All right!

So, I took a lot of your advice to heart and slowed down the trip's pace considerably.

The first day will remain the same, 'cause I want to start in Bloomington, and, quite frankly, there is nothing in between DC and Bloomington that I want to see that I haven't already. Plus, I'll be starting all fresh and from my own bed.

So! The Next Great Journey, Version 2.0:

(As always, comments, recommendations, advice, places to stay, things to see, etc. all welcome!)

Day 1: Washington, DC to Bloomington, IN
Things to See: The beauty of the scenery rolling by us. Also, possibly [info]myrch. And, of course, [info]natbrat and [info]been_a_book
Where We're Staying: With [info]natbrat and [info]been_a_book
Distance Covered: About 640 miles.

Day 2: Bloomington, IN to Madison, WI
Things to See: My grandmother in Evansville, The House on the Rock in Dodgeville, and then my Uncle Nick in Madison
Where We're Staying: Probably with my Uncle Nick in Madison
Distance Covered: About 380 miles.

Day 3: Madison, WI to Minneapolis, MN
Things to See: My aunt Mary Anne. Also, [info]anendlessnight
Where We're Staying: With my Aunt Mary Anne
Distance Covered: About 275 miles.

Day 4: Minneapolis, MN to [Somewhere in SD that will probably end up being Presho], SD
Things to See: Dirt. Air. Land.
Where We're Staying: I imagine a motel or something. I honestly don't know.
Distance Covered: About 440 miles.

Day 5: Presho, SD to Ft. Laramie, WY, by way of Mount Rushmore and the Badlands
Things to See: Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands. Or, as I said to Amanda, the "motherfuckin' Badlands. Where the bison wear leather jackets."
Where We're Staying: Okay, not going to lie, I picked Fort Laramie because I remember it from back in the days of playing Oregon Trail. So, we might camp or find a motel or something.
Distance Covered: About 375 miles.

Day 6: Ft. Laramie, WY to Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
Things to See: Rocky Mountain National Park. And MOUNTAIN PASSES. Did I mention the MOUNTAIN PASSES? AHHHHH.
Where We're Staying: Possibly at the Estes Park Hostel
Distance Covered: About 250 miles, plus the park

Day 7: Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, to Farmington, NM, by way of Mesa Verde National Park
Things to See: Mesa Verde National Park, my friend Jeff
Where We're Staying: With Jeff, in Farmington
Distance Covered: about 400 miles

Day 8: Farmington, NM to Grand Canyon Village, AZ
Things to See: Um, the GRAND CANYON!
Where We're Staying: Sadly, the youth hostel near the Grand Canyon is no long open. The nearest one is in Flagstaff, and it looks very nice. So I think we'll arrive at the Grand Canyon, do stuff (including see the sunset), drive to Flagstaff and stay overnight, wake up the next morning, see the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, and then leave. **edit** Oooh, there's also one in Williams, AZ, which is closer! And it's on Route 66!
Distance Covered: 280 miles from Farmington to Grand Canyon Village

Day 9: Grand Canyon Village, AZ to Las Vegas, NV
Things to See: I really want to see The Boneyard and just take lots of pictures of Vegas
Where We're Staying: Rebekah says she has a friend who lives there, so hopefully we can crash with them
Distance Covered: About 280 miles

Day 10: Las Vegas, NV to [Somewhere that will probably end up being Morro Bay], CA
Things to See: THE PACIFIC OCEAN OMG
Where We're Staying: There's a hostel in Morro Bay that should work
Distance Covered: About 420 miles

Day 11: Morro Bay, CA to San Francisco, CA (and it's technically Oakland, but I like saying San Francisco!)
Things to See: MY NEW PLACE OF RESIDENCE! Also Rebekah. Also... everything.
Where We're Staying: Where I'm house sitting for the next month.
Distance Covered: About 230 miles

And because I'm so proud of it... pictures of my map!