Middle West Road Trip

Middle West Road Trip

Jun 13 - June 15, 2013

We headed out of South Carolina towards the mid-west or "middle west" as Melissa F. calls it about 5:30 pm on June 13.  Elissa's college roomate, Melissa W. was getting married in Springfield, Illinois on Saturday, June 15.  The wedding was originally scheduled for Sunday, but had to be changed at the last minute.  We had originally planned a more leisurely drive through the country, but since our time-table was pushed up a day, we had to rush.  Actually, originally the plan was for Melissa F. and Elissa to drive to the St. Louis area and Eric and I would drive over from Oklahoma to meet them and go with them to Branson later in the week.  That was back when we thought it might take all summer for our house to sell.  Melissa F. was a little nervous about driving half-way across the country with a pregnant woman, so Eric and I tagged along. 

 

 

Our road trip crew

The first evening we drove through South Carolina and North Carolina and stopped just after crossing the Great Smoky mountains in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Driving through the Smokies at night was not great trip planning.  We missed a beautiful part of America and it was a bit hair-raising with all the trucks on the curvy  mountain roads. 

The next morning was so cool and crisp and felt wonderful after being in the muggy south.  Melissa was born in Canada and grew up in Florida and has never been beyond the East Coast of the US and Canada, so she was very excited about seeing the middle-west for the first time. 

A rest stop in Tennessee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped frequently along the way to walk around a bit and let Melissa get pictures from each state we passed through.  We made it through Tennessee, Kentucky and into Illinois on Friday.  One of our stops in Illinois, was in Metropolis- Superman's hometown.

 

We made it to the St. Louis area about 6 pm.  Elissa and Melissa dropped us off at a hotel in Collinsville, Illinois and they left to stay with one of Elissa's college friends. 

On Saturday, Elissa and Melissa drove about an hour and a half to Springfield, Illinois for the wedding.  After the wedding, Elissa and Melissa drove back and picked us up to go to Jonathan's parent's house in Marine, Illinois for Elissa's baby shower. 

 

The shower was really nice with lots of Jonathan's friends and family there.  Connie, Jonathan's mom, had decorated with lots of family baby heirlooms.

 

It was a great setting since their home and farm has been in the family for several generations.

Eric had a great time during the shower.  Tim, Jonathan's brother, cooked steaks at his house for Eric and Wes, Jonathan's dad.  Afterwards, they headed to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the hockey play-off game.  Eric decided that that was the best baby shower he had ever been to.