How to sum up today?
SO MUCH DRIVING.
I got so bored that I actually recorded myself talking about the journey. Here is what I had to say (almost verbatim) during the last stretches of today's leg:
"So I am 600 miles in on Day 2. I am in the middle of Iowa and I'm extremely bored and feeling tired. I have 72 more miles to go to get to the Grotto of the Redemption and then 30 more miles after that to get to the motel. I don't really feel emotional or weird about leaving Etown to be honest. I'm not having an existential crises or any "coming of age", life-lessons moments. I just am driving and not really thinking. I don't know if that's bad or what. Part of me thinks it has something to do with technology. I think if I wasn't using a GPS and using a real map and being resourceful maybe it would be different. Also being able to connect instantly with friends through snap chat, calling, and texting. It doesn't have that same feeling, that I am going so far away. But when I arrive I am going to change my car clock because I did switch time zones. Granted, I will have to change it again in a day or so. But still, maybe it will help me feel like I am moving. Not that I am asking for an existential crises, don't get me wrong. I just feel like, when is this all going to hit me? More so than just the trip, but dealing with the reality that college is finally over and life from here on out is going to be different. Iowa is.... well it's really flat. It's kind of beautiful in it's own way. But I feel like my tiredness makes me not appreciate it as much. I wish there were winding roads, curves, hills, because that would at least make it more interesting. But the clouds are amazing! Super fluffy, huge, they look like cotton candy. They look so close it's almost like you could grab them. Maybe it's just an illusion because the road ahead is so stinkin flat. Wow. How sad is it that clouds are the most entertaining part of my day?"
Eventually after I made those painstakingly long 72 miles I made it to the Grotto of the Redemption. Throughout the trip I was seriously beginning to think that this place is absolutely not worth it. It is barely out of the way from my main route but I guess I was thinking about tomorrow and how much driving I also have to do then. Like, I could take those 20 minutes away from the Grotto and put them towards the travel tomorrow. I think I was going a little crazy in the car debating this with myself.
But wow! It was so worth it. I don't know if it really would be worth it to everyone, but after that long day it was much needed. This place is legit in the middle of nowhere. The farms I drove past on the way were absolutely beautiful, and something about those clouds! In the last 10 minutes of the drive they were looking purple , I think it was because it was raining in the distance. (Hopefully I really wasn't loosing my mind)
But I was really blown away by the intricate details of the grottos. It sort of in a weird way reminded me a bit of the Magic Garden in Philly, but I thought this place was actually much cooler. It was like mosaics but with actual gems! I took a short video clip on the inside of the caves because pictures weren't doing it justice. Click here for the link!
The location was beyond random as well, this place seriously popped up in the middle of nowhere. I was driving miles and miles through farms until suddenly there was a small residential area and along with it the grotto. It was actually across from a lot of houses. Imagine that being the view from your house. So strange Iowa!
There was also a small little pond with swans so I took my time to poke around, take pictures, and do some reflection. The site is open 24/7 and they have a suggested donation. All in all, definitely a good decision!
Thanks for the support!
xoxo
Becca
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