After a sleepless night and a very emotional send-off from a small committee of friends Wednesday morning, we drove across beautiful and stormy plains to our first stop in Newton, Kansas. We parked at my great-aunt Edna’s house, and before long were enjoying a meal of burgers, beans, coleslaw, and cherry pie around the dining … Continue reading HIGH PLAINS DRIFTERS
We are humbled and excited that nearly a hundred of our friends and acquaintances around the country have indicated an interest in hosting us in some way. Some are planning to meet us for lunch or serve as an interview contact; others are offering us full accommodations. We are in the process of creating an … Continue reading A NOTE FOR POTENTIAL HOSTS
This is the rough draft of our itinerary, covering 33 states, parts of Canada, and more than 14,000 miles. We plan to leave Springfield, MO on May 31, 2017 and head west, toward Colorado. We hope to complete our western loop by late August. After a week or so back in Springfield, we will begin our … Continue reading THE ROUTE
In November, when we announced our decision to pursue this crazy idea, we were met with nearly universal support. And that continues. When we tell people what we’re doing, they inevitably respond with surprise and a faraway look in their eyes. Some are envious and wish they could come; others are happy for us, but … Continue reading GOING IT ALONE
Ever since we made the decision to go on this journey, we have been discovering the available means of transportation. Do we drive our Subaru and camp all the time? Uh, no...for a thousand different reasons. Do we get a large RV with a small tow vehicle? No. We liked the space and comfort, but we … Continue reading Our Trusty Steed
My former student, Jill Way, is a reporter for the Herald-Free Press in Bolivar, Missouri. She wrote up this nice account of our project plans. Of course, whether you believe what you read in the media is up to you.
On the evening of November 8, 2016, we sat with close friends and watched in shock as Donald Trump was projected to win the U.S. presidential election. We were not alone. Millions around the world were stunned by the outcome, even many who supported him. Even though his message was ultimately rejected by a significant … Continue reading And So It Begins
