J and K Adventures: July 24th Sunday and July 25th Monday On the road again.

K and I checked over the map, consulted my GPS, looked at the calender, dragged out the Ouigi Board and came to a mutual conclusion - we need to boogy if we want to be back to K's brother Jon's cabin by the 30th for a family get-together. We need to cover a minimum of 500 miles a day which may not sound like a lot unless you are lazy like us and 2 - 300 is more our style.

Out went the notions of a leisurely tour of the South and on came a grim determination to press on through the heat, humidity, bugs, rude drivers, 187 McDonalds (that we have passed), ignoring most road side attractions, one snoozes while the other drives. We descended into a miasma of passing light and shadow with only one goal - to surpass 500 miles a day so that K can sit out by the fire ring and have a cold one with Carol, Neil, Jon, Sharon, Roy, Charlie, Paul and any other person or animal that decides to show up. We also want to swim in the Grand Ronde again.

The miles have passed in a positive manner with large heapings of music, conversation, laughter and realizations as to how truly lucky we have been to be able to have had this opportunity.

Some highlights:

Kathy's first visit to White Castle
Seeing the St. Louis Arch and crossing over the Mississippi
Changing scenery from ocean beaches through rolling hills of Virginia through the rugged Appalachians of West Virginia where each rise or bend in the road draws out an appreciative ohhh
Talking with the locals at a "Biscuitville" in Kentucky
Changing my shorts when an 18 wheeler blew a tire and our truck had pieces of rubber raining down
The kindness of strangers throughout our journey
Cruising down Interstate 64 and glancing over at K sleeping and seeing her "peaceful, easy feeling, (my apologies to the Eagles).

The first night we made it to Charleston, West Virginia and a Motel 6 whose claim to fame is that it was the first Hotel I have ever stayed at whose entire floors are covered in Linoleum - my guess, either a great sale or an extremely good salesman. Last night we made 650 miles to Columbia, Missouri - go Mizzou! where we decided to treat ourselves to a night at the Hampton Inn. We wanted to camp but the temperature was hovering at 97 at 7:30 and we just don't believe we could cover 20 miles after a potential night like that. It's 700 miles to Denver, and out of our reach, but we are hoping to come close.

Here are some pix we took along the way......mostly out of the truck windows so excuse the picture quality.