive. Fingers crossed!