Summer 2017 Road Trip
- Mallery Zion
- Oct 3, 2017
- 3 min read
On the 3rd of August 2017, driving my trusty 2006 Pontiac Torrent, two of my best friends and I started out early in the morning on I-70 E from Kansas City, Missouri towards good-memories-ville.
Less than an hour in, we stopped at a lonesome gas station. The young woman at the counter admired my nail polish and asked about the brand, followed by me finding out that that was because she wanted to do her own nails for her upcoming wedding. A DIY gal - I approve. I hope she had a great celebration of love, and that her marriage is starting off sweet! It's so neat that I was most likely a tiny part of her big day. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail.
Highway hypnosis? White line fever? Gone. Sayonara. Adios. Auf Weidersehen.
The anecdote? A good shuffle on the AUX of songs you know all the words to, with some more than occasional Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz sprinkled in.
125 miles later, and it's time to stop in college town Columbia, MO for gas. Blending into COMO broke-college-kid essence perfectly, it's also time to fill up the gas tank with a variation of acquired QuikTrip gift cards.
Dear QT, you are a gift to us Kansas Citians, and we desperately need you throughout the midwest.
31 miles down US Highway 63 S, and we've arrived in Jefferson City, MO - our state capitol! I could practically hear the Flowering Dogwood trees blossoming at this point as we were driving down Main Street with the capitol building upon the horizon.
We spent more time here than I had planned, mostly because we spent a good hunk of time searching for an entrance to the whispering gallery up in the very top of the dome. Turns out you have to get in touch with your local rep, somehow go to the capitol with them, and only they can take you up there. Even the employee I talked to had never been up there. I have always wanted to experience a whispering gallery!
I -- the park geek, history enthusiast, and nature nerd -- was also excessively thrilled to have the Missouri State Museum be the first stamp in my Missouri State Parks Centennial Passport. Ta-Da!
Stamps are the best. They are so satisfying. I desperately hope that the state parks and historic sites keep the stamps even after the passport completion competition is over with.
Every individual should take the time at some point to go and see their state's capitol and history. It was definitely a long awaited day for me, and I was very admirative of being within the significance.
Onward we go! Southward we go! If one is not a "flexible" or "spontaneous" roadtripper, I highly encourage exercising those traits.
Stopping for various small towns, interesting signs, and obvious variance compared to one's own day-to-day life is what makes a road trip worthwhile. Exploring, not sticking to an itinerary, getting lost, encountering thrills - those are what you will tell stories about.
Exercise of Spontaneity 101: Stop for Scenic Overlooks
62 miles further down US Highway 63 S, we reach another major life goal.
Break out the Chuck Berry. Pop Cars into the DVD player.
Give us an honorary biker jacket to stick a patch on.
"Get your kicks, on Route 66"
We are finally in Rolla, MO. We've been wanting to come down here all summer - it is the coastal destination of the Show Me State!
Fugitive Beach
37°51'0.172"N - 91°42'13.081"W
I highly suggest jumping off the highest cliff dive (pictured by my left hand in the picture of my "invisible water basketball game").
It doesn't matter if it's 5 feet or 30 feet, your body will try to hold you back. I'm not scared of much, and truly am an adrenaline junkie, but free falling is virtually unbeatable in scare factor. It is also extremely exhilarating. The best way to tackle it really is to just look straight out and just don't stop walking. I, of course, stood at the edge and contemplated.
But then I overpowered my mind and jumped anyways. We all did. We drove all day to (safely) hurl ourselves off a cliff.
Do what scares you! Do what thrills you!
Remember: Stray from your itinerary.
Take pitstops anywhere that looks interesting!
Get lost. Overcome mistakes.
P.S. Please do not jump off of just any cliff!
Most importantly, bring along friends who will: sing along to the best of the best songs, have a good laugh over the obstacles you face together, tell stories, have "in-transit therapy" sessions, and who have the urge to adventure.
• And remember to thank them afterwards •
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