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Published: December 2nd 2006
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The Amazing View
7 hours of fields and farm houses driving thru Kansas. Welcome to the real America! Fine but windy 24c
..but I was there.
Why the hell am I referring to myself as the third person?!?
That's what driving by yourself for 6 or 7 hours does, it drives you crazy!
You know how in cartoons sometimes the background repeats itself every few seconds? Well that was me driving to Kansas - barn, tractor, field, bran, tractor, field etc etc.
Who can blame me for talking to myself! It felt like I’d sat in every position possible in the seat, listened to every song on my ipod and almost certainly scanned every radio station. A career path as a bus driver or truck driver is almost certainly out of the question. In 5 days I’ve covered almost 2500 miles and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I loved almost every minute of it.
I’d gotten used to seeing amazing snow covered mountains and sheer cliff faces in Colorado. In Kansas there is none of that. Instead your force fed ‘Americana’ in all its road trip glory and smothered by mid-west hospitality that I never knew existed. My first night was spent in Salina, Kansas after 7 hours of driving. If you say ‘in the middle
Wichita
Great atmosphere and lots of cool buildings. I liked WIchita for lots of reasons. of nowhere’ this is the definition. It’s in the dead centre of the US and even remote by Kansas standards. A slap together town of roadhouses and cheap motels for people who are sick of driving and don’t care where they are. I knew I collapsed onto a bed in Salina but all the other details are blurred by visions of barns, tractors, fields, barns, tractors etc..
My second day in Kansas will possibly go down as one of my most memorable days in the US. I made a wise decision to experience Kansas and take my time exploring. After all, what are the chances I’ll be back? I expected the second largest city of Wichita to be filled with country bumpkins chewing tobacco and asking me ‘where you’ll from booyy?’. But I was pleasantly surprised. Wichita has cosmopolitan vibe like I’ve never experienced before and is a very proud, friendly and welcoming city. It’s an oasis of greenery, museums, culture and the starting point for that famous ‘southern hospitality’.
I noticed an ‘air museum’ listed on my map that was close by. Anyone knows me will tell you I’m fascinated by aviation and it’s one form of
Wichita Aviation Museum
Lots of planes on display. You could climb all over them if you wanted too. history I can definitely swallow. I wasn’t expecting too much - maybe a plane and few photos. How wrong I was! Little old Wichita is basically built around aviation and my planned 3 hour stop over blew out to 7 hours in Wichita. Most of that time was spent at the aviation museum. Names like Cessna, Boeing, Airbus and Lear Jet are all made in Wichita. The humble museum was fascinating and I was the only person there. I was guided on a tour by the first female commercial pilot in America (yes.. she was old!). She was very excited by the fact that I was learning to fly and gave me priceless advice that it still relevant today. I saw the first commercially made airplane (the only one remaining) and made my way through one of the largest aviation displays I’ve ever experienced. The planes came alive with stories about Kansas, tornados (it’s known as ‘tornado alley’) and it’s amazing history. The control tower in Kansas was the first to have slanted windows and since the design has been copied all over the world. From the tower I could see the all the aviation factories, F-11 fighter jets taking
The Old Passenger Terminal
Now the museum with the world famous first 'slanted' windows on the control tower. off and it was casually pointed out to me “that’s Air Force One getting repaired in that hanger”. Wow. I know I sound like plane nerd but anyone would have enjoyed it I swear! All the displays were hands on and it was really cool.
That night I had to make up for the lack of driving. I happily drove through the changing landscape pleased that I actually experienced Kansas rather than driving through it. Sallisaw, Oklahoma was my next ‘bargain basement’ stop. Talk about bargain!!! 3 star motel with free breakfast, premium cable and spotlessly clean rooms for only $29 per night. This budget traveler was in heaven!! Sallisaw is another place you’ll struggle to find on a map but I liked it. Every one was smiling and friendly. The motel owner commented “ain’t nothing interesting about this town, it’s just small town America’. Fair enough, but I liked small town America! Even if they struggled to understand me when I asked for some ‘chips and coke’ (FYI- Chips are fries and when we say ‘coke’ it sounds like we’re referring to a part of the male anatomy!), from now its fries and a cola. Haha
My road
Cessna 172
I can fly this plane.. really!!
Pity it's in a museum and i'm in the pilots seat. trip continued to Hot Springs, Arkansas the next day where the scenery was a little more dramatic - more lush trees and dense woodlands. If you’re looking for somewhere to set a horror movie I suggest Hot Springs. It has this weird feeling about it and there were a lot of strange people around. Everything was covered in moss and the place felt deserted for no good reason. Even so, my cheap motel room cost me a fortune and the only ‘hot springs’ I could find existed inside a 5 star hotel room for $200 an hour. There was not much entertainment to be found in Hot Springs, so I hot footed it out of the place early the next morning.
Originally I’d planned to stay in Mississippi for a few days, but things change on the road and for some reason I felt compelled to keep driving to New Orleans. I drove thru Jackson, Mississippi (my intended destination) and justified the 10 hour drive due to ‘cost savings’ - there are hostels in New Orleans. I wanted more time experiencing and less time watching the scenery pass me by. Four days in New Orleans meant I could properly
Sallisaw
Somewhere in middle in America... my bargain $29 per night room!!!!
Cool ha??
That's my version of unpacking on the go. experience everything without unpacking/packing and driving every day.
I arrived in New Orleans late at night and the first thought that struck me was ‘wow it’s dark’ and ‘geee.. it must have rained a bit last night here’. I was right, it had rained a bit but it wasn’t last night. The remnants of Hurricane Katrina still eerily hang over New Orleans like a black cloud. Tourists are few and far between. Branches hang from power lines, the famous Street Cars don’t run anymore and ‘bad’ areas became good areas. Hotels closed down, houses are boarded up, street lights are non existent and all but the major intersections have blinking traffic lights where you fend for yourself. Hurricane Katrina might have hit over a year ago but the scars run very deep. Just ask a local about what happened and you can see the pain in their eyes as they tell you about ‘that storm’ and refer to 'the old New Orleans'. The Hurricane did more than destory houses and lives, it changed the dynamics of this great city forever.
This article appeared in the largest US paper the day I arrived in New Orleans
Not exactly the most positive
Xmas Lights At Hot Springs, Arkansas
I'm sure Marg would go "owww pretty" if she saw that. Obviously she's not here yet.. so I did it for her! story I’ve read.
Anyhow.. more to come about my time in New Orleans and Lafayette after I’ve experienced it! Thanks for all the positive comments and emails. I miss yas!!
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LA LA
non-member comment
You're secret is out.
Ha! Ha! Other Leigh-Anne told your secret. Light weight. Just read the new update. You're writing really is brilliant. Almost (ALMOST but not really) makes me want to visit the place. Glad you are doing well, are safe and happy and having the great experience. Take care! Check on you soon.