Hey guys, we just got back from a cross country road trip. Not not “cross country” like driving on dirt roads but across the country — and then back again! We literally almost drove across the whole country in 10 days.
It was quite the “ride”. I don’t do road trips but Madison apparently could LIVE on the road and has requested road trips twice now as “vacations”. Last Fall we drove to DC which wasn’t too bad…so she thought it was safe to request an even longer haul for her Birthday trip. While the actual road trip was the point, L.A. was the end destination. We spent one night in a few places along the way and then stayed in Santa Monica for three nights before heading back the other way.
Quick recap of our trip:
Our first night we spent in Memphis TN. Good food. No pics — what?
Second night in Oklahoma City. We did not have enough time here! Madison and I both want to go back someday and stay several days. It had such a cool vibe. We basically only had enough time to have some GOOD food at Bricktown Brewery and then enjoyed the walk back to our hotel.
Then we hit the road, hoping to get out of Dodge before anything came of the Tornado Watch in the area. We were watching the skies and planning out ditches in the distance in case we needed them! Kidding–Not kidding.
Wes drove the entire trip on the way out so Madison and I just entertained ourselves with music and nonsense.
Third night in Santa Rosa, NM. Small town on Route 66, old car museum, graveyard and pretty nasty food options. (Enjoying good food is Wes and my main goal on this trip!)
Then we headed to Flagstaff, AZ where we stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast, England House (if you’re even looking for a place to stay in Flagstaff this place is rich with history, comfy and the breakfast was amazing). Flagstaff is a really cool city and we even arrived in time to do a little touring. We hiked the Walnut Creek Canyon. Amazing! Though, at almost 8000 ft altitude it made me feel a little lightheaded.
Then we made it to Santa Monica! We loved our stay at Channel Road Inn, which is a converted house much like a bed and breakfast only much bigger! They had bikes for us to use and were only about a block from the beach so we walked or biked along the beach every day. (Which was only twice because we left on the third day.) The bikes were one speed cruisers so we got a good workout using them. But they were free for our use so who’s complaining? not us!
The weather was beautiful and Madison played her guitar every day on our trip. Either in the hotel room, gathering room, porch or beach!
We stopped into a few music stores along our way and made a point to visit a couple in particular in L.A. because Madison (come to find out) had a goad to buy a new guitar in L.A.. Which she did! We had to have it shipped home because we couldn’t fit a single additional thing in our car.
Then we started our LONG drive home. Madison LOVED being in the car, on the road — and I don’t want to stomp on her parade so I tried to be a good sport or the duration. (I went a little crazy though.)
Madison took some turns driving on the way home — on the freeway — at 80 mph! It was great practice for her but I tell ya’ … She’s 16. She’s had her license for less than 6 months. I was holding my breath a lot. (Shhh.)
We entertained ourselves by singing and eating…and Madison and I slept quite a lot. Wes is a trooper. He drove practically the whole way. It kind of has to be that way because he is a nervous sort of traveler and needs to be in control of the situation. That works for me because I prefer to sleep, eat and take lots of silly selfies.
The last 4 days we drove 600 miles each day. That – is – a – lot – of – time – in – a – car! I was ready to be home and I’m pretty sure I wore the same clothes for the last 3 days because I was tired of dragging all that luggage into a hotel for one night. But hey, we had fun!
p.s. Madison put this video recap together. It’s a LOT of US and we are a bunch of weirdos so … be prepared for crazy town! If you dare to view!
And Madison entertained us a lot with her music so we survived!
It was a great trip 🙂 and now I’m SO EXCITED to be home and to get back to work doing what I love!
Such fun! I’ve always wanted to drive cross country! I can’t convince my 5 kids though to do the trip! I’ve threatened to make it mandatory with ALL of the pets unless they get it together voluntarily! Haha..we will see!
And you are brave! I would need to haul a trailer with us!
Mandatory WITH pets or voluntarily without. Love it! LOL
I have come to hate roadtrips because we drive about 1100 miles straight through from Colorado to Washington twice a year …. I totally lied to my husband and said I have a meeting in Denver and have to fly home… he can make the drive with our great dane.. half the time I end up driving 90% of the time because he will be coming off a shift at the fire station and will have been up all night. So I am with you I can tolerate them but only for so long.
Oh this just made me laugh out loud. I pretty much only survived this road trip because I slept through most of it. Haha
I am going to do this too but in Canada during the summer months. And stay in my car overnights. So no hotels or eating out for me, I will be surviving by buying food in grocery stores and cooking on a camping burner type of stove each day, saving the leftovers in a cooler/fridge, and healthy vegan style. I am going to do a blog about it, starting next year – 2016!
Sounds like a really cool experience and interesting blog!
been there done that. looks like you had some good times.
it has been ages and ages since I received any info from the Sawdust Girl. quite a surprise.
Well welcome back! LOL
I loved your adventure story. I enjoy road trips too. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kim!
I enjoyed your video, and 10 days on the road? No way I could do it! But you made it look fun! I would have to fly for that far of a destination. We now live in NC, so I’m guessing if we did that trip, it would be at least 12 hours round trip!!
Keep posting! 🙂
I almost flew one way and only joined the family for a “one way trip” but they wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun without me so… LOL Truthfully, neither Wes nor I love road tripping. We’d both rather find a nice quiet beach and just lay there and read/sleep all day for several days. Madison is too young to find any appeal in that and since this was her Birthday trip– we both had to be good sports about it. I’m glad we did it though. It was a really great experience!
Loved your pictures. As a road tripper, I will give you my best tip. Use a white garbage bag to pack a day’s clothes (pajamas, shirt, pants, socks, underwear) in for about half the days your gone (6 if the trip will be 10 days) and place the bags in a box. Take just a small carry-on type suitcase with your other necessities packed. Each night you stop, grab a clothing bag and your carry-on case. In the morning, put your dirty clothes in the garbage bag that held your clean ones (that you’re now wearing) and place it in a designated section of your trunk. When you are down to one bag of clean clothes, stop at a laundry mat (buy a small box of white garbage bags before you do), wash your dirty clothes, and separate each day’s clothes into a bag and restock your box. This allows you to take less clothes for a long trip, and you won’t have to struggle with big suitcases at night.