Texas

 Made it to texas and dropped Jen at UTD. (After a drive by of South Fork from Dallas-now the theme song is stuck in my head) 

UTD is such a Cute campus and she has a great bunch of roommates.   Went to El Fenix in Dallas for dinner and had such a nice time getting to know her friends.  

Then stayed at the Dallas airport. Patrick got up early because it was his dream hotel and he wanted to see the sunset.  He could watch the runway from his bed. 

On our way to finish the states we stopped for some Texas Kitsch at the Eiffel Tower in Paris Texas.   

8/15

Returned to Texas.  Vote was to make sure we made it to Austin. 

Nora wanted Voo Doo Donuts.  Patrick wanted to see it and Kate was inquiring.  We made the four hour trip from Shreveport to Austin.  Got a view of the bats at the bridge. Then dinner at Eureka and of course the Voodoo donuts.  Walking down 6th street felt more but an street than texas.  Quite diverse. From bachelorette parties to homeless people.  People celebrating pride and a wide range of ages and cultures.  Lots of live music and activities. 

8/16. Spent some time at the Fort Worth Stockyards. 

Fun things we did:  Horse Barrel Racing,  petting zoo, Nora and Jen rode a mechanical Bull, Kate bought a huge belt buckle and a cowboy hat

8/17

the trip home... as always an adventure in itself. 

Oh the irony of it all.

Fourteen years ago we took a trip to florida and our flight was canceled because the airline went out of business. This started the quest of 50 states. Today we head home after seeing the whole nation and bam… our flight is cancelled. Let’s see where this adventure brings us. Patrick did make it to the American Airline Employee store which he had been looking forward to and bought himself a shirt.

Second flight is cancelled too.. Nora and John opt to see the Maine in Dallas while Kate, patrick and I try to catch the 4pm flight.. which became a 6, 7, and then 950 flight through DC until the Pilot comes on and apologizes that DC is closing their runway at night and wont accept our flight... so bam.. cancelled... hour on the phone and I am willing to go anywhere just to get these kids home.

Update 2am

We split up to get home. The twins and my plane arrived and minutes before boarding the captain honestly apologized that the Ronald Reagan airport would not accept the flight since it was too late. So they cancelled. Several flights we rescheduled to were also cancelled.

I spent an hour on the phone with a really helpful American Airlines staff. We rented a car. Found a flight for five leaving Austin. Then found out the rental car didn’t have a return in Austin. So I am dropping everyone off for a flight then driving through to San Antonio. Let’s see if these flights take off. I’m solo in San Antonio.

Update 5am

Got a 524a flight to Detroit. My flight from Detroit might even beat their direct flight from Austin. Stay tuned.

Update 1pm 8/18

All newmans safely back in Boston. (my flight beat theirs by about 15 minutes)

Louisiana

 8/13/2021

Despite Covid and all of our obstacles this last year we made it.   We hit 50 states before hitting 50. 

We sang the song from the kids elementary days.  Fifty nifty United States.  https://youtu.be/WhDrGnjacvA

A huge accomplishment and it feels amazing to have completed something so big.  Who would have known that an airline going out of business would be such an inspiration.   

We went to dinner at Gibbons fine dining in Shreveport and it was an excellent deal. Good food and everyone got what they wanted. Then stopped at the horseshoe casino.  John and I dropped some cash. Not much. And it was only me that lost and then wanted to spend his winnings.  Going to the exotic zoo in the morning then back to texas. 

8/14. Up in the morning and went to Gators and Friends outside Shreveport. We got there just in time for the feeding of the gators.   We got feed and went through the petting area.  They had kangaroos to feed as well as a zedonk. (Looked like a zebra but part donkey). There were miniature horses and Kates favorite a Highlander cow.  A couple of gokart rides and Then back to Texas.

 

Oklahoma

 entering Oklahoma 

We aren’t in Kansas anymore!  Two states left now  

Staying the night at ALOFT which is a modern hotel. Got a great deal on Priceline.   Hope to see some Oklahoma sites on the way to texas.  Plan to be in Dallas by 5pm tomorrow.  

Up early in the morning we stopped at the Whale of Catoosa a gift from a husband to his wife.   Inside the shop was someone you may think was as liberal as they come. Painting ornaments and working the gift shop.  Her car was a Volkswagen bug. As seen below. 

Kitschy America

 Our trip started with some Willy Nelson “on the road again” after the whole Murphy Clan sent us off with a full tank of gas, two cases of water and a box full of snacks.  

The shirts are ready and the finals 3 of 50 states lie ahead.  our excuse for the ride was to bring Jennifer’s car to Texas and in the meantime we can make a few stops along the way   Today is drive day   Get the biggest chunk of the ride out of the way so we can meander through the second half     Ten days and five Newmans hitting 50    Declan stopped at 30 (the idea of ten days in the car with his family is not as appealing in early adulthood apparently) 

Lots of disney songs, discussion/debate on marriage as well as the kitschy definition kept us occupied. 

Long discussion of our trip and interest by all four in Route 66 after  St Louis.  I described it as Kitschy (which I now have learned is spelled with “Tschy”)

The kids did not believe it was a real word.  So I would like to give the definition of what we plan to see on this trip to Kitchy America on Route 66.  

adjective

1. (of art, objects, or design) considered to be in poor taste because of excessive garishness or sentimentality, but sometimes appreciated in an ironic or knowing way.

License plate count is up to 19. 

Guesses before we left Massachusetts were the following 

Nora.  43

Jen 38

Patrick 40

Miah. 45

Interesting things we have seen along the way: 

Tootsie roll truck

Cozy coupe strapped to an RV

Trolls chair strapped to a truck. Open and ready to sit on. 

Dog trailer 

Pornographic clouds 

Drive through subway

Lockheed Martin factory with mysterious domes 

8/9

Slept at a four points in Cleveland.  Slept well although in the morning the girls told me their room didn’t have AC.   So I slept well.   We got up and headed straight to Purdue.  Patrick was scheduled for a flight lesson.  We got a call saying the instructor was sick. Our hearts sank.  Then he was able to reschedule with another instructor.   Another call. Apparently it was too windy for a flight.   So we were in the parking lot when that call came through.  We went in and were allowed out oj the ramp and in the hanger to see the planes.  An instructor arrived and answered questions.  His student said he was an ambassador for the aviation program.   He then offered to escort us through the simulation and training areas and spent an hour showing us around.  

We have a great time.  Beautiful program and Everyone was so nice.  

We then went to the bookstore and bought some shirts for patrick.  We went to the xxx diner which was recommended by our ambassador.   Nora had a burger with peanut butter on it.    Patrick has grilled cheese. Jennifer and I had breakfast.  The perfect campus tour was completed with a drive around campus looking for the elusive black train which was nowhere to be found. Instead we found a cool sun sculpture.  

We decided to head straight to St. Louis and have two nights at the Hyatt at the arch. Good reward for nearly 20 hours in the car.   We stopped at a cornfield and got some cute pics.  

It’s 10 pm and we are entering St Louis.  The Arch is beautiful at night and feels very patriotic.  So lucky to be tracking with these kids who have so much patience.  

Funny things we saw today

Banana Truck

Cheetos truck 

Kitchy Cheetos, Funyan, and cool ranch Lays Potato Chips 

Road trip quote

To quote Jennifer when eating the funyan chips “if fifth grade had a taste it would be this” -5th grade and funyans go hand in hand

Tuesday

We stayed at the Hyatt by the arch.  Got a great Priceline price and the location was superb.  Right on the Mississippi and next to the arch.  Clean and spacious.  

We wandered the morning. JEnnifer talked us into trying electric scooters.  I was a little nervous but gave it a try.  They are pretty quick. U til you head to the arch where apparently they go into slow mode which was unfortunate.  We drove them up market street for nearly an hour but the heat was tough.   After a little tough patch for me we opted for a Lyft back for some lunch.  Looking for a quick stop while we waited for nora to return from a quick run to six flags we aimed for a subway.  The lyft driver passed what we believe to have been a closed subway.   Letting her know we just need to eat she recommended Sauce on the Side.  It was a great choice.  Lots of fun options for calzones.  Patrick chose the cock a doodle noodle full of Mac and cheese.  jen chose the Carmen and I went with the duke.   Quite tasty and an even better back to the room afternoon snack later. 

We went up the small egg that brings you to the top of the arch.  Masks are back in St Louis so we wore ours. 

Great view in the middle of a thunderstorm.  Could see lightning across the plains 

A trip through the museum followed by a boat ride in the Mississippi.  Seeing the bridges up close and learning about the importance of barges was cool.  

We all chose a nap before dinner.  Sent the kids to a place called the shaved duck.  They say the bbq was great. 

Wednesday

After a 12 hour nap. I got up to see the sunrise. Patrick joined me.   Wasn’t quite positioned behind the arch where I hoped but the hazy morning gave us a glimpse of the sunrise anyway.  

Today is the day we learn first hand the definition of kitsch.  Just saying we will be driving through Uranus Missouri 

More to come… 

Wednesday 8/11

Started the drive from St Louis to Tulsa with a stop at the basilica.  Got a blessing before the ride.  We were heading to a place called Uranus so we knew the references would be bad.  

Found Route 66.  Stopped at the Meramec Bridge which did not have a drivable surface.  Stopped at the information station with a mini museum.  Lunch at Sauce on the side again.   Wish we had one close to home. 

From there we went down Route 66.  Exploring Route 66 for a few hours.  Stopping at Uranus which had a fudge factory.  Lots of crude shirts and tons of laughs.  They had an odd museum dedicated to freak show  history.  They had a long neck and two two headed turtles.  Lots of animal anomalies in formaldehyde.   There was a woman who tattooed her body in cheetah spots.  

We then went to the fudge shop which claims the best fudge comes from Uranus. 

Ended the day in Kansas.  Stopped at the rainbow bridge and saw some horses and cows on the side of the road.  Of course we played somewhere over the rainbow in Kansas and the theme song from the musical Oklahoma on our way into Oklahoma.  

Hotel in Tulsa for the night.  Stopped at Raising Cains since it was too late for a sit down meal.  

Interesting factoids/comments along the way. 

Road trip calories don’t count 

Caution. Hitchhikers may be escaped inmates 

Would you like to slip into Uranus and see some weird stuff? 

How was it being in Uranus? I know it’s a tight squeeze. 

Uranus University : your head is already in Uranus - you might as well learn something.