Dont Mince Words

Today was our power-through day – 585 miles – and it was probably good timing because Dixie is “getting” that we aren’t going home and we live in the car.  I had every intention to stop at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial but we kept going.  We lost major time east of OKC where I encountered the worst fog in my life.  White knuckle can’t see the car in front of me stuff.  After a good 30 miles of that I decided we’d stop in Little Rock at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion where you can view Clinton “through bars” thanks to a roadsideamerica.com recommendation.

After some one-lane good times the last 50 miles, we made it to Memphis.  Monday is going to be a play day to make up for the long Sunday drive.  But Dixie is a trooper.  She loves rest stops, her sponge bob backseat blanket, and hotel continental breakfasts.

While the drive to Blythe Wednesday was awful, it was still a smart decision instead of driving straight to Phoenix on Thanksgiving.  Dixie and I logged 157 miles and intended to eat and keep going.  But I got talked out of driving to 6000′ at night.  So, I drank more wine, ate turkey while Dixie flirted with five men that didn’t scare her.  The best part was the hotel – her first time in a king bed – and she behaved just like a child.  Jumped on it and flipped her toy up in the air and kept running into the pillows.

Friday I understood why my friends held me hostage.  There was snow at the top and the temp dropped to 34 degrees.  We took our time and evenutally made it to the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park.  I highly recommend everyone see this in combination with the Grand Canyon.  Hard to explain the sheer size of this area, but it is gorgeous in that true western way.  We eventually made it all the way to Albuqueque, logging a good 515 miles.

Dixie

I love the smell of corrugate in the morning. I’m a bit of a professional mover. I save good boxes for future use. My move out of California has been flawless except for the stress Dixie has when she sees boxes and hears the squeal of the 3M packing tape.

Driving across country with a 70-pound dog while missing a nor’easter is my kind of fun.  I haven’t driven in “weather” since my last winter in Brooklyn in 2001.  I have packed the car accordingly:  small shovel, ice scraper, volcanic ash to put under tires, protein bars, dried fruit, and a case of CA wine. Dixie’s backseat charcuterie is more like a mobile lounge. She’s got her treats, kibble, bones and a plush faux shearling seat cover to stay warm.  And if things get tough, she’s got Benedryl and doggie painkillers in place of wine.

The stress for both of us will end as soon Santa Barbara is in the rear view. Tomorrow we hit the road for the next great adventure.  Goodbye California.