I Don't Think We're In Kansas Any More...

June 21 - Actually we are. Situated in the middle of the plains in western Kansas, Monument Rocks is quite spectacular and totally unexpected. It's also a little known attraction, as we had to drive down seven miles of a small dirt road surrounded by wheat fields (with the occasional cow). The only people we saw were farmers and a geologist (who said to watch out for rattlesnakes). We tried our best to stay on the paths as we walked around. The rocks are actually deposits from ancient sea creatures, proof that Kansas was once under water. On the way back to the main road, we stopped by a group of cows to take pictures (but then Jessie yelled at me to get back in the car before they charged). As with most road trips, the least expected turns out to be the best part. While we were in Kansas, we went to a baseball game, visited Topeka vs. Board of Education, went to Mushroom Rock, saw
Eisenhower's house, and learned that Kansans sure are friendly. And we didn't even see a tornado.

Meet me in St. Louis!

June 18 - St. Louis was so much fun! We stayed with Jessie's friend, Becca. As a native of St. Louis, Becca was able to show us all around the city. We drove through beautiful Forest Park, caught some Shakespeare in the park, ate pizza St. Louis style (really thin crust and soo good!), toured the Anheiser-Busch plant (free samples), and of course, went up to the very top of the Arch. It is approx. 1/3 mile high, and it completely dominates the skyline. We could see the Arch before we saw the buildings. Word of advice, going to the top is not for the claustrophobic. We ducked through a 3 foot high door into a tiny pod that looked like 1960's view of the future. Four minutes later, we arrived at the top. The top of the Arch was very small and crowded. I squeezed my way to the window, which was approx. 1'x3' and peered out on the cityscape below. The people below looked so tiny! P.S. -
According to Becca, our St. Louis expert, it's pronouced Missour-E and St. LouIS. :)

The US Grand Prix

Aug 16 - It just so happened that the Grand Prix was scheduled about the same time that we would be rolling through Indianapolis. We decided early on that we wanted to go...not because we're super huge race fans, but because it was an experience of a lifetime on this trip of a lifetime. When we arrived in Indianapolis, we missed our turn, which put us right downtown. We stopped by the War Memorial, then were on our way to the Speedway. Despite a fender bender, yelling cops, and getting lost finding parking, we walked into the stadium just as the jets flew across the sky. I rushed to our seats. Just as I got there, the race cars were revving to go. Vroom! They were off! Boy, they are fast (my neck was sore from turning so quickly) and sooo LOUD! Even with the ear plugs, the sound was deafening. Our seats were really cool because we were right by the start/finish line, the straight-a-way,
and the pits. Crazy!

Denver or bust!

June 17 - And we're off! My friends Jessie and Amy are driving with me out to Denver, where I'll be working this summer. We left Exton around 6:30 and drove straight through PA, and WV (all 15 miles of it), and crashed at a Motel 6 in Columbus, OH around 2 a.m. Not for long though, because we were up and on the road by 8 a.m. We may be a little exhausted, but the excitement of the trip will keep us going! On this trip, we're going to the Grand Prix in Indianapolis, the St. Louis Arch, and Rocky Mountain National Park, just to name a few. If the first day is any indication, we're going to have a lot of fun on this trip...playing celebrity name games, talking about a white cat, and doing new and exciting things!