Spring Break 2009 Trip Day 1 Topeka

At about 9:00am MDT, the MaloyMobile pulled out of the driveway in Colorado Springs and headed for I-70 via Highway 24. The day was kind of gloomy, but with no weather to speak of. As we were waiting to turn onto Highway 24 in Falcon, we saw some vehicles coming the opposite direction blanketed with a thin layer of snow. The roads became wet just out of Falcon, but we still had clear, if gray, sailing.
As we passed the Ellicot Highway, the ground became covered with snow. There was about an inch of fresh, wet snow on the ground; real, wet snow, not the fine styrofoam like kind we typically get in Colorado Springs. The plains look peaceful and clean with a fresh blanket of snow, like a fresh canvas just waiting for the color palettes of spring. The snowy ground carried us nearly to Limon and I-70. After a brief restroom break in Limon for the newly potty-trained among us, we hit the freeway. Upon entering the freeway, Mom put in a DVD and broke into the snacks. You can see the mesmerizing effect below:



Soon the mountains were behind us and luckily, so was the wind for the most part. High west winds buffeted us on our way. When we travelled slightly to the north or south, though, is was an intense game of staying between the lines. The mountains disappeared all together (Creepy) and the rain appeared. We travelled the flat, greening part of Colorado in intense rain and high winds.
We stopped in Burlington to get some lunch and the drive-thru speaker could hardly be heard through the wind and the menu could hardly be seen through the rain. Upon reaching Kansas, we alternated periods of rain, cloudy skies, and sun.

After another stop for all to use the restroom, we were off and running again. But it wasn't long until the recently potty trained among us needed yet another stop. So we found a rest stop and pulled off. It was immediately clear that we were fortunate to have the wind at our backs for the most part. The Excursion was rocking in the wind in the parking stall. We half walked, half floated to the restroom and then we were off again.

I thought driving I-80 across Wyoming had to have been the worst stretch of roadway to drive. Although it is relatively straight and flat, it is windy and boring. I now know that it is just like driving across Kansas. But there were breaks in the monotony. Just as I was cresting a hill, I had to swerve around an overturned semi with its nose poking onto the left shoulder of the road and then dodge the car parked on the right to assist the semi. Following that excitement, we saw six other overturned semi's or semi trailers on or right next to the freeway and a load of styrofoam insulation blown of the back of a gooseneck. By then it had lost its mystique.



At one point we passed a double semi that was the next probable victim of the wind. It was travelling in the right lane, but leaning so far over in the wind, the top was nearly encroaching in the left lane. I waited until he was slowed going up a hill and punched it. We passed him at about 90mph, but I didn't want to be a part of the next rollover accident, especially if I was to play the part of the squished bug.

Finally, after yet another restroom break at a rest stop where there was a speaker announcing severe thunderstorm, high wind, and tornado warnings for the area , we arrived in Topeka, KS at about 6:00pm MDT (7:00pm local time). We had been excited to use the hotel's indoor swimming pool, but alas, it is out of order. So we got some dinner at Denny's (because it practically shares a parking lot with the hotel) and put the kids to bed. So it's post this and get to bed myself. It's going to be another long drive to Nauvoo, IL tomorrow.