As promised here is the blog I should have written yesterday but was just too wound up for!
We arrived right around 5:30 pm with the final mile count at 2436! Now you have to remember that a couple of those miles are driving from the highways to the hotels and back again, but only a couple. We figured out that we spent around $37 on tolls altogether which is a bummer but we forgot to bring the EZ-Pass along so there was no way around it.
On the final day of traveling we drove 473 miles and spent $55.65 on gas between the two times we stopped for it. Belami and Neve had another great day of driving! They slept the whole way and now they're settling into our temporary room in Mom and Dad's basement. They seem quite content- B is sleeping on the window ledge, perfect for a cat, and Neve is sleeping here next to me. There are lots of noises to keep them on their toes- mostly these noises come from the crazy Irish setters running around upstairs! So far Nellie, the Chihuahua, and Lacey, my parents' sweet Siamese kitty, have come in the room to say hello and I think we'll probably leave it at that for now. This is a lot for my little guys to take in and they really are doing swell!! We never did find Neve's collar so we'll make her a new tag at the shelter tomorrow morning.
I've begun the apartment hunt and I'm excited to see what the Portsmouth area has to offer! I think I've gotten past the fact that I really had THE perfect apartment and roommate in Park City and I'm trying not to compare the places I find to my previous digs on Three Kings. I saw a cute apartment today but it wasn't exactly what I'm looking for. Great location and they allow kitties but it's very small and while I'd have my own bathroom it was sort of down the hall from the rest of the unit and I think I'd have to walk by someone else's door to get to it. I didn't really explain that correctly but it just wasn't an ideal situation. There's another place I'll go look at on Friday so I'll keep everyone posted on the search for a great apartment!
I'm looking at one bedrooms/ studios currently. I really do like having a roommate but I don't want to end up in another roommate from hell situation like the one I found myself in when I first moved to Park City. I wouldn't have a problem moving in with someone I know or even someone that one of my friends knows but for now I'll stick to looking for places on my own.
Looking for an apartment is one of those things in life where you can't control any aspect of the components that go into it EXCEPT your own attitude so as long as I keep my chin up I know I'll find something great!
The weather is absolutely gorgeous right now! I want to make it to the beach in the next couple of days and enjoy the ocean, which I've missed! It looks like it's going to rain, but all day the sun has been shining and a slight breeze blowing. The temperature stayed in the seventies- perfect.
Tomorrow I'm going to pick up Jared at Keene. I'm excited to see my baby brother and check out the area he's been calling home for the past couple of years! I've been to the KSC campus before when Meg and some other high school friends were attending, but it's been years. Since Jared started his freshman year a few weeks after I moved to Park City I've never been able to visit him there so I'm really happy to go pick him up!
On Friday I hope to make a trip to downtown Exeter for a Serendipity run and maybe grab some lunch at either Blue Moon, The Loaf and Ladle or The Green Bean! So many choices for delicious, fresh food!!! I had my first Dunkin Donuts ice coffee since last July and it was yummy and refreshing and inexpensive! Haha. Today I started reading for book group which I am so excited to rejoin this month!!
It's great to be home! Definitely feels a little weird but I'm excited to start this next chapter in my life! We are in control of our own happiness and I'm taking charge! I learned a lot in Park City and I feel stronger and smarter than I did before I took the leap and moved out West without knowing a single soul! I have lots of wonderful new friends to thank for making my 20 months in the mountains so wonderful! Never fear my Utahns- I'll be back for a visit before you know it!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Newfields, NH.
Hi everyone!
We made it home safe and sound this evening! I'll write an actual blog entry all about the last leg of the trip tomorrow so look for it!
For now, bedtime. Sweet dreams!
We made it home safe and sound this evening! I'll write an actual blog entry all about the last leg of the trip tomorrow so look for it!
For now, bedtime. Sweet dreams!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Batavia, NY.
Can you believe it? We're already in New York! We'll be home tomorrow afternoon!
Another great day of driving! A little traffic in the Cleveland area but nothing we couldn't handle. The roads are a little bit weird around there because there is an express lane and then there's a local lane and the AAA Triptik instructed us to drive in the local lane. We remembered this from the trip out as well, and were confused by it then just the same. There were a few little log houses being transported on the road in this spot as well and the guys driving the cars that said "wide load" were doing a TERRIBLE job!! One of them was probably 10 cars ahead of the truck with the houses! It was an old man and I doubt he even realized he's sped up that much but maybe he needs to think about getting a different job! We just had to pay close attention with the funny roads and speeding log cabins!
Update on last night's hotel before I move on to tonight's accommodations and stats. After writing my blog last night I was really thirsty but only had twenty dollar bills- nothing smaller. I went to the front desk to get change for the vending machine and the girl told me that she couldn't make change for me because she'd been giving people change all day. Now, you all know me, I DO NOT get irritated when it comes to customer service but I was really annoyed with the service at this hotel already so I could feel myself getting angry with this dumb girl. I just told her that all I wanted was a water so where could I get one. She acted like I had asked her a difficult question and she really didn't know how to help me when this other guy working at the hotel came out of the office and she asked him if he had change for a $20. Luckily he did and I got my water. But how stupid! I mean that was her only solution?? To ask some random guy if he had change? What would she have done if he hadn't had the change??? Just told me I was out of luck? This story does have a happy ending however. The Best Western of Hammond, IN redeemed itself when the much more capable and pleasant girl working the front desk this morning refunded my $45 without checking the room or anything. It would have been fine if she had since the kitties didn't damage anything but it was nice to not have to wait around while they did it.
You can all uncross your fingers now since we had a MUCH easier time finding a pet friendly hotel tonight. I called a hotel in Geneva that allowed pets but then we decided we didn't want to drive that far so I called this Days Inn in Batavia after that and they also allow pets! Yay! Speaking of pets and hotels, Neve has lost her collar somewhere in the room and it's nowhere to be found! What a goofball! It's okay, I brought an extra collar and we only have several more hours of driving anyway. Neve and Belami seem to be having a great time in the room, well B more than Neve, but she has certainly improved since the first night! They drove really well all day again so this trip has been a success as far as my little babies are concerned! I keep telling them that not all kitties are so well traveled- they're lucky! They do love their Grampy too! And I can tell the feeling's mutual!
We covered approximately 650 miles today- bringing us to about 1950 total! We're not sure of the exact miles and I'm not about to go outside and look- sorry- but this is a pretty close guess. We crossed into the eastern time zone this morning, making me feel that much closer to home! I have decided that I'm too fidgety for all this driving! I move around too much, not only while I'm driving but also while I'm in the passenger seat where it's a little easier to move around. Lucky for me, Dad likes driving so he's done a majority of it. Cruise control is my new best friend by the way- it's the best!! I like driving but sometimes it just makes me nervous and I get all tense and pick at my nails... ugh, I wish i wasn't like that! Oh well, I've done really well with it. It's nice to have such a calm co-pilot! For the most part our weather's been great which has also made things go a lot smoother and quicker. Thank goodness!!
Well I'm tired and want to rest up for the final leg so it's time for bed. I'm so excited to see my east coasters SOON!!!!
Goodnight everyone!! XOXO
Another great day of driving! A little traffic in the Cleveland area but nothing we couldn't handle. The roads are a little bit weird around there because there is an express lane and then there's a local lane and the AAA Triptik instructed us to drive in the local lane. We remembered this from the trip out as well, and were confused by it then just the same. There were a few little log houses being transported on the road in this spot as well and the guys driving the cars that said "wide load" were doing a TERRIBLE job!! One of them was probably 10 cars ahead of the truck with the houses! It was an old man and I doubt he even realized he's sped up that much but maybe he needs to think about getting a different job! We just had to pay close attention with the funny roads and speeding log cabins!
Update on last night's hotel before I move on to tonight's accommodations and stats. After writing my blog last night I was really thirsty but only had twenty dollar bills- nothing smaller. I went to the front desk to get change for the vending machine and the girl told me that she couldn't make change for me because she'd been giving people change all day. Now, you all know me, I DO NOT get irritated when it comes to customer service but I was really annoyed with the service at this hotel already so I could feel myself getting angry with this dumb girl. I just told her that all I wanted was a water so where could I get one. She acted like I had asked her a difficult question and she really didn't know how to help me when this other guy working at the hotel came out of the office and she asked him if he had change for a $20. Luckily he did and I got my water. But how stupid! I mean that was her only solution?? To ask some random guy if he had change? What would she have done if he hadn't had the change??? Just told me I was out of luck? This story does have a happy ending however. The Best Western of Hammond, IN redeemed itself when the much more capable and pleasant girl working the front desk this morning refunded my $45 without checking the room or anything. It would have been fine if she had since the kitties didn't damage anything but it was nice to not have to wait around while they did it.
You can all uncross your fingers now since we had a MUCH easier time finding a pet friendly hotel tonight. I called a hotel in Geneva that allowed pets but then we decided we didn't want to drive that far so I called this Days Inn in Batavia after that and they also allow pets! Yay! Speaking of pets and hotels, Neve has lost her collar somewhere in the room and it's nowhere to be found! What a goofball! It's okay, I brought an extra collar and we only have several more hours of driving anyway. Neve and Belami seem to be having a great time in the room, well B more than Neve, but she has certainly improved since the first night! They drove really well all day again so this trip has been a success as far as my little babies are concerned! I keep telling them that not all kitties are so well traveled- they're lucky! They do love their Grampy too! And I can tell the feeling's mutual!
We covered approximately 650 miles today- bringing us to about 1950 total! We're not sure of the exact miles and I'm not about to go outside and look- sorry- but this is a pretty close guess. We crossed into the eastern time zone this morning, making me feel that much closer to home! I have decided that I'm too fidgety for all this driving! I move around too much, not only while I'm driving but also while I'm in the passenger seat where it's a little easier to move around. Lucky for me, Dad likes driving so he's done a majority of it. Cruise control is my new best friend by the way- it's the best!! I like driving but sometimes it just makes me nervous and I get all tense and pick at my nails... ugh, I wish i wasn't like that! Oh well, I've done really well with it. It's nice to have such a calm co-pilot! For the most part our weather's been great which has also made things go a lot smoother and quicker. Thank goodness!!
Well I'm tired and want to rest up for the final leg so it's time for bed. I'm so excited to see my east coasters SOON!!!!
Goodnight everyone!! XOXO
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Hammond, Indiana
Tonight I'm writing from Hammond, IN!
We ended the day after about 600 miles- putting our total after the two days at 1300 miles traveled. We finished Nebraska, drove through Iowa and Illinois and made it just over the Indiana border. We got to the hotel around 7pm but we'd hoped to drive until 8pm. The problem came in the fact that we couldn't find any hotels that would allow pets about 60 miles east of here so we had to start calling places a little closer. As soon as I found a place that allowed pets we decided to stop there since I called about 15 hotels between LaPorte, Gary and Michigan City. I found one place that only allowed pets in the smoking rooms so we left that as a last resort but luckily didn't have to stay there.
Even though we aren't using the GPS to actually get home (I love my GPS but even I love having maps to look at) it really comes in handy when we start looking for a place to stay for the night. All I have to do is type in the city we want to stay in and look under lodging for the names of hotels. It gives the phone numbers so I just start calling around asking if they allow pets! If they say yes then I start asking other questions: any vacancies? AAA discount? How far off the highway? etc.
Tonight we're in a Best Western just like we were last night and it is a lot more expensive. We paid a $10 fee for the kitties last night and got a AAA discount bringing the total for the night to somewhere around $80. Here in Hammond they made me pay a refundable pet deposit of $45 (so I'm assuming I'll get that back-they inspect the room upon checkout) on top of a $10 pet fee and a higher rate to begin with bringing the grand total to $144!!!!!!! I asked about a AAA discount and she told me she was already giving me a discount because it's so slow... whatever! No complimentary breakfast either!!!! This place is lame, but at least they allowed kitties so I guess I shouldn't complain.
We hit some crazy rain in the Des Moines area but it didn't last long so we made it through alive! There has been some road work- actually just the set up, not many people actually working since it's Sunday. The terrain is a lot different- lots of farmland, some cities, not as many trucks, a lot more cars... We've been hearing the same songs on the radio, even the oldies the stations play- they're all the same. The two songs which are tied for the most plays at this point: "Hey Soul Sister" and "Use Somebody" although "Hey Soul Sister may have a slight lead. We saw our first Dunkin' Donuts today and tried to stop at the second one we saw since it was across from the gas station where we filled up, but it was closed :(
Speaking of gas we filled up 3 times today. We wanted to clean the windshield of bugs and check the oil first thing this morning so we decided to fill up then even though we didn't really need it so we spent $14.20, then later $24.20 and finally $38.25.
Neve and Belami are still doing so great. I'm so lucky to have such good kitties. I don't even want to think about this trip with cats who fuss the whole time. I can tell Neve is feeling more comfortable on the drive because instead of just laying in the crate looking scared to death she was grooming herself and looked quite comfy today. She is even doing better in the hotel- exploring more and not getting stuck in every little crevice she finds! Belami, as always, is being a clown and LOVING the hotel!
We reached our halfway point around noon today which sure did feel good! Can't wait to be home! I'll blog from a hotel tomorrow night. Keep your fingers crossed that we have an easier time finding a pet friendly hotel tomorrow!!
We ended the day after about 600 miles- putting our total after the two days at 1300 miles traveled. We finished Nebraska, drove through Iowa and Illinois and made it just over the Indiana border. We got to the hotel around 7pm but we'd hoped to drive until 8pm. The problem came in the fact that we couldn't find any hotels that would allow pets about 60 miles east of here so we had to start calling places a little closer. As soon as I found a place that allowed pets we decided to stop there since I called about 15 hotels between LaPorte, Gary and Michigan City. I found one place that only allowed pets in the smoking rooms so we left that as a last resort but luckily didn't have to stay there.
Even though we aren't using the GPS to actually get home (I love my GPS but even I love having maps to look at) it really comes in handy when we start looking for a place to stay for the night. All I have to do is type in the city we want to stay in and look under lodging for the names of hotels. It gives the phone numbers so I just start calling around asking if they allow pets! If they say yes then I start asking other questions: any vacancies? AAA discount? How far off the highway? etc.
Tonight we're in a Best Western just like we were last night and it is a lot more expensive. We paid a $10 fee for the kitties last night and got a AAA discount bringing the total for the night to somewhere around $80. Here in Hammond they made me pay a refundable pet deposit of $45 (so I'm assuming I'll get that back-they inspect the room upon checkout) on top of a $10 pet fee and a higher rate to begin with bringing the grand total to $144!!!!!!! I asked about a AAA discount and she told me she was already giving me a discount because it's so slow... whatever! No complimentary breakfast either!!!! This place is lame, but at least they allowed kitties so I guess I shouldn't complain.
We hit some crazy rain in the Des Moines area but it didn't last long so we made it through alive! There has been some road work- actually just the set up, not many people actually working since it's Sunday. The terrain is a lot different- lots of farmland, some cities, not as many trucks, a lot more cars... We've been hearing the same songs on the radio, even the oldies the stations play- they're all the same. The two songs which are tied for the most plays at this point: "Hey Soul Sister" and "Use Somebody" although "Hey Soul Sister may have a slight lead. We saw our first Dunkin' Donuts today and tried to stop at the second one we saw since it was across from the gas station where we filled up, but it was closed :(
Speaking of gas we filled up 3 times today. We wanted to clean the windshield of bugs and check the oil first thing this morning so we decided to fill up then even though we didn't really need it so we spent $14.20, then later $24.20 and finally $38.25.
Neve and Belami are still doing so great. I'm so lucky to have such good kitties. I don't even want to think about this trip with cats who fuss the whole time. I can tell Neve is feeling more comfortable on the drive because instead of just laying in the crate looking scared to death she was grooming herself and looked quite comfy today. She is even doing better in the hotel- exploring more and not getting stuck in every little crevice she finds! Belami, as always, is being a clown and LOVING the hotel!
We reached our halfway point around noon today which sure did feel good! Can't wait to be home! I'll blog from a hotel tomorrow night. Keep your fingers crossed that we have an easier time finding a pet friendly hotel tomorrow!!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Kearney, NE
Hello from Kearney, Nebraska!
This will be a quick entry as we had a long day, I didn't sleep that well last night and we want to get up early tomorrow to get in a lot more driving...
So here are the facts:
We drove for 11 hours today through Utah, Wyoming and now we're halfway through Nebraska. We are in a different time zone- central, than when we started- mountain. We covered 730 miles! We stopped for gas twice. $37 the first time, $40 the second time. I'm not sure if we saw more billboards advertising fireworks or the Little America hotels, but I do know that said hotels have a mechanic on duty, 50 cent ice cream cones and marble showers you'll "go gaga over." We saw SO many trucks on the road, way more than cars, it was weird.
Belami and Neve did GREAT!!! I couldn't have asked for better behaved kitties! Now B is running around the room and Neve is hiding under the covers next to me. She is a little freaked out but fine. She explored a bit and got stuck behind the bed a couple of times, made herself at home in a drawer but happily hopped into bed with me as soon as I sat down with my computer.
Sorry such a boring blog... I'm so tired. Hopefully I'll be able to write more tomorrow and upload some of the photos I took from the car!
I can't help wondering where all of my belongings are on their journey to NH...
This will be a quick entry as we had a long day, I didn't sleep that well last night and we want to get up early tomorrow to get in a lot more driving...
So here are the facts:
We drove for 11 hours today through Utah, Wyoming and now we're halfway through Nebraska. We are in a different time zone- central, than when we started- mountain. We covered 730 miles! We stopped for gas twice. $37 the first time, $40 the second time. I'm not sure if we saw more billboards advertising fireworks or the Little America hotels, but I do know that said hotels have a mechanic on duty, 50 cent ice cream cones and marble showers you'll "go gaga over." We saw SO many trucks on the road, way more than cars, it was weird.
Belami and Neve did GREAT!!! I couldn't have asked for better behaved kitties! Now B is running around the room and Neve is hiding under the covers next to me. She is a little freaked out but fine. She explored a bit and got stuck behind the bed a couple of times, made herself at home in a drawer but happily hopped into bed with me as soon as I sat down with my computer.
Sorry such a boring blog... I'm so tired. Hopefully I'll be able to write more tomorrow and upload some of the photos I took from the car!
I can't help wondering where all of my belongings are on their journey to NH...
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