So here I am in Denver again... ;)

It took me two and a half days to get here, but I didn't drive that much each day -- only about 10 hours the first two days... It takes about 27 hours from Washington, D.C. to Denver.

It was an interesting trip though, because I was listening to these audio books all about the history of the U.S. I listened to a great biography of John Adams, and one of a recent book called Greenback, a history of the U.S. Dollar... The biography of Adams especially was truly amazing.

All of this got me thinking about how incredible the achievements of the U.S. really are. At the time when the founding fathers, including Adams, created the constitution, most other civilized nations were still essentially monarchies. The idea of a republic, grounded upon the rule of law, with checks and balances between different aspects of government, was revolutionary -- pure innovation.

I pondered all these things as I drove past the mines of Pennsylvania, the arch of St. Louis, and the huge expansive plains of Kansas...

Finally, when I was still 100 miles from Denver, I spotted the Rocky Mountains. The day was so clear and beautiful -- a stark change from the freezing sleet I had left in D.C. Seeing those mountains rise up above the plains is a truly awe-inspiring experience. Everyone should try to take a road trip across this country some time... I still have so many places in the U.S. I haven't seen yet, especially in the South-West... someday I really want to take the time to see all of them.