July 14, 2015
Day 12
Hours on the Road: 5
States Traversed: Washington
We explored a fort. And it was amazing.
We drove to Whidbey Island, which included a ferry ride, and then spent the day running all over an abandoned WWI fort. There was super intense hide and seek, role playing Star Wars, exploration of pitch-black corridors, and climbing on rooftops.
It was wonderful.
Eventually we wanted to go to the beach, so we went behind the fort and ta-da! ocean.
The water was freezing, again. Sigh.
But there was loads and loads of driftwood, so instead of swimming/wading, we built our own fort. Someone had started it, we just cleared it out and expanded. A lot. We gave it at least twice the area, and probably added a foot of height.
It was so legit, and I am very proud of that fort.
This day was probably the best day of the entire summer.
Like, running around, climbing over driftwood, exploring, just being a kid... My soul needed it. Wow it was good. Wind and salt and pebbles in your shoes and echoes in ghostly corridors and scrapes on your knees... That is so good for you.
July 15, 2015
Day 13
Hours on the Road: 3, I think?
States Traversed: Washington
Into Seattle!
We hit up Pike's Place today. You know, where the original Starbucks was (which we didn't go to, because there was a stupidly long line and a local coffee shop like, right around the corner).
There were so. many. people.
Here's the thing, I liked Pike's Place Market, quite a lot, but I think I would have liked it better without the five younger children. I adore my younger siblings and cousins, but a very crowded outdoor market in the summer is not the best place for them.
That being said, it's a wonderful, thrilling place. Art and flowers and coffee and bakeries and people and food and bookstores and fish and more flowers and wow it is cool.
I would looove to go back and spend loads of money on those flowers. They were so pretty. And there was a whole store full of maps!! It was amazing!! Maps everywhere!! Vintage maps, new maps, maps of cities and countries and oceans and everything and I loved it. I could have bought so much there.
It's probably good I had no money, because between the map store and the bookstore and the flowers, I would be broke.
But yeah, I would love to just sit in one of those coffee shops and people watch for hours. There were street musicians (the ones in San Francisco were better, just saying) and some of the most hipster people I have ever seen, and girls in loooots of One Direction garb, and tourists from loads of countries and cute boys and so many people with stories and lives and thoughts and to-do lists. It was crazy and overwhelming and beautiful.
I love Washington state. I love Seattle, I love outside of Seattle. The trees and coffee shops and fresh fruit and the beach (even though it's freezing), the places to explore, the vibes of Washington in general, my cousins... I don't even know, I just love this state a lot. It's wonderful and interesting and beautiful and exciting and I love it.
July 16, 2015
Day 14
Hours on the Road: Yeah, I have literally no clue.
States Traversed: Washington, Idaho
Um. I read fanfiction. All day.
I have no shame. :) Also, Idaho has Cheesecake Factory and suuuper cool hotels. Ours had like, a loft and it was awesome. I would love an apartment that looked just like that hotel room.
That and driving was all that happened. :/
July 17, 2015
Day 15
Hours on the Road: A lot, I presume
States Traversed: Idaho, Utah
Idaho has a Barnes and Noble. That's really all I remember about this day.
I bought Go Set A Watchman. And cried. I'm still not 100% sure about how I felt about that book. I liked it, but I also... I don't know. It didn't connect to To Kill a Mockingbird quite as much as I wanted it to, but I think that's okay? Because the whole process (from what I've heard) of publishing this book was complicated and it wasn't supposed to be published and... I don't know. I still love Scout/Jean Louise and think she's one of the best fictional characters ever. I'm reallyyyyyyyy bitter that Jem wasn't in the book. Same with Dill. And Atticus... Yeah, there was some very personal betrayal there. But I adored reading about Jean Louise dealing with everything and growing up. Even though it didn't go the way I wanted it to, I really loved the part when she stands up to Atticus and becomes her own person, I suppose. There was something super sad and super powerful about it.
So, yeah. It was really interesting, and I think I liked it overall.
I believe this was the day we stopped in Salt Lake City.
And it was probably the sketchiest city I've ever been in. Maybe it was just the evening and next morning that we were there, but there was something distinctly... off about it. Some strange, creepy vibe that had me on edge the whole time.
However, there was a real good pizza and gelato place there. So it wasn't awful. Just weird and creepy.
So if you've had a great experience in Salt Lake City, let me know. Because my gut was saying "Something isn't right, get out," especially the next morning. Was that just me? Is there something universally uncomfortable about Salt Lake City? I have no idea.
July 18, 2015
Day 16
Hours on the Road: All day. Aaaaall day.
States Traversed: Utah, Colorado, Kansas
Day 12
Hours on the Road: 5
States Traversed: Washington
We drove to Whidbey Island, which included a ferry ride, and then spent the day running all over an abandoned WWI fort. There was super intense hide and seek, role playing Star Wars, exploration of pitch-black corridors, and climbing on rooftops.
It was wonderful.
Eventually we wanted to go to the beach, so we went behind the fort and ta-da! ocean.
The water was freezing, again. Sigh.
But there was loads and loads of driftwood, so instead of swimming/wading, we built our own fort. Someone had started it, we just cleared it out and expanded. A lot. We gave it at least twice the area, and probably added a foot of height.
It was so legit, and I am very proud of that fort.
This day was probably the best day of the entire summer.
Like, running around, climbing over driftwood, exploring, just being a kid... My soul needed it. Wow it was good. Wind and salt and pebbles in your shoes and echoes in ghostly corridors and scrapes on your knees... That is so good for you.
July 15, 2015
Day 13
Hours on the Road: 3, I think?
States Traversed: Washington
We hit up Pike's Place today. You know, where the original Starbucks was (which we didn't go to, because there was a stupidly long line and a local coffee shop like, right around the corner).
There were so. many. people.
Here's the thing, I liked Pike's Place Market, quite a lot, but I think I would have liked it better without the five younger children. I adore my younger siblings and cousins, but a very crowded outdoor market in the summer is not the best place for them.
That being said, it's a wonderful, thrilling place. Art and flowers and coffee and bakeries and people and food and bookstores and fish and more flowers and wow it is cool.
I would looove to go back and spend loads of money on those flowers. They were so pretty. And there was a whole store full of maps!! It was amazing!! Maps everywhere!! Vintage maps, new maps, maps of cities and countries and oceans and everything and I loved it. I could have bought so much there.
It's probably good I had no money, because between the map store and the bookstore and the flowers, I would be broke.
But yeah, I would love to just sit in one of those coffee shops and people watch for hours. There were street musicians (the ones in San Francisco were better, just saying) and some of the most hipster people I have ever seen, and girls in loooots of One Direction garb, and tourists from loads of countries and cute boys and so many people with stories and lives and thoughts and to-do lists. It was crazy and overwhelming and beautiful.
I love Washington state. I love Seattle, I love outside of Seattle. The trees and coffee shops and fresh fruit and the beach (even though it's freezing), the places to explore, the vibes of Washington in general, my cousins... I don't even know, I just love this state a lot. It's wonderful and interesting and beautiful and exciting and I love it.
July 16, 2015
Day 14
Hours on the Road: Yeah, I have literally no clue.
States Traversed: Washington, Idaho
Um. I read fanfiction. All day.
I have no shame. :) Also, Idaho has Cheesecake Factory and suuuper cool hotels. Ours had like, a loft and it was awesome. I would love an apartment that looked just like that hotel room.
That and driving was all that happened. :/
July 17, 2015
Day 15
Hours on the Road: A lot, I presume
States Traversed: Idaho, Utah
Idaho has a Barnes and Noble. That's really all I remember about this day.
I bought Go Set A Watchman. And cried. I'm still not 100% sure about how I felt about that book. I liked it, but I also... I don't know. It didn't connect to To Kill a Mockingbird quite as much as I wanted it to, but I think that's okay? Because the whole process (from what I've heard) of publishing this book was complicated and it wasn't supposed to be published and... I don't know. I still love Scout/Jean Louise and think she's one of the best fictional characters ever. I'm reallyyyyyyyy bitter that Jem wasn't in the book. Same with Dill. And Atticus... Yeah, there was some very personal betrayal there. But I adored reading about Jean Louise dealing with everything and growing up. Even though it didn't go the way I wanted it to, I really loved the part when she stands up to Atticus and becomes her own person, I suppose. There was something super sad and super powerful about it.
So, yeah. It was really interesting, and I think I liked it overall.
I believe this was the day we stopped in Salt Lake City.
And it was probably the sketchiest city I've ever been in. Maybe it was just the evening and next morning that we were there, but there was something distinctly... off about it. Some strange, creepy vibe that had me on edge the whole time.
However, there was a real good pizza and gelato place there. So it wasn't awful. Just weird and creepy.
So if you've had a great experience in Salt Lake City, let me know. Because my gut was saying "Something isn't right, get out," especially the next morning. Was that just me? Is there something universally uncomfortable about Salt Lake City? I have no idea.
July 18, 2015
Day 16
Hours on the Road: All day. Aaaaall day.
States Traversed: Utah, Colorado, Kansas
Um, I read more of Go Set a Watchman. And cried. And ate leftover pizza. And slept. And was really excited to get out of that car. And tweeted about Go Set a Watchman. That's really about it. It was a lot of driving and lounging and everyone being ready to be home.
Coming home after a trip is bittersweet. It's sad because it's an adventure ending, but the comfort of driving under stars you know and streets you have memorized is so beautiful. Even though I am someone who loves traveling and honestly wants to leave for college and spend years of my life in different places and cities and countries, I think Wichita will always be home. I have so much history and love invested in this city. In late nights and sunrises and adventures and doughnut shops and theatres and soccer games and churches and Wal-Marts. In my Grandma's backyard, in the house where Kensi and Mac were born, in Trinity and CYT and the library. That moment when we get to the tollbooth right before Kellogg, when we exit off 35... every time we come home, that moment makes me feel safe and peaceful and at home, in a way that no where else can emulate. And I love that.
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