LIVE FOR THE MOMENTS YOU CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS.

 Day 8:

Waving goodbye to Alison & Tyler marked what felt like the middle of my trip. I was halfway to the East Coast but getting to the Atlantic Ocean was only the first part of my journey. Once I arrive I still have to turn around and drive back to California.

I had one more stop to make in Kansas but as I took off I quickly realized I'd have to cancel my plans of visiting my high school friend Rachel because the midwest weather wasn't done with me yet. I stayed in front of the dark clouds and drove east. About an hour later I found myself joining hundreds of escorted motorcyclists on a cross-country Memorial Day ride. I exited to get gas and as I fueled up one of the riders asked where I was headed. I told him Indiana and his response was, "you'll never make it that far today". Several hours later that comment put a grin on my face as I pulled into a hotel parking lot in Indiana and put my kickstand down. 

Day 9:

The next day I traveled 500 miles and would end the day by hugging my parents in Pennsylvania.  I was wearing a smile on my face as I crossed each state line.  You know what else put a smile on my face?  Treating myself to a Dairy Queen blizzard while I waited for rush hour traffic to die down in Columbus, OH. 

 

Indiana - Ohio - West Virginia, state by state my surroundings became more familiar. The tidal wave of pride that engulfed me as I crossed the Pennsylvania state line was unlike any other.  I had a full-on dance party in front of that state sign and I'm sure I provided a good laugh for the cars passing by.

If you've ever driven to Pittsburgh you know there's a magical moment driving through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You enter the tunnel essentially blindfolded and when you exit you're greeted by an extraordinary twinkling skyline surrounded by three rivers. The tunnel was sprinkled with extra fairy dust that night and I experienced the ultimate welcome home from the Steel City.  I still had another hour of riding but the years of memories accumulated on these familiar roads flowed back and now I had another one to cherish for years to come. 

Enjoy the simple moments sprinkled with fairy dust.  These can't be purchased with money but they will make you richer.

There's no place like home, 
Katy

 

 

Day 8

Date: 5/23/16
Start Mileage: 37,633
End Mileage: 38,076
Total Miles: 443 mi
Start Location: Independence, MO
End Location: Brazil, IN

 

Day 9

Date: 5/24/16
Start Mileage: 38,076
End Mileage: 38,540
Total Miles: 464 mi
Start Location: Brazil, IN
End Location: Blairsville, PA