The last leg....
Supernatural is a TV show about two brothers who come from Lawrence, Kansas and their life was uprooted by evil and destiny. It’s a story about two brothers that hunt evil and save the world every season. But most importantly it is a show about family. That family extends past Dean and Sam Winchester and into the whole fandom. The people I have met through this show are situated all over the world and I count them as some of the closest friends I have. In the grand scheme of things? It is one of the main motivations for this trip to the United States of America. Sure, it’s been great to see the country and experience different things but for the most part? It’s been about the people, the friends I have made over the years since Mary Winchester burst into flames above her son’s bed all those years ago.
I might have made these friends through the common interest and love for a TV show but the bond has only grown stronger and I cannot express how much I love these people that have become like a second family. You all know who you are :)
It is this fact that makes me think that I am finishing my trip in the most logical place to end it, with one of my first friends in the Supernatural, in her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas … right where it all started. Since leaving Chicago and the Supernatural family at ChiCon, I have been staying with the brilliant and amazing Gaelicspirit and her lovely family (I love these people :D ). It’s been a nice relaxing end to my trip and I cannot thank all of them enough for their hospitality. It’s not always easy invited someone into your home to stay more than a day or two.
Since being Lawrence, I have been able to sit and relax, I have been able to experience downtown Lawrence in its busy and quiet times, I have eaten at some really good places and gotten a feel for life in Kansas.
I was lucky enough to be in the States during Halloween this year. We don’t celebrate Halloween in Australia … not really. Stores try to sell it and some people try to trick or treat without much success and some people buy candy in anticipation for that knock that the door that never comes. It’s just something we don’t really do as whole and it’s honestly something that I don’t really think about all that much. So it was cool to be somewhere that does celebrate it. I got to carve my own pumpkin with Gaelic’s hubby and daughter which is something I can clearly say I have never done before and on Halloween night I went with the family to go Trick or Treating. Well … when I say I went Trick Or Treating, I mean I went walking as Gaelic’s little girl and friend door knocked while I stood back and watched from the driveway. I’m a little old to be begging for candy. That said, I did see an adult doing it. The girls looked adorable and we saw some pretty cool set-ups and some pretty cool costumes on other kids, one that especially sticks out in my mind was this little tiny kid dressed up as a Panda … sooooo adorable. The girls buckets were almost flowing with candy. I was impressed with their loot. It was definitely pretty cool.
On Friday I went with Gaelic and her family to Kansas City Zoo. I have been to three Zoo’s since being in the states - The Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii, Brookfield Zoo in Illinois and then Kansas City Zoo. While I think that all Zoos were lovely and had something to offer? My favourite of the three has been Kansas City. It’s exhibits, habitats and options were all fantastic and plentiful. Unlike at SeaWorld and Brookfield, the Polar Bear was active and adorably playing with a barrel, the Tigers didn’t look as thin as they did at Honolulu Zoo and the Australian part of the Zoo was the closest I have seen to being right. While the “Kangaroos” at Brookfield Zoo looked more like Wallabies the Kangaroo’s at Kansas City were true blue Kangaroos and seemed relaxed and healthy and happy. I was also impressed that they had both greys and reds. I loved that the Zoo not only catered to Kangaroos but had a whole Aussie section that had a cattle station with sheep that actually kinda felt realistic, they had Kookaburra’s who stubbornly wouldn’t laugh for us and outside the front of the main building they had a poster for the Dog on the Tuckerbox. This was something that astounded me and impressed me. Something like that is known well by Aussies but probably a little innocuous that I wouldn’t have expected foreigners to even know about. I was VERY impressed. And really? Just seeing those Kangaroos relaxing in the sun, rolling around on their backs … so damn cute!! Yes I can see them in the wild where I am but it’s pretty damn cool to see them when I’ve travelled over oceans and see them look so content. Well Done, Kansas City Zoo.
We stopped and ate at the Australian part of the Zoo and as much as I was impressed with its authenticity for Australia, their food options were pretty generic but that was okay because I don’t think they were going for typical Aussie food … sometimes even I struggle to think what that might be outside of Vegemite, meat pies, lamingtons etc LOL So I can forgive them for that.
Lunch in Australia did start off one thing that would carry on for the rest of the day. My fear of bees was brought to the attention of Gaelic and her family. I have been known to jump, run and squeal when they are flying around me. I do not do well LOL Gaelic’s little girl isn’t much of a fan of them either and while Gaelic is trying to get her to calm down and not react to them hysterically, I was not helping with showing that they were nothing to be scared of as I am sure I nearly ended up in Gaelic’s lap myself at some point during lunch. There you have it people, Bee’s are my fear … Bees and Moths … eek.
So we took a train from Australia and around the Zoo and then headed to Africa and it was Gaelic’s turn to be freaked out. We took the Skyrail over the Zebras and Rhinos and Ostriches. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of heights so when you stand there waiting for the seat to swing around and the guy counts to three and then tells you to sit before you are lifted off the ground with little time to make sure you a situated safely has never been my favourite thing to do. While it was cool to see things from above, I hate the feeling the Skyrail/chair lifts give me when they suddenly stop mid-route and swing … I think I was as happy to get off that thing as she was.
Africa was cool. Seeing Lions and Meerkats and Cheetahs and Elephants etc … it doesn’t matter how many times you see these things, they are so amazing to watch that they still manage to amaze you. We took the tram out of Africa and by the time we were finished with that it was pretty much time to head home. We stopped by the gift shop of course where we picked up Sam the Cheetah for Gaelic’s little girl and I picked up some Souvenirs because you know … I haven’t bought enough already lol
Saturday we went into downtown Lawrence and ate at a BBQ joint where Gaelic proceeded to beat her Hubby with the car door … Okay, maybe she didn’t beat him with it but she did accidently smack him in the head with it which made for much teasing LOL Once finished there we walked through downtown a bit and I bought a Sporting KC Scarf for the Watch Party we were going to be at later that night plus some other Kansas related things.
That night was the Sporting KC Soccer watch party. It was the closest I was going to get to seeing a Soccer game as they were playing in New England. Unfortunately KC lost but it was cool to watch the game amongst a whole lot of other fans and thankfully KC has a chance to stay in the finals … I will be crossing my fingers for them while I’m flying over ocean on my way home. Gaelic’s favourite player is kinda a little … or a lot hot LOL
Today was spent doing something that I had specifically asked to do. The book that I am co-writing with my best friend is focused on two characters that grow up in Topeka, Kansas together. There were some very pivotal places in their past that I really wanted to see while being so close to Topeka. We drove past Stull Cemetery on our way out of Lawrence. You can get run off for trespassing so we didn’t stop but the Supernatural fan in me needed to at least check it out. Of course it looks nothing like it looks on the show but I can at least say I have been out there which is the important thing.
Our first stop in Topeka was Topeka High School. It was a pretty impressive building actually. Much more fancy than my High School or any other High School in my area, especially for a Public School. Very impressive indeed. I even managed to be there while the bell in the bell tower went off. The stop was at a place called Childrens Park. For me this is a scene of a very serious altercation that our boys will have with other kids at some point in their pasts. I took some photos and stuff and then got on our way out to Gage Bowls which is where the second event in our characters meeting occurs. I took some photos out front but what I really wanted to see was the side of the building. Gaelic seemed unsure and warned me about getting her arrested which is funny now for what happened at our next stop.
The Water Tower near Felker Park which features heavily for our boys in their history. What I didn’t know was that it is actually situated on the grounds of a VA Hospital which is Federal Ground. We drove around trying to work out how to get to it and ended up stopping by the Baseball fields and walking through them and over to the tower. There were fences around it and people were up there doing work on it, cleaning it I think, We took some photos on my phone as a cop car drove past. Once we were done we turned around but the cop car had turned around and driven into the parking lot right next to the water tower. He stopped got out of his car as we were casually walking away and called us over. He met us halfway and asked us what we were doing. We explained that we were just taking photos of the water tower. He explained to us that it was on VA property and actually against the law to do what we were doing. He asked us why we were taking photos and Gaelic explained that I was writing a book and the main characters were based in Topeka and the Tower featured in the story so we just wanted to come and see it and get some photos. We asked if we needed to delete the photos. He took a look at my phone and deemed the photos okay and said he wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. For VA patient privacy and the fact that a water tower is a good vantage point for a sniper they have to be extra careful. He did tell us that ironically had we been taking photos of the tower from the Baseball fields there wouldn’t have been a problem at all because it wasn’t on VA land. Anyway we expressed our understanding, thanked him and I walked away holding my Aardvark soft toy and my phone with all the photos intact. It was definitely an experience though and now that it’s all said and done it actually really makes me laugh.
That was the last thing I needed from Topeka so we headed back to Lawrence, stopping for lunch at a place called Ingredient in downtown Lawrence before heading back to the house to hopefully spend some time getting some writing done.
Thank you to Gaelic for allowing me to get that in person feel of Topeka and for putting up with me getting the attention of the cops LOL
So I guess when I think about it, I only really have one full day left in Lawrence as Tuesday evening I fly out to Dallas Texas on the first leg of my journey home. It’s hard to believe that this journey is almost over and at the same time I think I am definitely ready for sleeping in my own bed.
I might have made these friends through the common interest and love for a TV show but the bond has only grown stronger and I cannot express how much I love these people that have become like a second family. You all know who you are :)
It is this fact that makes me think that I am finishing my trip in the most logical place to end it, with one of my first friends in the Supernatural, in her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas … right where it all started. Since leaving Chicago and the Supernatural family at ChiCon, I have been staying with the brilliant and amazing Gaelicspirit and her lovely family (I love these people :D ). It’s been a nice relaxing end to my trip and I cannot thank all of them enough for their hospitality. It’s not always easy invited someone into your home to stay more than a day or two.
Since being Lawrence, I have been able to sit and relax, I have been able to experience downtown Lawrence in its busy and quiet times, I have eaten at some really good places and gotten a feel for life in Kansas.
I was lucky enough to be in the States during Halloween this year. We don’t celebrate Halloween in Australia … not really. Stores try to sell it and some people try to trick or treat without much success and some people buy candy in anticipation for that knock that the door that never comes. It’s just something we don’t really do as whole and it’s honestly something that I don’t really think about all that much. So it was cool to be somewhere that does celebrate it. I got to carve my own pumpkin with Gaelic’s hubby and daughter which is something I can clearly say I have never done before and on Halloween night I went with the family to go Trick or Treating. Well … when I say I went Trick Or Treating, I mean I went walking as Gaelic’s little girl and friend door knocked while I stood back and watched from the driveway. I’m a little old to be begging for candy. That said, I did see an adult doing it. The girls looked adorable and we saw some pretty cool set-ups and some pretty cool costumes on other kids, one that especially sticks out in my mind was this little tiny kid dressed up as a Panda … sooooo adorable. The girls buckets were almost flowing with candy. I was impressed with their loot. It was definitely pretty cool.
On Friday I went with Gaelic and her family to Kansas City Zoo. I have been to three Zoo’s since being in the states - The Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii, Brookfield Zoo in Illinois and then Kansas City Zoo. While I think that all Zoos were lovely and had something to offer? My favourite of the three has been Kansas City. It’s exhibits, habitats and options were all fantastic and plentiful. Unlike at SeaWorld and Brookfield, the Polar Bear was active and adorably playing with a barrel, the Tigers didn’t look as thin as they did at Honolulu Zoo and the Australian part of the Zoo was the closest I have seen to being right. While the “Kangaroos” at Brookfield Zoo looked more like Wallabies the Kangaroo’s at Kansas City were true blue Kangaroos and seemed relaxed and healthy and happy. I was also impressed that they had both greys and reds. I loved that the Zoo not only catered to Kangaroos but had a whole Aussie section that had a cattle station with sheep that actually kinda felt realistic, they had Kookaburra’s who stubbornly wouldn’t laugh for us and outside the front of the main building they had a poster for the Dog on the Tuckerbox. This was something that astounded me and impressed me. Something like that is known well by Aussies but probably a little innocuous that I wouldn’t have expected foreigners to even know about. I was VERY impressed. And really? Just seeing those Kangaroos relaxing in the sun, rolling around on their backs … so damn cute!! Yes I can see them in the wild where I am but it’s pretty damn cool to see them when I’ve travelled over oceans and see them look so content. Well Done, Kansas City Zoo.
We stopped and ate at the Australian part of the Zoo and as much as I was impressed with its authenticity for Australia, their food options were pretty generic but that was okay because I don’t think they were going for typical Aussie food … sometimes even I struggle to think what that might be outside of Vegemite, meat pies, lamingtons etc LOL So I can forgive them for that.
Lunch in Australia did start off one thing that would carry on for the rest of the day. My fear of bees was brought to the attention of Gaelic and her family. I have been known to jump, run and squeal when they are flying around me. I do not do well LOL Gaelic’s little girl isn’t much of a fan of them either and while Gaelic is trying to get her to calm down and not react to them hysterically, I was not helping with showing that they were nothing to be scared of as I am sure I nearly ended up in Gaelic’s lap myself at some point during lunch. There you have it people, Bee’s are my fear … Bees and Moths … eek.
So we took a train from Australia and around the Zoo and then headed to Africa and it was Gaelic’s turn to be freaked out. We took the Skyrail over the Zebras and Rhinos and Ostriches. I have to admit that I am not a big fan of heights so when you stand there waiting for the seat to swing around and the guy counts to three and then tells you to sit before you are lifted off the ground with little time to make sure you a situated safely has never been my favourite thing to do. While it was cool to see things from above, I hate the feeling the Skyrail/chair lifts give me when they suddenly stop mid-route and swing … I think I was as happy to get off that thing as she was.
Africa was cool. Seeing Lions and Meerkats and Cheetahs and Elephants etc … it doesn’t matter how many times you see these things, they are so amazing to watch that they still manage to amaze you. We took the tram out of Africa and by the time we were finished with that it was pretty much time to head home. We stopped by the gift shop of course where we picked up Sam the Cheetah for Gaelic’s little girl and I picked up some Souvenirs because you know … I haven’t bought enough already lol
Saturday we went into downtown Lawrence and ate at a BBQ joint where Gaelic proceeded to beat her Hubby with the car door … Okay, maybe she didn’t beat him with it but she did accidently smack him in the head with it which made for much teasing LOL Once finished there we walked through downtown a bit and I bought a Sporting KC Scarf for the Watch Party we were going to be at later that night plus some other Kansas related things.
That night was the Sporting KC Soccer watch party. It was the closest I was going to get to seeing a Soccer game as they were playing in New England. Unfortunately KC lost but it was cool to watch the game amongst a whole lot of other fans and thankfully KC has a chance to stay in the finals … I will be crossing my fingers for them while I’m flying over ocean on my way home. Gaelic’s favourite player is kinda a little … or a lot hot LOL
Today was spent doing something that I had specifically asked to do. The book that I am co-writing with my best friend is focused on two characters that grow up in Topeka, Kansas together. There were some very pivotal places in their past that I really wanted to see while being so close to Topeka. We drove past Stull Cemetery on our way out of Lawrence. You can get run off for trespassing so we didn’t stop but the Supernatural fan in me needed to at least check it out. Of course it looks nothing like it looks on the show but I can at least say I have been out there which is the important thing.
Our first stop in Topeka was Topeka High School. It was a pretty impressive building actually. Much more fancy than my High School or any other High School in my area, especially for a Public School. Very impressive indeed. I even managed to be there while the bell in the bell tower went off. The stop was at a place called Childrens Park. For me this is a scene of a very serious altercation that our boys will have with other kids at some point in their pasts. I took some photos and stuff and then got on our way out to Gage Bowls which is where the second event in our characters meeting occurs. I took some photos out front but what I really wanted to see was the side of the building. Gaelic seemed unsure and warned me about getting her arrested which is funny now for what happened at our next stop.
The Water Tower near Felker Park which features heavily for our boys in their history. What I didn’t know was that it is actually situated on the grounds of a VA Hospital which is Federal Ground. We drove around trying to work out how to get to it and ended up stopping by the Baseball fields and walking through them and over to the tower. There were fences around it and people were up there doing work on it, cleaning it I think, We took some photos on my phone as a cop car drove past. Once we were done we turned around but the cop car had turned around and driven into the parking lot right next to the water tower. He stopped got out of his car as we were casually walking away and called us over. He met us halfway and asked us what we were doing. We explained that we were just taking photos of the water tower. He explained to us that it was on VA property and actually against the law to do what we were doing. He asked us why we were taking photos and Gaelic explained that I was writing a book and the main characters were based in Topeka and the Tower featured in the story so we just wanted to come and see it and get some photos. We asked if we needed to delete the photos. He took a look at my phone and deemed the photos okay and said he wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. For VA patient privacy and the fact that a water tower is a good vantage point for a sniper they have to be extra careful. He did tell us that ironically had we been taking photos of the tower from the Baseball fields there wouldn’t have been a problem at all because it wasn’t on VA land. Anyway we expressed our understanding, thanked him and I walked away holding my Aardvark soft toy and my phone with all the photos intact. It was definitely an experience though and now that it’s all said and done it actually really makes me laugh.
That was the last thing I needed from Topeka so we headed back to Lawrence, stopping for lunch at a place called Ingredient in downtown Lawrence before heading back to the house to hopefully spend some time getting some writing done.
Thank you to Gaelic for allowing me to get that in person feel of Topeka and for putting up with me getting the attention of the cops LOL
So I guess when I think about it, I only really have one full day left in Lawrence as Tuesday evening I fly out to Dallas Texas on the first leg of my journey home. It’s hard to believe that this journey is almost over and at the same time I think I am definitely ready for sleeping in my own bed.