Denver to Missouri

We headed out from Denver Colorado to Kansas City Missouri after a full breakfast. We had a great night stay in a wonderful hotel. The weather was still cold and it was snowing but not near the weather we seen the day before. We really enjoyed downtown Denver and plan to come back there again someday. We headed out across to Kansas and it was very very boring. I feel like I should leave you a blog with a lot of empty space because that's always saw. The Kansas State license plate says it all just white with blue letters..boring. We saw some funny signs along the way like a five Legged Cow turn here. Or the sign that says choose Jesus not porn. The signs are the only thing that kept the semi entertained. It was a long nine and a half hour trip. So boring and I don't even think that Mat turned his wheel it was quite straight. We arrived in Kansas City about 630 at night due to the time change. This is a very cool city with a very cool downtown. Lots of skyscrapers and old buildings but quite modern all at the same time. We picked another great hotel thank goodness. And thank goodness pot isn't legal here. We went out for some sushi dinner as I am already sick of the greasy barbecue food. Even though this is what Kansas City is known for. Off to bed we go headed for Cincinnati Ohio in the morning. We are almost there. We are currently 1900 miles away from home. Sorry for such the short and boring story but I'm telling you it was such a boring trip.

Billings to Denver

On Sunday we started adventure from Billings Montana to Denver Colorado. Were supposed to drive to Minneapolis Minnesota but due to severe weather warnings we had to choose an alternate route. 13 hours of severe winds and severe snow seemed much more miserable than only 8 to Denver. So we made this choice. Because saturday our car topper almost blew off a few times we stopped at Walmart and bought some straps to help tie it down. I am unsure if anybody over in this area uses car toppers due to the severe wind. I think we have counted three that we've seen. So we started our day nice and early about 7 AM unsure what the day had in store for us.  The first hour was very pleasant as there was no snow and no wind. We were very glad we took this route. We got to drive by Custer's last stand. Great history lesson as we both had to look up as I thought it took place in Texas and Mat thought it took place only about 60 years ago. Turns out it's called the Battle of Little Big Horn. And took place in 1876. We could see up ahead as the roads were pretty flat that we were heading into quite a storm. The speed limit around here is 75 but soon slowed to about 40 when we hit the blizzard. According to Mats intuition it was about 40mph wind and a two lane highway soon turned into a one. The roads were very snowy and with the wind often became a whiteout. We played the "can you see" no "can you see" game often. And I soon learned you can see better through the whiteouts with your sunglasses on!  We were the lead car for quite a while...not too many cars in that part of the world! A semi comes barreling down the hill passing everyone. Not sure he could stop. Soon a crazy man smoking in a mini van followed suit and decided to pass us and started to fishtale left, right, left, right, I was just screaming waiting for him to role. I told Mat we were not stopping as this was his own damn fault. This was the longest "almost wreck I ever saw." But he pulled through and continued to go about 20mph as the lead car. Not sure he had dry pants after that one. Soon after that was a very bad wreck involving two semis. Pictures to follow! Now if you have ever driven across country you probably already know that there are these railroad crossing arms everywhere. We always wondered what they were for. Well we learned they are for severe weather and shut roads down. They shut down the other side of the road that day. We are sure we were the last ones to come through on ours. After three hours of this crazy weather we got to turn and head for Colorado. I was one sweaty girl and Mat had to relax his tensed driving hands. What a ride!! But it doesn't stop there! It was super windy the entire way but our topper was so frozen I was sure it wasn't going anywhere. Just outside Fort Collins the winds picked up! 55mph wind! Oh my...garbage, snow, and dust was moving everywhere! Mat told me again "hang on." It was a crazy ride. We soon learned the middle lane was the best as the garbage and dust would be filtered by the outside lane cars. We hit wood, shrubs, card board boxes, any many other loud unknown objects! There was a lot of "lookout" and "oh that didn't sound good" but after a total drive time of 8 hours we made it to Denver safe and sound. What a beautiful city! Mountains are amazing. We looked around for an hour for a "pet friendly" hotel. Finally we found the Ramada in for $88! Sold! I ran in to make a reservation only to find a kind of rough place. A man told me his flight was canceled and stood there for a long time staring. "Reservations for two please" didn't scare him away. I had a bad feeling about this place but still signed the no smoking policy. I went out to the car to tell Mat it was a go...he said he was creeped out sitting in the car. I think it reminded us of the bad part of sprague in spokane. Upon walking down the hall to the room was a heavy stench of skunk/pot, we were right across from the beauty parlor in the hall so it was a rather fingernail polish pot smell that made your eyes water. Mat walked Miley into the courtyard where he found a large group of "gangsters" smoking pot. Smoke free policy my ass. Miley came back in and began to lick the comforter on the bed. OMG I wanted out so bad. The light on the wall was covered in glow in the dark marker so you could find it and the wallpaper was peeling. Denver is gross!! I knew I could not stay there, so I faked I has asthma and got us out of it. "Mam we are a no smoking place." Whatever! So we proceded to a nicer part of town... Where the hotel was $200 but I DIDNT CARE! Nice place and even nicer people. My "asthma" didn't act up and our red eyes turned white again. They served Miley water in a Fugi bottle, and brought her silver dishes to eat in on a cloth napkin . What a day! We had a fabulous dinner at Euclid where they serve a pickle sampler (I've only dreamed about this). Had a great drink, nice walk, and watched some Grammies! Hoping tomorrow is a little less eventful!! Oh PS we were in Denver Bronco territory! Wow they are big fans. 

To Billings MT we go

We headed out from Chewelah with a full but organized car (thanks mom) only leaving behind a cat and a box of alcohol.  Renee, the red wine is in the car! I think the tears stopped about Lookout Pass. We listened to Doctor Radio of course and the topic was how NPs and PAs are not prepared for the ER right out of school...but they can learn. Thought this was quite appropriate. Beautiful sunny drive. Stopped in the town of Butte where it was 55 degrees! Miley was happy to play in the sun. The Great Divide was beautiful! Still quite unsure how the covered wagons made it over those mountains. Guess my great-great grandmother was one of them. Amazing!! Hope they carried extra wheels. As we came into Bozeman the signs read severe winds ahead. This metal sign was bent as I could barely read it! Just ahead sure enough...wind gusts are an understatement! Just kept my fingers crossed that the car topper would stay on and closed my eyes when we passed a semi! I am pretty sure that Mat was a truck driver in his last life. He just powers through and told me to hang on. I am a much better co-piolet, photographer and entertainer. We enjoy Montana as Mat grew up here...but still laugh at the signs including testicle festival, Sacajawea Hotel, and grizzly bears ahead!! We made it to Billings safe and sound, checked into a hotel, grabbed a bite to eat and headed to bed ready for a 13-hour day in the morning. 

The Adventure Starts Here

At special request by my family, Deaconess family, and friends today the blog will start. I plan to share with you the starting of a new adventure in Roanoke, VA. The trials and tribulations, the funny stories, and surviving 580 square feet. Population, nearly 100,000. Miles from here, approximately 2,500. T-1 days till the adventure starts. We plan to take about 6 days to drive across country, weather permitting. Reality check...pack more in the big a** truck next time. Hoping for some great weather, fantastic food, and lots car time with Miley and Mat.  The adventure starts here....