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Day 18, Saturday, March 2, 2024: Hobart, Oklahoma to Dallas, Texas
Carnegie libraries visited: Hobart and Frederick, Oklahoma; Stamford, Texas Days sober: 270 April served my order of eggs, ham, hash...
Mark Carl Rom
Jun 3, 20256 min read


Day 89, Sunday June 2, 2024: Joplin, Missouri to Fayetteville, Arkansas
Carnegie libraries visited: none. Days sober: 346 The three individuals chatting behind the pickup truck parked right next to Goldfinger...
Mark Carl Rom
Jun 3, 20252 min read


Day 88, Saturday June 1, 2024: Springfield, Illinois to Joplin, Missouri
Carnegie libraries visited: Waverly, Jacksonville, Griggsville, Pittsfield, Winchester, and Carrollton, Illinois; Carondelet, Carpenter,...
Mark Carl Rom
Jun 2, 20256 min read


Day 87, Friday May 31, 2024: Peoria, Illinois to Lincoln’s New Salem Historical Park, Illinois
Carnegie libraries visited: El Paso, Lincoln, and Petersburg, Illinois Days sober: 344 My alarm didn’t go off yesterday at 5.55 pm, as I...
Mark Carl Rom
Jun 2, 20255 min read


Day 86, Thursday, May 30, 2024: Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Illinois to Peoria, Illinois
Carnegie libraries visited: Galva, Wyoming, Farmington, and Peoria, Illinois Days sober: 343 I’ve been so lucky on this trip. Not a...
Mark Carl Rom
May 31, 202510 min read


Day 85, Wednesday May 29, 2024: Chicago, Illinois to Starved Rock Nature Preserve, Illinois
Carnegie libraries visited: Indiana Harbor (also known as Grand Boulevard Carnegie Library), East Chicago, Indiana; Plano, Marseilles,...
Mark Carl Rom
May 29, 20256 min read


Day 47, Saturday April 13, 2024: Brigham City, Utah to Salt Lake City, Utah
Carnegie libraries visited: Brigham City, and Chapman Branch (Salt Lake City), Utah Days sober: 296 My car is a mess. I’m glad that I’m...
Mark Carl Rom
May 29, 20257 min read


Rest Day, Tuesday, May 28, 2024: Chicago
Carnegie libraries visited: none Days sober: 341 I had the real hostel-in-Chicago experience last night. It’s nice: my ten-bunk room has...
Mark Carl Rom
May 28, 20255 min read


Day 83, Monday May 27, 2024 Memorial Day: Waukesha, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois
Carnegie libraries visited: Watertown, Stoughton, and Edgerton, Wisconsin; Belvidere, St. Charles, and Maywood, Illinois Days sober: 340...
Mark Carl Rom
May 28, 202510 min read


Day 82, Sunday May 26, 2024: Madison, Wisconsin to Waukesha, Wisconsin
Carnegie libraries visited: Plymouth and Waukesha, Wisconsin Sundays are often my day off, with no library visits planned, as most...
Mark Carl Rom
May 27, 20255 min read


Rest day, Saturday May 25, 2024: Madison, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin Three of the happiest years of my adult life were spent in Madison, when I was studying for my Ph.D. (I actually...
Mark Carl Rom
May 26, 20254 min read


Rest Day, Friday May 24, 2024: Madison, Wisconsin
It’s time to take stock. I’ve been on the road for three and a half months, and I’ve now traveled just over 20,000 miles. Along the way...
Mark Carl Rom
May 26, 20254 min read


Day 81, Thursday May 23, 2024: Baraboo, Wisconsin to Madison, Wisconsin
Carnegie libraries visited: Berlin and Columbus, Wisconsin Devil's Lake State Park Last night I chose to camp at the Devil’s Lake State...
Mark Carl Rom
May 24, 20252 min read


Day 80, Wednesday May 22, 2024: Baraboo
I decided to stay in Baraboo for the day. I’m not feeling great, and I wanted to rest and write. Baraboo’s Carnegie-Schaade Library is my...
Mark Carl Rom
May 24, 20257 min read


Day 79, Tuesday May 21, 2024: Preston, Minnesota to Baraboo, Wisconsin
Carnegie libraries visited: Sparta, Tomah, Elroy, and Baraboo, Wisconsin Today I’m driving deep into the creamy heart of cheese country....
Mark Carl Rom
May 24, 20254 min read


Day 78, Monday May 20, 2024: Bayfield, Wisconsin to Preston, Minnesota
Carnegie libraries visited: Northfield, Chatfield, and Preston, Minnesota Rain foiled my plans. I was hoping to take the ferry out to...
Mark Carl Rom
May 23, 20254 min read


Day 77, Sunday May 19, 2024: Minneapolis, Minnesota to Bayfield, Wisconsin
Carnegie libraries visited: Two Harbors, Minnesota and Bayfield, Wisconsin I slept like a baby, if the baby had been given a Red Bull...
Mark Carl Rom
May 22, 20254 min read


Day 76, Saturday May 18, 2024: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Carnegie libraries visited: umner, Franklin, Hosmer in Minneapolis; St. Anthony Park and Riverview in St. Paul, Minnesota As far as I’m...
Mark Carl Rom
May 22, 20254 min read


Day 75, Friday May 17, 2024: Glenwood, Minnesota to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Carnegie libraries visited: Sauk Center and Hutchinson, Minnesota Sauk Centre is the home of Sinclair Lewis, of Main Street fame. The...
Mark Carl Rom
May 21, 20255 min read


Day 74, Thursday May 16, 2024: Sanborn, Iowa to Ortonville, Minnesota
Carnegie libraries visited: Sibly, Iowa; Madison, Ortonville, Glenwood, and Sauk Center, Minnesota Do you know how it is when you don’t...
Mark Carl Rom
May 17, 20257 min read
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