Oxford or Bust!

The night before we left, we had one last fire and Stanley enjoyed it to it's fullest.  He has no idea what is coming...

We're really doin' it!!!

Day 1: SLC to Colby, Kansas; 739 miles in about 11 driving hours through Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas.

Wyoming windmills

We had to clean and run a few errands before we left town, but by 10 a.m., we were on the road!  After talking with fellow roadtrippers, we decided to take I80 east, cut down to Denver, then take I-70 the rest of the way.  Mikey got in touch with Eon Jarvis, a friend living in Denver and he offered to make us dinner.  It was nice to take a long pit-stop and enjoy some awesome, home-cooked food!  What a guy, that Eon!  We were there for about an hour and a half and then continued on the drive.  

Intermittent screen shots of our progress for family/friends/blog.

Wyoming

Last views of mountains

Hitting a little traffic on the way into Denver

We had mapped out a general plan and hoped to make it to Salina, Kansas the first night, but after the longer dinner stop at Eon's, we stopped for the night in Colby, Kansas.  Using Trip Advisor, I found a cheap motel room a little off the freeway and we laughed at how bad it was.  I had flashbacks to some of my India hotel rooms, if that gives you an idea of how dated it was.  We slept in separate beds to get better rest (and because we're not married, of course... ;) ), grabbed some cereal at the continental breakfast, and were on the road by 7 a.m.  

Day 2:  Colby, Kansas to Indianapolis, Indiana; 854 miles in about 12 driving hours through Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.  

Stanley had been pretty bummed and a little whiny on day 1 due to being in the car for so long, so at lunchtime, we got take-out, found an open grassy area, and threw the ball for half an hour while we ate.  Stan was a much happier dog the rest of the day!  

Day 2 and we're still smiling (except for Stanley)

Entering Kansas City, Kansas

...and leaving Kansas City

Using Trip Advisor again, Mikey found us a much better, dog-friendly hotel in Indianapolis.  With the time zone change, we just made it just in time to enjoy the pool and hot-tub for half an hour, and then soak in the jet tub in our room.  The room was quiet and we slept really well!  The had a lovely continental breakfast spread in the morning, and we were on the road by 7 again.  

Day 3: Indianapolis, Indiana to Oxford, Maryland; 641 miles in 10 driving hours through Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

We happened to be on the Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake during the sunset, so I hung out the window, trying to get a good, non-blurry shot and not drop our camera!  

And... we made it!!!  After 3 days of driving, listening to Pandora, podcasts, and Audible books (thanks Tara!), eating snacks from the packages my mom and Sara packed, drinking lots of coffee (thanks Laura!), playing some games, Facebooking, and using some great road trip apps (Roadtrippers, Gas Buddy, The Weather Channel, TripAdvisor and RoadNinja), we finally pulled into the driveway of our new home for the next 3 months!  

We are excited, nervous, hopeful, happy and in love.  I truly did not expect to be saying this, but I fell more in love with Mikey each mile of our road trip together.  I am so grateful to be in love with and loved by such a wonderful, kind, fun-loving, adventurous, easygoing, thoughtful man.  My heart is full, my cup runneth over, I am one lucky woman.