Stats for the day:
· 3568 steps (on pedometer)
· 613.3 miles traveled
· Accidents avoided: 3 (semi, tour bus, deer)
The adventure has begun! We’re currently in Woodland Park, CO, staying at the cabin of a close friend, Emerita Farnan. And when I say “we,” I mean my mom, Julie, and me. She’s going to be with me for this first week of travel.
The day has gone wonderfully. The plan was to pick up the rental vehicle around 8am, pack up the car, and be on the road by 10am. Finalizing last minute details, double and triple checking to be sure all of my insurance was in order and that I was fully covered for whatever might come, and strategically packing the vehicle (quite the mathematical spacial reasoning problem in itself) all put us on the road at 11:43am. When my mom told my dad the planned timeline for the morning, he said, “You’ll be lucky to be on the road by noon.” Guess he’s done this a time or two!
While today’s drive was one of the longer drives, it was probably also one of the easiest I’ll have on this trip. It’s a pretty straight shot from Weston, MO to Colorado Springs. The drive from Colorado Springs to Woodland Park eased me into what much of the next month will be. And I now know what it’s like to be stuck driving but really wanting to be looking out the windows at the views!
So, some math thoughts for today:
· How many miles of cable for electricity and phone decorate the interstate from Kansas to Colorado? How far apart are the telephone poles spaced? How many does that mean are needed?
· Still on the telephone pole kick: Where/How are the poles produced? How are they shipped? How much do they cost? How many acres of forest does it take just to keep us stocked in telephone poles?
· Irrigation rigs have lots of geometry going on – triangles, curves, etc. I’m not sure if they’re called rigs or not (my uncles in Iowa would be embarrassed), but I think you know what I’m referencing.
· How much power do wind turbines produce? What could be powered by that supply?
· I have all kinds of data – elevations, time spent driving, mileage, cost per gallon of gas, money spent on gas, For instance, we started at an elevation of about 1320 ft. in Kansas (taken from my altimeter/watch, so not necessarily the most accurate tool out there), had reached 3760 ft. as we were leaving Kansas, and ended at an elevation of 7840 ft. in Colorado.
During the drive today, lots of things made me think of people in my life. I think this will happen a lot on this trip, so I’m going to try to do a little shout-out section. Just quick notes of things and of whom (Is that right, Mrs. Benner; it’s an object of a preposition!) they made me think.
· Saying good-byes, or “until-laters” – My niece, Posy, doesn’t necessarily understand that I won’t see her for a month, but she gave me the best hug on Monday night!
· “Country Roads” by John Denver – first song on the radio when we were leaving, and memories of watching John and Mary perform at this little dive bar during my college days. Lots of good times with my college buddies there! This song was followed by a Counting Crows’ song that had “Einstein” in the title. Thought that was fitting for a math trip.
· The golden wheat in Kansas really looked to be pink lots of time. Overall it was gold, but if I were choosing a paint color, it would’ve been a rosy pink color. Now I know what Angie’s been meaning.
· The Flint Hills – Matt’s parents, Jim and Laurie Pessarra. They’ve both commented on how pretty that section of the drive from Texas to Missouri and back is. (P.S. Matt’s my boyfriend; I’m guessing his name will come up again, so for those of you who don’t know me, there’s some background.)
· Almost getting hit by a tour bus pulling a vehicle from Washington state. I determined that it must be the Fleet Foxes, and that band made me think of Matt and my brother, Brian.
Now it’s time for me to go to sleep under an incredible moon!
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