Our journey from Davenport, Iowa to Howell, Michigan was relatively uneventful. The roads were clear, there was not too much construction, and it was cloudy. We are so glad that we took the time to have Adventure #1. We are reviewing all of our photos (we only posted a few) and reliving all of the fun we had. We learned a few things about being good travelers.
How did people do this before the internet and smart phones? Our phones helped us find our way when we were lost. They helped us find restaurants nearby. They helped us keep up with family and friends back home. One thing we learned is that we need to contact states to get state maps before we leave. In October not all state welcome centers still have maps.
We learned that you cannot buy wine in grocery stores in every state. Some states have special stores for all alcohol. This can be a surprise when you want a glass of wine at night! We also learned that there are wineries in almost every state! You can take a wine tour in Iowa – not just in California and Michigan.
We learned that it is important to discuss how much driving we will do each day and how many side trips we expect to take. There are so many interesting museums and wonderful historical sites and state parks. We really need to plan ahead to make sure we have enough time.
We learned that it is really enough to take seven days worth of clothes no matter how many days you will be gone. There are laundry facilities at many hotels and in most towns (and there are stores, too, shoppers!). And, you need room in your suitcase for souvenirs, so don’t pack it too full.
We marveled at the beauty of the United States and the resilience of its people. Each state possesses its own beauty and we appreciated all of it – mountains, big mountains, desert, high desert, the ocean, lakes and rivers, farmland, and exciting cities. We noticed that driving through cities is always a little crazy, but we gave the prize for horrible driving to California. The most exciting drives were the mountain roads in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The steep curves and breathtaking vistas were thrilling. Dennis especially loved the drive through the mountain pass on the Oatman Highway outside of Kingman AZ.
Everywhere we went we encountered people who were helpful, cheerful, and interested in making our journey the best it could be. We traveled more than 6700 miles and we never felt far from home. The travel took us out of our comfort zones and made us learn new things about U.S. history and geography and geology. We felt powerful emotions in some locales – from shock and sorrow for the destruction in Joplin through peaceful joy for the beauty of the desert at Joshua Tree to the overwhelming grandeur of the Grand Canyon. We also laughed a lot at the history of highway travel in the U.S. as we visited some of the Route 66 classic locations. We can see how much things have changed and how little.
Our car was a true partner on this journey. It was comfortable for both driver and passenger. We had increasingly good gas mileage (this was a surprise considering the speed at which we traveled on the interstate highways). Arriving home is both a happy and a sad feeling. We love our home but we know we will miss the adventure of being on the road. We are looking forward to Adventure #2.
You two rock! I have loved reading your posts and enjoying your adventures, both good and bad. I'm so glad you are home safe and sound,
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