1 car.
1 free hotel room.
2 hours of prayer across Kansas.
2 friends.
4 amazing friends who let us couch surf.
5 huge thunderstorms.
6 days of driving.
9 tanks of gas.
11 states.
12 days together total.
56 Instragram photos.
258 straight hours together.
3,160 miles driven.
These are just a few of the numbers I experienced with Natalie these last few weeks!
The adventure we had as we trekked our way across the United States is one I will never forget. I love that I was able to have this amazing adventure with Natalie before I leave on yet another life altering, crazy, God filled adventure.
As we made our way across the states we consumed ridiculous amounts of ice cream, used an unknown number of tissues, prayed our way across Kansas, experienced the weirdness the Mid West has to offer AKA Truckhenge and a giant Czechoslovakian Egg, and entered into a new level of community, friendship, and sisterhood with one of my closest friends!
Day 1: Vienna, VA to Clifton Forge, VA
-Left Vienna going the wrong direction…ok just the long way.
-Natalie has a prison cold (caught from her boyfriend who caught it from a coworker who caught it from another coworker who is in jail).
-Best friends need to talk more than once every three weeks…so much to catch up on.
-Torrential downpour halfway down 81.
-Sketchy backwoods dark Sunoco waiting for Natalie’s cousin Rosie.
-Trying to forge a new road across the railroad tracks due to another wrong turn.
-Unloading 4 bags for a 12 hour stay and collapsing into bed.
Day 2: Clifton Forge, VA to Louisville, KY
-Natalie shouldn’t run while her lungs aren’t working, that darn prison cold
-Eggs and avocados for breakfast = amazingness!!!
-#HiBestFriendByeBestFriend, we made friends with the neighbor dog :]]
-West Virginia is awesome for two reasons: one, state sign we could take a picture in front of and two, llamas!
-Personalized road trip book with “interesting” sights to see along the way, first stop Lost World Caverns-Home of Bat Boy! We never found Bat Boy but we did find a llama friend we named Tina!
-Giant Jefferson Sloth…just Google it!
-Natalie offers me hemp seeds and I look at her like she is crazy…”I’ll take ice cream thanks”.
-GreenBrier Ghost Trail Marker…apparently this is where a ghost got her husband convicted of her murder…super weird.
-Kentucky has a castle in Versailles…but you’re not allowed to visit it…dumb dumbs!
-Kentucky is also home of Daniel Boone’s bones, a 30 ft gold statue of David and the world’s largest bat (that’s baseball not animal).
-Dinner with Kelsie, former racer, and her wonderful family…yum Thai food
-Pizookies!
Day 3: Louisville, KY to Kansas City, MO
-Cinnamon Toast Cake for breakfast, so delicious!
-Rain, rain, rain…
-Indiana loves Santa and America LOVES Lincoln!
-Mini Washington Monument, didn’t get out because new lakes were forming all around us.
-Pappy’s BBQ with Rebekah and Grace, our friendship twins! Also they have delicious pulled chicken sandwiches and sweet BBQ sauce! Their baked beans and sweet potato fries are pretty incredible as well!
-Drove around Forest Park, Rebekah and Grace pointed out all the cool things they do in the park in the summer and throughout the year. Apparently everything in St. Louise is free to go to! #score
-Also Forest Park is bigger than Central Park, cool little ditty.
-Planking at Turtle Park and lifting the world’s largest Chess piece.
-Natalie napped while I drove to Kansas City, through yet another storm.
-Dinner with Kelsie and Sierra at Tom Fooleries. We learned each persons life and Jesus story which was so cool because I got to know a squad mate more!
-Kelsie’s roommates and friends are awesome and we loved hanging out with them even though we were both exhausted.
Part 2 coming soon! Before I leave the country next Thursday!
