After dreading all summer how I was going to fit all of my belongings in my car, I finally had to buckle down and just do it. I am happy to report that most of my favorite things have made it on my cross-country trip to San Francisco! My car may look ridiculous but I can now add “champion car packer” on my resume.
After a restless night sleep, I rolled out of bed at 6 a.m. on Saturday with that Christmas morning feeling (a little antsy, anxious and tired, but very much excited for my San Francisco treat- ha ha get it?).
I had a tearful goodbye with my dad and dog, Dugan; (mostly Dugan though because he has failed to study his Rosetta Stone and learn English. Now how are we supposed to communicate 2000 miles away?)
My mom and I ended up driving 9 hours today to land us in Des Moines, Iowa! It was a good drive. We filled our heads with a book on CD and watched the country scenery roll past. Once in a while my mom would turn the CD off and claim she’d had enough and needed to hear a “real person speak.” I then had to entertain her.
The best tip I can give, so far, about driving cross-country is to bring Jelly Bellies. Do it. Drive however many miles you need to find a self-serving, Jelly Belly stand and fill up. They are like little sugar, energy shots of deliciousness.
Once my mom and I arrived at our Hampton Inn we did victory dances. (Yes, I purposely was specific about the hotel chain only to encourage you to stay at one. You will melt into their bed and feel bliss wash over you. Oh, and they make fresh cookies everyday. Once the cookies run out though I swear they pump in a cookie smell into the entire hotel.)
The first thing we brought up to our room was my bike. I couldn’t leave it hanging out on the back of my car; someone might steal it! So we wheeled the thing into the elevator and were met with some interesting stares from a woman (who seems to pop up several other times).
On our next trip up to our room we were loaded with our overnight bags, cooler, dry food bag and other various items. Again we bring everything into the elevator and again we happen to run into the same woman. This time she speaks.
“Are you moving in?!”
Oh, you are so clever!
When my mom and I are ready for dinner, we bust out our microwavable plates, dig out the scalloped potatoes and green beans from the cooler and head to the lobby. Traveling with prepared dinners makes life so much easier (for me that is). I have so many food restrictions that it just makes sense to come prepared with “safe” food.
My mom and I happen to glance behind us while microwaving our dinners and see the elevator woman staring at us.
She can stare and judge all she wants because no matter what she thinks, my mom and I are traveling across the country in style!
