Saturday afternoon on the road

It is now 4pm ish local time and I am in Salina, Utah.  The first part of Utah was desolate, just rocks.  Then I went up through winding unique mountains with really pretty rock formations, colorful, hard to describe.  It was a lot harder driving then in the Colorado mountains but Joel's little car did great!  I stopped at two overlooks mostly because its really pretty!  I walked to the top of one and took pictures of both.  My pictures do not do it justice and the best pics would have been way up high but it wasn't safe to take them while driving.

I have two hours 45 minutes left to go today.  I finished one book on cd and have started another one, both really god whichever helps!  Joel texted and said to drive on and get there tonight!  No way I can drive that far!  I felt like my head was going to explode when I stopped here.  Scott is making me a AAA reservation in St George.  Better planning than last night!

Scott texted me on the road and said I am a great adventurer!

Adventure continued

This morning I got up in my tiny motel room and life looked a lot brighter.  I am now in Vail about 90 miles down the road.  I am actually having fun!  The air is crisp and clean and bright and cool.  The mountains are beautiful and fun to drive on.  The brakes in Joel's car work really well.  Gonna take it easy today but my goal is 700 miles.  That will be the farthest I've ever driven by myself.  Last night was the second time I've stayed Ina hotel room alone!  

Pictures later I promise.

Road trippin

The second half of yesterday was not fun, in fact, bordered on harrowing.  Just outside Goodland, the wind really kicked up.  Dust was blowing then we came into construction two lane traffic.  I was behind a semi and the wind was blowing so strongly that the truck seemed like it was driving sideways.  There were semis going the other way facing me, also.  I pulled off at a rest stop but there were only truckers there so I was afraid to get out of the car.  I tried to nap in the back seat until the car stopped rocking so badly in the wind.  When I set out again, there was less traffic and a bit less wind.  I did drive through rain on and off but it didn't get the roads crazy wet and there were not many cars.  

It was clear before I got to Denver.  I was pretty tired but the motels I saw were in a sketchy part of town then I was downtown.  The next hotels looked super expensive.  I missed a couple of cheap hotels and the next thing I knew, I was out of Denver and starting up into the mountains.  So I turned around.  I was too tired to get my app to work so I stopped at two hotels that were two expensive, $119 and $94 then one that didn't have a room.  The guy there helped me call Motel 6 and gave me directions.  

I had a little trouble unwinding to fall asleep after so,e caffeine consumed yesterday but did finally sleep.  

All in all day one I went 500 miles!  

Pictures later.

The Adventure Roadtrip

First stop is Colby, Kansas.  Needed gas, an empty bladder and to stretch.  I have gone about 290 miles (I think) in 3 plus hours.  I baked the first couple of hours and had to cover my legs so I didn't burn but then it clouded over.  It started raining about five miles ago and I hate hate hate driving in the rain since our wreck so I was really happy to stop.  It doesn't look like it will continue but I will check the weather.  I am at McDonald's.  not my favorite place to eat but free wifi.  

My confidence in Joel's car is growing.  The a/c and cruise control work really well.  The wipers not so much but I hope I don't need them much.  I am a little bored but am alternating between singing at the top of my lungs to my iPod and listening to a book on tape, Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg.  It's pretty good.  I think the characters are gearing up for a road trip themselves which is fun.  More later!  Only 1200 more miles and 21 hours to LA!  

Last minute prep

I am packed.  Enjoying myself and relaxing.  Went to Target as I was packing and purchased a new backpack and duffle bag for the trip.  Just hanging out til water jog waiting for the washer repair man.  

O wow I'm really doing this

My stomach is flipping out that I am actually going to do this.  Leaving tomorrow.

The Adventurous Road Trip Vol. 1

I am driving to California!  I have always wanted to drive across the United States by myself for some reason and now I get to do it!  Tomorrow!  Here is  how this came  about:

Three days ago, I saw a great little car, a 2005 grey Ford Focus with only 76,000 miles, sitting in the Target parking lot with a for sale sign on it.  The price was right in the range Joel was looking for.  I called Scott and he said call the guy.  I called Joel and he said go for it.  Long story short, I bought the car, insured and tagged it, got new brakes and the oil changed and I am going to drive it to Joel.  Everything just fell into place!  I fly back on Tuesday.

I spent last evening looking over routes and decided to go Interstate over the Rockies.  The other ways take longer and are scary hot.  I am a little worried about the car going too slow up the mountains and being in the way of the big trucks but am also looking forward to the view of the Rockies!

I am spending today packing, gathering snacks and books on CD, stuff like that.  

My plan tomorrow is to teach my water class in the morning, shower and finish packing, lunch with work friends for Greg's last day, then pack up and take off about two!  I will drive as far as possible stopping for a quick bite to eat and try to make it to the other side of Denver.  About ten or eleven I will use my yelp app on the phone to find the cheapest place to stay.  I will sleep, shower, then get back on the road Saturday.  I will drive as long as I want, stop whenever I want, go through the mountains and get as far as possible into Utah then look for another cheap place to sleep.  I will get up Sunday morning and head into California and to Joel!  We'll have Sunday evening, all day Monday which is ironically Joel's only day off, and Monday night.  He works a few hours on Tuesday morning and then will take me to the airport.  For the first time that I have visited Joel, we will have a car to drive!  

Obviously there are many prayer requests here.  For safety, that the car goes well, that I find cheap, safe places to stay, health....  Also pray that Joel easily learns to drive a stick!  Ha!

So I will take you with me on this adventure.  Stay tuned!