Dance Across America

We had to keep spirits high on the road trip. Dancing always helped. Here it is, the final conclusion to our journey:

7-9 Friends, food, and farewell

The final day. It's off to Philly with Mike B, Tom, and Travis to visit our hall neighbors, Emily, Tara, and Megan who just happened to be in the city (luckyyyy). The classic 'love' sign couldn't be missed and we frolicked around in the fountain to cool off. You can't leave Philly without a cheese steak and Pat's provided in full. You have to go with the whiz. Thank you ladies for showing us around the city and providing a nice post-grad reunion!

City Hall

Congrats girls, you made the blog!

All dreams must come to an end, but the vision will always be imprinted in my mind's eye. This was the trip of a lifetime, and I speak for all of us when I say how completely amazing it was and how grateful we are to all the people that made it possible. To our hosts, family, and friends: a truly heartfelt thank you for everything you provided to make this journey a reality, and thank you for following us on our adventure. 46 days. 34 states. 12,399.6 miles. The road trip is over, but we will carry it with us no matter where we go next.

Signing off,

Dave

7-8 I remember when I was in college...

It's been a great time seeing our friends and celebrating Rebecca's birthday! Tom Hagerty, Adam Danner, and Mike Behounek came to visit for a Club 190 reunion. This has been a wonderful capstone to our trip, spending time with friends and living the college dream. Katie and Rebecca gave us VIP access to the North apartments which we have been ruthlessly denied since graduation. Here's to a farewell to Etown and all the joy it has provided us!

7-7 Let's go Jays

A big thank you to Ali and Mr & Mrs. Hagen for having us in Perrysburg! Leaving was tough, but home is calling. It' back to PA today as we stay at Elizabethtown College tonight and tomorrow, catching up with friends and pretending like Mike and I didn't graduate. It's crazy the trip is just about over.

7-6 Motor City

An early rise today for a trip to everyone's favorite city: Detroit. It was so close we couldn't resist, checking out the city center, the GM headquarters, Canada across the way, and driving around 8 Mile. All the sight seeing worked up an appetite so Ali got us some free admission and nachos at the local pool. It's good to have an insider. No one got injured on the high dive and we all got a little tan.

GM Headquarters

Canada

7-5 The van clock is right again

Our second-to-last big drive today, about 8 hours to Perrysburg, OH. For lunch we stopped at a White Castle in Terre Haute, IN, getting a Crave Case. This was our first ever White Castle experience, and 10 Slyders per person may have been a bit too much. We also passed through Indianapolis before finally returning to Eastern Standard Time and our destination.

7-4 AMERICA!

Happy Fourth of July! What better place to spend it than in St. Louis? First things first, the Annheiser Busch Brewery and headquarters required our investigation. The plant is huge and very ornate. The tour itself is free and they give you free beer at the end! Great start to the day.

Clydesdales

Renard the Fox

Continuing, we drove by Forest Park and the St. Louis Basilica and spent some time downtown at the Arch. There was a big festival going on and we got to see part of the air show. The courthouse where the Dred Scott decision was made was also right there. Afterwards we went to a picnic, ate lots of food, played a ton of lawn sports, then went to watch the fireworks. America, the beautiful! Thanks so much to John for giving us a great holiday weekend!

Freedom platter

7-3 Midwest zest

What would an American road trip be without seeing one of the patriarchs of our modern nation? Since we were in his land, we figured we should visit Lincoln's tomb. It's an impressive granite monument that houses his remains and those of his family members as well.

Midwest storms are something else but the van proved that she can handle anything Mother Nature throws at her. Sheets of rain came down as we approached St. Louis, probably the heaviest rain we've driven through all trip. We made it safely into the city, seeing the Arch and Busch Stadium through the downpour. Mike and Ben's cousin John welcomed us, I myself becoming an honorary cousin (it made introductions a lot easier).

7-2 Chachification of Chitown

Hot town, summer in the city. Chicago had lots to do as we rode the L train into town, visited Millennium Park, the Taste of Chicago food festival, and Pizano's for some authentic deep dish pizza. In the park was the classic Cloud Gate sculpture, some giant water fountain towers, and all sorts of gardens and sculptures.

Hank Shocklee of The Bomb Squad was playing some techno/dubstep music at the pavilion, providing us some shade and sweet jamz.

The Taste had foods from around the world (and free samples of Crush soda!!!) so we soaked in a lot of the smells.

 

All the sightseeing sure works up an appetite. Pizano's had some great deep dish and the best waiter ever, Uncle Chach. He told us about all the local bars, talked sports with Mike and Ben (I couldn't really add to that conversation), and gave us a free dessert! He Chachified everything and made sure we knew there was no waiter like him anywhere else. So far he's right. Thank you so much to Mark and Bernadette for hosting us and telling us how to get around!

7-1 If you build it, we will probably check it out

The hot sun of Iowa didn't deter us from seeing some of the state's gems. For all you moving picture fans out there, we ran the bases at the Field of Dreams and I pretended to be good at sports for a few minutes. After that we had to visit the headquarters of one of our favorite TV programs, American Pickers. Sadly, Danielle wasn't there as she had to be in Tennessee for the opening of their new store, but we did get to see the shop and some of the cool items they've bought. 

We made it to the Windy City after stopping in Wisconsin (might as well check off another state) and are looking forward to a day on the town. Mark and Bernadette welcomed us graciously into their home, giving us a great launch pad for taking Chi-town by storm.