Running With The Cows
We knew we would be coming back to the Kansas City area relatively quick from our last departure. We wanted to make it back for a couple big events happening. First off, we had to be in town for Finley’s dance recital! Next, we wanted to get a glimpse of Briley’s first prom. Lastly and most importantly, we were there to RUN WITH THE COWS!!
Mile: 40,156
Quote of the Blog: “Trees bear fruits only to be eaten by others; the fields grown grains, but they are consumed by the world. Cows give milk, but she doesn't drink it herself - that is left to others. Clouds send rain only to quench the parched earth. In such giving, there is little space for selfishness.” - Munshi Premchand
Song of the Blog: “Cows” - Sandra Boyntons
Before we can go on with the story, the world had a surprise for us. As we were driving up, I had known about a big solar storm that was happening. Being from Montana, I have always tracked the Northern Lights. We loved to catch them up there. As I was driving, I kept seeing something to my west. I knew it couldn’t be what I was thinking, but I kept looking at it. At one point I found myself driving the car into the rumble strips and hearing Amity telling me to “either pull over, or look at the road.” So, I pulled over. We found an exit from the interstate and drove out on a two lane road into the farm land. The moment I got out of the car, I knew we were looking at the Northern Lights. Jaw dropping! Amazing! We stared at the sky for a while, and took the best photos we could with our phone’s cameras. We even had the second opportunity to hear the northern lights. This only happens when there is a massive solar storm. Since we were seeing them this far south, this was a massive solar storm. The solar energy that is being sent through the atmosphere making the arouras happen can interact with electrical lines hanging above roads. The energy pulses through the cords making a chirping sound. It is a slightly eerie and very cool to experience. This will be an Aurora Borealis story we will remember forever! We tried to get over to Autumn’s grave site to see them over her, but there was too much cloud coverage at that location. It still did make for a really cool picture of the clouds at night.
As we were going to through the process of laying Autumn to rest, we noticed an advertisement for an event on a giant tower close to the church she is buried at. It was called “Running With the Cows” and was a 5k and Half Marathon event. I had just recently finished a full marathon and had no intentions of doing the half, while Amity wanted to save her next half marathon for one down in Arkansas. So a 5k it was!
It was really fun to get Baylor, Finely, Asa, Andy and even Mike Sparks (he didn’t run it) together with us for a great morning. Finley had never run anything this far, so she was a little nervous to start. We didn’t even see Baylor at the start. I made it my goal to try to catch up to him. Amity and Asa set the goal to try to finish with the exact same times. Andy stayed with Finley to help her along the way. Mike held down the fort at the start to cheer us all on, and was there at the finish to congratulate us. We all need someone like that on our team! I never caught up to Baylor. He ended up getting first place in his age division and 9th place out of everyone!!! When I say everyone, I mean a little over 500 people!!! He crushed it! Asa and I came in a close second in both of our age divisions. Finely crushed it! I had moment when I thought, maybe we should go back out a little ways to cheer her in, and when I turned around, I saw her and her dad coming around the final turn to finish the race! She killed it, and Andy was right behind her to capture the finish!
Following the race we hung out around the start/finish area for a little bit. Finley, Amity and I found a cow that you could pet and take pictures with. I don’t remember its name, can just call him Benny for fun! Then we found a very large cow to get a picture with all of us together. We quickly zipped back to the Early’s house, as we needed to transition into dance mode for Finley’s dance recital. After doing the longest run of her life and having all the stress we all have been harboring, she still had the energy to completely crush her dances! She looked amazing, did amazing and made us all so proud!
What would be a true Live Rad and Travel weekend, if we just left it there? We couldn’t!!! For the end of the night, we quickly pulled ourselves together and packed into the car to chase down Briley. It was her first prom, and she was taking pictures down at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in downtown Kansas City. I love this spot! When we got there, it was clear that this was totally “the thing to do” for highschoolers. There were thousands of teenagers all dressed up getting together with their friends to take pictures. If was a beautiful spot, and every photo I have seen turned out amazing! Briley looked spectacular! A true woman she is becoming! We are all so proud of her! We might have annoyed her slightly, but what would a good family be if we didn’t.
With a whirlwind of a weekend, we all took the night to relax and recuperate. We needed to push off in the morning back to Arkansas. It is still a little funny to us to think that we are living down in Arkansas. How the time flies, and all the places you can go! We stopped in Fayetteville to check out a brewery. It was called, Fossil Cove Brewing Company. They had a great atmosphere with amazing beer. Fayetteville is definitely one of Arkansas’s best cities! It has a very rich cultural scene and a lot of things to do. We hav future plans to be back up here.
Northwestern Arkansas has some amazing gems hidden in it!! We already have plans to be back up to Northwestern Arkansas. Until then, we are headed back to the River Valley. Live Rad Everyone!