Scenes from a Roadtrip (Read 8,375 times)

[André DiMera]

Yes, fluffysmom. Here they are:

Next week...

The girls travel to Oklahoma.
Then they go north into Missouri.
A baseball game is watched.

[heroicmuse]

Ohh are they watching Paul's team?

Looking forward to seeing where they go now!

[fluffysmom]

Thanks for the previews André DiMera.

[Kpatch]

Cross country as they make their way back to Salem. Thanks for the previews!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 26

The girls stayed another day in Colorado, and then said goodbye to Eric and Jamie. From there, they went south to New Mexico and saw the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Next, the girls went to San Antonio, Texas, which is where we meet up with them.

GRAND HYATT – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
The girls stood inside of their hotel room in San Antonio.
CIARA: Wow!
CLAIRE: I guess the saying's true. Everything really is bigger in Texas.
The room, though they had asked for a standard one, was bigger than any hotel room they had been in before.
CIARA: This is so cool!
The girls plopped down on their individual beds.
CLAIRE: Even the beds are big!
CIARA: And they feel so nice!
After a few minutes of lying on the bed, Claire sat up.
CLAIRE: So, what do you want to do first?
Hearing no answer, Claire looked over and saw that Ciara had fallen asleep. It made sense, as she had had the bulk of the driving, so she wouldn't be sick. It had been tiring, though. Claire took Ciara's shoes off for her and covered her with a blanket. She rubbed her back. Then, Claire opened her own suitcase and got out her swimming suit. After changing into it, she got a towel and left the room. Down on the main floor was a huge outdoor swimming pool. Claire jumped in and began swimming. After about an hour or so, Claire saw Ciara, now wearing a swimming suit, walk out. Claire swam over to the side of the pool.
CLAIRE: Hey.
CIARA: Hey.
CLAIRE: How'd you sleep?
CIARA: Pretty good, actually. Thanks for letting me sleep.
CLAIRE: No problem. You looked tired.
CIARA: I was.
Ciara jumped into the pool.
CIARA: This is really nice!
CLAIRE: I know!
The girls swam for a while.
CIARA: So, what do you wanna do today?
CLAIRE: I don't know. It's almost dinner time.
CIARA: Yeah.
CLAIRE: We could go to the Riverwalk.
CIARA: Oh, yeah. I've heard that that's really pretty at night. And, we could actually have dinner there. From what I've heard, it's got a lot of restaurants.
CLAIRE: Sounds good. And, while we're here, I definitely want to go to the Tower of the Americas.
CIARA: For sure.

RIVERWALK
After having dinner, the girls were walking along the Riverwalk. It was getting dark, and everything was lighting up.
CLAIRE: This is so beautiful!
CIARA: I love this!
CLAIRE: We totally need to come down here again!
CIARA: I know.
The two enjoyed a peaceful evening, walking along the network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, lit by the moon and the lights of the shops.

[Kpatch]

Finally! A place I've actually been. The Riverwalk in San Antonio! "Remember the Alamo." (Not the rent-a-car place.LOL.)

[heroicmuse]

Oooh this sounds nice. I love how loving Claire is towards Ciara. This part of the trip sound soooo relaxing.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 27

TOWER OF THE AMERICAS
Next day, the girls had gone up to the Tower of the Americas.
CLAIRE: I can see our hotel from here! Look!
Claire pointed to a large building not too far away.
CIARA: Cool!
The Tower of the Americas was a large observation tower.
CLAIRE: You know, this kinda reminds me of when we were in the Space Needle a few months back.
CIARA: Kinda. Except this is taller.
CLAIRE: Seriously?
CIARA: Yep.
CLAIRE: Wow!
CIARA: Well, like you said, everything's bigger in Texas.
CLAIRE: No kidding. Did you see the food we had this morning?
CIARA: We should have just ordered one thing and split it.
CLAIRE: Yeah.
The girls walked around the tower, taking in the beautiful views from the top of San Antonio.
CIARA: This is really nice.
CLAIRE: Yeah.
After a while longer of looking, the girls took the elevator back down and went back to their hotel.

CAR
After spending a few more days in Texas, the girls moved on up north.
CIARA: So, where to next?
CLAIRE: Oklahoma City.
CIARA: Cool. What's there?
CLAIRE: Well, there's a botanical gardens, which I picked because I know how much you love flowers.
CIARA: Hey, if being a cop doesn't work out, I can always be a botanist.
CLAIRE: And, seeing as we both have a love for trains, there's the Oklahoma Railway Musuem.
CIARA: Very nice.
CLAIRE: And, since it's now summer and it's hot out, we should spend a day at a waterpark.
CIARA: Awesome!
CLAIRE: There's other stuff, too. But those were the three big ones.
CIARA: Sounds awesome!

BEST WESTERN PLUS SADDLEBANK INN – OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA
The girls had gotten to Oklahoma that evening. Claire was unpacking her stuff. After a few minutes, Ciara walked in, she was on the phone.
CIARA: Okay.
Pause.
CIARA: I love you, too.
Pause.
CIARA: Bye.
Ciara hung up.
CLAIRE: How are grandma and grandpa?
CIARA: They're good. They say hi.
CLAIRE: So do my mom and dad.
CIARA: That's good.
Ciara dug into her pocket and pulled out two candy bars. She handed one to Claire.
CLAIRE: Thanks.
CIARA: No prob.
CLAIRE: So, what do you want to do first?
CIARA: Well, I doubt anything's open tonight, since it's almost 10. How about the botanical gardens tomorrow?
CLAIRE: Sounds good to me.

[heroicmuse]

So Ciara is following in her parents' footsteps!

LOL at the food portions being so big in Texas.

[fluffysmom]

I like seeing the girls relax as they choose the next days activities.

The river walk sounds really nice.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 28

WHITE WATER BAY PARK
The girls had spent the previous two days seeing the sights. They were now at a waterpark. They had changed into their swimming suits and were trying to decide which slide to go down first.
CLAIRE: What do you think?
CIARA: I don't know. What do you think?
CLAIRE: No idea. There's so many!
They were looking at a map to help them decide.
CLAIRE: What about those three?
Claire pointed on the map to three adjacent water slides.
CLAIRE: The Bermuda Triangle.
CIARA: Okay, but I'm not going on the covered one.
CLAIRE: That's fine. We can do whatever we want.
The girls went up to the three slides, both going down separate ones. It was like a race to the end. After going down one, they switched, and went down the one the other had previously been on.
CLAIRE: That was awesome!
CIARA: Yeah!
CLAIRE: Hey, do you mind waiting for me? I really wanna go on that covered one.
CIARA: Sure, no problem.
Ciara waited as Claire went on the third slide.
CIARA: How was it?
CLAIRE: Awesome! Okay, now you pick.
Ciara looked at the map.
CIARA: Pirate's Plunge.
The girls walked over to an area with innertubes, and picked a double one. Then, they walked up the steps to the water slide. The two of them rode through a tunnel, and then into the light and down the rest of the slide.
CIARA: Your pick now.
CLAIRE: Cannonball Falls.
Cannonball Falls were two water slides that both ended in an eight foot drop. The girls chose one slide, and after going once, swapped places.
CIARA: I think I'm gonna go over to Castaway Creek for a while.
CLAIRE: I'll meet you with you in a few. I wanna try Calypso Cannonball first.
CIARA: Sounds good.
While Claire went to go try another slide, Ciara went to Castaway Creek, which is a lazy river. She got a single person tube and just floated in the water, relaxing. After a few minutes, Claire joined her.
CLAIRE: The water's so nice!
CIARA: I know! It's great!
CLAIRE: I wish we could just stay here, you know?
CIARA: Me too.
The girls spent a while just floating along the lazy river, relaxing in the water.
CLAIRE: So, I was thinking, after we're done in here, do you wanna try those two massive slides?
CIARA: Mega Wedgie and Blackbeard's Revenge?
CLAIRE: Yeah.
CIARA: I'm up for it if you are.
A few minutes of relaxation later, the girls were ready to go. They started at the Mega Wedgie, which was 277 feet long, and included a 64 foot free fall. The girls were excited, but kind of nervous.
CIARA: You good?
CLAIRE: Yeah, you?
CIARA: Yeah.
Then, it was their turn, and they zoomed through the slide, and plunged into the cool water below.
CLAIRE: Whoa!
CIARA: That was awesome!
The girls high-fived.
CLAIRE: And now for the big one.
Blackbeard's Revenge: a 300 foot long body slide. The girls went up the stairs and then quickly went down the slide. It was amazing!
CIARA: Okay, I know I've said this like a million times...
CIARA & CLAIRE: Best. Trip. Ever!

[heroicmuse]

Best trip ever indeed! I'm jealous. It's still hot enough for water parks here. LOL

[Kpatch]

LOL at the names of the rides and slides.

[fluffysmom]

The water park sounds fabulous on this scorching day.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 29

The day after the water park, the girls drove north to Kansas. There, they saw Exploration Place, which is a non-for-profit science museum, and looked around. After that, they drove to Missouri, and spent a few days in Branson. After seeing a few shows, the traveled farther north to St. Louis...

HOLIDAY INN – ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
The girls were unpacking.
CLAIRE: You ready for tomorrow?
CIARA: I'm ready to find out what we're doing tomorrow. You haven't said a word about the plan for the next few days since we left Branson.
CLAIRE: That's because it's a surprise.
CIARA: What sort of surprise?
CLAIRE: Wait and see. Just consider it a late birthday/early Christmas gift from me.
CIARA: Ooh, sounds intriguing.
CLAIRE: You're gonna love it.
Next day, the girls had breakfast and swam in the hotel's outdoor pool. Claire was still keeping quiet about whatever the surprise for Ciara was. The girls went back to the hotel room and were drying off.
CLAIRE: You brought that jersey that grandma and grandpa gave you, right?
CIARA: Of course. I always take it with me when I'm going on a trip.
CLAIRE: Is it clean?
CIARA: Yeah.
CLAIRE: You might wanna wear that.
CIARA: Why?
CLAIRE: Just, trust me. You're gonna want to wear your Cubs jersey.
CIARA: Okay.
Ciara and Claire dried off and put their normal clothes on. Both girls were wearing Chicago Cubs jerseys.

CAR
The girls were driving through downtown St. Louis.
CIARA: So, where are we going?
Claire pointed to a building.
CLAIRE: The parking garage over there.
Ciara turned the car in to the parking garage that Claire indicated, and then parked. Claire rummaged around in her backpack.
CIARA: Okay, so what are we doing here?
CLAIRE: One sec.
Claire pulled an envelope out of her backpack.
CLAIRE: Here we go.
She opened the envelope.
CLAIRE: Like I said, this is kind of a late birthday/early Christmas present from me.
CIARA: Okay. What is it?
CLAIRE: Well, when we were planning this trip, I was figuring out all of the places we would stop at. And, I tried as hard as I could to get the dates right so that we could see this somewhere, and this is where I got the best deal.
CIARA: Best deal for what?
Claire pulled out two tickets.
CLAIRE: Get ready, Ci, you and I are gonna watch a Cubs game!
CIARA: Seriously?
CLAIRE: Seriously!
CIARA: I love it!
Claire and Ciara hugged.