As we were leaving our campsite this morning, I saw the worst thing possible. Walking across the road was a giant tarantula! “Watch out” I yelled but it was too late. Mike had run over it. I’m sure I heard a thunk as the wheels hit, but it could have been my imagination. Anyway, now we have tarantula gunk all over our wheels.

Then I did a stupid thing. I googled it. “Tarantulas in Kansas.” Turns out they all come out this time of year looking for mates. Apparently you can can see hoards of them crossing the roads. Now this thought terrified me beyond the scariest thing I could imagine. I would rather drive through a 24 km tunnel than see that!

Next thing, I am seeing all these critters scurrying across the road. They weren’t tarantulas, but they were very big spiders. There was no way I was staying on the back roads. There were a couple of cool places nearby I had planned to explore, but nope, not happening. So we got on the interstate and drove as far away from that place as we could.

We kept on driving until we came to a small town called McPherson, not far from Witchita. We decided to camp in a Walmart parking lot, rather than anywhere in the wilderness. I think we are now fast tracking it to Kentucky.