E and A Adventures Day 7

The last and final day of our trip together!

We got up early and went to visit the Stroud's local business, Magic Morning Bakery.

Esther had never been!

We then hit the road for approximately 12 hours of driving.

Indiana "steam."

Esther's shoe life for day 7.

I requested we stop at the Half Price Books outlet shop in Rockford, IL because it was about halfway and because I really like Half Price Books.

We both found some things we liked enough to purchase!

The water tower had a heart on it and I thought it was beautiful!

Esther being a boss and driving the last four hours.

We finished AnnE of Green Gables and got about an hour into the second book in the series. I really liked the first one and I'm probably going to read the second one really soon! Finally, after hours and hours we made it to MN!

Got just the right shot, despite Esther considerately slowing down for me.

We pulled into the Mach household and said our goodbyes. I truly enjoy traveling with Esther. She's someone who can keep me laughing in the middle of the night or at 7 am. She's incredibly flexible with her plans and is able to shake off the things that annoy her. I'm so thankful she was willing to drive around the South with me!

I wasn't quite ready to go home just yet. First I needed to say a different goodbye to another good friend.

My friend Brynn left for Madagascar for a year this morning (well, technically Chicago for a week, then Madagascar) and I knew I needed to see her off if possible.

Brynnertons! Off to go serve the Lord.

Her mom and I were pretty obnoxious. We stood in line watching her go through security.

Super obnoxious picture. Not Brynn, the fact I took it.

Anyway, Brynn had a 7:00 flight so we were there very early in the morning. I slept a few hours at Brynn's house after the airport. Then it was time to finally go home.

Road Trip Day 1

For those of you who don't know yet, I'm driving to North Carolina! Wahoo! I have a summer internship and I need to get there somehow. My method is through an automobile. #throwback

First I needed gas. And thanks to my friend Mackenzie and the gas card she gifted me it didn't cost me anything!

And here's when I legitimately started crying thinking, "this is the last time I'll drive on White Bear Avenue before leaving!"

Obviously I wasn't really crying about the driving. It was more about leaving what was familiar and heading into the unknown and blah blah blah.

My last day in Minnesota meant goodbye to The Alley for the summer so I attended church one last time. Right after a Taco Bell visit with Jami. One last pre-church breakfast Crunchwrap (Bacon, if you want to know).

And because I put things off I had to go to my friend Esther's house so her mom could check my TB test and confirm it was negative. Which I suspected given that I've never had TB and wasn't showing any of the symptoms. Her mom had made lunch so I enjoyed my first ever popover!

As my friend Hannah would hashtag #homemadeisbestmade.

There was nothing to do after that visit except head out on my journey! Driving over the St. Croix River I said goodbye to Minnesota.

Somewhere along the drive I passed this beautiful scene. #Murica

I drove almost straight to Madison. I stopped a little bit before to try and stretch my legs in a state park, but it would have cost $10 so I got back on the highway.

My friend Brynn called me when I was a half hour outside of Madison! For those of you who don't know, Brynn attended UW- Madison so it's like, cool that she called when she did, okay?

I stopped at one of my favorite bookstores to compare and contrast with the one I'm used to in Minnesota.

I started driving past some really beautiful farm land. I found it so pretty, especially around sunset.

And then. I finally made it. On some fairly small country road I pulled over to snap a picture.

I spent the night with a friend from Youth Encounter. It was so nice to catch up on each other's lives. And she said she'd be okay if I stop by on my way back to Minnesota at the end of the summer.

I genuinely enjoy staying in people's homes. For now I kind of enjoy driving by myself. I can listen to what I want and stop wherever I want to. Sing along to Taylor Swift, or drive in silence talking to myself. But I think I would be really lonely if I had to stay in a hotel by myself. For me, after a long day's drive, I loved staying up chatting with a friend.