Day 18: Turkey Run Fun

Indiana has some of the best state parks around, and Turkey Run is at the very top of the list. (I know you agree, Nancy S.!) Seriously, I think the state has done a brilliant job of keeping them a secret from the rest of the country, preserving them for the state's residents. I have many wonderful memories in a couple of them from my college years, and now I have a fantastic day with my family to add to the bank.

We tramped through gorges (with names like Boulder Canyon, Falls Canyon and Rocky Hollow), splashing in the small streams and climbing up significant sandstone rocks and cuts. Our total distance was around three miles, but with all of the ladders, climbs and jumps, it was an impressive work-out. Kelsey blazed the trail for us, and Kendall didn't miss a step (or a chance to chatter incessantly about all she was seeing). After descending a particularly steep section, I commented to her that she was a mountain goat. She replied, "No, Mommy, I'm a white unicorn with a pink horn." Hmmm, how'd I get that wrong?!

Our one mishap on the trail was when we tried to "bush-whack" down to Sugar Creek for a picnic. In our defense, we headed out onto a small but existing track. We knew we were in trouble when we felt stings and cuts on our bare legs, but we pushed on another couple of yards, believing the water was just ahead. It was...but 20 feet down a steeply undercut drop-off. So back through the slicing plants we went. Poor Kelsey caught the worst of it, with some nasty welts that burned for quite a while. We dumped most of our remaining water onto our legs to remove some of the plant oils, but time was the best healer. Thank goodness we weren't more allergic, as we were quite a way from help.

Our shoes may dry out in a month or two...we (especially Kelsey, see last photo below) didn't miss a single opportunity to jump into a rocky pool or splash down a small waterfall. We're wiped out from the fun and will head to bed early. Tomorrow morning we'll pack up the camper and leave it here in Crawfordsville for the next four days while we're in Indianapolis with friends. A change of pace will be nice, but we're really enjoying our home-on-wheels and find it to be as perfect for this trip as we'd hoped.

On the trail

The trails are accessed by a suspension bridge straight out of an Indiana Jones movie (it crossed Sugar Creek, on which we canoed yesterday)

Day 17: Peace Like a River

When life feels like a hamster wheel, try a canoe trip on Sugar Creek! Our 3-mile float this morning was the start to a great day. The trip lasted 2.5 hours, and we spent the time reflecting on the roadtrip thus far, watching for a blue heron that tagged along near us, and listening to true quiet (a lost ingredient in regular life). One minor bump into a tree brought Kendall crashing forward into Stan's seat, but her sore tooth is much better tonight. She's been such a trooper on this trip. And Kelsey was taking pictures left and right (some of the canoe pics in today's post are hers). She loved every minute of the adventure.

Following hot showers to wash off all the sunscreen and bugspray, we visited the Lew Wallace Museum in Crawfordsville. He was a Major General in the Civil War (and played a part in preventing the capture of D.C. by Confederate troops). In the years after the war, he returned home to Crawfordsville and embarked on what he later termed "the greatest accomplishment" of his life: the writing of the novel "Ben-Hur." It received world-wide acclaim and became the highest selling book of the 19th century. We visited the museum because we've watched the 1959 movie "Ben Hur" the last two years in the week leading up to Easter, and it's become a very important and powerful piece of our Holy Week. In addition to the glimpse into Wallace's life, it also was fun to see a few set pieces from the movie, which starred Charlton Heston (one word: chiseled!).

The day wrapped up in a wonderful evening spent with Mike and Pam Uhl, longtime friends from my Editor days. They pastor a church here in Crawfordsville, and tonight they ministered to us...a delicious meal, loving on our kids, sharing so many precious stories about family--theirs and ours. We'll go to bed tonight very tired from a full day, yet filled up by friends' love.

Sing with us..."Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream."

Gen. Wallace's Study (i.e. man-cave!)

Pam and Mike

Day 16: A Walk Down Memory Lane (and across the bridge)

The family was very patient and gracious today, letting me prattle on about my DePauw memories as we traipsed the length and breadth of the beautiful campus. I was pleasantly surprised by how little it had changed. Yes, some buildings are gone, and others are new or refaced. But I could still find my way to the boulder (had fun telling Kelsey about that tradition!) and on into Bowman Park (thinking of my nap-buddy, Ellen!). I was disappointed by the girl who showed us into the dorms. She's a Latin major, but she could really benefit from some communication classes. Heaven help the school if she's indicative of the current student body--which I highly doubt. I left the campus this afternoon very grateful for my years there and for the lifetime of benefits I gained...education, friends, experiences. It's like childbirth; you forget the pain of student loans, all-nighters in the Roy O. West library, the "freshman 15." The good things stick, the not-so-good just fade away.

I've also found myself thinking of my precious friend and mentor Barbara Blankinship. She attended DePauw in the 60s, and we've always enjoyed that connection. Praying for you and your road to recovery, BB.

After dropping a painful wad of cash in the bookstore for sweatshirts, etc. (when I graduated, didn't I swear I'd never spend another dime in there?!), we headed for Parke county, the "Covered Bridge Capital." In a couple hours of navigating tiny roads with fun twists and turns, we bagged 12 of the county's 39 bridges. I can't speak for Clint Eastwood or Meryl Streep, but we're sure Parke county would give Madison a run for its money any day!

Lucy Rowland Hall (freshman dorm)

Tomorrow, a reunion with a wonderful friend, and possibly a float trip on Sugar Creek. Yea!

East College

lawn in front of Performing Arts Center

Admiring Ellen Royse Lapierre, '93, in the DPU Athletic Hall of Fame. You Rock, El!

 2 of our 12 bridges

 

Day 15: In the Hoosier State

I'm aging backwards being in Indiana again! Hard to believe it's been so long since my college years here. Illinois saw us out the door with violent storms early this morning, but the skies cleared as we headed east. We rolled into our beautiful campground in Crawfordsville around 2 pm and, after setting up the camper, had plenty of time to explore and wade in the rushing water of Sugar Creek (20 yards from our door), go for a bike ride and hunt for fossils. Yes, the ground around us is a fossil bed...plants, small shell creatures, insects. We've collected a rock from each of the states we've visited so far. I think we'll have a hard time picking just one in Indiana; the girls want to keep every one they pick up!

We've had a yummy meal and, in honor of our arrival here, are all squeezed onto the couch watching "Hoosiers," one of my all-time favorite movies. If you haven't seen it in a while, it's worth revisiting.

Tomorrow we'll go 30 miles south to Greencastle, home of good ol' DePauw University! I'm so excited to see it again, although I'm sure much has changed since 1993. We have an appointment with a student "host" to visit my freshman dorm and see my former sorority house (it's become a dorm in recent years). So many happy memories. Go Tigers!

Kelsey and Kendall moving the creek

Kendall was very thoughtful, pushing Daddy around the campground with her tag-along!

Kelsey had a blast riding through mud puddles on her bike and showing off the splatter afterward :-)

Day 14: Pipe Dreams

What a wonderful morning! We enjoyed the worship service, especially the music, at First Presbyterian, Springfield. The congregation was very welcoming, and we admired the seven Tiffany windows gracing the sanctuary. The Lincolns' pew sits in the narthex, although the sanctuary at the time of their attendance was torn down and replaced by the current one in the mid-1860s. (The present sanctuary was the site of Mary Todd Lincoln's funeral in 1882.)

The best part, however, was meeting Dr. Rudolf Zuiderveld, the church's organist and a recently retired professor of music at nearby Illinois College. We had a few minutes of conversation with him before the service; when he learned that Kelsey is keeping up with her piano practice thanks to a small keyboard in the camper, he invited her to the balcony after service to play the incredible Brombaugh pipe organ! Not only did he let her play it, he gave us 45 minutes of his time, demonstrating the enormous variety of sounds the 3,250-pipe organ can make and playing some absolutely beautiful music. Dr. Zuiderveld couldn't have been more gracious to us, and Kelsey was so excited by the experience. He commented on her touch with the keys and her natural musicality, encouraging her to keep playing and having fun with music. Then he had her sign the organ's guestbook. What a rich time of inspiration and entertainment for all of us!

After a quick lunch at a sandwich shop (thanks, Bryants!), a few more of the brass rubbings and a diesel fill-up, we headed back to the campground for some pre-trip cleaning and a fierce game of Clue. We hope you've enjoyed your Sunday, too.

The Brombaugh Organ, First Presbyterian Church of Springfield

Dr. Rudolf (Rudy) Zuiderveld

The concert begins!

The Lincolns' pew

Kendall disappeared in the late afternoon...and we finally found her!

Day 13: Home Sweet Home

We stayed put all day, but the day ended up being full anyway! Tennis, bikes and lots of time on the playground helped burn off energy in little legs. And naps in the afternoon built it back up again. High points in the day were our conversations via Skype/Facetime with John/Gail and Nancy. What a blessing to have such technology! This trip would be so much harder on our hearts if we weren't able to see Grandma, Grandpa and Granny. To that list we must add our dogs, Bella and Midnight. For those of you who don't share our love of dogs, please bear with us! Nancy held up the computer so they could see and hear us. It was so funny to see them cock their ears in recognition of our voices. Bella kept circling the table, trying to find us behind the computer!

Rain storms blew in this afternoon, making our naps even better. We expect the same weather pattern tomorrow, so we hope we'll have time to snag a few more medallion rubbings (see day 10) before the rain begins. We'll worship at First Presbyterian Church of Springfield. It's called the Lincoln church because Abe and Mary were regular attendees during their years in the town. Looking forward to it and our last day in Springfield.

Day 12: Time Travel

Today we journeyed 20 miles north to New Salem, the village in which Lincoln found his calling to the law and politics after dabbling in many other trades. Arriving at the age of 22, he lived there for six years; it was his first "permanent" stop after leaving his family in Indiana. He stumbled upon the village while piloting a flat-bottomed boat (a small craft, not a paddle-wheeler) full of goods down the Sangamon river. His boat became temporarily stuck on a sandbar next to the village's sawmill. After delivering his load to New Orleans, he returned to New Salem and made a living performing odd jobs (such as rail-splitting, an enduring image that was played up during his various campaigns). Over the six years, he was a worker in the mill, co-owner of a store (it failed), postmaster, deputy surveyor (with no training!) and a stint in the military. In his spare time, he read everything he could get his hands on, often traveling more than 10 miles to pick up an available book. Although formal education over his life barely equaled 12 months, he was known as one of the brightest minds of his time. And as his education developed, so did his pull toward law and politics. He left New Salem to open a law office in Springfield and serve in the state legislature.

New Salem was abandoned just a couple of years following Lincoln's departure; it's believed that a flood changed the course of the Sangamon, making the mill inoperable and depriving the community of its ability to easily transport goods in and out. When its residents moved on, they literally took apart their homes and carted them away...it was easier to do that than to chop down so many trees to rebuild. Because of that action, the town all but vanished...one shop building remained, along with chimneys and foundations. In the early 1930s, a group of Lincoln devotees raised money and rebuilt the town, following notes and other sources about the town. Today, it holds 24 structures, all set up according to the individual businesses that once existed there. A living history site, it's interpretted by village folk dressed as they would have been in the 1850s. The carding mill, in which raw wool was combed into spinning-ready wool, contains one of only three carding machines from 1850, which were special as they were operated by two oxen walking on a tilted wheel (see picture below). The other two such mills are in Poland and Russia!

We stopped on the way home to see Lincoln's grave; it's an imposing and very moving place. The rest of our day involved lots of water, beach towels and sunscreen. Gotta love summer. :-)

The recreated saw mill (minus its wheel) in which Lincoln began his working years in New Salem. There's water around it due to the flood conditions; otherwise, the river is usually 100 yards beyond the building.

Carding mill. The machine (below) is on the first level; the giant wheel on which oxen walked to power the equipment sits in the sheltered space at the back.

Kelsey and Kendall sporting new bonnets. They wore them

the rest of the day!

Lincoln's tomb. Through the central door are large rooms containing statues, bronze plaques with speech highlights, and a large marble marker over his grave. His wife and two of his four sons are buried there, as well. Sidenote: the bronze sculpture of his face, in the foreground, was made by Gutzon Borglum, the creator of Mt. Rushmore.

Day 11: Over the river and through the woods...

Whew! What a day. We got an early start to St. Louis to beat the heat, wind and crowds at the Gateway Arch, which commemorates St. Louis as the launching point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Oregon, California and Santa Fe Trails and the general expansion of our nation westward. Our ride up the Arch was amazing, so many spans of stairs alternating with spiral stairs to accomodate the shape of the structure. Small cars that seat five form trains creep up the inside of each leg. And the views at the top (630 ft) were beautifully clear in all directions. Beneath the Arch, which sits on an elevated bank of the Mississippi River, is a large complex of theaters, museum and giftshops. We particularly enjoyed the documentary on the building of the Arch in the 1960s, and the giant-screen showing of a 45-minute re-enactment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (highlights, obviously!).

The national park system operates the entire site as well as "The Old Courthouse," a block away, in which the Dred Scott Civil Rights case was heard in the 1850s. Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom and ultimately won at the state level. The state appealed it to the Supreme Court, which ruled against Scott, stating (paraphrased) that slavery was an innate quality or trait of the black person. The ruling created huge reactions across the country as it basically erradicated the Missouri Compromise and was one of the matches that lit the fire for the Civil War. The courtroom in which the case was tried is open to visitors. Kids, as part of their junior ranger program, are encouraged to say "Hear ye, hear ye" at a certain spot in the room to hear the natural accoustics. Kelsey performed the assignment beautifully and was duly impressed by the way the room carried her voice. And then Kendall stepped forward and said in her best courtroom voice, "Harry Potter," her interpretation of "Hear ye, Hear ye." We cracked up, trying to control ourselves in the place where so much agonizing deliberation took place. :-)

Our final stop for the day was the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, south of downtown St. Louis. It features White Haven, the home in which Grant and his wife began and raised their family in the years leading up to his post as commanding general for the Union and later the Presidency. Following the crowds and chaos of the Arch area, we truly enjoyed the peace and quiet of the wooded acres at the Grant farm. And now we're relaxing in the camper, windows wide open thanks to a cool day, looking forward to a slower pace tomorrow.
Pics in random order.

St. Louis as seen from the top of the Arch. The Old Courthouse is front and center.

On the steps of the Courthouse

At the top!

Picnic beneath the Arch...Stan and girls lower right

In the tram, getting ready to descend.

The Grants' home, White Haven, in its authentic (to the Grant time) green color.

Day 10: Tracking the Footsteps of Greatness

A no-news newsflash: our 16th president was an unbelievable man of principle, courage and integrity. He also was a devoted father and beyond-patient husband (Mary put him in some terrible and very awkward financial predicaments over the years of their marriage). We were surprisingly moved to stand inside Lincoln's home today and look at his writing desk, upon which he drafted his first Inaugural Address (which he had to rewrite from notes when his son lost the original on the way to D.C.!). The home is part of the National Park system, and the visitor center has fantastic videos that lay out Lincoln's history and legacy in ways that were meaningful to all four of us. The streets around the home are pedestrian-only, and actors in period costume wander the streets and engage visitors in conversation about Lincoln's days in Springfield. Luckily for the actors in their many-layered clothing, today was almost cool (high of 75) compared to many June days.

One of the more unusual qualities in Lincoln was his ability to let insults and nasty comments roll right off of him. And we're realizing that today's politic rhetoric is very tame compared to the mudslinging in earlier years of our country's political history. In one funny retort, upon being called two-faced, he said "Do you think if I had two faces, I'd be wearing this one?" He considered himself very unattractive, even ugly, but didn't let that opinion of himself become an obsession or a deterrant to his work. What a concept.

We also had fun with Springfield's "Looking for Lincoln" exhibit: signs with photos and information about the city and Lincoln in the 1840s and 50s have been placed around town, and each contains an artistic medallion meant to be rubbed (crayon on paper). There are more than 100 of them, and we found 20 just this afternoon. 

A final highlight of our day was the time we spent in the Old Illinois State House, now a museum with many activities offered throughout the day. We were looking at the legislative chamber, where Lincoln spent a lot of time as a State Representative, when a singing group in period dress assembled for a 20-minute concert right there in the chamber. They opened up the floor, which had been behind ropes, and Kelsey got to sit right next to Lincoln's chair/desk! It's the empty space to the left of Kelsey in the photo below. The concert was great, too. :-)

That's it for today. The kids are looking forward to watching lightning bugs later tonight. They're hard at work on school stuff at the moment, and it's time to throw together some dinner. Tomorrow, St. Louis.

Lincoln home (roof repair underway)

rubbing the brass medallions

next to Lincoln's seat in Legislative chamber

Old State House

Day 9: High Water; Low Fuel

What a beautiful drive today! Eastern Missouri is a blend of lush farmland, layered rock through which the road was cut, rolling hills, and towering trees with undergrowth so thick you can picture Daniel Boone and his cronies pushing their way through the wilderness. Boone is in the forefront of our thoughts today because we listened to a great audiocast of A&E's Biography...about Daniel Boone! His final years (age 70-85) were spent in Missouri. But the bulk of his life was in North Carolina and later Kentucky, which he helped explore and then settle. Due to a variety of causes, top of which was a refusal to follow the government's rules regarding land warrants, he reached his 70s without an acre to his name, even though he'd had a hand in the development of so much land. The many thousands of acres he'd accumulated over the course of time had been subsequently lost over the same periods. A final parcel of property was a gift from the government to the 75-year-old Boone, brought about by the pleading of locals who felt Boone was "owed." All that to say, we really enjoyed the drive and the audiocast!

Illinois, on the other hand, especially the 20 miles closest to the Mississippi, was terribly flooded...so sad to see. And two levies on the Missouri, just north of where we were in K.C., broke yesterday. It's really a desperate situation in many of the low-lying areas. We're glad to have gotten across the land between the two great rivers, although in the next few weeks we're sure to see other places hit by high water.

Our major stop of the day was Hannibal, Missouri, childhood home of Mark Twain. As expected, the town had plenty of kitschy Americana, but it made a sweet impression. We hiked up a steep bluff that overlooks the Mississippi (all my DPU girls should know that I'm dying to pronounce it the "real" way!!) and walked around some of the ol' timey spots. See photos below.

After our legs were sufficiently stretched and our tummies happy after our picnic lunch, we climbed back into the truck...and made a near-disastrous mistake. We believed that I-72, which we'd reach on the other side of the river, was sure to have more fuel options since it likely was a larger trucking route than little old US 36 on the Missouri side. And so we passed by the convenient fuel stations outside of Hannibal and headed into Illinois. Major oops. We finally rolled into the first available truckstop 30 miles outside of Springfield; our truck's computer told us we had enough fuel/fumes for fewer than three more miles. Needless to say, we'd been holding our breath for the previous 40 miles or so! We won't make that mistake again, especially when we're hooked up to "Teensie."

We're now settled into a wonderful campground south of Springfield and have eaten a yummy dinner and gone for a bike ride around camp. After four nights in a row of bad storms and tornado watches, I think we'll all sleep really well tonight. Thanks to all who've posted and sent such nice emails! The contact means so much to all of us. Tomorrow, we'll launch into the Lincoln sites in Springfield. I'll try to keep the honest Abe stories to a minimum. 'Night, all.

It's Tom, Huck and their newest (and cutest) friends

no caption needed :-)

flooding in Illinois

Day 8: Laughed til I cried...and then the reverse

We had a wide-open day with no specific plans. A bit of cleaning and organizing to make life in close quarters a bit more managable, and a solid chunk of school (math for Kelsey, the letter "F" for Kendall!) left us with plenty of time to take the kids to "Mr Poppers Penguins," a delightful new movie. All four of us really enjoyed it, and Stan and I were even more amused watching/listening to the kids' laughter. So cute.

Back at the camper, my humor was soon gone as I battled our printer...establish a connection, paper jams, you-name-it. And at the end of my sanity, I still didn't have a working printer! Stan had the girls at the pool, so they weren't witness to my hissy fit. :-)

We've gotten a few more chores done this evening in preparation for our departure tomorrow...we have about a five-hour drive ahead of us and would like to make it two-thirds of the way--to Hannibal, MO--around lunchtime. It's the town along the Mississippi in which Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) grew up; many of his most memorable characters (Tom, Becky, Huck) and their locations were inspired by his experiences in Hannibal. The town has made the most of its commercial opportunity..."The" Tom Sawyer Cave in which Tom and Becky make live appearances, a couple of Mark Twain one-man shows, a paddle boat tour...but we'll stop just long enough for our picnic and then push on to Illinois. We'll be in the Springfield area for six nights.

Day 7: Pews and Trenches

Happy Father's Day! We loved the worship service at Colonial Presbyterian this morning. The congregation was incredibly warm and welcoming. And aside from the distraction of the gentleman in front of us who clipped his nails throughout the sermon (!), the morning was renewing...just what our spirits needed.

Following a delicious lunch in a fun "riverwalk" area of Kansas City (we want to come back sometime and explore it), we drove into the heart of downtown to the Liberty tower and National World War I museum. It's possibly the best hands-on, technology-utilizing (and tech-friendly!) museum we've ever experienced. From life-size models of trenches and bomb craters to an amazing collection of cannons, weapons and troop unit memoribilia, it was an engaging place that illustrated the vast complexities of World War I. Kelsey really enjoyed the documentaries and other film pieces that complemented the exhibits; Kendall's favorite element was a video table that was controlled by infra-red pens. (She kept trying to find Disney Channel on one of the screens!)

The trench warfare of WWI was beyond our imagining...mud and death were inescapable--and often related. The Western Front trenches covered a length of France equal to 475 miles and created a stalemate for nearly three years. What we now call PTSD was rampant..."shell-shock" is how they referred to it, and there was no treatment or therapy. Air combat had its beginning then, too. Years later, the Snoopy "Red Baron" character was based on the WWI Flying Aces of Britain and Germany. America entered the war reluctantly; the final straw was an intercepted message from Germany to Mexico, guaranteeing the return of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to Mexican control if that country would engage the U.S. in war and distract us from the war in Europe. The egomaniacs in control at that time were unbelievable!

On a lighter note, we believe there's a fertility additive in the water here; everywhere we look, there are countless infants, toddlers and pregnant women. (Good thing we're "immunized"!) We've enjoyed Kansas City's youth and energy, and have found the people to be very friendly. We won't talk about the scary, stormy nights!

The 22-story Liberty Tower at the Museum complex. Notice Stan at the base.

The tower's observation deck. Mom and Mom, you would have hated it!

Day 6: Show us the Show Me state

The storms followed us across the state line into Missouri. Huge bummer. But God came, too, and kept us safe. Huge praise. We expect more severe weather tonight, and the forecast calls for large hail. We won't let it ruin the fun we had today.

For starters, it was nice to drive just 10 miles to our destination...a vast improvement over the mileage of the last few days. Independence, Missouri, was the hometown of President Harry Truman. It's now the location of his Presidential library and museum, and his house of more than 60 years (to which he returned following his years in office) is now in the National Park System. The girls did their work for a junior ranger badge...Stan and I always learn as much as the kids in the junior ranger process. In fact, we've become a bit dejected to realize just how much of our education has slipped out of our sieve-like brains over the years. We had forgotten most of the momentous items from Truman's time in office. A few highlights: Truman initiated the Berlin Airlift during the Soviet blockade, saving the city's occupants from starvation or the alternative of Soviet rule. The 277,000 flights of food and supplies were unprecedented. Truman also was the first world leader to formally recognize Israel (standing against many US big-wigs in the process). The political climate then seems to be coming full circle today, as current headlines are virtual repeats of 60 years ago: Military involvement on multiple fronts, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, North Korean posturing, contentious politics and infighting (with a large emphasis on poll numbers), threats from developing weapons technology and the potential of its use in the wrong hands.

It's no wonder Truman and his wife wanted to return to their quiet, humble life in Independence, retreating from the world stage with a profound sense of relief. His home was a closely-held sanctuary; even his most trusted friends from Washington rarely felt welcome to stay more than 20 minutes. Only longtime family friends were invited past the formal living room and into the heart of the home. And a fun tidbit about Truman's frugality...in his retirement years, as the home's old kitchen linoleum split, he would get a can of rusty nails from the basement and nail down the edges rather than replace or patch it. The nails are still there!

We miss our friends and family tonight as we anticipate church and Father's Day tomorrow, so far from all those we love.

The Truman home

Day 5: We like Ike

What a night of storms! We were blasted by extreme winds until midnight, when the lightning began--and didn't end until 8 am. We were without power for most of the night. Stan slept through the whole thing; Susan didn't know whether to be scared by what was outside the camper or annoyed by her dearest inside the camper! There were quite a few large branches littering the ground this morning, and many of our neighbors had escaped into nearby hotels.

Our rig was unscathed, and we packed and hooked it up without incident. Our first stop was in nearby Abilene to visit the Eisenhower Library and Museum. As he was "before our time," we weren't familiar with much about his terms in office, much less his earlier years in service to our country: Brigadier General who was tapped as Commander of Allied Forces in WWII, Chief of Staff for the Army, two years as President of Columbia University, head of NATO, and more. He was a humble man; a great documentary in the Library said it well: "The jobs sought him, not the other way around." His efforts at minimizing the nuclear threat during the Cold War, the tough stances he took in support of Civil Rights, his commitment to family (Camp David was named for his grandson) and his strong faith...all new in our understanding of Dwight Eisenhower.

The Eisenhower Center is also the site of the home in which he (along with his five brothers!) spent his formative years. An amazing man.

A brief bit that made us laugh, although it may be a "had to be there" for it to translate...we were pulling through the small town when we had to wait for a car ahead to back out of a curb-front parking place on mainstreet. We were a bit annoyed to see the car then pull forward about five spaces and park again. Our patience ran out when the driver backed up yet again, this time to pull forward a half-block before parking. Susan quipped that it must be a student driver. When we finally got past the car, we cracked up to see a "Student Driver" tag on the license plate. :-)

We're now safely set up in our next home, a little campground on the eastern side of Kansas City. Our family has a name for interstate overpasses and interchanges: spaghetti and meatballs...roads are noodles, vehicles are meatballs. We passed through a real mess of spaghetti and meatballs on our way through KC and were glad to get to the other side without incident. Once again, we're grateful for God's blessing of safety. Our days here may be a bit slower paced; we'll enjoy the pool, make a swing through Costco, celebrate Father's Day at PF Chang's after church at Colonial Presbyterian. We'll also make time for a visit to the Truman library and museum.