Do you know how fast you were going?

Pre-ticket
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The title of this blog was inspired by real-life events that occurred on our first day of driving -- nay, on our very first leg! I drove out of Madison with the help of my trusty navigator who told me to stay on I-90 for a very long time.

I thought I was doing a good job, but Officer Voigt felt differently. After ten years of driving, I finally got my first moving violation: 81 in a 65. For those of you following along at home, the penalty for that crime happens to not be an "I'm disappointed in you" speech. Luckily, the state of Wisconsin takes Mastercard.

After ten years of driving, I finally got my first moving violation.

Post-ticket
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Best slash worst thing about getting a speeding ticket? It's over before you know it. Pull over, answer the "Do you know..." question, give him the license and wait patiently while he writes you a ticket. Then sign on the dotted line. This is a great freakin' country.

I would like to say though, that this turn of events was in no way a deterrent. I wanted to get that out of the way early in the trip. Plus it turns out what happens in Wisconsin stays in Wisconsin -- doesn't affect my driving record in the state I actually live in. Does put a damper on my moving to Madison plans though. Ah well. Easy come, easy go.

Most of Minnesota welcomes you
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Julia

PS Jon will tell you what happened when we actually got to Minneapolis. My job is just to get the speeding tickets.

I took over the driving shortly after the speeding ticket and we arrived in Minneapolis without further incident.  After checking into our Super 8 room (we splurged on lodging) we decided to head to the Walker Art Center, which is unequivocally worth the price of admission.  The exhibit on the influences of Picasso's work on artists of the time makes it worth schlepping to Minnesota.

Minneapolis skyline
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After a brief jaunt through the sculpture garden across the street from the museum we satisfied a decade of any latent consumerism at the 520 shops, amusement park and 50 restaurants in the Mall of America, which really is just another shopping mall, albeit a ridiculously large one.  Despite getting lost several times and a melancholic sense of disbelief, we managed to purchase a few camping supplies and some dinner without permanent damage to our souls and then decided to call it a day.

Julia in front of Walker Arts Center
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Riveting, eh?  More to come, including another speeding incident.  I won't say who got pulled over this time, but it wasn't me...