So, where's the oddest place you've slept?

Remember the photos from the post office lobby where we slept in eastern Montana? Well, I think there's a mathematical relationship between dropping outside temperatures and our camping creativity.

Currently, we are in Wisconsin (more to come on that...) but enjoy some photos from South Dakota and Iowa.  :)

Just outside of the Badlands in South Dakota, we found a ghost town. It had a water faucet, picnic tables, and even a carpeted post office (with Halloween candy!!) but we decided to switch it up and camp outside on the trading post lawn.

Only tumbleweeds in Scenic, SD, and great sunset photos.

Not your usual cowboy, but we like him anyway.

No, Mom and Dad, unfortunately we didn't sleep here...There was a dead cat in the puddle that you can't see, otherwise...

South Dakota impressed us every evening with it's beautiful sunsets!

Yeah, we're kind of awkward without bikes.

Scenic, SD is scenic!

3 bad ass bikers and the Badlands

Screeech!!! Turn around! Did I just read that road sign right?

Lucky us, we camped here one night too!

And here...in Wood, SD.

Nathaniel was a little tall for this structure, but the rest of us and our bikes fit nicely. This was the last night we camped out until Wisconsin thanks to the hospitality of so many warm folks we met along the way.

Life on the road.

There's the Missouri River!

I know, Carolyn. Yee haw!

It might not seem that impressive, but the Missouri was a serious landmark in our journey east.

We found this little church on the other side. Yep, we'd probably sleep here too if it wasn't the middle of the day.

So, we took a snack break and enjoyed a break from the wind.

Denise, Cody, Jamie, Daniel, Mike, and Jenny at the Pizza Ranch in Platte, SD, put us up for a night and made us our first real Midwest dinner. It was awesome! We'll never forget your hospitality! Thanks!

Then, Jeff, who owned the local Subway in Platte, gave us a free sandwich. Wow! Platte is full of the nicest people!

When we got to Sioux Falls, we took a day off and even rode in a car! I know, scandalous...The wonderful David and Deann Steensland chauffeured us around town so we could run some errands.

David and I are beginning the zombie transformation. Happy Halloween!

Deann is a master at adding the finishing touches of blood and bruising.

After dressing up, they showed us downtown Sioux Falls where we joined the other 1200 zombies for the annual zombie walk. Boo!

Can you believe we slept in their basement?

I guess it takes one to know one.

We left Sioux Falls Halloween day, dressed up, of course!

Thanks again, David and Deann!!!

We slept in there the next night.

Chad Bol found us in Ruthven, IA and generously put us up the next night. He made us great tasting hamburgers and guacamole.

Thanks, Chad!

Stop for donuts. Always. I think it was a two donut kind of day.

We stumbled across the "eighth wonder of the world" in West Bend, IA. It's a shrine to the Virgin Mary built entirely of the most beautiful rock, stone, geods, petrified wood, gems, and shells that you could imagine! so cool!!!! We ended up camping in the Grotto's campground that night.

Geology rocks!

Jacob Spath, THANK YOU! He not only found some friends of his to put us up once in Clear Lake, IA, but again in Charles City!

Thanks to Natalie and Luke who blindly opened their home to us and even welcomed us with enchiladas for dinner!

Carolyn and Ollie. Sometimes, people might think that we like their dogs more...

Jacob told us his friend Steve in Charles City was a strong biker.

Thanks, Jill and Steve in Chucktown. You convinced us, I think we'll be back for RAGBRAI.

Finally, just before crossing the Iowa/Wisconsin border, we met Pastor Dave, Sarah, Jonas, and Solas in Castalia. They were the cherry on top of all the great people of Iowa! I can't believe they made us a feast of home grown vegetables and trout from a stream on their land. Thanks for the good food and conversation. Despite the stank, Iowa will forever stay in our hearts.

-Emileeeeeeeeeeeeeee