Day Seventeen. Home! We are home! It was a long drive today, over ten hours. On this trip, from start to finish, we drove over 5,700 miles (9,173 kilometers): a very long trip.
We're home now, everyone's showered, changed into clean clothes, and open nearly every window so we can enjoy a good cross breeze during sleep. I am so looking forward to sleeping in my own bed again. We stayed in nice hotels, but there's nothing like snuggling between my owns sheets on my own mattress with the windows wide open. And room to move! Driving around the country for seventeen days is enough to make you never want to get into a car again. We had an incredible time, saw a lot of the U.S., and explored the West Coast, but with cramped quarters, our backs, hips, and knees are in heaven at the moment now that we can stretch out freely. Home sweet home!

Today's journey took us through Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and finally back to Michigan. The landscape didn't change much, this was what we saw for the majority of the drive. 

Crossing the Mississippi River! I was sleeping for quite a lot of our time on the road, so the two occupying the middle seats, Mom, Nick and Eric, took all of the pictures. 

Crossing into Illinois. Iowa strangely didn't have a welcome sign, so no picture to be taken. 

Indiana! One step closer to home.

From the border it's about three to three-and-a-half hours until Ypsilanti. 

We arrived home at ten thirty, so about an hour ago. it's dark out side, but from what we've seen, it looks like there is plenty of yard work to do. The grass has been infiltrated with dandelions that appear to have gone to seed while we were away. Also, Mom and I contrived many ideas for the backyard: more projects to keep us busy through the summer! We still have a few more days with dad home, so taking advantage of that we'll watch movies, play games, spend time outside, just enjoy being home for a while. 

This happens every time we go on vacation. We look so forward to travel, and then about halfway through we yearn to be home, to eat Mom's food, to have our own space, and sleep in our owns beds. 

But despite that little habit, this vacation was a success. We got to see all we set out to see, stopping at a few extra places because we happened to be passing by. We thoroughly explored the West Coast until we were content. We learned and laughed a lot on this trip, a sign of am excellent trip.

じゃあね！