Miles covered (together): 1,342
States visited: 6
Diet
Cokes consumed: 7 (we were in Pepsi country today, it seems)
Times strangers asked if we were
sisters: still 2
Traffic jams encountered: still 3
Wind farms seen: 3
Prairie dog farms visited: 0
more reasons to love Kansas: wind farms!
and actual farms, too!
reasons to love Kansas might also include Kansas barbeque. I don't actually know, because we completely forgot that restaurants close early in small high plains towns. Like, 8:00 early. So, I will return to Kansas again sometime soon for barbeque. And maybe I'll just wind up moving there and dating cute Kansas boys. That's how much I loved driving through Kansas.
We made amazingly good time to Denver today. In fact, we're not exactly sure how we managed to cover 431 miles and make it to our hotel by 3:30... we gained an hour, sure (a surprise hour, because we totally forgot about it and didn't factor it in to our trip planning last night), but still... we had anticipated getting in between 6 and 7 tonight. We used the extra time wisely, of course: we opened up our laptops and read email and gchatted with friends (and each other. at least, I tried to gchat Lauren but she was having none of it.) and at one point I walked over to Whole Foods to buy wine and food for a BBQ we're going to tomorrow. See? Wisely. In fairness, driving is mentally exhausting. I heard that from someone who used to drive trucks, so he would know.
Fun facts: the gas station in the town of Victoria, KS has 8 pumps. All 8 of these pumps are out of order. Also, the town of Victoria, KS has 4 cemeteries, and a single sign pointing to a business district that we couldn't actually find. Furthermore, the town of Limon, CO has a delicious AUTHENTIC (don't forget that part) Mexican restaurant called, naturally, Jenny's.
Later we met up with Jess and caught up with her over Indian food (sure, local cuisine is bison, but I had enough of that in my years living here, and plus my travel companion is a vegetarian) - even though I'd visited Jess just a month earlier on an extension to a business trip, it was still so great to see her. In preparing for her and her husband Zach's 6-month road trip, Paige was telling me how neat it was to reach an age where folks we love are spread all across the country, so we can visit them on trips like this - so true.
Tomorrow's an easy day - we get to sleep in, I'm planning to hit the hotel gym in the morning in an effort to combat all this mindless eating in the car (Mom, you'll be pleased to know I've graduated from Cheerios to pretzels), and we're meeting Lauren's friend Barb for breakfast. We've also got big plans to hit up the Loveland outlet mall (!) and then we'll make our way to Casper, Wyoming, where Lauren's friends live. I hear a BBQ is being held in our honor*. Wow. (Or as Cynthia would say, wowo.)
FYI, we did not stop at Prairie Dog Town on our way through Kansas. Sorry, Hannah**, but I don't even like prairie dogs. And I certainly do not like raccoons, rattlesnakes, or any of the other "exotic" animals they advertised from the side of the road. Seriously, what type of advertising is that anyway? "Here's a list of all the animals who creep you out or actually terrify you: COME SEE THEM!"
We did take a picture of Prairie Dog Town's sign, though, in case any of you wish to go there. Now you will know what exit to take.
So with that, we bid you adieu. We're sleeping in separate rooms tonight. I have decided not to take that as a sign Lauren is sick of me. But if it is a sign, well right back at you, LT***.
*It's possible this BBQ is not being held in our honor, but I like my theory better. So there.
**Confession time, Hannah: We also didn't go to that Van Gogh thing you mentioned. I'm not sure what that is or if we even passed it...
***KIDDING. Love ya.