Not that this should surprise anyone...

But Reuters just ran a story, the headline of which reads: "Americans prefer video to national parks: study." It continues: "Americans are less interested in spending time in natural surroundings like national parks because they are spending more time watching television, playing video games and surfing the Internet, according to a study released on Tuesday."

To this end, Raegan and I will be spending the next 3 or so weeks in natural surroundings, driving around in Madge, our Westy camper, doing what most Americans apparently no longer like to do, and then putting it up on the internet so those who don't like to do what we're doing can watch us doing it while doing what they do like to do.

Here is our approximate route. Then it's over and around through Michigan's U.P. (upper peninsula), where Raegan's family has what I believe can still — unless things have changed — be called a house, and then down into Chicago for her cousin's wedding. Hopefully, we'll have showered by then.

Stay tuned. We'll try to post stories, photos, and video as often as possible, though given the general wi-fi limitations of the great outdoors, I can't say how frequently that will be.*

*actually, the first two nights of our trip will be spent in a cushy hotel room in Ottowa, Canada. But after that, we're roughin' it! Bring on the banana boats and bears!