Last Minute Descision...

Well, today is the day we were supposed to leave for our trip, but we've had an exciting week! On Tuesday, Lisa and I had our last kickball game of the season. Kickball, you ask? Yes, that kickball, the same game you played in second grade. Punch Apparel (my t-shirt company) has sponsored a team in the Delaware Sports League. We now have a stellar 0-6 record, but we are the best team at the bars afterwards. Regardless, during our last game, my dear wife went down running into second base (Safe by the way) and needed to be carried off the field by yours truly.

So after a trip to the emergency room on Tuesday evening, a visit to an orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday, an MRI on Thursday and another trip to the orthopedic surgeon on Friday, we've come to two conclusions. The first - Lisa has no ACL anymore. Torn. Result of a skiing injury about 5 years ago and the kickball game. The second, we can still go on our road trip - surprisingly. The Doc wasn't so sure about it on Wednesday because he didn't know the extent of the injury, but after seeing the MRI, he cleared Lisa for the trip, and actually suggested it would be the best thing for her as long as we didn't do major hikes.

So she's walking around, although gingerly, and should be walking normally within a few days. She's got a fancy brace with hinges to help her knee from giving out again. Once she regains muscle strength in her leg, she'll be able to go in for some reconstructive surgery. The doctor actually said surgery isn't necessary if she doesn't intend on staying active, but I'm sure when little Fusco's come around in a few years, she'll be needing that knee!

So without further ado, here is the revised intinerary, and later today I'll post some pictures of that fantastic knee! The only thing we had to cut out was a trip to Cedar Point Amusement park in Sandusky, OH, but I'm sure we'll make it there some other time.

Day 1, June 30
Start - Wilmington, DE
End - Maumee, OH
Along the way - Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, Pittsburgh

Day 2, July 1
End - Dundee, IL
Along the way - Univ. of Notre Dame, Chicago, IL

Day 3, July 2
End - Sioux Falls, SD
Along the way - Dyersville, IA - the Field of Dreams Movie Site

Day 4, July 3
End - Spearfish, SD
Along the way - Badlands, Custer State Forrest, Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, Mt. Rushmore and the 4th of July Fireworks

Day 5, July 4
End - Yellowstone
Along the way - Devil's Tower, Yellowstone

Day 6, July 5
End - Yellowstone
Along the way - Stay in Yellowstone

Day 7, July 6
End - Helena, MT
Along the way - Yellowstone

Day 8, July 7
End - West Glacier, MT
Along the way - Nate and Maia's Wedding

Day 9, July 8
End - West Glacier, MT
Along the way - Glacier NP, Waterton Lakes Park (Canada)

Day 10, July 9
End - Seattle, WA
Along the way - Not much but scenery...

Day 11, July 10
End - Portland, OR
Along the way - Seattle, WA

Day 12, July 11
End - Reno, NV
Along the way - Multnomah Falls, OR, Crater Lake

Day 13, July 12
End - Fresno, CA
Along the way - Lake Tahoe, Yosemite

Day 14, July 13
End - Las Vegas, NV
Along the way - Kings Canyon and Sequoia NP, Death Valley, Vegas Baby!

Day 15, July 14
End - Grand Canyon, AZ
Along the way - Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon

Day 16, July 15
End - Grand Canyon, AZ
Along the way - Grand Canyon

Day 17, July 16
End - Moab, UT
Along the way - Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley

Day 18, July 17 (3rd Anniversary!)
End - Denver, CO
Along the way - Arches NP, Colorado National Monument, Denver

Day 19, July 18
End - Kansas City, MO
Along the way - Flatness

Day 20, July 19
End - Louisville, KY
Along the way - St. Louis (Arch, Bud Brewery), Louisville Slugger

Day 21, July 20
End - Wilmington, DE
Along the way - Churchhill Downs, The home stretch!

So that's it. For a better picture, check out this Map. We'll be posting pictures everytime we're in a hotel with free internet, so check back regularly!

John and Lisa