The Road Trip Home

Although this post would have been better to write after the trip in the comfort of my home, I decided to write while on the road.  This, I believe, will allow me to better write about the pain and suffering we are enduring while it is still fresh.  Okay, that might be a tad dramatic, but after driving 12 hours and still having 5 to go, it feels like a little complaining is well deserved.  I should point out that the drive started out great! Our little pack of four is typically running about 30 minutes behind schedule.  However, today we woke up early (what's wrong with us, I know), we went to Starbucks for breakfast, and were on the highway by our scheduled time of 7:00am!  We were feeling pretty accomplished.  That was until the 2 hour blues set in and we both began dreading the drive ahead.  

It only took the dogs about 30 minutes on the other hand, to realize this backseat would be home for the day.  They fell fast asleep and have barely moved since.  We probably have two of the laziest dogs you will ever meet.  At about 1:00pm, 6 hours of driving, we made it to Des Moines, IA.  Here we stopped for Chick-fil-a, because we don't eat anything else, and then immediately got right back on the road.  Honestly, I think getting out and stretching your feet just reminds you of the pain you are freely choosing by getting back in your car.

Our plan was to have me take over driving in Iowa City, IA, but lucky for me Clark was good to continue driving.  In Des Moines however, we did switch and I took over the wheel.  I would say I am the best and worst person to bring on a road trip for a few simple reasons.  Best because I am great moral support.  I will keep the car ride fun and upbeat by playing your favorite tunes and sining even louder so that you can't actually hear the singer.  Especially Adele or Shania Twain.  I believe that I have the ability to copy every sound they make.  The saying, " do you know who sings this song, because you should let them sing it" perfectly describes the situation.  On the other hand, I am not the greatest road trip partner because I hate driving.  This is not just a hatred towards driving long distance.  I genuinely hate driving up the street two minutes to get my hair done.  Also, high speeds of 70-75 miles per hour make me nervous.  My hands start to sweat, I sit awkwardly, and the whole situation is scary and uncomfortable for everyone.  

Lucky for me, Clark doesn't like me driving either.  After only 2 hours, he took the wheel back over.  At this point, we have still only seen one view the entire time: a straight two lane road and empty fields on both sides.  Every now and then we get to see the poor animal that was recently hit or possibly the oversized billboard for the nearby adult store, "Lions Den".  At first we were taken back by the huge number of these that we saw, but we've come to the conclusion that the many truckers on the road probably tend to get lonely.  If you've ever considered driving cross-country through Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois (hopefully you never have), let me save you the time and money.  There is nothing not pictured in this post that you would see.  

So here we are.  Just about to go through North Platte, NE and ready for it all to be over.  My only saving grace: the adorable dogs snuggling in the back.  We will hopefully arrive Home (parents home) by 10:30pm Mountain Time, and will have driven a total of 16.5 hours.  
Never again.. until the trip back.