Week 3 Sept 5 - 9

    We left bright and early on September 5 and followed Route 90 for almost 500 miles. We had some spitting rain, but overall, it was good driving weather. Mark made egg salad and we made sandwiches at a rest stop in NY state somewhere. We stayed at a Hampton Inn in Mentor, Ohio and did Japanese take-out for dinner in our room. 

     Labor Day. We drove from Mentor, Ohio to Lafayette, Indiana, about 350 miles. It took us on some roads we've never been on before which is always nice. Lots and lots of corn fields! We are at a very nice Staybridge Suites hotel about 15 minutes from Purdue. We met Otis around 2:30 by the main parking garage where we were able to charge the Clarity for free. 

Otis walked us around the lovely campus where he is so obviously very happy. The campus was very empty as it is Labor Day and the all classes were cancelled. We drove by the airfield which, in itself is amazing - that the college has its own airfield.

   We had bubble tea at TSAOCAA which was recommended by Jecca. The area is very hip and filled with college kids. 

From there we walked to Taste of India where we had a wonderful meal. We had garlic naan bread. Otis had butter chicken. Barbara had mushroom saag and Mark had biryani rice with lamb. 

We were all very full and pronounced it all very good.

From there we dropped Otis at his bicycle and came home tired as we walked almost 3 miles and it was rather warm. It is so great to see Otis so happy with his choice of college.

Our 40th wedding anniversary! We were happy to spend part of the day with Otis. We drove to the campus and each bought a Purdue t-shirt. Then, we walked to the same bubble tea place and each had a tea. We strolled the area around campus, drove back to our hotel, picking up a cactus for Otis's room on the way. 

We picked Otis up at his dorm and drove to Yatagarasu ramen restaurant which is where the Hutchesons ate when they first explored Purdue as an option for Otis at a time when the pandemic was just unfolding. In fact, they got the last tour given on campus at the time. (March 2020) Then, we dropped him off feeling pleased that he is so very happy at Purdue.

We left Lafayette by back roads for the first almost hour, passing by corn fields and silos.  Then we picked up interstates (74 to 80) and drove 456 miles to Des Moines. (We avoided the interstates around Chicago) We had beautiful blue skies, but a long drive. (Country Inn and Suites) 

And, the next day we had a short (4 hour) drive to Sioux Falls, S.D. We had another truly lovely day of weather. We ate lunch at Sanaa, a Syrian restaurant that Mark had looked up. The owner/chef recommended a beef and a chicken dish for us. It was excellent. Later we went to the Falls Park and walked by the falls.

Today we drove only 350 miles or so along Rt 90 to Rapid City, S.D. It was a hazy and hot day (90s) with smoke in the air. We had thought that maybe we'd take a loop road through the Bad Lands National Park, but the heat and haze dissuaded us. David and Maura are en route to Boston today after a long delay in leaving Missoula. We are in a Home2, a Hilton resort. We got some food at a nearby grocery and ate in our room.