What I can attest to personally is that the US is very wide. In addition, some states are wider than others. Wyoming, for example, is very wide. Kansas is wide, and it seems wider because there is very little variation in the scenery on either side of I-70. That slice of Kansas is not flat, by the way. It is rolling prarie, with actual small hills and gullys. The Bonneville Salt Flats, are flat, however. I guess that it is possible that there are parts of Kansas that are as flat as that, but I didn't see any. Missouri looks like a freeway with rolling wooded hills on either side, and two honking big cities on either end. It also looks like a polite state highway patrolman that gives you a ticket even though you make him laugh by observing that the dog is growling because he (the dog) doesn't approve of such behavior (ticket giving.) Illinois looks like a freeway surrounded by farms and more rolling hills. Indiana is similar.
In Kentucky, I got off the interstate and took US 127 down to Tennessee. This was a slower drive, with less road visible to block out the sights. I avoided the bypasses around the small towns and instead drove through their centers. It was picturesque. Unfortunately, the camera on my Treo sucks for landscapes. But I was able to drink in the sights, though not the bourbon that leered out of quite a few of the signs along the way. Stopping at a Wal-Mart to get some gum and to walk the dog, I had an interesting conversation with a fellow who was sweeping up the parking lot. He though Newt was cute. I agreed that this was so, and told him what I was up to. He said to tell my folks that "movin' warn't so hard" but that "settlin' ian whar murder." I had a murderous hard time following his speech, but got the jist. It was great not being in a hurry so I could just let the conversation run its natural course.
Kentucky looked like a string of small towns seperated by large tracts of pretty farmland, Then it looked like windy mountain road and gorgeous mountain lakes. The lake was called "Cumberland" so I suspect I was near the Cumberland Gap. Many references to Daniel Boone on the highway signs reenforced this suspicion. Tennessee looked like more mountain roads until I got back on the interstate system. Then it looked like a freeway surrounded by wooded hills, and the by a honking big city called "Knoxville." After Knoxville, Tennessee often looked like torrential rain cutting visibility down to 30 yards or so.
North Carolina started out looking like the Smoky Mountains, and soon turned out looking like the Blue Ridge mountains. There was no definite point where the scenery changed from one to the other. In fact, the scenery didn't change at all, just the name. This was somewhat confusing. The mountains by any name were lovely, if only intermittantly visible through the rain. I drove off the interstate to Maggie Valley to meet my brother's extended family. They were staying at the Twinbrooks resort for the July 4th weekend. This was a lovely collection of cabins just off the highway. The rain let up enough so that we could shoot off some fireworks that evening. I saw my first fireflies, and had a good relaxing time. The next day, my brother and I drove down to Charlotte. He drove, which was quite a relief for me. We took part of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The early part of our drive was drenched in rain and we had limited visibility. The latter part was dry, however, and the vistas along the way were breathtaking, charming or both. It was great to be able to crane my neck this way or that to catch the best views. Thanks for driving, Randall!
Charlotte North Carolina looks like a freeway surrounded by clumps of buildings and lots of green open space. My parent's new neighborhood (which is also my brother's) is charming, with large lots backing onto woods, mostly two story large homes and a club and golf course. My parent's home is a three bedroom ranch style home. My brother says they bult a few of these, but that they didn't sell well. People seem to want multiple stories out here. But a single story dwelling is practical for my folks, who would rather not have to cope with stairs. The house is very attractive, and currently pretty empty. The movers didn't get underway with their stuff until July 2nd. They are currently due to arrive this coming Thursday, the 7th.
That's all the idle chatter I have at the moment.