From NC to Chi-Town

Whew. 13 hours. We didn't drive. We flew low :)

First through N Carolina, then Virginia, then West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and then finally to Illinois. Whew. What a drive! Phil and I are definitely from Seattle, though, because we stopped at Starbucks two of the four times we stopped. A little taste of home!
We were VERY impressed by the "mountains" in the Virginias... These appalacians which are tired and worn. Blew Nick's mind though, being from Nebraska.
Then we went on to see the coal mines of West Virginia. It was interesting to see this process, instead of just thinking about fossil fuels abstractly...
Then we got stuck in traffic. A Semi rolled over. Just as we drove down the shoulder to try to ask how to detour, they told us just to fall in behind the lead car, because they were going to let people through. YES!
In Ohio, it was good to see that people were harnessing cleaner energy :) Phil and I were talking about how we expected Rural NC to be more like this: More farm and more open space. I think its the density of trees that throws me off in rural ENC.Lk. Michigan is BEAUTIFUL! I can't believe how much it looked like being on the ocean! And all the sailboats were out. It was amazing. AND all the museums and the Aquarium. I can't wait to explore this city. It is absolutely gorgeous.A bit of the skyline of Chi-Town, my home for the next 5 weeks. I think I heard Counting Crows is going to be in Lincoln park for free next Saturday. May just have to venture out.

Oh, and by the way, did I mention that the Illinois Institute of Technology (where I will be staying) is RIGHT ACROSS from the US Cellular Field. White Sox baby!