Cross Country Road trip

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!