Well, finally it began. I rolled myself out of bed at the crack of 9:30, double checked that everything was ready to go from the night before, and sauntered off to the airport to load up the plane. Women - take note of this: For an 11 day trip (planned at least) I was able to fit ALL of my clothes (including shoes!) and necessary overnight items into a carry on, and a small Eddie Bauer backpack. And I'm not talking the carry on that doesn't fit under the seat of an airliner. This fits under the seat. I loaded up the baggage compartment with my emergency supplies, golf clubs, and clothes. The back seat of the plane held my laptop, and study guide for the Commercial Pilots License. On the front seat sat my flight bag. Fueled up the plane, grabbed a quick drink of water inside the FBO and off I was into the wild, well...it wasn't really blue...yonder. There was a hazy layer that probably went up to 9500 or 10,000 feet. I decided to fly at 8500 to cross Lake Michigan to my first fuel stop3 hours away in Hampton, Iowa. Hampton is a sleepy little place on the weekends. I was the only plane there, and the only people that were around was a guy and his kid who were there to get some 100LL (also known as "Blue Racing Fuel") after me, for a figure 8 race car. He happened to be a pilot, and we talked for a little bit before I pushed on. Real nice facility though, and even though it said closed on the weekends, the door to the FBO was open and I was able to take a relief break, check the weather on the computer, and get a sip of water before taking off for Sioux Falls, SD. At the last moment I decided I was going to land (or at least do a touch-n-go) at every state I was over or near that I hadn't landed in yet. So I decided to head west to Sioux City, NE. It's just across the river from Sioux City, Iowa and I did my touch and go at Martin Field and then headed north to Sioux Falls, SD. It's HOT out here in the plains. It was well over 70 degrees at 4500 feet while heading into Sioux Falls, and it was over 90 on the ground when I landed at 6:00 local. The arrival was uneventful, and a nice stiff breeze blowing right down the runway allowed for a nice smooth touchdown and I was easily able to make the first turn off. I taxied to Business Aviation Services and shut down the plane. I've never flown into a place for an overnight where I wasn't meeting someone, or even where there is a full service FBO, so it's a bit of a different experience than being herded like cattle through the passenger terminals. The service here is great. The fuel truck pulled up, the lineman filled up my tanks, and then asked if I wanted the bugs cleaned off the windscreen. Of course I would! (Especially since **I** hadn't even cleaned them off real good since...um...mumbles.) He asked where I was staying, and said he'd let the girl know inside to call and have the shuttle summoned for me. All I had to do was walk in, sign in, and get in the shuttle to the Best Western. Small world too, he asked where I was from, and I said Grand Rapids. And wouldn't you know it, he visits here, er, there, er, where I live, at least a couple times a year. That's all for now, I'm heading down to get something to eat and am thinking about jumping in the pool, well after I eat. I'm not sure the Best Western would want me eating in the pool. Note: The pictures really aren't all that great due to all the haze. There isn't all that much to see in Southern Wisconsin and Iowa, so I won't be posting any pictures of this segment just yet. Flight time today: 5 hours 0 minutes.