Choppy and I are officially on the way to Alaska! We are still many, many days away from our destination (it’s not every day that you pull up the map app and it tells you that you are days, rather than hours, from where you are headed). Our trip includes a much anticipated trek up the Alaska Highway (OK, anticipated by me, not Choppy, who has no idea what I am getting her into).

Thanks to a regular lack of Internet service when we are camping and a trek to Alaska that is going to involve much camping, updates are likely going to be sporadic while we are on this trip, but I will update as I can while we are on the road. I would guess Facebook updates are going to be more regular.

That said, I do have some pictures from the beginning of the trip to share with you!

This is a very random sign for the Sturgis Rally. I wasn't even five miles from my parents' house when I saw this. I like to think it is a good omen with regard to the random things I will see on this trip.
This is a very random sign for the Sturgis Rally. I wasn’t even five miles from my parents’ house in Wisconsin when I saw this (obviously, the mileage shows we were nowhere near Sturgis). I’m considering it a good omen of amusing signs to come.
Wisconsin Dells is a city north of Madison that is vacation central. As in, the location of the largest waterpark in the U.S., mini golf, ducks, go-karts, etc. Many (obviously educational) field trips were taken to the Dells when I was in school. However, this was the first time I snapped a picture of a Wienermobile traveling through the Dells. It's a very Wisconsin scene.
Wisconsin Dells is a city north of Madison that is vacation central. As in, it is the location of the largest waterpark in the U.S., in addition to having a seemingly endless number of places to mini golf, with ducks, go-karts, etc. everywhere you turn. Many (obviously educational) field trips were taken to the Dells when I was in school. However, this was the first time I snapped a picture of a Wienermobile traveling through the Dells. It’s a very Wisconsin scene. Giant Trojan Horse replica excepted (though it does fit well in the Dells).
After spending a night with my sister, I ran errands in Minneapolis and then headed not-so-far-up-the-road to Fargo, one of the few places in the country where my Wisconsin accent sounds positively southern.
After spending a night with my sister in Minneapolis, I ran some errands and then headed not-so-far-up-the-road to Fargo, one of the few places in the country where my Wisconsin accent sounds positively southern.
Choppy has a thing about statues. By 'thing,' I mean that she seems to think most of them are alive. We stop at many, many statues so that Choppy can bark at them. Thankfully, rainbow painted bison statues are apparently an exception to Choppy's normal barking.
Choppy has a thing about statues. By ‘thing,’ I mean that she seems to think they are alive. We stop at many, many statues so that Choppy can bark at them (though the stops are not voluntary on my part. Choppy just refuses to move until she gets some barking in). Thankfully, rainbow painted bison statues are apparently an exception to Choppy’s normal, and no barking was necessary to snap this picture.
I have no idea why this restaurant doesn't have more outlets across the country. Evidently, Minnesota and North Dakota are the only places lucky enough to have this restaurant. Because it is that if aliens land on Earth, they are definitely going to head somewhere so cold you have to plug your car in during winter so you can start it back up, instead of heading somewhere tropical.
I have no idea why this restaurant doesn’t have more outlets across the country. Evidently, Minnesota and North Dakota are the only places lucky enough to have this restaurant, which suggests that the space aliens behind this venture are the sorts of aliens who come from ice planets where they don’t mind landing somewhere on Earth where it is so cold in winter that you have to plug your car in so you can start it back up. Also, this video review (of the apparently now closed Grand Forks, ND location) is well worth viewing if you want to know more about the restaurant (it involves a senior citizen playing arcade basketball, if that helps you realize it is worth watching).
I'm pretty sure this is a stick that measures snowfall at a random North Dakota rest area. It's not quite a rest area snake, but it's something that suggests there are times where I do not want to be visiting North Dakota rest areas.
I’m pretty sure this is a stick that measures snowfall at a random North Dakota rest area. It’s not quite a rest area snake, but it’s something that suggests there are times where I do not want to be visiting North Dakota rest areas.
Eventually, Choppy and I made it to Canada - Choppy's first foreign country! One of the ladies at the not-terribly-busy travel information center was kind enough to come outside and take a picture of Choppy and me in front of the Canadian flag and Manitoba sign to document this occasion.
Eventually, Choppy and I made it to Canada – Choppy’s first foreign country! One of the ladies at the not-terribly-busy travel information center was kind enough to come outside and take a picture of Choppy and me in front of the Canadian flag and Manitoba sign to document this occasion.
And then, it appears I attempted to strangle the dog while she was taking a picture. Welcome to Canada, Choppy!
And then, I attempted to strangle the dog. Welcome to Canada, Choppy!