PS, I thought this was totally funny, because this is right by my sister's apartment. We just can't get away from Fair Lawn. HAHA
The second day was by far an easier drive than the first leg. haha I went from Urbana to St. Louis, where I met up with Dave (MomentoMori from ImportPassion. He was kind enough to take me around the city and play tourguide. :)
This is my approach into the city. I think I'm crossing the Mississippi river, actually. I was going kinda fast and didn't really get a good shot off. I forgot my phone in the car, plus my batteries were running low, so this is the only shot of STL that i got.
I got to walk through the STL arch, the gateway to the West. hehe That thing is pretty big. And then it was time to hit the road again.
I got on the road just as the sun was setting...tried to get a few shots off.
From St. Louis I was going to Kansas City, KS. For some reason I had thought that the drive was only going to be about 3 hours, but Dave told me I was looking at close to 5. haha ooops. Well, the road was good to me, and I made it to my destination in about 4 hours. :) It was a night of pushing the limits, as my phone battery was on its last breath...and so was my gas tank. I wanted to make it to KC on one tank of gas from STL...definitely milking it for all its worth.
In KC I stayed with Suzy, also a friend from 7thG. Since I absolutely HAD to have real KC bbq, Suzy ended up skipping class on Monday and taking me to a local favorite. We went to OK Joes, it did not disappoint.
Before (I actually already finished off one of the ribs before I remembered to take a photo lol)...
...after
Dan enjoying the 'Q
(PS - Dan needs a shave...badly)
So, after the very filling meal, it was again time to hit the road. As opposed to the first 2 legs, this last one was going to be pretty much just through Kansas. The other legs took me through at least 3 states...lol I was warned numerous times to pack a lot of good CD's, as I would need them to stay sane while driving through Kansass. I defied all and continued on sans music...for most of the drive. Towards the end, like the last 3 hours or so, I had to put something on. lol
I gotta say though, KS had some real good photo ops. I took a few pix with my film camera, but these are what I got with my phone.
Excuse the filthy windshield...the roads were friggin straight and long...
...but very picturesque
Approaching sunset...
The sunset, when it got there, was pretty amazing. I wanted to find the perfect spot to take a few shots...I was looking for a "western" looking tree, blowing in the wind (the wind was crazy)...and I kind of found it, but I took those photos with the other camera lol
...being the "pro" photographer that I am, I got into some prickly weeds in trying to get the shot.
Those fuckers hurt.
Once the sun set I just focused on the driving. There really wasn't much else to take pix of...I mean, its Kansas for crying out loud. haha ;)
Finally!
...and then I had another 2 hours of driving to go. lol
Now...this might seem like a random picture, but its not.
Anyway, in CO I passed by the truck again. This time the cab was white, so our romance was over. But it was fun wondering from NJ up to that point...."Is it? Could it be? What are the odds?" haha
When I got to CO, I crashed for the night with Scott, my big brother and college roommate. Then this morning (Tuesday), I headed out to check into my apartment. :) woo hoo!!
Leg 2: Urbana, IL -> Lawrence, KS via St. Louis (475 miles) - 8.75 hours minus ~2 hours in STL.
Leg 3: KC - Denver, CO (573-599 miles) - ~8 hours minus an hour or so for pictures and gas stops.
Total Miles driven: 1,940-1,960 miles
-------------------------
The apartment is pretty chill. I'm on the first floor, so I have this little patio. Its not very big, and real empty right now. But this is what it looks like. I think I can call it home for now. :)
Living Room, with whatever I was able to fit in the car
...thats the "dining room" view through the kitchen.
The end...(for now).
In KC I stayed with Suzy, also a friend from 7thG. Since I absolutely HAD to have real KC bbq, Suzy ended up skipping class on Monday and taking me to a local favorite. We went to OK Joes, it did not disappoint.
Before (I actually already finished off one of the ribs before I remembered to take a photo lol)...
...after
Dan enjoying the 'Q
(PS - Dan needs a shave...badly)
So, after the very filling meal, it was again time to hit the road. As opposed to the first 2 legs, this last one was going to be pretty much just through Kansas. The other legs took me through at least 3 states...lol I was warned numerous times to pack a lot of good CD's, as I would need them to stay sane while driving through Kansass. I defied all and continued on sans music...for most of the drive. Towards the end, like the last 3 hours or so, I had to put something on. lol
I gotta say though, KS had some real good photo ops. I took a few pix with my film camera, but these are what I got with my phone.
For some reason, Fair Lawn keeps popping up in the Midwest. lol
Excuse the filthy windshield...the roads were friggin straight and long...
...but very picturesque
Approaching sunset...
The sunset, when it got there, was pretty amazing. I wanted to find the perfect spot to take a few shots...I was looking for a "western" looking tree, blowing in the wind (the wind was crazy)...and I kind of found it, but I took those photos with the other camera lol
...being the "pro" photographer that I am, I got into some prickly weeds in trying to get the shot.
Those fuckers hurt.
Once the sun set I just focused on the driving. There really wasn't much else to take pix of...I mean, its Kansas for crying out loud. haha ;)
Finally!
I left Kansas and entered Colorado
...and then I had another 2 hours of driving to go. lol
Now...this might seem like a random picture, but its not.
You see, ever since I left NJ, I kept passing this truck with "England" on the back. Always the same red cab...looked like the same truck. I kept having to pull off the road, to get gas or to stop in Pittsburgh for the sandwich, or whatever. But each time I got back on the road it was only a matter of time before I passed an 18-wheeler with "England" on the back. And I'd always just pass by one. And it kept happening. haha I know its silly, but I'm one of those people who finds ways to amuse himself on long drives (or short ones). And I had this romantic notion that it was the same truck over and over. I'd pull over, he'd pass me...then stop somewhere for the night or whatever and we would resume our trek together at the same intervals.
Anyway, in CO I passed by the truck again. This time the cab was white, so our romance was over. But it was fun wondering from NJ up to that point...."Is it? Could it be? What are the odds?" haha
When I got to CO, I crashed for the night with Scott, my big brother and college roommate. Then this morning (Tuesday), I headed out to check into my apartment. :) woo hoo!!
The Stats 
Leg 1: NJ -> Urbana, IL (882 miles) - 14.5 hours minus ~2 hours for stops etc.Leg 2: Urbana, IL -> Lawrence, KS via St. Louis (475 miles) - 8.75 hours minus ~2 hours in STL.
Leg 3: KC - Denver, CO (573-599 miles) - ~8 hours minus an hour or so for pictures and gas stops.
Total Miles driven: 1,940-1,960 miles
-------------------------
The apartment is pretty chill. I'm on the first floor, so I have this little patio. Its not very big, and real empty right now. But this is what it looks like. I think I can call it home for now. :)
Living Room, with whatever I was able to fit in the car
The little kitchen
...thats the "dining room" view through the kitchen.
The bedroom
The end...(for now).
the earth will keep on turning... } { 
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