Daily Stats: Columbia, MO to Boulder, CO (7/5)

Miles travelled: 749 mi. (our longest stretch of driving so far!)

Major roads travelled: I-70, I-70, I-70 ... did I mention I-70?

Facts learned: Missouri ties with Tennessee as the most neighborly state in the US; it borders Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennesee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas (thanks Ibby!). Speed limit increases to 75 mph in Kansas. Boulder, located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, sits at 5,430 feet above sea level.

CD Albums played thus far (in no particular order): Pieces of You (Jewel, 1995), Come Away with Me (Norah Jones, 2002), Moulin Rouge soundtrack (2001), Lying Awake (Ellery, 2006), Life for Rent (Dido, 2002), Ozomatli (1998), Best of Simon & Garfunkel - Greatest Hits, The Beatles 1, random mix albums

Funny lines of the day:

“This trip has been made possible by cruise control.” ~ Ann (somewhere in Kansas)

“I’m tired of being a nomad.” ~ Jenny (somewhere in Kansas)

Shout outs:

-To all our friends in Missouri, thank you for your wonderful well wishes and bits of wisdom.

-Lydia, we wish you safe travels back to Minneapolis!

-Anna, good luck with your move to Denver in September! Next time we pass through, we’ll drop by!

-Rob and Kathy, thank you for inspiring us with your love, enthusiasm, and generosity. We were so sad to leave you yesterday! Until the next visit ...

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=453862&id=737260531&l=3e2019bcb1

Daily Stats: Pittsburgh, PA to Ann Arbor, MI (6/30)

University of Michigan medical buildings and field at twilight

Miles travelled: 286 mi.

Major roads travelled: I-76, I-80

Destination facts learned: The electrocardiogram and the polio vaccine were invented at the University of Michigan. / The arboretum of Ann Arbor, often referred to as the “Arb,” is huge ... very huge. / It stays light outside extremely late into the evening in the summer time here. (I was convinced it was 6 pm until I looked at my cell phone clock, which read 9:45 pm.)

Funny lines of the day:

“It has been shown that if children are hungry, they will eat [vegetables].” ~ Yaseen (on training young children who refuse to eat vegetables)

“You can’t miss it here. Look, there’s another one. The march of the Prius.” ~ Yaseen (on the overwhelming number of hybrid vehicles in Ann Arbor)

Shout outs:

-We are deeply indebted to Yaseen Oweis, Prince of Huron Towers, and his trusty steed, the Diplomat. No where else on this fine earth have we encountered such resourcefulness and ingenuity ... or as many working computers in a palace boasting the greenest view of all of Ann Arbor.

-Amanda, YiJia, Oliver, and Ivy--what a beautiful family! Thanks for having us over to your lovely home.

Link to Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=452710&id=737260531&l=b21ede451e