
Yesterday, we watched the odometer turn over 3,000 miles. GPS has guided us well. We crossed another time zone somewhere in Tennessee between Nashville and Knoxville. For the most part I’m already having trouble remembering what day it is and where we’ve been.
GPS: 3,000 Miles & Counting
Fortunately, the smart side of my brain is keeping a daily log to keep track. I have many stories to tell you and photos to share, but in the meantime here’s a few highlights from the road.
- We’ve passed through 7 states
- Stayed in 11 hotels
- We played in Disneyland
- Visited the Sonoran Desert Botanical Garden
- Enjoyed a three-mile hike in the Organ Mtns.
Atepigged out on amazing Mexican food- Discovered an historic cemetery
- Witnessed the JFK Memorial Museum
- Used our inside voices in a Presidential Library
- We were deeply moved by the Civil Rights Museum
- Tapped our toes and listened to original recordings of Elvis at the Sun Studio
Atescarfed down some of the best bbq ever- Listened to three incredible civil war stories while visiting a plantation, a farm and a home
- Toured The Hermitage Plantation
- And because we’re fans, a visit to the Johnny Cash Museum
The Best Discoveries
Yep, we’ve been busy! Road-tripping is a really great way to travel because you see so much and you can stop to buy a dozen doughnuts just because you want to. Some days, like crossing western Texas, can be exhausting but even then you can find the good if you look for it.
You can take a few frustrating wrong turns and want to throw the GPS out the window, but sometimes out of frustration comes the best discoveries, like realizing you’re only 30 minutes from an historic presidential plantation. Road-tripping offers a sense of freedom but at the same time keeps you on your toes. Ya gotta kind of pay attention to where you’re going!
GPS Mapping Our Way
We’ve come to realize that even though we don’t really want to, we’re going to use our GPS to map out our return trip when we leave Washington D.C. in early January. There is SO much to see and do that unless you really do have zero time constraints, you can easily get caught up in the moment and not move on. This isn’t a bad thing but we’ve got to pace ourselves so that we don’t run out of time at the end of the month’s time frame for our return trip, so we need to do a little planning.
Oh! And look what I found in Franklin, TN. Christmas! It’s always the last place you look, right?

Wise words!
What an adventure you’re on, Patti! I love all the scarfing down and pigging out you’re doing, especially that BBQ. Can’t wait to read about the rest of it.
That is one funny sign!
Marcia recently posted…Documentary on Queen Nanny, Jamaica’s National Hero, on Indiegogo
Thanks Marcia, we are indeed having a time of it!
Only the good Santa-cynics get underwear. The naughty ones just get nail-clippers, …that don’t work.

northierthanthou recently posted…Ship Creek Trail in Anchorage
That’s so funny – and so true! Thanks for finding us!
You’re almost making me want to go on a car trip. Our next trip will involve about 36 hours of airplanes and airports on the first day. I’m probably going to be wishing we’re driving, but it’s kind of hard to do to get from Philly to Chang Mai, Thailand. It looks like you’re definitely making the road part of your there, there. Safe travels. You’re about to enter freakishly warm weather. 70 degrees predicted for Philly this weekend. It will probably be even warmer in DC.

Suzanne Fluhr (Boomeresque) recently posted…The High Road to Taos, New Mexico
Just the thought of spending 36 hours on/off planes in such a short time would reduce me to tears and anxiety. Give me a good car trip any day! We’ve come through such different weather spans it’s been quite something. We didn’t see the sun for 4 days while crossing AR and today we didn’t have our jackets on. Go figure! There was some pretty significant ice on some of the ramps near Dallas, but fortunately, we managed to avoid all of the serious storms which of course we’re very thankful for.
i like getting underwear for christmas

Hogga recently posted…Why Everyone Should Go Eat a Pecker
I love your comments Lindsay – you always make me smile! Thanks for reading and following along.
I had to chuckle about the “remembering” what day it is. This happens to me every day 🙂 It sounds like you guys are having lots of fun on your road trip and I love the photos! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

Kerri recently posted…Photo Essay: Auschwitz and Birkenau
I don’t know how you’re keeping up with the passing of days/weeks/months Kerri! Is it a bit easier when you travel slowly? We haven’t stayed anywhere more than 2 nights on this part of the trip so the days are flying by. Merry Christmas to you as well – I’m sure Sydney is loving the tree!
You guys have certainly been busy! I’m looking forward to hearing more about the civil rights museum and plantation visit; they sounds like really interesting experiences. I am a big fan of travel planning so I think you have the right idea planning out your return trip 🙂

Amy recently posted…Searching for Chiang Mai Properties
I will definitely be posting in detail about the Civil Rights Museum and the plantation visits. The U.S. is so big, several regions in the country have unique historical stories and I look forward to writing more about what we’ve experienced.
OMG, look at all those yummy treats. I think eating your way across the USA would be a fun plan.

Gaelyn recently posted…Is it safe to travel in South Africa?
It sure is fun! We just have to make sure we walk as much as possible to balance out the food and exercise!
Fun post! It looks like you found some yummy spots to stop while you were logging all those miles! I’d love some of those festive cookies right about now.

Michele Peterson recently posted…Why I’m volunteering in Guatemala
I know, those cookies did look delicious but I resisted – it wasn’t easy though! Thanks for reading, Michele!
You know what massive fans of road trips Phoenix and I are, Patti. Albeit they are short jaunts this post for some reason more than your others just hit me deep inside and I’m now totally jonesing to pack up and really hit the road! I would love to go into that toy store and check it out! I wonder if they would let me bring one of the cookies in with me to munch on? Great post as always, our friend! 🙂

Mike recently posted…Eggs In A Hasbrown Nest Appetizer Your Guests Will Love
The window display of the toy store was wonderful, but I resisted going in because I probably would have bought myself a toy and I resisted the cookies as well. It took a bit of strength to do so, though. Franklin is an amazing little discovery. The downtown square oozes charm and hospitality and yet less than a mile away one of the most violent battles of the civil war took place. We really enjoyed our day of learning in Franklin and I look forward to writing more about it.
I love road trips! It’s been awhile since I took one, but will soon have more time. Thank you for posting. I love vicarious travel when I can’t be there myself.
Me too! It’s by far my most favorite way to travel. I love trains as well, hate flying, but will do so to get where I want to go. Thanks for reading and I’m glad you’re enjoying our posts!
Looks like lots of fun and eating/scarfing/pigging out is all part of the experience.
It is, but the eating/scarfing/pigging out can bring about a few extra pounds. Oh well, life is short, right?! Must do lots of walking to balance out cuz I’m not going to miss out on southern fried green tomatoes!! 😉
I think the eating would be the best part of it for me. Especially BBQ! Man I miss some good, Southern BBQ.

Talon recently posted…Dining in Brasov
Well I gotta tell ya, the bbq at the Germantown Commissary was ridiculously good. I was tempted to stay an extra day just so we could go back, but then it’s always good to leave wanting more, right?!