Quick Hello

As David said, we are in the final stretch and we are just flying by. Alabama is becoming a blur. So while David fills up for gas for the last time before arriving, let me just say,



(waves hello)

Home Stretch

Finally - after 1700 miles and 24 hours of driving, we are finally in Alabama. There is precisely one refueling stop remaining between us and home, so it is now time for the final push. It's my turn to drive, and this will be the last leg of the trip, so that means just one thing:



Let's go home.

Louisiana

Finally!!!! We made it to Louisiana! We beat Texas!




And now we just plan on flying through. We'll try to update, but forgive us if we don't add pics for each state. We need a shower and a real bed so we are going as safely and quickly as the law allows us. We'll let you know when we reach Georgia at the very least.

But we beat Texas!!!!! *Does happy dance!*

Little Over Half-way Stop

We are now leaving our first major stop- Flower Mound, Texas. Random stop you may say, but to us it is now home to some of our most favorite people.

We were sad when our best friends (who also happen to be cousins) moved so far away. But we are so happy that they happened to be on the way to Georgia. We didn't get to stay long, we still have a long drive ahead of us. But it was a welcome stop and now we are feeling refreshed and ready to be home.





(How cute is she?)

The Morning After

Good morning, world! We are still driving, and we did not stop to sleep overnight. The power of beef jerky, granola bars, and Amp should never be doubted, and while the last item in particular is likely to rupture my digestive tract at some point, the bottom line is simply that it worked. We are now just a few miles outside of Abilene, Texas, and therefore just a few hours from our first big stop to see Brittany's cousin and family. Our excitement continues to build and morale is still good.

There have, unfortunately, been casualties along the way, though. This is a hazardous trip, and is certainly not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. The horrors of interstate rest rooms often cannot adequately be described, but perhaps their worst offense comes in the form of a lingering olfactory assault in our vehicle. We happened across one stop somewhere back in the badlands of west Texas where there was no soap in the ladies' room with which to wash hands - Brittany had already thought ahead and purchased some hand sanitizer, but I did not realize until now just what kind it was. Though it pains me to say it, our car - and very likely its occupants - both smell of sweet wild honeysuckle.




I suppose it could be worse, as eau de rest stop is highly unfashionable, but as a man, one loses a certain degree of machismo by having an odor reminiscent of his mother.

The other casualty has been my pants. This particular pair has held up through countless casual Fridays, many a motorcycle ride, and the frequent (and sometimes infrequent) washes that come as a result of being one of two - and later one of one - pairs without holes. As of early yesterday afternoon, this pair finally gave up the ghost as well, splitting completely in one knee and nearly splitting in the other as I packed the car:


Favorite pair of jeans, you will not have split in vain. You will be missed.

And now we are in Abilene. Home stretch to Fort Worth. Almost there!

Daunting

We have now arrived at the most challenging part of the journey: west Texas. This barren, God-forsaken stretch of desolate nothingness was by far the hardest part of our last cross-country trek, and I am now about to take it on again. I once swore that I would not drive West Texas again until I was coming home for good, but here I am breaking my own word. Ah, what else will man give up for the sake of adventure?

And away we go . . .

Leg 1 down

Ahhh... My turn to lay out and rest. After working a full day I insisted on driving the first leg. I knew I would be way too excited to sleep. Also it was requested by several moms that David take the night shift since he does nights way better than I do. But in any case, the next driver is up.

Driving 6 and a half hours and 410 miles wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. My back and neck are a little sore, but for someone who gets as restless as I do, I didn't go crazy.

Recently, I watched an episode of Top Gear where they were doing an endurance race. When one driver tires or has to get out, another one takes their place. We are doing just that and I am beginng to have a small idea of what it must have felt like. I think our "race" is a lot more exciting though. At least much better scenery. If our phones could only capture the beauty of seeing Las Cruses from the rest stop above, all lit up. Or the numberless stars we saw at the same stop.

This has been one beautiful adventure so far and we still have a ways to go. I do believe we will be hitting Texas very soon and then we will tackle the hardest part of the trip- West Texas.





(Yes, I am seriously that cold in what would still be considered desert. I am going to freeze in Georgia!)

(And we just hit Texas!)