Lewis & Clark

This Monday David and I drove back home for spring break.  We didn’t get on the road until late because David had a class.  So we left at about 10:30 and drove straight through until we arrived in Helena at about 6:30 the next day.  I ended up driving through all of Iowa and through part of South Dakota.  Well it was late in the night and I was getting a little bored and was looking for just about anything to help keep myself amused.  About the only thing I found was some signs signifying that Lewis and Clark had traveled through that part of the country.  Well being so bored and all, I got to thinking that Lewis and Clark traveled through Montana as well.  Do you know how long it took them to make it across the country.  Well I didn’t either, but it was over a year.  Over a year!!!  And here I am complaining about making the same trip in under a day.  Under a day!!!  This actually led to one of my favorite activities to do while I am bored on the road and that is pointless mathematical calculations.  So I estimated about how many days I thought it took L&C to make the trip and then how long it would take us and then figured out about how many days worth of progress I was making every minute I drove.  It really gives you quite the sense of satisfaction to think about progress in the that light.  Tomorrow we are heading back and so I will once again use that thought as encouragement for those lonely times on the road.