Day 5 - Denver, CO to Salina, KS

Dorothy and the Tornado
Originally uploaded by AdamBaronPhoto

Crossing into the great unknown! We came down from the mountains and highlands of Colorado and into the vastness of Kansas. You know, many say that there is nothing in Kansas except the flat rolling hills. At first, I had to agree. Then I actually started looking around - geology abounded in the road cuts. Animals were everywhere that you looked. One saw very few houses though you just had to look to the horizon to find a stand of trees and there would be a farm. Descending into the occasional valley, one would find whole towns. We didn't see Dorothy or Toto - though Gaby was looking everywhere.

Janet asked me today (and she'll probably write about it too) what has been my favorite part of the trip. I had to answer in two parts -

1. The vast beauty of the land. Flying from coast to coast doesn't allow one to really view the amazing beauty of the United States. Janet has commented that when she first went to Colorado on her first visit from Ireland, that she couldn't get over how much land there really is in the United States. It has been some time (thanks Dad and Mom) since I crossed the States by car. I have been reminded of how much there really is to see here. I love the United States!
2. The People. Every day we watch the news and "Hollywood" and see crime, greed, corruption and the dark side of the human race. As we've been traveling from coast to coast, we have had the occasion to talk to many people. Americans are great! Every where we go, people are ready to talk, ready to share their day and, I believe, would share their last bit of food if someone needed it. Every time one hears of a natural disaster somewhere in the world, Americans are among the first to be offering aid, either monetarily or going to the place of hardship and lending a hand. I love the United States!

I am so looking forward to crossing the rest of the continent to see who else we can meet. We continued a game today - to see how many states license plates we could see. Yesterday 18 (and one US Government). Today - 12. Yesterday wins so far - what a great country that we live in. We can travel anywhere!

Jimm