We Made It!

This year we decided to join in the great American tradition and head out on a road trip for Thanksgiving 2007. Thus, we loaded up our Pathfinder with 2 dogs, 2 kids, gear for everyone, cargo box on top of the car (we have a pregnant pathfinder now), dvds, ipods, and snacks. We thought we were done for when 25 minutes into the trip Harriet starting screaming at the top of her lungs. She wanted out of her car seat and she wanted out now. Luckily Michelle was able to calm her down and we continued on towards Pittsburgh.

After 623 miles, 10 hours, 10 minutes, 2 stops at the gas station, a couple of hours of the iPod, and 5 dvds later we arrived. Traffic wasn't bad and the kids were great. The fact that we only had to stop twice is a testament to how both the kids and the dogs did. Of course the dogs were just excited to come. They were looking pretty dejected last night and this morning and we starting packing and loading up the car. However, the second they saw the leashes come out, they knew they were in.

I'm not saying I would like to do this often, but the drive was actually fun for me. I grew up with road trips. My family would load up each summer and make treks to Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, Arches, Capital Reef, Chicago, Washington D.C. and the like. We have some classic Chapman family stories such as showing up at Natural Bridges with our tent, but no poles, camping up in the mountains around Willard where God spoke to Brian, but not John, 17 year old me driving in D.C. rush hour traffic and also coming back from Chicago one Christmas and having the freeway closed right in front of us. Great memories and great times.

Unfortunately, Michelle doesn't share my enthusiam for the road trip. Anything over 2 hours is tough. Four is doable for the right people, six if necessary, but anything more than that is just plain absurd in her mind. She is probably right when you are dragging kids and dogs in tow. But, the drive was so relaxing. As we headed through western Mass and into Connecticut I enjoyed the New England towns we passed through. As we got farther south into New York and Pennsylvania the trees were actually still quite colorful. I enjoyed passing the Pennsylvania farms and enjoying the sites and sounds of America.

While I probably won't be driving to Utah any time soon, I hope that we can get out as a family and explore some of the world around us. Maine, Cape Cod, even New York City. Hopefully they are just a road trip away.