Eastburn Adventures

Michelle made it safely in to Springfield Friday morning, and after having lunch with Robert, we headed up to Kansas City for the Games. No problem. Found hotel - no problem. Spent a few minutes here (want to go back when I have more time). Tried to find the Plaza so we could eat here - yum. Exit closed. Tried another exit. Not where we're supposed to be. Finally made our reservation 15 minutes late. Once we were at the Plaza, I knew where to park, so that wasn't a problem. Dinner was great - yes, we had the chicken lettuce wraps. :-) And we saw one of KC's many fountains.

Then I needed to figure out how to get back to the hotel. (Disclaimer: I have only been in KC 5 times before in my life, and the only time I was driving was when I was with someone who lived there.) When we came up for the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit, Ginger and I made fun of Robert and Steve who got us lost in downtown. They kept seeing highways "up" above us and knew if they made it onto a highway we'd be fine. So they drove "up." If there was an uphill road, they took it, knowing that eventually they'd find an on ramp. Friday night was payback time for my mockery. I followed suit, and drove "up" and got us back to the hotel. Here's a thought - maps don't work if you can't figure out where you are to start with.

Saturday morning was absolutely beautiful. We tried to head back downtown to eat breakfast at this cool diner, Cascone's. Missed the exit. Exit closed. Entered Kansas. Turned around. There was no exit that Google Maps said there was. Got on wrong highway. Didn't matter. As long as I'm on a highway and can see tall buildings, I can get there. Saw tall buildings. The tall buildings were behind me. Took an exit. Couldn't get back on highway from that exit. Turned around. Got back on another highway. Wrong direction. Turned around. Finally made it downtown to the River Market. Another really cool place I'd liked to have spent more time at. No time. Breakfast was good, and we got good easy directions to Riverfront Park where the Games were held. Five minutes, easy. Found Riverfront Park. No Games. No - nothing. Just the river, and a park. Kept driving. Now we're in a very industrial part of KC - not where I want to be. Called OnStar Robert to have him get on the internet and tell us how to get to the Games. This is our conversation.

R: Where are you? T: Don't know. This is the street I'm on; this is a cross street. R: Go back to this street and turn north. T: I don't know which way north is. R: Which way are you going? T: I don't know. R: Do you see this street? T: I just passed it. R: Turn around. T: Okay, now what? R: Turn west. T: Which way is west? R: What street did you just pass? T: "street name" R: Okay, Babe, you're going the wrong way. T: No kidding. R: I'm trying to help. T: I know. R: Wait a minute. I found you. You're in completely wrong part of town. T: Yeah, I KNOW THAT! R: Turn around. T: AGAIN? R: Yes.

Finally - with Robert's navigation, we made it to the Games. They were at E.H. Young Riverfront Park - NOT Richard L. Berkeley Riverfront Park. WHAT CITY NAMES TWO PARKS THE SAME NAME?

We were stressed, but we were there. Michelle danced (#797).

This is her hand knit Kilt sock (she didn't knit it; her friend Carin did. Carin said Michelle has to knit her next pair.).

We watched Border Collies herd sheep.

This Clydesdale liked Michelle a lot.

Left the Games. Ate dinner. Got back on the highway to come home. Wrong direction. I turned around. By that time, I was very good at it.