After Boulder, we drove down out of the Rockies and into the midwest. We were immediately struck by the change in the landscape; it was flat, it was green, and it was humid. It felt foreign after being in the southwest for so long with so many stunning canyons and spires of red rock, everything dry and sandy. At the same time, though, this new terrain was immediately familiar to us, with deciduous trees and humid air like home on the east coast.
The physical transition was also accompanied by a new phase of the trip. While the first month was almost entirely camping in the southwest, our second month will mostly be spent staying with friends and family in the east. For our first stop, we visited Lawrence, KS. Matt's uncle, Ed, was out of town at a conference, but he graciously let us stay at his place, do much needed laundry, and explore the town while he was away.
Colorful houses along Tennessee St
Downtown Lawrence
Polka band on Massachusetts St
Affectionate kitty in the used book store
After Lawrence, we drove east to Defiance, MO, to visit John, another one of Matt's uncles. We enjoyed our Memorial Day weekend grilling, hiking, and catching up (and doing a little more laundry, too). Our final stop was downtown St. Louis for breakfast with a good friend from my post doc days and a quick visit to the Gateway Arch.
The beautiful and lush forests near John's house
Early summer blooms along the Clark Trail
Hiking with John in the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area
The Gateway Arch in St Louis
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