If you don't believe in miracles...

How do you explain...

this?


I've been reading Jenni's blog for several years.  Truly an inspirational woman.

Con and Pro and Con

Just about everything about traveling in the bus is glorious.  The space, the ability to use the potty if needed, the access to refrigerated food, and did I mention the space?

The gas mileage is a con.  Although, when you figure in being able to stretch out to sleep without setting up a tent while you're traveling, I can overlook that.  Or the price of a hotel for the night... We wouldn't be able to travel that way.

We discovered a new con this trip.  Short term transportation.  We didn't want to drive the bus around town or to the beach, so we rented cars.  Yes, two.  They were out of large vehicles and really, it turned out to be the same(ish) price for 2 compact cars.  We were upgraded to the next level and got a PT Cruiser and a Dodge Caliber.

But the pro?  It's kind of fun driving a little car.  I don't remember the last time I've driven a car that seats less than 7.

What We're doing

Day Two of the Quest For Tranquility

While I love the frugality of parking at truck stops to sleep, the activity level, even in the middle of the night, it high.  After a restless night for me, and luckily a restful night for Matt, we embarked on the second leg of our journey.

I've made it no secret that I find Indiana the most boring state to travel through.  I thank my facebook friends for humoring me through it yesterday. ( I can do that on my cell phone) You can follow along too, if you'd like via Twitter on my sidebar.  The kids, on the other hand, had a great time playing their Gameboys.  We keep them in the bus and the rule is that they only come out while the bus is moving.  

It was rainy and dreary but that enabled us to find the leak in our windshield that was causing our instrument panel to cut out!  

 We stuffed rags around the leak  and caught the drips before they could do more damage.  Eventually the wires dried and the speedometer started working again.

After Indianapolis (and a nap for me) things started to look a little better.  Green grass, budding trees... dare I say, it was pleasant!

At fuel stop the boys ran around outside and picked me some flowers.  They also asked if I would pay for these.

Kentucky and Tennessee passed by without incident and as we reached the Alabama border my fatigue was getting the better of me.  100 more miles I kept telling myself... I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep!

Birmingham arrival: 9:30pm

Miles traveled: 610

MPG: 9 (!)  Best yet!

Internet: Paid for 24 hour of WiFi

275 Miles to go!

Cya there!  

Journey to the Redneck Riviera - First leg

Friday

Packing took a little longer than usually due to my sickly state (and a 24 hour bug that plagued some of my most helpful workers) but all was accomplished by 6pm. 

We departed at 7:30, drove without incident through Milwaukee, Chicago and parked 18 miles south of Gary at our favorite truck stop, the Flying J.

Travel time 5 hours

Miles 268

MPG 8.26

State of the bus: still relatively orderly

State of mind: still sane

Now my least favorite part of the journey: INDIANA.  

My first attempt at mobile blogging

Alabama here we come!