Nice one Phil and Toby. Anne is cooing over the picture and says she wants another cuddle. He looks like he is going to be a big lad - in size 3-6months at just 3months.
On our trip we are now in Minnesota being eaten to death by Mozzies again. They are the worst we have experienced so far. It is probably something to do with the heat and humidity but we may be renting a camping hut at the next place we go so we can sit somewhere without being plastered in DEET.
The prairies from central South Dakota eastwards were, umm, big, and with lots of fields and not a lot else. We travelled on roads somewhat less travelled but this means there is absolutely bugger all there except field after field of maize, potatoes, wheat, sunflower, clover, and cows in every field that doesnt have crops. Towns marked on our huge scale map were tiny - population 8 was the lowest we saw on the welcome sign with 50 being the norm and consisting of a few usually run-down or derelict houses, a couple of mobile homes and that would be it apart from the huge grain elevators/silos - the bigger the place the bigger and more elevators/silos. Every now and then there is a bigger place of around 500-1000 people which has garages, shops etc. The roads are proper grid going either east -west or north-south. About every mile or so there is a crossing with a gravel road going to nowhere except the fields and perhaps a ranch house, and about every 15-20 miles a crossing with one of the north-south roads = usually a 4-way stop. There is very very little traffic so the riding is easy especially as the roads are arrow straight for tens of miles with just the odd kink to realign the road with a bridge or something. It sounds rather boring and it is and isn't at the same time. The alternative would be an interstate dual carriageway. The riding is not exciting thats for sure but its easy on the bike and rider/pillion as I am only doing 55mph most of the time, but as we have never seen all this before there is plenty of interest really and we have enjoyed it. Some of the ranches we see from the road are spectacularly located with broad views over the valleys and big grand houses surrounded by beautifully maintained dutch style barns.
We stayed at one of the bigger places a couple of nights ago in Faulkton camping on what in the UK would have been the village green for free (again), but when I asked about a restaurant or shop for food it was either a crisps or a hot dog at the petrol station, a burger at the "burger shack" or a 100 mile round trip to the next town where the shop might be open still and they thought there was a steakhouse. We had a burger, went to bed at 9pm and got up at 6am. God, we are living the high life
Other camping options in these parts of the USA are mostly the various state and regional parks but while beautifully located the camping is patchy in quality. Sometimes they are great with free showers, flush toilets, nice sweet water, and a nice grassy pitch, mostly though they are in damp shady woods, on a gravel pitch, with smelly drop toilets and sometimes non-potable water (needs boiling). These siites are geared for self sufficient RVs really. Fees are in the region of $15-$20. Kamp of America (KOA) has become a favourite, which although somewhat expensive at about $30-$35 a night are reassuringly similar in quality and facilities, and have especially good laundromats - or so Anne tells me. Although the one we are now at in Minneapolis is a bit of a holiday park so lots of kids playing around us - which is nice until they all start crying and fighting.
We are about 1 week to 10 days ahead of our "schedule" meaning that if we carried on at our current progress we would be back in Montreal 7-10 days before we needed to be. We are going to slow things down by staying 2 nights at each stop and go the long way round Lake Superior so we get to see it properly as on our way West it was so wet we didn't see anything. We are also going to an Ontario Moto Guzzi rally courtesy of Nick and will stay our final weekend in Canada with nick before the shortish ride in Montreal to drop the bike off. Then its a nice hotel and meal to celebrate our 30th Wedding anniversary before flying home.
And that's the update, pics another time
edit - mileage is now well over 12,000 so another service is technically due but it will have to wait until I get home unless I end up camping next to a BMW dealer doing cheap services.