Trip Home, Part A - Day 8

After a good night sleep, we all took showers and had a big breakfast.  Scott and I worked on getting prepped for the ride home.  Scott took care of the bikes and our tow car last night so today he focused on all the outside prep: water, electrical and sewer.  I worked inside to get cleaned up and stow our things for travel.  The kids were a big help as they are now starting to understand the steps it takes to be ready.  

We pulled out of the Dell a little after 11:00 am.  We were met with some slow traffic as we left the greater Sevierville area but after 45 mins or so, we found our highway and got up to speed.  The kids settled right in!

We stopped at a Loves station in Kentucky around 2:00 pm.  I made lunch while Scott filled up with diesel.  While eating lunch, the boys say up front to watch a UPS truck hook up to a new trailer.  Sammy and I enjoyed our tacos and salad from the comfy dining table.

We were making great time until we hit Cincinnati, OH around 4:30 pm.  There was just no way to avoid traffic... Head west and the highway drops to a single lane over the only bridge to cross a river and the state line into Indiana OR go 20 miles out of our way but right through the city with its Friday night rush hour traffic.

We took our chances with the road work, figuring traffic cannot be too unbearable when you have a bathroom and kitchen along for the ride.  I brewed Scott a cup of coffee and we made the best of it.

We spent just less than an hour in that construction traffic.  I took advantage of the time to bake chocolate chip cookies.  We even offered some to a truck driver next to us.  He was so excited, so I hopped out on the highway and have him some. I think we made his day!

I fed the kids their supper on the road and they settled in to watch a movie right about the time we hit a stretch of rain showers.

We stopped for the night at 8:30 pm at a Flying J in Beaverdam, OH.

We haven't left the RV in 9.5 hrs and have travelled 441 miles.  It's been a big day but everyone is doing great!

After the kids were settled in for the night, Scott and I ate supper... tilapia with broccoli & cauliflower.  Who says you can't eat well while traveling?

Its 10:36 pm and its time to sleep!

Side note:  Sammy left her hair in a French braid so she would have curls today...

Leg 1 of the Drive - Day 1

What a whirlwind today was!  It was all hands on deck at the Breen house, trying to get packed and loaded and finish up our chores as we prepped for our trip to Tennessee.  Thanks so much to Mom and Katie for all your work!   Scott came home a bit early so we could beat rush hour traffic.  We were on the road by 4:15 pm, just 15 minutes past our goal J

We had just barely left home when Scott noticed a few kids setting up a lemonade stand so we pulled over to be their very first customers.  Sure, we only had a $20 and neither of our kids drank the lemonade, but it was still fun to surprise these kids with their first sale.

Yes, that's the corner of Leonard and 24th in the background... less than a mile from home.

We ran into some stop-and-go traffic just east of Kalamazoo but I took advantage of the steady pace to quick whip up quesadillas for supper.  Instead of making a 30 minute stop, we pressed ahead and used those 30 minutes to make up for the traffic delay.  

Sammy kicked my butt in Chutes & Ladders before Tyler beat us both in Candy Land. 

Around 8:00 pm we stopped for fuel and to fill up our fresh water tank.  Tyler and Sammy both came out to the parking lot to help us! 

The kids did fabulous on the ride.  They were rewarded with a few small toys… Sammy loved her two small minion figures and Tyler got a spy toy that alters your voice.  The kids used that silly noise maker for miles…. eventually using it to ampilify their favorite songs on my phone.  They filled the coach with giggles and laughter (and some chipmunk sounding music).

Around 9:00 pm I got the kids their snacks and settled them in on the couch for a movie. 

We stopped at 10:18 pm in a small rest area near Piqua, OH.  We drove 297 miles today, logging just over 6 hours on the road. 

It was a fabulous first day.