Day 2 Trippin' out with the Rawlings

Day 2

The motel last night was fine, but my head was dizzy and my body ached. Let's just say I've slept better.

7:15 - central time zone Wake up. I wake everyone up and tell them to start getting dressed so we can go get our continental breakfast. I give the top athlete a back rub while everyone gets ready. As I said, he did an amazing job and as can be imagined his body is paying for it today. All of our bodies are worn out today. I can tell our psyches are suffering today as well.

7:45 - Breakfast consists of your average variety motel breakfast: bananas, cold cereal, juice, boiled eggs with the yolks cooked green, muffins, danishes, a waffle maker with no available batter, and bread for toasting. Thankfully, I packed portions of my high fiber cereal and some berries. The kids loved it and I was happy with mine. Kenneth had a banana.

8:15 - Back in our room we are able to hold a small Sacrament meeting. It was very nice. I don't like traveling on Sunday, and I would have been very sad to miss the sacrament today.

9:00 - We are off. I don't think we are in quite the same high spirits as yesterday, but here we are all the same. It turns out that Missouri is rather nice. Trees, water, farms, grass, rolling hills. I think I like it after all... at least in the spring.

12:00 - Lunch is more of the same. Peanut butter sandwiches. Oh, the cries of joy that ring from the back of the car. The whining is beginning, “Stop touching me.” “No, it's not.” “Stop it.” “He's cheating.” So I remind them that they do not want mommy to lose it and start taking away privileges. They quickly zip it. I tell them that if they have something to say that is mean or whiny they need to keep their mouth shut.

Another Haiku to Missouri

You are not so bad.

I didn't expect to see

So many fair things.

1:00 - Illinois is wet today, also flat. It was amazing driving over the Mississippi River. I am having so much fun showing the kids these new sights. They love it. Dylan just keeps saying, “That is awesome!” as he takes pictures out the window.

2:00 - First stop for the day. Don't you love the “dispensers” in the gas station restrooms? They make me so mad. I really hope the kids don't notice them, but I know the taller readers will read whatever comes into their line of sight. Back in the car we are listening to Harry Potter. Thanks, Amber.

2:30 - Never mind, they want a movie. Prince of Egypt.

Haiku to Illinois

Land of Lincoln here.

Today is rainy and wet.

Gray sky and green grass.

3:00 - Blackout. I can't sleep in the car. I can't think, “Oh, I'm tired. I should try to sleep.” If I sleep in the car it's because I have passed out. That's what happened. I still came out of blackness every 10 min to close my mouth and pick my head back up. After 45 min. I was able to be fully awake, and I feel so much better. I did miss the entrance to Indiana though. Welcome to Indiana. I really like southern Indiana. It is beautiful, though it's raining pretty hard today. It's greener already. After a winter feast of Utah brown this green is such a feast for my eyes. The trees do not have leaves, but the ground is starting to be emerald green. I love all the trees, even bare, lining the road. The farms are everywhere and of course I'm romanticizing the thought of living amongst all of this beauty. I wish the camera could capture what I am seeing, but zipping along at freeway speed is making it difficult.

Haiku to Indiana:
All I see are farms.
Am I a farm girl at heart?
I like to dream, yes.

4:30 - Kentucky. I've never seen this side of Kentucky, Louisville and the Ohio River.

6:30 eastern time zone - We are trying to eat according to the local time in order to combat jet lag. So 6:30 is dinner time. More of the same is what it is. As I watch the restaurants along the side of the freeway I am dreaming of what foods I will eat this week. Restaurants I've seen that I haven't seen in 13 years: Bob Evans, White Castle, Waffle House and Hardee's. Yes, I do know that Hardee's is Carl's Jr. and I do see Carl's Jr. all the time. Not that I want to eat at any of those places. I just really want real food.

7:00 - Lexington and I-75 ,which makes me think of Ohio, which hurts my heart. We are just a few hours from Dayton and I am sad that we are so close and not able to go there. I can't believe that it's been 13 years since we lived there. The last part of Kentucky is very hilly.

Haiku to Kentucky

Carpets of green grass.

Horses grazing everywhere.

Sweet, sweet Kentucky.

8:45 - West Virginia. We are just across the river from Ohio. That is killing me. We are so close and we can't go. The pain is dulled by West Virginia, because, hey, it's West Virginia, and the fact that my bum is numb. As we drive by the houses with the warm glow of lights inside I am really wishing I lived here right now for the simple fact that I would be home. NUMB BUM!! What do Missouri and West Virginia have in common? “Adult” Superstores. I was surprised and disappointed to see them. Toll roads, I am not a fan. San Francisco, Chicago, New York, I can understand, but Middle of Nowhereville, West Virginia, I don't get and it irritates me. Many things seem to be irritating at the moment. The shiny newness has worn off and we seem to be a little more snappish than usual. Pray for strength to make it the last 3 hrs.. Serenity Now!!

Haiku to West Virginia (Virginia with 3 syllables)

Hi, West Virginia.

Jennifer Garner lived here.

I'm glad that I don't.

11:20 - Virginia. We drove through the longest tunnel I can remember. It goes under a mountain. Fog greets us on the other side welcoming us to Virginia.

Haiku to Virginia

Happy to see you.

Tonight it's just a drive through.

We will be back soon.

12:45 North Carolina. Turns out by the end of Virginia I was not very happy. The fog was so thick it was scary. We were on a stupid back road and at times we could only see a car length in front of us. There were deer on the side of the road and we hit a possum. Yes, that's correct, we killed a possum. Then it started to rain. Rain with fog. Really? Is that necessary? One isn't enough? It's not complete without both? Really?

Haiku to North Carolina

Finally we are here.

Coasting in on fumes of gas.

I want to sleep now!

Totals for day 2

Total stops: 3

Total states: 7 with an honorable mention to Ohio

Total hours of gaming: 0, no games on Sunday

Total states with rain: 7

Total miles driven: 1,032

Our endurance was seriously put to the test today. We are here and I am done.