Updated Itinerary

• Feb. 8th: Oregon City, OR
• Feb. 9th: Plymouth, CA 
• Feb. 10th: Highland, CA
• Feb. 11th & 12th: Huachuca City, AZ
• Feb. 13th: Albuquerque, NM
• Feb. 14th: Rice, TX
• Feb. 15th: San Antonio, TX
• Feb. 16th: Ada, OK
• Feb. 17th: Oklahoma City, OK
• Feb. 18th: Tulsa, OK
• Feb. 19th-27th: Springfield, MO
• Feb. 27th-March 9th: Virginia Beach, VA
• March 10th & 11th: Maryville, MO
• March 12th: Lincoln, NE
• March 13th-17th: Rockford, IL
• March 18th-24th: Cleveland, OH
• March 25th: Aurora, IL
• March 26th: On-the-Lake, WI
• March 27th: Minneapolis, MN
• March 28th & 29th: On the road home ~ ND, MT, ID, WA
• March 30th: Anderson Island, WA

My eight days in Springfield over, I picked up all my stuff (including four extra wheels and tires I was storing there) and Dustin and I left early Friday morning for Kansas City: we had plane tickets from KC to Norfolk Virginia with a brief layover in Detroit’s Gateway airport.  I parked my car at my friend Glori’s parents house in KC (thanks Skadelands!) and then caught a ride to the airport just in time for Dustin to buy a cup of decaf coffee, drink a sip, then realize that he couldn’t take it through security.  Poor little coffee guy.  Security did not take my knife away from me, which was very kind of them.  I didn’t realized their kindness however until I was unpacking my stuff in VA, so that was a nice little surprise.  It is hard to keep track when you carry three blades with you.

Detroit Airport Photo Shoot
Dustin and I had an hour-ish layover in Detroit’s International Gateway Airport.  We decided, after Dustin’s enthusiastic idea, to do a random photo shoot in the light/sound tunnel that connects the concourses. Now, if you don’t know about this tunnel it is slightly interesting to imagine.  ”Its like the tunnel that leads to heaven,” said Dustin; and I tend to agree.  It is about 50 yards wide and 200 yards long with a domed ceiling that runs the length of the room.  The walls are translucent glass with various lights behind them that fade in and out of several color schemes.  And to top the experience off, melodious you-have-become-enlightened/please-go-to-sleep-now sounds play over invisible speakers.  So, we took some pictures.  And people stared at us. 

Jared and Kim Beasley
Jared and Dustin and I have been good friends for a few years; we three went to CBC together, lived on the same dorm hall together, and then lived together in an Apartment for our last year at school.  Since graduation Jared married Kim, his longtime sweetheart, and they moved to Virginia Beach so Jared could start his graduate studies at Regent University.  Kim is a brilliant artist and actually had some of her artwork on display why we were there.  Kim and Jared are great people, and even greater friends!  And the fact that they had Dustin and I come out to visit them for ten days of Spring Break was beyond incredible.  Although we had some awesome adventures during those ten days (which you will see below), for the most part it was just ten days of hanging out.  Except for P90X, which Jared and Kim made us do.  Ok, they didn’t make us do it, but they strongly suggested that we accompany them.  And my body is still recovering.

Jessie and Robin Come to Town
Jessie Klein and her mom, Robin, just so happened to be in Virginia the same time Dustin and I were there, so of course we had to get together.  Jessie is a friend from Springfield whom we all went to school with and love dearly (but come on, who doesn’t love Jessie Klein dearly?), so our day on the town together was quite enjoyable.  Thanks Jessie and Robin for coming over to the beach and making our day together so much fun!

Outer Banks Adventures
We did end up taking a trip while in Virginia; Dustin, Jared, and myself drove to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Our plan was to sleep on the beach, play in the sand and, for a day, forget about life, school, and being responsible adults.  It was beautiful. And I took pictures of some ducks.  I like ducks.  

Farewell Virginia, Farewell Dustin
As awesome as a time we had in Virginia Beach all together, it did have to come to an end.  And there was so much more that happened then I was able to write in this blog.  We joked, we laughed, we made facebook videos, we watched movies and Studio 60 on the SunSet Strip, and we lived life loud.  You know the good times in your life with friends or family where you have stopped and said to yourself, “I could do this forever,” but you know deep down that such living was near impossible?  That is how my ten days in Virginia felt; that I could hang out with those friends and just be with them.  But, in the end we all had to go our separate ways and to our separate lives.  On Tuesday, March 10th, Jared dropped Dustin and I off at the airport to fly home.  It was a sad moment.  One day, we will get back together again.  One day soon.
Dustin Risner spent the most time with me on this road trip than anyone else.  He put up with me in Springfield for eight days, and then another ten days in Virginia for a total of 18 days.  And over half those nights he shared his bed with me.  I could go on about how great Dustin is, but the truth is I could just say that he is amazing; and one of my greatest friends. Thank you, Dustin, for making this trip what it was.  I enjoyed spending time with you.