I’ve got three very special words about road trips.
NOT A FAN
The last time I hopped into the car with Mr. S to go anywhere farther than the Florida Key’s (3 ½ hours away) was to drive cross-country from South Florida to just outside of Los Angeles. We drove ALL THAT WAY to pick up our mini-bullie Clem. Both his breeder and I had agreed that shipping a puppy cross-country in the cargo hold of a plane was not something that I wanted to do, so we packed up the Volvo and headed out.
Since neither of us had ever done anything like this before, we took it slow, spending time exploring family vacation destinations that we’d talked about for years, but never actually went to. Heading north through Central Florida and turning left to the west, we hugged the gulf as we traversed the South, stopping at gulf coast festivals in places like Mississippi and Louisiana, out of the way restaurants and diners, and staying at road motels.
It was beautiful – UNTIL WE HIT TEXAS. Now both Mr. S & I lived in Houston for a short while, but driving through the countryside of Texas goes on and on….and on and on….and on and on – until you start thinking to yourself that you’re in one of those dreams that reoccurs over and over again – only in this case they’re the same cows you saw hours ago. It seemed like a lifetime til we made it through and on to the beautiful Southwest.
Eventually we headed up to Las Vegas where we spend a few days gambling, exploring and sleeping in our amazing suite at the Venetian, until heading out to meet our new family member.
While that doesn’t sound so bad, the REVERSE was HORRIBLE.
More cows
Mr. S decided that while the trip there would be leisurely, the trip home had to be quick. Now, I’ve had lots of experience with this side of Mr. S. Our yearly road trips from Florida to Rhode Island were a nightmare of playing beat the clock. Road food would consist of gas station cuisine and fast food joints, and maybe a quick stop into the rest center as he filled up with gas. Bathroom stops don’t exist (unless he’s stopping for gas). If I were lucky we’d lay our heads at a Hilton Gardens Inn, but most likely I’d be curled up in the back seat as he drove straight through the night.
I’m too old. I can’t drive for 24 hrs straight, can’t sit in a car without stopping to stretch my legs, can’t feel like I’m in a movie like Groundhog Day. So now I FLY just about everywhere, and while a slow drive through little villages and towns sounds romantic, this old lady is tired of watching cows fly by, Motel 6’s and Pedro telling me how many miles it is to South of the Border.
Colleen says
I hate driving no matter how close or how far so I despise road trips!
B C EDWARDS says
I advise you never to visit my province then, its flat, has cows, deer and not many people (about a million in the whole province LOL)
Cindi says
Is it possible we might be married to brothers? Or maybe we’re long-lost sisters? – 14 hours from Raleigh, NC to CT recently, 13 of it waiting to get over the GW was a tad too much LOL
Rachel @ following in my shoes says
LOL — yes, I hate driving through Texas (even though I live here)… Kansas is the other state I despise for road trips. IT is ALL the same!
Tricia Nightowlmama says
LOL I love driving and love seeing the cows, horses and anything that looks remotely interesting. I usually point them out to the kids as we go but the hardest part is taking pictures when I drive.
Jenn @therebelchick says
I hate driving through Texas…it seems like it takes forever!
Zipporah says
Thanks for the heads up. I think I just need amusement as I drive.
Zipporah says
YUP
Zipporah says
Driving & photography do NOT go together! Especially when you’ve got 2 hands on the wheel, or my husband is driving at 90 mph – whoosh….
Zipporah says
I need one of those televisions that are set into glass (or mirrors) like they have at Hotel 32. That way I can look out the window & be watching TV.
Zipporah says
UGH – I hate the GWB! My hubby use to leave the house between 2-3 am when we’d drive from RI down to here just to avoid that.
Zipporah says
LOL – but does the drive take almost 14 hours (like driving across Texas does)?
Zipporah says
Well, there’s that too! I suppose if I went with a car full of my besties it might be fun.
Naomi says
I’m with you- not a road trip lover. But please know that if you ever find yourself in that situation again, you’ve got a place smack dab in the middle of the flyover states to come and hang out at!
Tammy says
I love road trips. As long as they aren’t more than 2 hours.
Jenn says
I’m with you. I love to go places, but hate getting there in a car. Now if we didn’t have a toddler with us I might not mind quite as much. It would almost be like alone time! LOL
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
I LOVE road trips! Love, love, love them! I also like to fly, but road trips are so much fun! Of course, I haven’t driven by Texas cows, and that might change my tune.