[2022 EV Roadtrip – Post #3]

Friday, July 29, 9:00pm Central time

Now Playing:  An unknown scary podcast story

Saw some suspicious clouds on our way to the next stop. After just having seen Nope, we decided that it was definitely an ominous situation. I’ll try not to spoil it for anyone as it was a wonderful flick.

Stopped in Hays, Kansas, which feels like a town of 500 people but probably holds more like 50,000.  We charged, we took pictures, we soaked up the sun in a Walmart parking lot while doing some exercises and twirling in the parking spots.  We charged for about 30 minutes, probably less.  

Saisons Save Lives

The most Yelp-friendly restaurant was a brewing company on main street, which turned out to be a brick road, not yellow, but that would have been something, with historic buildings and giant murals of statues of men on horseback.  Note to self – look up Hays, Kansas and go down that Wikipedia wormhole so deep until you somehow find yourself reading about caterpillar life cycles.  I’ll loop back about Hays once I feel up to reading in the car.  For now, I’ll enjoy the Kansas hills and countryside.

The brewing company was massive, and appeared to be an old school.  I believe we ate in the gym, and the cafeteria was where the bar was.  The beer was tasty (I had the Triason which was an awesome saison) the food was also delicious.  They even featured a fried bologna sandwich on the menu, and I thought I could only order that at my parents house.  I had some garlic fries that I will never forget, nor will Colette, as she was devouring everyone’s food from all sides.  Sweet potato fries, salmon burger, Rueben, garlic fries, she tried for Carmella’s lemonade but decided milk was a better choice.

Our stop was peaceful and good bonding time.  We relaxed with some beers, let the kids be free and stretch out, and we also got them into pajamas because now we are entering the twilight zone.

Ah yes, at this time, we start our descent into the midnight hours.  I am writing this in haste so I can begin my shift of sleep.  My turn to drive is coming up soon.  I forgot a major thing back at the house – a pillow. And our next stop is coincidentally not a Walmart, but a Casey’s, which we can all agree they do not sell pillows, but I should not speak too soon as I forgot about neck pillows being a thing.  Hmmmm, I’ve never tried a neck pillow, but today could be that day.  Just another thing for me to have to bring everywhere I travel.  Too bad I didn’t pack Colette’s Boppy pillow that could probably double as a super bougie neck pillow.  Next road trip, I have a plan.

We did talk about how some electric cars come with blow up mattresses for the backseat. If only we didn’t have two carseats to compete with. They are worth much more than our sleep, we all know that.

Bonus Points

Frank told me some of the EV chargers that we use are powered by solar panels.  Doubling up on our carbon footprint.  Yet the world still limps along, overheating, complete with wild weather patterns and entre environments being wiped away on a regular basis.  Scary stuff.

We put Carmella on the passenger’s side so the seat can recline as far back as possible.  The children are quiet, the night has begun.  We saw a good sunset, let the car sleeping games begin.  We have driven five hours of our nineteen-hour trip.  A third of the way done.   March on, friends.