We're almost not in Kansas anymore

Before going to Colorado, we decided to check out Monument Rocks, which are 80 million year old rock formations, and up to 70 feet tall.

Driving to the Rocks, down a long dirt road, we encountered amber waves of grain.






Finally, we reached the rocks. And..they were really amazing. Warning: many pictures of rocks follow.
















All right, enough rocks! Next blog: Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

More from the middle of Kansas!

During our scenic byway off of 70, we happened upon Mushroom Rock State Park, a national park that is exactly as it sounds: rocks that look like mushrooms!



Then, more driving




Somewhere in Kansas, we stopped at a grocery store. As we were leaving, an older guy in an old truck wearing a cowboy hat was turning into the grocery store. As he was turning, he smiled, and tipped his hat at us. Love it.

It was getting late, so we attempted to find a motel in Oakley, KS. Apparently, Oakley is hopping at this time of year, as all the motels we passed had no vacancies. Finally, we found a motel called the Free Breakfast Inn, around midnight. The office decor reminded me of the scene in Harold and Kumar in Freak Show's house The room's decor had not been changed since the 60's. I kept picturing the Bates Motel, and Norman peeking in at us through a hole in the wall. However, the next morning, in the light of day, the place did not seem nearly as scary.

And, we got free breakfast! Breakfast was served at a steakhouse across the highway.

They frown upon people driving like hell.


Next blog: The last of Kansas-Monument Rocks

Kansas: Part I

After leaving MO, it was time for some good 'ol minor-league baseball, in the name of the Kansas City T-Bones in Kansas. Proudly wearing an Orioles shirt, we sat down to our seats. I hear "How bout them O's?!", and turn around to see a man in an Orioles cap and shirt. Turns out he was from MD, and was visiting his son in Kansas City. I love that I ran into an Orioles fan in Kansas.

The game was relatively uneventful, apart from the amazing sunset.


And a little sumo-wrestling in between innings


After the game, we headed to Topeka for the night.
Topeka from the hotel room.


After an excellent buffet breakfast from the Ramada (a little money will get you a long way in Kansas hotels), we went to the site of Brown vs. Board of Education.


At the museum, I learned that one of the cases that became the Brown vs. BOE Supreme Court case involved the University of Delaware. In 1950, UD became the first university to desegregate by court decree. Not something I ever heard on the campus tour.

We then passed through another president's town: Abilene KS, home of Eisenhower.


When we went through the house, Jess told the tour guide that we had been by Truman's house the day before. The woman scoffed and said that the Truman's house was much more high-class, and Eisenhower grew up in a blue-class household. Meow.

Abilene was nowhere near as cool as Independence, but still had character.


After that, we left civilization for awhile, and saw lots of the Kansas countryside on a scenic by-way off 70.




Next blog: more Kansas countryside, and attempting to find a motel in the middle of Kansas.

Pardon the interruption

I interrupt the road trip picturefest wrap-up to talk about my camp job.

The first day, I was completely ready to call it quits. On Mondays, I don't have any groups, so I had to go to the pool to shadow a kid who was completely uncontrollable. He could not communicate, did not listen, scratched, and bit. At the pool, he kept pulling down his swim trunks, and at the end of the day, ran into the kiddie pool, pulled down his pants, and peed. To put the kid into perspective--he was so bad that he was kicked out of the camp after two days...and this camp has a number of difficult kids.

But, after two weeks, dare I say...I don't hate it. And, that's a pretty good review for me. There are a number of kids that I really like. And, it's kind of fun planning activities for the kids. So, I'll make it through the next four weeks, and at the end, I will have a really good experience on my resume for when I apply to grad school for OT.

St Louis and Independence, MO

For our last day in St Louis, we headed to Laumeier Sculpture Park, a 72 acre, open-air museum.

A sampling of the sculptures:






After walking the park, it was sadly time to leave St Louis. But, not before taking some more pictures of the Arch!

From East St Louis, IL


On our way to a minor league ballgame in Kansas City, KS, we passed signs for Independence, MO, home of Truman. I sort of made the girls agree that we could quickly explore the town. And we were all glad we did. Not only did we see (the outside of) Truman's house, but Independence is a great little town! The downtown area was really nice and felt like you were stepping back in time.

Truman's house


Downtown Independence








My mom actually met Truman when she was four. Now, I am the second generation to "meet" him. Nevermind that it was just a statue of him.


Next blog: Kansas City, KS baseball, and Topeka

St Louis: Part II

After the Arch, we were off to tour Anheuser-Busch, which was about 10 times as big as the Shipyard Brewery tour I went on in Maine.




First, we visited their Clydesdale horses.


My favorite was Bruce


Then, a tour of the rest of the brewery, which encompassed many blocks and buildings.






After the tour, the best part: two free pints of beer.


On the tour, there was a big group of young monks or priests or religious folks of some sort, speaking French. The monks/priests/whatever they were, enjoyed the samples most of all.


Next blog: St Louis: The Conclusion, and Independence, MO

St Louis, part I

After the very exciting Indianapolis, we were off to St Louis. We stayed with Jess' friend, Becca, who just happened to be housesitting for her parents friends. Not only did we have a free place to stay, but we had a free place to stay in a nice, air-conditioned house! And, Becca, being from St Louis, made an excellent host, showing us around St Louis.

Upon arriving on Sunday night, food was of course the first thing on the agenda. For dinner, we had toasted ravioli, and St Louis style pizza, which was delicious. After dinner, we were all stuffed, so what better time to get more food? By suggestion of Listmaker, we went to Ted Drewes Ted Drewes, a St Louis staple serving custard. Jess and I shared chocolate custard with peanut butter cups, and it was oh-so great.


After passing out in a food coma, we woke up on Monday morning ready to be tourists. First stop: the Arch.


Going up to the top is a very strange experience. Unlike other tourist destinations like the Empire State Building, or the Washington Mounument, in the St Louis Arch, you go up in little cars that can fit at most, five people. As Lauren described it, the pods were like "a 1960's view of the future."

This picture kind of shows how small these little elevators were, but does not give it justice.


We made it!


The views from the top




Next blog: Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour.