Road trip to MN

Eight states in 24 hours.

Pete and I spent the weekend driving to and from MN for his brother's wedding.

“You drove?!” everyone said when we got there.

Sure did, and saved a few hundred bucks, too. :) From decorating for the groom’s dinner, photos and the actual wedding to packing two cars with gifts and attending the gift opening, it was a whirlwind and I wasn't even the one in white this time. Exhausting and a ton of fun. Plus, I got free fake flowers to bring home.


TRIP UP
Leave 8 p.m. Wednesday, short pit stop in Charlotte.

Hour 1 (9 p.m.): Pete’s idea of a planned route is a sheet of paper with a city name pointing to the next city name. I’m pro-GPS for this trip.

Hour 2 (10 p.m.): Full of Arby’s. Pete discovers it’s hard to dip fries in honey mustard while driving. Listening to “This American Life” podcast and playing with gadgets in rental car. Pete accidentally calls someone when he connects his phone to the car’s Bluetooth device.

Hour 6 (2 a.m.): First stop for gas in Ohio, just over the West Virginia border. Feels good to stand. I’ve been sleeping since the last update. My turn to drive!

Hour 7 (3:30 a.m.): Loving cruise control. Why can’t my ’93 Corolla have this? Lots of fog and signs for deer, not a good combo.

Hour 9 (5 a.m.): Passing Cincinnati on our way to Indiana. When does the sun rise anyway?

Hour 10 (6 a.m.): Pit stop in Indiana. Lots of farms along the highway. Getting the munchies.

Hour 14 (9:30 a.m., now an hour behind): Greetings from Peoria, Illinois! Just passed the Mark Twain Hotel and couldn’t get my camera in time to take a picture. Passed the Indianapolis Speedway earlier, but driving too fast then, too. Addicted to Chickadees, a Goldfish knockoff shaped like chicks.

Hour 15 (10:30 a.m.): Had an hour and a half of work to put in today, typed a couple of stories from the car. Finished just as I was feeling sick from looking down and reading.

Hour 17 (12:30 p.m.): Iowa = endless green corn fields. I’d like to run through one, but attempt pictures instead. Iowa also has the world’s largest truck stop off I-80. Lunch at the Homesteader Travel Plaza. Hour 20 (3:30 p.m.): Empty light on, gas stations 50 miles apart, minor panic. Fill up with 20 miles to spare. Pass a truck of piglets!

Hour 23 (6 p.m.): We’re he-ere!

TRIP BACK
Leave 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Hour 1 (7:30 p.m.): St. Olaf! True to my “Golden Girls” fan status, we stop for pictures at St. Olaf College. Rose Nyland would be proud. Hour 2 (8:30 p.m.): Analyzing a “Something Corporate” song and decide the singer is kind of whiney. Tempted to stop at 24-hour Amish market. About to cross the Mississippi into Wisconsin.

Hour 3 (9:30 p.m.): Break out the Gummi Bears. Establish that my favorite flavor is lemon. Pete is between grape and orange. Full moon!

Hour 5 (11:30 p.m.): Exhausted. What day is it again?

Hour 9 (3:30 a.m.): Got a nap in. Gas station guy said our rental car looks cool.

Hour 11 (6 a.m., back to NC time): Sunrise over Indianapolis. More country radio stations than I expected. Got a picture of the speedway this time!
Hour 15 (noon): Pete fixing his shoe in the car with super glue. Lots of road work signs, no road workers.

Hour 18 (3 p.m.): Virginia. Pete stressed about getting the rental car back in time. A couple of toll roads to pay for the road work not being done.

Hour 21 (6 p.m.): Home sweet home and on time to get the rental back. I need to run 10 miles after sitting all day, but I would do it all over again.