Madeline-Betsy Adventure storyFINALrev

Madeline & Betsy’s
Cali to Kansas Roadtrip
SUMMER 2016
What happens when two best friends are reunited
after being separated for months by more than a
1,000 miles? ROADTRIP, of course!
A once-in-a-lifetime, on-a-budget,
sleeping-in-the-car, sightseeing-along-the-way,
memory-making roadtrip, that is!
Follow Madeline Cox and Betsy Stewart on their journey
from Betsy’s new home in California back to their
hometown of Independence, Kansas, in May 2016.
“It was an amazing trip,” said Madeline. “Betsy did all
the planning, right down to each stop for gas. We filled a
cooler with snacks, packed her Toyota Rav to the ceiling
and then we were off!”

Day 1 May 10, 2016
Making my way to Cali...
Madeline and Mom were out at 2:30 a.m. to get to the Tulsa
airport for an early morning one-way flight to Oakland, California,
to meet Betsy. First time flying solo (without friends or
family). Layovers in Dallas and Phoenix, easy peasy, no problems
at all.
Text from Mom
Today’s Highlight: Finally getting to see Betsy after
six months and seeing her new home in person
instead of just the way I had imagined it.
Day 2 May 11, 2016
On.
The.
Road!
Our road trip began today, and we are still near
Betsy’s home in central California. This is the kind
of beautiful scenery she gets to wake up to every
morning! #breathtaking
Today’s Highlight: Trying to decide which
one of us was going to ask a stranger to take
our picture! After at least 15 minutes,
Madeline finally gave in.

Day 3 & 4 May 12-13, 2016
So much fun it was
worth a two-day stay!
Almost to Mexico! (But not going to Mexico!)
Pismo Beach was definitely a favorite stop during our
trip. We got out of our car/camper for a couple of
nights, changed out of our car/camper clothes and
ate a real meal.
“We stayed at an air bnb, so we felt like real
adults!” Betsy said. “We got dressed up and went out
to eat a fancy dinner, which was fun.
“We laughed so hard the whole dinner. It’s one of
my favorite
memories ever,
actually!”
Today’s Highlight: Pretending to be people other
than ourselves through the whole two-hour dinner,
Madeline said. It was hilarious! That’s the kind of
stuff we do for fun.

Day 5 May 14, 2016
A stop in sunny Bakersfield, where we
spent the night with Betsy’s aunt Lynn. The
hospitality was great and much appreciated!
Tomorrow, we’re off to the Grand Canyon!!
Day 6-7 May 15-16, 2016
Today’s Highlight:
Betsy’s aunt and uncle treated us to a chill
evening with dinner and a movie. So, nice to
have family along the route!
(what, what?!)
Today’s Highlight:
We made it to one of the USA’s great natural wonders! An even bigger wonder is how us two crazy girls
survived this trip. The landscape and sunset here were absolutely amazing, but we did almost get attacked
by a rattlesnake. For real! I mean, we didn’t actually see it, but we heard it in a bush. AND, we decided
last-minute and late at night to change our travel plans and hit the road for Kansas a little early! Driving
through the night on no sleep? Why not!