Every day just gets better. Especially when that day starts with a sunrise in a field of sunflowers. But I'm getting ahead.

Day ten itinerary:

• Grinter's Sunflower Farm {Lawrence, KS}
• The Corner Restaurant {Kansas City, MO}
• Mini Stonehenge {Rolla, MO}
• Great Wall of China Restaurant {Rolla, MO}
• World's Largest Rocker {Cuba, MO}
• Meramec Caverns {Sullivan, MO}
• Shaw Nature Preserve {Gray Summit, MO}
• Purina Farms {Gray Summit, MO}
• Chain of Rocks Bridge {St. Louis, MO}
• arrive on the Illinois side for sleep

*the sunflower farm and Corner Restaurant were not in our original plans, but worth the sacrifice of not going to Mini Stonehenge, the Great Wall of China Restaurant, Purina Farms and saving Shaw Nature Preserve for the next day. We initially intended to stay the night in St. Louis but canceled our reservation because we found out our place was in a bad area and we wouldn't get there until after dark. So we stayed on the Illinois side instead for that night.

Approximate mileage: 389

Approximate driving time: 6.2 hours

Approximate expenses: $172.98

• Gas: $25.58 @ $2.039/gallon, 12.544 g
• Food: $25 
• Experiences: $21 Meramec Caverns 
• Stay: $101.40 Comfort Inn & Suites

Read more for map, trip details and photos...

Passing the seven day point felt amazing. Being on a road trip sometimes feels like being in a marathon. At the beginning it's super exciting and you have a bunch of energy and so many miles and the journey to look forward to and then you have a final destination that you know will also be an exciting moment. But the journey can be tiring. The landscape can blur together. And it seems like you might have been running or driving your whole life.

Just for complete clarification, I have never ran a marathon. But I can pretend I know what it might feel like ;) 

Day eight itinerary:

• Oklahoma City National Memorial {Oklahoma City, OK}
• Pops Soda {Arcadia, OK}
• Arcadia Round Barn {Arcadia, OK}
• The Blue Whale {Catoosa, OK}
• Totem Pole Park {Foyil, OK}
• Clanton's Cafe (calf fries)  {Vinita, OK}
• Coleman Theater {Miami, OK}
• Old Riverton Store {Riverton, KS}
• arrive in Kansas City, MO

*we did not go to Coleman Theater because it was closed by the time we got to that point.

Approximate mileage: 375

Approximate driving time: 6.3 hours

Approximate expenses: $63.54

• Gas: $29.54 @ $2.149/gallon, 10.022g
• Food: $30 
• Misc: $4 Turner Turnpike 

Read more for map, trip details and photos...