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Added some premium nanoceramic IR tint (LLumar FormulaOne Stratos) to my new Grand Highlander. It should keep things much cooler than the generic tint during the hot Phoenix summer.

A gray SUV with black wheels is parked in an almost empty parking lot on a sunny day with a clear blue sky.A gray SUV is parked in a lot beside a modern building with a blue truck visible in the background.

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Our favorite meal of the trip was a stop at Burger Bench in downtown Escondido. Great burger, great craft beer selection, great atmosphere. Jen said her grilled cheese was the among the best she’s ever had. Highly recommend. 🏷️26.06A

A few people are sitting at outdoor tables of a restaurant called Burger Bench with its sign prominently displayed above.A partially eaten burger with shredded lettuce on a tray sits next to a glass of pale beer, while another beverage and meal can be seen in the background.A collage of historical black-and-white photos showcases scenes related to the Prohibition era, including people holding signs advocating for the legalization of beer.A humorous wall drawing resembles a person with the text, Hello? Is it me you're cooking for?

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It didn’t take too long to hit 1000 miles on the new Grand Highlander—it’s day eleven. 😂

A vehicle dashboard display shows an EV driving ratio of 2%, total time of 48 minutes, and mileage of 1000 miles.
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Angles 🏷️26.06A

Looking up from the bottom of an atrium, the photo captures multiple stories of a building with a geometric skylight allowing natural light to illuminate the interior.
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This place had (new) shag carpeting tacked to the wall. 🏷️26.06A

A building displays a sign for SYNTH BEER COMPANY above its windows.A complex modular synthesizer setup features numerous knobs, switches, and brightly colored patch cables.A retro sci-fi themed wallpaper features vintage space elements, including flying saucers, colorful rockets, and robots alongside human and alien figures.A table with two glasses of a frothy drink is adorned with a small vase of red and blue flowers, set against a backdrop of a hanging tapestry and a concrete wall.

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Green Cheek Beer 🏷️26.06A

A gray building features a large glass door and a sign for Green Cheek Beer Co. under bright sunlight, with designated accessible parking spaces nearby.A wall with a yellow parrot illustration and the phrase DRINK WHILE SMILING is above a cooler labeled STUFF TO-GO.A tray on the table holds a cheeseburger, a side salad with dressing, and a glass of beer.

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This rug really ties the whole room together. 🏷️26.06A

A glass of orange beverage sits on a colorful coaster on a wooden table, with a patterned rug and chairs in the background.
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First big drive with Mac! 🏷️26.06A

A gray SUV is parked in an outdoor parking lot with trees and a clear sky in the background.
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Did some minor surgery to our new Grand Highlander to add a custom phone mount. It was both easy and terrifying to do.

A person is installing or removing a car's dashboard display and control panel.A magnetic phone holder is attached to the dashboard of a car near the control panel.

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I posted a hastily-shot video of the emergency gear I kept in the spare tire area of my Subaru Outback, in case it’s helpful for anyone else. I didn’t think to record the other things that we kept stashed around the vehicle but maybe I’ll do that once we get the Grand Highlander dialed in.

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Straight outta Monty Python 🏷️26.05A

A wall filled with rows of brightly colored Sprite soda cans with a vibrant design.
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Watch out for Frank, he’s a bit of an ass. 🏷️26.05A

A sign welcomes visitors to Readlyn, claiming 857 friendly people and one old grump, with notice of Grump Days from June 19-21.
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We made it to Grinnell, but missed out on JB’s gravesite, as the cemetery was closed. But we did find the memorial plaque near his old home. 🏷️26.05A

A commemorative plaque on a stone is dedicated to Josiah Bushnell Grinnell, the founder of the city, placed in 1916 by the D.A.R.A historical sign features information about J.B. Grinnell, including his portrait, life details, and connection to abolitionist roots with an image of his home.A historical marker details the contributions of Josiah Bushnell Grinnell to the city of Grinnell, including his role in the anti-slavery movement and education.A historical marker in Grinnell, Iowa, details the city's notable events and residents, including its football history and prominent figures associated with the area.

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Merchants National Bank 🏷️26.05A

A red-brick building with ornate architectural details stands on a street corner, featuring a decorative entrance and a streetlamp with hanging flower baskets and a green banner.A golden lion statue with wings holds a shield near an ornate, historical building entrance.A brick building features an ornate, circular window with intricate stone carvings and statues framing the entrance.A historical marker describes Merchants National Bank's architectural significance, designed by Louis Sullivan with oversized stained glass and gold-plated terra cotta.

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We found Radar from MASH in Ottumwa. 🏷️26.05A

A military-themed display features a mannequin in uniform sitting at a wooden desk with a vintage typewriter, surrounded by camouflage netting and a signpost showing distances to various cities.A display against a brick wall features framed documents, maps, and various memorabilia arranged on a table with camouflage netting.A collection of M*A*S*H memorabilia is displayed, including newspaper articles, magazines, a book, and trivia cards.A display featuring a bugle, a military jeep model, and memorabilia related to M*A*S*H, including books and a framed information sheet against a brick wall backdrop.A small, yellow brick restaurant called Canteen Lunch, adorned with vintage signs and outdoor seating, is situated under a building overhang.

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American Gothic 🏷️26.05A

A quaint, small house with a steep Gothic-style gable roof and surrounding green lawn is set amidst trees and a cloudy sky. This is the inspiration for the background of the American Gothic painting.Two people pose humorously with statue replicas of the iconic American Gothic painting in front of the American Gothic House Center.An informational sign stands in front of a rural setting, detailing the story behind the painting American Gothic by Grant Wood.

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The easiest, most instantly useful improvement nearly any hotel can make is to add a simple elevator sign to hallways. There’s no reason to make every guest scan both ways trying to descern if there’s an extra gap somewhere between the doors or remember which way they approached their rooms from.

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We paid homage to Aldo Leopold today, visiting his gravesite and birthplace/boyhood homes. 🏷️26.05A

A stone grave marker is engraved with the name Aldo Leopold and the years 1887 - 1948, accompanied by a small stone and a dried flower on top.A historic house surrounded by lush greenery is identified as the Leopold House by a sign in the foreground.A historic house surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with a wooden sign marking its significance.A large stone with a commemorative plaque stands in a grassy area with trees and a bridge visible in the background.

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Dave has gone missing.

A storefront named Daves Not Here displays signs for a vapor and smoke shop above and on the entrance door, with parked cars in front.
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We were a bit disappointed at the rock art we found at Thousand Hills State Park in Missouri, which were rather minor petroglyphs fully enclosed in a structure. I guess we’re just too spoiled by the Southwest… 🏷️26.05A

A fenced-off archaeological site with large stones is housed inside a wooden structure with multiple windows.Large flat stones are arranged on the ground in a rough, irregular pattern.Engraved symbols and patterns are etched into a large, flat rock surrounded by smaller stones and earth.A room with wooden walls features large stones on the floor and animal silhouette artwork displayed on the walls.