We moved to Cambridge in August of 2008 for Ivy to pursue her MBA at Sloan. To make the trip interesting and to show her the middle of the US, where I grew up, we decided pull a Jack Karouac and hit the road.
Day 1
So, after watching our possessions cruise away in a moving truck, we packed the car with our cat and our favorite bonzai and we left San Francisco at 4 AM on a Friday morning.
Day 1
So, after watching our possessions cruise away in a moving truck, we packed the car with our cat and our favorite bonzai and we left San Francisco at 4 AM on a Friday morning.
Because we were aiming for the Ozarks as a our mid-point, we decided to power through to Salt Lake, UT the first day. Unfortunately, probably caused by the good time we were making through the Sierras and the Nevada Salt Flats, our car began to make the most horrendous squealing noise just over the boarding in Utah. Fortunately, thanks to our handy GPS, we were able to make it to the only open repair shop within 80 miles and we met Big John and his friends. They were very helpful and got us underway. Yes, underway on a flatbed to Provo. So, as is typical with epic journeys, it starts of with the Cat, Us, and a truck driver cruising 160 miles in a 114 degree heat with no AC. Speaking of Provo, may I recommend the Wasatch Brewery in Park City?
Day 2
Provo is a nice clean town with a lake, plenty of hiking, BYU, and an Audi dealer. Luckily, though we wanted to stay the weekend, it was just a PVC valve issue on the turbo and we were out of there the next afternoon and on our way through Eastern Utah and into Wyoming. Northeast Utah and Southern Wyoming contain some of the most breath taking and diverse landscapes in the US. The sun set behind us in Wyoming was especially breath taking. Unfortunately, my copilot was asleep and we have no picture to prove that statement.
We crapped out in Sidney (i think) at an underwhelming motel. What the hell, they take cats, sell 6 packs at the front desk, and had a bed.
Day 3
We made it to Omaha for lunch with Warren Buffett at the Upstream Brewing Company. The beer and snacks were very nice at this brewery in the middle of a well restored historic warehouse district. Unfortunately, Warren was a no-show. Guess we should have called ahead.
Oh well, off to Kansas City to stay with my brother Gregory and his family. While there, we made it to the Union Station in Kansas City and the BBQ at Jack Stack Barbecue. The Union Station was a great place to visit and worth stopping by with kids. The barbecue was also very good, but I would recommend hitting up a toothless dive place in the future. The bbq would be comparable and the
price would be much more to your liking.
Day 4
Heading south now, we drove straight down to my childhood farm in West Plains, MO. Well, it was in South Fork. However, if you want to see it on a map, West Plains is the metropolis nearby. (by the way, the West Plains Cross-Country team is a power house. Seriously, check the record books.)
Sorry for not stopping by Laura. We were a day behind and your schedule and ours just did not jive.
While in the W.P. we went to my old farm and dropped in accidentally on the new owners. They were awesome. They shared a beer with me and gave us a guided tour of the place. They had a great respect for what the place was and could be. We shared stories about bugs, snakes, creeks, neighbors, and the initials that were put in the porch cement by my family. If you are ever near South Fork, please drop in on them at ______________.
After there we went back into W.P. for dinner (not much open there after 10 PM) and went to sleep.
Day 5
The next day I showed my wife the high school, country club, and the rest of town. We then went for a 5 mile run (it is very hot and humid there if you did not know) and still had time for lunch.
We left town around 1 PM and headed East to Silver Point, TN. We took the b roads through the Ozarks. Hey, please go visit the Ozarks. It is gorgeous country with some very friendly people who could use the tourist dollars. Honestly, you will not regret a long weekend there.
We cruised to Silver Point going and arrived late.
Day 6 and 7 were in Tennessee
Cookville has Center Lake, a great Thai food restaurant, my Parents and the makings of a good sized town. (they also have my cat, but that is a later event)
Day 8
We headed out from Tenn and ended up in Harrisburg, PA. Harrisburg makes a very nice place to stay on the way to Boston. You really want to rest up before heading into the Appalachian Mountains. On a future visit we found the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, which has comfort food and a worthy beer selection.
Day 9
Getting up relatively early for us, we headed into Cambridge through the Hartford route. It was a scenic and uneventful last leg and we arrived to our new home in the afternoon. Make a note to yourself to get into MA in the morning else face the wrath of the Mass Pike. Also note that our cat "Sprout" rocks . It is either ok with cars or just gives up easily if you ignore it. Either way, it still rocks.
Day 2
Provo is a nice clean town with a lake, plenty of hiking, BYU, and an Audi dealer. Luckily, though we wanted to stay the weekend, it was just a PVC valve issue on the turbo and we were out of there the next afternoon and on our way through Eastern Utah and into Wyoming. Northeast Utah and Southern Wyoming contain some of the most breath taking and diverse landscapes in the US. The sun set behind us in Wyoming was especially breath taking. Unfortunately, my copilot was asleep and we have no picture to prove that statement.
We crapped out in Sidney (i think) at an underwhelming motel. What the hell, they take cats, sell 6 packs at the front desk, and had a bed.
Day 3
We made it to Omaha for lunch with Warren Buffett at the Upstream Brewing Company. The beer and snacks were very nice at this brewery in the middle of a well restored historic warehouse district. Unfortunately, Warren was a no-show. Guess we should have called ahead.
Oh well, off to Kansas City to stay with my brother Gregory and his family. While there, we made it to the Union Station in Kansas City and the BBQ at Jack Stack Barbecue. The Union Station was a great place to visit and worth stopping by with kids. The barbecue was also very good, but I would recommend hitting up a toothless dive place in the future. The bbq would be comparable and the
price would be much more to your liking.Day 4
Heading south now, we drove straight down to my childhood farm in West Plains, MO. Well, it was in South Fork. However, if you want to see it on a map, West Plains is the metropolis nearby. (by the way, the West Plains Cross-Country team is a power house. Seriously, check the record books.)
Sorry for not stopping by Laura. We were a day behind and your schedule and ours just did not jive.
While in the W.P. we went to my old farm and dropped in accidentally on the new owners. They were awesome. They shared a beer with me and gave us a guided tour of the place. They had a great respect for what the place was and could be. We shared stories about bugs, snakes, creeks, neighbors, and the initials that were put in the porch cement by my family. If you are ever near South Fork, please drop in on them at ______________.
After there we went back into W.P. for dinner (not much open there after 10 PM) and went to sleep.
Day 5
The next day I showed my wife the high school, country club, and the rest of town. We then went for a 5 mile run (it is very hot and humid there if you did not know) and still had time for lunch.
We left town around 1 PM and headed East to Silver Point, TN. We took the b roads through the Ozarks. Hey, please go visit the Ozarks. It is gorgeous country with some very friendly people who could use the tourist dollars. Honestly, you will not regret a long weekend there.
We cruised to Silver Point going and arrived late.
Day 6 and 7 were in Tennessee
Cookville has Center Lake, a great Thai food restaurant, my Parents and the makings of a good sized town. (they also have my cat, but that is a later event)
Day 8
We headed out from Tenn and ended up in Harrisburg, PA. Harrisburg makes a very nice place to stay on the way to Boston. You really want to rest up before heading into the Appalachian Mountains. On a future visit we found the Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg, which has comfort food and a worthy beer selection.
Day 9
Getting up relatively early for us, we headed into Cambridge through the Hartford route. It was a scenic and uneventful last leg and we arrived to our new home in the afternoon. Make a note to yourself to get into MA in the morning else face the wrath of the Mass Pike. Also note that our cat "Sprout" rocks . It is either ok with cars or just gives up easily if you ignore it. Either way, it still rocks.
