We are about to land so we begin cleaning up our stuff. I am ready to be off the plane by now. We had made friends with the other mom with 4 kids. Turns out they live on Ft. Rich and home school too. Once she knew she could fly on this flight she retracted her daggers.
With a few hops and skips we landed in Springfield, MO at the city airport. The temps in Alaska have not reached above 79 ALL year. Humidity is high but low temps make it pleasant. In MO in August the humidity is high and just about matching the outrageous temps. I think the kids had forgotten what hot, humid weather feels like cause they acted new to the scene. Even after almost all their lives living in AZ, IA, TX and CO.
Luckily the rental car place is in the airport so I was able to pick the car up right there. I walk up to the counter; gave my confirmation code only to discover I have no reservation. WHAT??? I am in Springfield, MO with 3 kids and no car. The rental car agent is doing everything he can to look me up. I ask if l can just rent another car for 2 weeks. The only thing they had left were Hummer 3’s. Yeah, I don’t think so. I was planning to do about 3000 miles in 2 weeks in a compact, not a thirsty SUV. I’ve got one of them at home. Turns out when I made the reservation and I told the rental place that ‘I needed a car tomorrow for 2 weeks” He put me down for pick up on the 16th. In Alaska the time was 10pm the 14th. Wherever the reservation department for Hertz is obviously a few hours after Alaska so I learned when I say tomorrow, I need to give the date. Easy fix, add a day to my plan and car was ready to go. So guess what kind of car you get for $185 a week with unlimited miles?? You guessed it a Chevy Aveo! It was a miniature compact car. If Brad had been with us it never would have worked. Zac sat up front and the girls got the back seat. Our one duffle bag, pillows, and backpacks filled the trunk. It got about 33 miles to the gallon so “being close” saved us big.
It is so hot the A/C really didn’t work and the one arm rest for Zac and I to share proved to be a constant battle. It was a whoever got it first type thing. As I was signing for the car I asked about a Bob Evans. If you read any of the earlier post you will have read about our love for Bob Evans. It is kind of like an IHOP but with AWESOME biscuits and gravy. It is in no way healthy, but damn good. It so happens there is a Bob Evans 5 miles from the airport. First stop in Missouri is Bob Evans. We walk in the door and we are greeted by the hostess. She asked how we were doing. “Well, it is his 13th birthday and we just landed ½ hour ago from Alaska just to get some Bob Evans sausage gravy,” I explain. Once we are seated I gave Zac a few gifts we saved from the party until his actual birthday. When they bring out the food a candle is perched in his biscuits. A quick little song and we dug in. I go up to pay and his meal (the most expensive) was not on the bill. I just wish everyday was his B-day as that boy can eat. As we left to begin our asphalt journey I told the hostess we would be back when we dropped off the car too.
We pull out of BE in search of a Starbucks. Yes I needed my 5 shots of espresso to wake up. We found it and we were on our way.
Zac is my navigator and he began looking for the shortest, quickest route. He trimmed 100 miles off our original plan (forget MapQuest). We start cruisin’ down the country roads in MO which consist of rolling hills of waving grass and jagged rock formations. There are trees scattered here and there and small lakes are filled with the cattle trying to stay cool from the overbearing sun. I know why too!
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