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NewsOctober 3, 2004

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Inside a coffee house in southwest Topeka, a documentary film crew interviewed residents here last week for a sense of the modern-day American dream. The crew rolled into town after traveling more than 2,000 miles from Seattle -- all at 10 mph and with a person following behind on a Segway, a small two-wheeled battery-powered vehicle...

The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. -- Inside a coffee house in southwest Topeka, a documentary film crew interviewed residents here last week for a sense of the modern-day American dream.

The crew rolled into town after traveling more than 2,000 miles from Seattle -- all at 10 mph and with a person following behind on a Segway, a small two-wheeled battery-powered vehicle.

The "America at 10 mph" crew took to the road in August and will end its 4,400-mile journey in Boston later this year. The goal is to film a feature-length documentary that focuses on the positives in America instead of the polarized negatives, said director Hunter Weeks, 27.

"We want to show America in a positive light," he said. "We're so inspired by slowing down and looking at America. This seemed like an especially good time to do this in America."

"America at 10 mph" has visited five states so far, and Kansas is their favorite, Weeks said.

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"It's so special," said Gannon Weeks, 27, a crew member from Seattle and twin sister of Hunter. "There is such a misconception of Kansas. I think there is so much history here that many people don't realize. I find Kansas very inspiring."

Hunter Weeks, of Denver, quit his corporate job to pursue his dream of film-making and focus primarily on Spinning Blue, a production company he owns with crew members Gannon Weeks; Pat Armstrong, 25, and Josh Caldwell, 27, both of Denver; and Alon Waisman, 25, of Phoenix.

They brought a Segway along with them because they wanted to show people an alternate means of traveling short distances. The vehicle's batteries last about an hour and take eight hours to charge. The Segway is an attention-getter, Caldwell said. He rides the Segway behind the film crew's SUV and trailer.

"You get a lot of smiles and tooting of the horns," Caldwell said. "You stop at a place and make people's day."

The journey has changed the group's perception of America.

"There is a lot of humanity and hospitality still left," Caldwell said.

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