St. Louis Science Museum

The St. Louis Science Museum ROCKS! Absolutely fantastic experience, very hands on, even rode a jet simulator that moved in all directions. Emily and I laughed the whole time.

We didn’t get to the famous St. Louis arch but drove by and waived – promising to visit again when we didn’t have Tess along. Finding shady spots and seeing things early in the day has been our working mojo.

Did manage to snag a Cardinals ball cap and mug before heading out of town.

Driving into Illinois, I kid you not, I literally didn’t know if we were in Illinois or Indiana. It was the first time in my life I truly didn’t know what state I was in, and it felt kind of neat! Like a mystery or something I knew would eventually reveal itself.

Our drive through Indiana and Illinois was fairly uneventful – naturally we stopped in each state to pick up a rock. Have quite a collection of them now, each marked with a Sharpie and slowly filling up a plastic container.

We ended our day at this fantastic KOA campground just south of Louisville in Shephersville, KY.

"Indiana wants me, Lord I can't go back there..."

I don’t think I’d even fully parked before Emily had flung open her car door and was off and running, having spied a giant jumpy “pillow” and a ton of kids her age.

We are apparently “fire challenged” as we were able to build a fire long enough to make S’Mores but not long enough to keep it going for too long. And our roasting stick broke. But never let it be said that any challenge can dampen the spirit of girls who want chocolate, melted or not!

Found a cool cave!

Tess went nuts over the squirrels and even managed to sneak up on one and sniff it! The squirrel leaped in the air causing Tess to do the same, both having freaked the other one out. Too funny. I don’t think Tess ever expected to get that close and seems to have added a little strut to her step now.

Jumpy Pillow

Great way to get around the campgrounds

Tess Isn't Too Sure About This Whole Camping Deal

Tess and I started the morning with a brisk walk which included a 180 degree turn upon finding a snake curled up on the sidewalk. Pretty sure it was dead but it was big and scary and we weren’t going to hang around to find out.

A second walk with Emily before we departed the hotel included a return to said snake upon which we confirmed it was definitely dead. And still scary.

First stop of the morning was the Air Force Academy. Fantastic B52 bomber on display at the entrance. The movie they show at the visitor’s center, about a year in the life of a new cadet, was outstanding. Viewed the cadet parade field and exterior of the chapel, unfortunately not open for visits due to scheduled weddings.

It was extremely windy and, although it was sunny and June, it was cold. I can only imagine a dark day in January out on the parade field. Drove by Falcon stadium and reminisced about being there for the Navy/Air Force game in 1992. Good memories.

Hit the road and, after a brief sojourn through the black forest, we hopped on the highway, queued up the cruise control and pointed the car east. Crossing into Kansas we informed Tess she would heretofore be called Toto until we left the state. Kansas is beautiful – I’m struck by how far you can see in all directions and really only recall being able to do that in one or two other places, including out on the ocean. At one point Emily said, “Look, it’s the little house on the prairie” and darned if she wasn’t right.

Listened to comedy channels on Pandora, stopped for Subway at a truck stop (“attention professional drivers, driver #62, shower 4 is now available”) and showed up in Hays, Kansas six hours later.

One thing’s for sure, there is never a line at the salad bar at Golden Corral, and it is one of the best salad bars around.

Grabbed a 20 minute workout on the Precor to get the blood flowing this morning and hit that huffing and puffing point earlier than usual due to the altitude. Then played fetch and “bubbles” with Tess on the front lawn of the hotel. She loves jumping and snapping at soap bubbles, loves the taste or something and it certainly doesn’t hurt her breath. An equal love is anything that squeaks and her squeaky soccer ball is a favorite. Never knew a Westie that fetched before her and it sure is fun to watch her bounding across the lawn for another round.

I can almost hear the original framers of the state lines saying, “let’s run a state line across here by color – brown is New Mexico, green Colorado.”

Traveling through the Colorado mountains made me reach for the John Denver CD I’d stashed in the center console – just had to listen to “Rocky Mountain High.” Spectacular scenery, including a little leftover snow, and a few songs later I found myself welling up with thoughts of my mom. Lyrics that meant only one thing in the past now seem to reach out and choke me.

Note to self: never, ever, ever, ever, ever eat at Long John Silvers again.

After a brief stop at a fast-rushing river where we skipped rocks and Em attempted to build a fire from rocks and sticks, Tess spied her first cattle and had a stare-down with an equally inquisitive steer.

Dinner at Outback, dipping my legs in the in the hotel hot tub, and a chocolate cookie in bed and I don’t remember a thing after that.

I love travel and heading out on a “round the country” adventure with my FAB daughter is the trip of a lifetime. I hope to grow as a mother, a mentor, and a friend.

I plan to learn everything I can from her and simply soak in her presence.

And of course, I fully intend to laugh so hard I spit water out of my nose.

Packing light is the way to go – seems we have more stuff for Tess, our wonderful Westie, than we do for ourselves. It all fit in the car and we were ready to launch.

We left San Diego at high noon, driving for a few miles behind my husband as he filmed our departure with the Go-Pro camera attached to the back of his car.

Traveling in the heat with a dog has some added challenges. The temps hit triple digits so the goal was to keep the car running. Since we are not eating in the car, we had to find areas outside where we could sit with the dog. And in Arizona that means we’ll take anything with shade and had to remove anything from the car that might melt or explode, like chocolate, cosmetics, and computers.

Two cups of coffee in the Memphis Marriott Courtyard lobby and I was good to go.

Emily & Elvis - Sun Studios, Memphis, TN

We thought we’d go to Graceland but opted instead to visit Sun Studio on Union Street, the “birthplace of rock and roll.” This is where Elvis cut his first demo record and the atmosphere and tour were top notch. Lots of memorabilia.

The building itself is very small with a small soda fountain, upstairs room filled with memorabilia, very tiny front office still in its original condition, and the recording room and sound booth.

The best part of the tour was that they played little snippets of music throughout, including one of Elvis laughing and trying to record a song while Carl Perkins was making faces at him through the window – a very relaxed, personal recording that was played as you stood in the studio were it was made. If you closed your eyes, you felt like you were right there.

I’m glad we visited Sun Sudios instead of Graceland as we got to experience Elivs at the beginning of his life and career, full of hope and dreams and talent, in a small intimate setting that made me feel like I got to meet him. Highly recommended if you’re ever in Memphis. Before leaving I grabbed a “diner” cup of coffee and bought Em her first Moon Pie.

As soon as we got on the road Em declared she was hungry. Hey we’re in Memphis, how about ribs? She quickly looked up a good ribs restaurant on TVFoodMaps.com that lists all the featured restaurants on the Food Network’s programs. We chose Marlowe’s Ribs over near Graceland and it did not disappoint. If I could have taken a bucket of their corn fritters and deep fried pickles I would have – yum!

Em’ declaration as we headed out the door of Marlowe’s, “We ride!” Indeed we do.

We headed out of Memphis via Elvis Presley Blvd. and listened to Elvis music via XM Satellite radio for the first hour on the road.

Passed the Williams-Sonoma distribution center in Memphis. Who knew?

Lots of traffic in Birmingham and a few photo ops as we crossed into Mississippi and Alabama, including one run for a rock and one “leaning out the car door” rock gathering episode.

Red Lobster closes at 11 p.m. but we managed to pull in there in Atlanta at 10:45 pm. Once filled with cheese biscuits and crab linguini alfredo, it was apparent we had better get to the hotel before we passed out.

Mixed feelings about the cross-country part of our trip coming to an end – it’s a long trip but it has been a joy. If you’re going to drive 2,900 miles, I recommend going with someone who makes you laugh yourself silly! – Ann

It was soooo hard to leave our cousins! Pancakes and coffee by the pool was delightful – the kids swam then rip-sticked in the driveway, Em pulling Gillian and Grace on a second ripstick by horse lead!

After a quick load of laundry, the borrowing of two pair of riding boots for horse camp (English and Western – yee haw, thank you Melissa!!!!), some calendar comparisons about future meet-ups, and the knowledge that no matter how well we checked, we were sure to leave something (and in fact, it was Em’s Rein and Shine tee shirt!), we loaded up and headed out.

Last thing in the car was the ripstick, helmet, and wrist pads…of course!

Drove through the University of Arkansas campus – beautiful, hilly, and lots of construction. Loved seeing all the huge frat houses (well, mansions really). A quick one hour drive to Fort Smith didn’t deter Em from taking a nap – she woke up in the parking lot of Fuji’s Steakhouse and Sushi restaurant where we met my gal-pal Debbie for lunch and laughs.

When we got up to leave, we were literally the last people in the restaurant…including the staff! All the lights in the lobby were out and there wasn’t a person in sight. Debbie says they close between 2 and 4 and we were there ’til 3:30.

From Fort Smith it was about 3 1/2 hours to Memphis but it seemed like an eternity. Em slept most of the way, lots of construction including several points where it was one lane and a dead stop. Was actually able to read at one point. Listening to the truckers on the CB was too funny throughout the traffic and helped the time go by.

Did manage to rouse Em to watch the odometer turn over to 000 again (2,000 miles) – we missed it the first time so had to catch it today.

Cracker Barrel Turkey Dinner

Despite the fact that were just miles from Memphis ribs, we opted to stop at the last Arkansas exit for Cracker Barrel’s Thursday turkey dinner special and it was juuuuuuust right. Ate so much we even turned down dessert. Em had an extra serving of stuffing and gravy.

We love shopping in their little store, even looked for a new “On the Road Again” type CD but no luck. The sun was setting just as we arrived at the restaurant so our “Welcome to Tennessee” photo op an hour later was pretty dark.

Arrived at the Memphis airport Marriott Courtyard (great decorations and music!) and enjoyed a half hour of rip-sticking in the parking lot. Em glides along and I stretch my legs and we talk about everything from here to the moon – some of my favorite times on this trip.

Plans are for Graceland tomorrow morning then off to HOT-lanta. – Ann

Odometer Reading - 2,000 so far!

I spent a quiet hour in the lobby of our hotel uploading some photos and getting caught up on email. Shagged Emily out of the room in time to get some breakfast before it closed and noticed, as we were packing up, that another one of those amazing Oklahoma storms was about to move in.

Ran to our car in the rain and got on the road heading toward Tulsa. Unfortunately for Em, the rain prevented any CB radio chat so we listened to “On the Road Again” “Eastbound and Down” and “I Love a Rainy Night” again on our road trip CD. It just isn’t a road trip without playing “On the Road Again” every time you get in the car and singing at the top of your lungs.

Some of my favorite memories of this trip so far – signing with Em

The fields in Oklahoma are gorgeous – green, lush, rolling. Lots of tractors and silos and cows.

The toll road between Oklahoma City and Tulsa is spectacular and one of the prettiest highways I’ve ever seen – felt like we were driving in Disneyland. Hardly anyone on the road, beautiful smooth rolling highways, and horizons as far as you can see.

Jacob, Grace, Gillian and Em - Ready to Launch!

Hopped out at the Arkansas border for a quick photo then on to Fayetteville, where we spent about an hour being lost once we got into town. Lots and lots of little back farm roads and eventually found Melissa’s almost by accident.

Betsy, Santiago, and Renee joined us and the kids swam in the pool, rip sticked in the driveway, fed the horses, chased lightning bugs, caught a frog, played with the dogs, and were eventually found out in the field in a circle at night (telling ghost stories?) requiring a quick check for deer ticks and off to bed – Em is joining the girls in their room upstairs.

For me, seeing Em with her cousins is one of the joys of this adventure. Life boils down to doing interesting things and spending time with the people you love and this trip has included both.

As we stood by the pool at one moment, looking out at the kids who had run off to a neighbor’s treehouse in the next field, I said, “they’re making memories” and I know those will be some of the best ones from Em’s childhood.

Melissa and Betsy

Mine are filled with fun and crazy times with my first and second cousins and now I stood with two of them – one from each side of the family – and relished watching our kids do the same.

Even though we never really lived near my extended family (except for that magical time in Hawaii) it was the moments that Mom and Dad deliberately created by planning and spending time together that created the bonds I feel with them today.

My cousins and I are friends, not just because we’re related, but because our parents made the effort (holiday after holiday after holiday…) to ensure we would be and I am eternally grateful for that most precious gift of a big, wide, wonderful family.

Drifting off to sleep in my cousin’s house in Arkansas on some random day in June embodies that like nothing else. – Ann

Melissa and Ann - Morning Coffee in the Outdoor Room

The movie “If it’s Tuesday, it Must Be Belgium” springs to mind.

Once again, we got on the highway after 10 am, this time after another stop at Radio Shack in Albuquerque for a bigger CB radio antenna. This new one sits on top of the car’s rooftop by magnet and seems to work great. Emily even got her first trucker reply after a few “Break 1-9 for a radio check” calls.

Took our picture by the “Welcome to Texas” sign with truckers honking their horns and waving.

Stopped in Amarillo to visit the Cadillac Ranch (see the photo gallery below!) We hadn’t brought our own spray paint but were lucky enough to find a half used can of purple spray paint and managed to get our names painted onto the last car in the line. Such a fun stop for adults and kids and hard to believe how much paint is on those cars!

Did NOT take our picture next to the “Welcome to Oklahoma” sign since it was raining…and we saw it flying by too late and opted not to turn around.

So apparently there was some big sports game in Oklahoma City tonight and there were NO HOTEL ROOMS available. Imagine calling the 800 numbers for Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn etc. and being told they literally had nothing available. Started pulling in to hotels at the exits about a half hour outside the city and checking in person – nothing.

I have no idea how many hotels we literally drove up to and asked if there was room at the inn, just in case. By 11:30 pm we were actually in Oklahoma City and doing the same. I was about to get on I-44 for Tulsa when we saw a Hyatt Place and Em said, “oh, just check one more time.” Pulled in, walked in, and the manager was standing at the desk with two clerks.

“How are you this evening?”

“I’m tired” and smiled. “I don’t suppose you have anything available.”

“Let me check.” (That was hopeful!) “Yes, I can sell you a room tonight, I don’t think this gentleman is going to show up.”

REALLY?!?!?!?!

When Em got down to the lobby later on to buy at pizza for a true midnight snack, she gave him a big hug – I think he was taken aback but very happy with his decision to help us out. He told me it was because I said I was tired. God bless that man! – Ann
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The pudding at K-Bob’s Salad Wagon in Tucumcari, NM was just as good as we remembered! – Ann

You know it’s going to be an interesting day when you have been in two Walmarts in two separate towns all within the first hour of driving. And one of them required backtracking.

Planned Route: Flagstaff, AZ to Amarillo, TX
Actual Route: Flagstaff, AZ to Albuquerque, NM

Why we couldn’t get anywhere today:

• Walmart, Flagstaff, AZ – Hair ties, magazines, Aleve, and a neck pillow. I’m sure you can determine who needed which items.
• University of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ – Drive By
• A Corner, Winslow, AZ – photo op
• Wig Wam Hotel, Holbrook, AZ – photo op
• Sonic Burgers, Holbrook, AZ – emergency pit stop
• Walmart, Holbrook, AZ – CB radio
• Walt’s Hardware, Holbrook, AZ – new transistor for the CB and rewiring the jury-rigged car lighter plug in so we don’t blow out any more transistors.
• Radio Shack, somewhere along RT 40 – CB radio antennah (who knew?) “We need a Radio Shack…hey look, there’s a Radio Shack!”
• Arizona/New Mexico Border – stopped but didn’t get out due to “The Creepy Man”
• New Mexico Mile Marker 12 – Photo stop for anyone in the car aged 12
• New Mexico Mile Marker 50 – Photo stop for anyone in the car not aged 12
• Navajo Service Mart – Subway sandwiches and gasoline.

Dad called to back-seat drive me from Florida (thanks Dad!) saying we were nuts to try to get to Amarillo as it was about 5:30 pm and we still had 300 miles to go. And yes, Dad, you were right. Wait, let me put that in bold – YOU WERE RIGHT Contacted our hotel in Amarillo and they waived our non-refundable deposit – being a rewards member for almost 30 years finally paid off!

Found a hotel in Albuquerque. This is the second time either of us have ever stayed in Albuquerque and neither time it was planned (ie. the infamous Tucumcari not-flyby…but I digress). We decided that makes Albuquerque our most spontaneous city and will forever make perfect sense whenever we watch that Bugs Bunny cartoon.

One of my favorite memories was walking around the parking lot and along all the little sidewalks between the buildings of our hotel with Emily while she rip-sticked. Great day! – Ann