Dispatches from the road: Day One, 297 miles
Well, we did it. We closed on the Brooklyn house on Thursday and on the new house in Portland on Friday. We were all set to hit the road on Saturday, but then Friday night my SIL (my brotherÂ’s wife), 37 weeks pregnant, was having pretty regular contractions. We decided to stay another night, thinking we might get to meet the new baby. (SheÂ’s scheduled for a c-section so they donÂ’t want her to go into active labor.) In fact, I was completely convinced she was going to have the baby that night. I was sure all the delays with the closing had only been to allow us to be there when the baby was born.
Nope.
The contractions slowed and they sent her home. WeÂ’ll have to meet the baby when we come back east for the winter holidays.
ItÂ’s just as well we had already decided to stay because on Saturday I woke up with the existential flu. That is, I had a fever and body aches and chills and a sore throat and took an unprecedented four-hour nap, but all those symptoms disappeared fairly quickly after talking to Billy about how overwhelming this whole Changing Our Entire Life thing feels, and how hard it is to leave my wonderful family behind. ItÂ’s even harder leaving them now, when weÂ’ve just spent ten great days at my momÂ’s house, hanging out with her and my brother and his family, watching Thumper play with his 2-year-old cousin, who he clearly idolizes alreadyÂ… I think I was also crashing after the insane real estate marathon IÂ’d run. Not such a coincidence that my meltdown came the day after it all ended.
But anyway. AllÂ’s well now. WeÂ’re on the road, having a blast so far. Except for Diego. He isnÂ’t loving it. But heÂ’s doing okay. (Oh, yeah. PS: Oscar isnÂ’t in the car with us. The delay of our closings meant the timing of our trip wouldnÂ’t work for the owner of the pecan orchard. So heÂ’s living with Melissa and her boy for a little while and then will be escorted to the pecan orchard by them. Because the pecan orchard belongs to MelissaÂ’s brother. So basically we owe eternal gratitude and many many other good things to Melissa and her family.)
Billy did all the driving on Day One:
I would have been doing all the navigating:
but we got a GPS system. We figure if weÂ’re driving cross-country with a toddler, we really should have something that can quickly tell us how to get to the nearest hospital.
So I did all the sock-knitting instead. HereÂ’s where the sock (Mama sock number one for the family tiger socks) was at as we left my motherÂ’s house in New Jersey:
I had started the toe decreases by the time we pulled into the hotel parking lot in New Market, Virginia, our first overnight stop.
We took a few breaks here and there to let the baby and the dog stretch their legs. Mostly we stopped at rest stops with grassy areas, but our very very first stop was at a diner in Aberdeen, Maryland. It was one of those old chrome trailer dealies with the Formica tables. Excellent home fries. 
The owner (Greek) asked where we were coming from. When we said, “Brooklyn,” he said, “Oh! I think there are a lot of Greeks there.” So I guess that meant it was a fine place to be coming from.
We want to spend some time on the blue highways, but Day One was mostly the big interstates. We passed by Baltimore. At least, I think it was Baltimore. (Sutton, if you squint, does that look like Baltimore in the distance?)
The Shenandoah Valley is beautiful, even from the interstate. I didnÂ’t manage to take any decent photos of it from the moving car. IÂ’m hoping to get some better ones on the way out. WeÂ’re going to take the scenic route, at least for a while. Next weÂ’re headed for Tennessee! Nashville! Memphis! Hell, yes, weÂ’re going to Graceland. But the wireless connection in this hotel room is from hunger, so you probably wonÂ’t be reading this until weÂ’ve already been there.
Day one wasnÂ’t a big photo day. It was more of a hit the road and figure out how to do this with a baby and a dog day. From now, on, though. Photos. Lots of them. Next time, Graceland, baby.
And until thenÂ…I leave you with a creepy gravestone from an old church in New Market, VA:
What a smart idea to get a GPS system. I can see how that might come in handy. I look forward to seeing your trip progress! Best wishes for safe and happy travels 🙂
Posted by: knittripps
Hooray! I love a good road trip. I’m so glad you’re on your way. I’ve been holding my breath since Thursday, wondering if the house finally closed.
Posted by: Anna
What a smart idea to get a GPS system. I can see how that might come in handy. I look forward to seeing your trip progress! Best wishes for safe and happy travels 🙂
Posted by: knittripps
Hooray! I love a good road trip. I’m so glad you’re on your way. I’ve been holding my breath since Thursday, wondering if the house finally closed.
Posted by: Anna
I’m glad to read that you’re on your way! Have fun on your trip! I drove from Princeton, NJ to San Francisco last summer, and it was a wonderful experience.
Posted by: Kristy
YAY!! I’m so glad the closings went well and are OVER. Enjoy your road trip! (And smart move on the GPS!)
Posted by: Mish
Enjoy the trip. Seeing this country from the car can be pretty amazing. It can also get pretty boring so avoid driving across Kansas! 🙂 Hey, I grew up there so I can say that…
See you in P-town!!
Posted by: shannon in oregon
Enjoy Nashpatch! It’s a fun town.
Posted by: Sarah
i love that first photo. safe travels!!
Posted by: carolyn
All the best diners are the greek ones. One of my few regrets about living in California is the noted lack of proper diners (at least by my Jersey-Grrl standards).
Otherwise, let me say that moving away from your family can actually be a good thing! I love my family, and I think we appreciate each other more now that we are across the country from one another….
Posted by: Amanda
Have a wonderful road trip! Hurray for closing!
Posted by: yaiAnn
Oh no! If you haven’t already moved through Nashville and need a break please holler! We have excellent Dog Parks! = )
Posted by: Zoe
I’m glad to read that you’re on your way! Have fun on your trip! I drove from Princeton, NJ to San Francisco last summer, and it was a wonderful experience.
Posted by: Kristy
YAY!! I’m so glad the closings went well and are OVER. Enjoy your road trip! (And smart move on the GPS!)
Posted by: Mish
Enjoy the trip. Seeing this country from the car can be pretty amazing. It can also get pretty boring so avoid driving across Kansas! 🙂 Hey, I grew up there so I can say that…
See you in P-town!!
Posted by: shannon in oregon
Enjoy Nashpatch! It’s a fun town.
Posted by: Sarah
i love that first photo. safe travels!!
Posted by: carolyn
All the best diners are the greek ones. One of my few regrets about living in California is the noted lack of proper diners (at least by my Jersey-Grrl standards).
Otherwise, let me say that moving away from your family can actually be a good thing! I love my family, and I think we appreciate each other more now that we are across the country from one another….
Posted by: Amanda
Have a wonderful road trip! Hurray for closing!
Posted by: yaiAnn
Oh no! If you haven’t already moved through Nashville and need a break please holler! We have excellent Dog Parks! = )
Posted by: Zoe
Happy journeys, tiger-sock family! May your windshield be clear of bugs and birdpoop and may the sun light your way!
Posted by: Steph VW
Your drove right by my house. I know Aberdeen well. And that is a picture of B-more.
Posted by: Jackie
Enjoy your trip – I’ve moved across country twice by car and saw places during those moves I’m not likely to ever see again. I wished I had taken more pictures!
Posted by: Jo
New Market, Virginia…that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from Leesburg, where I live. Enjoy the trip! I look forward to hearing more from the road.
Posted by: Teri S.
Wow! You’re all four so cute on the road – congratulations! I love being on the road; it is one of my very favorite states of being. And how very smart to think of GPS; I would never have thought of it in the context of baby-on-road, and it makes perfect sense.
Enjoy our beautiful America. It is a wonderfully big place, and best experienced, I believe, by road trip.
Posted by: Lizbon
Glad to hear that all went well with the closing. I love the pics, especially of sweet Thumper. Such a happy baby! I wish you safe travels and hope you get lots of good pie on the road. I find that pie is one of the best things about tråveling the US by car. xoxo!!!
Posted by: regina
My GPS saved our cookies numerous times driving around Europe. Good call on that.
Posted by: claudia
Yowsa, on your way at last! Congrats, and safe trip. I agree with the others; road trips are the best! (Although if you go through Idaho? This may have improved since the 60’s, but warning; do *not* have Chinese food in a wide spot in the road in Idaho. Trust me. [g] Who puts black olives and sliced, hardboiled eggs in perfectly white ‘fried’ rice?!?)
And that is one creepy gravestone.
Posted by: MonicaPDX
Happy journeys, tiger-sock family! May your windshield be clear of bugs and birdpoop and may the sun light your way!
Posted by: Steph VW
Your drove right by my house. I know Aberdeen well. And that is a picture of B-more.
Posted by: Jackie
Enjoy your trip – I’ve moved across country twice by car and saw places during those moves I’m not likely to ever see again. I wished I had taken more pictures!
Posted by: Jo
New Market, Virginia…that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump from Leesburg, where I live. Enjoy the trip! I look forward to hearing more from the road.
Posted by: Teri S.
Wow! You’re all four so cute on the road – congratulations! I love being on the road; it is one of my very favorite states of being. And how very smart to think of GPS; I would never have thought of it in the context of baby-on-road, and it makes perfect sense.
Enjoy our beautiful America. It is a wonderfully big place, and best experienced, I believe, by road trip.
Posted by: Lizbon
Glad to hear that all went well with the closing. I love the pics, especially of sweet Thumper. Such a happy baby! I wish you safe travels and hope you get lots of good pie on the road. I find that pie is one of the best things about tråveling the US by car. xoxo!!!
Posted by: regina
My GPS saved our cookies numerous times driving around Europe. Good call on that.
Posted by: claudia
Yowsa, on your way at last! Congrats, and safe trip. I agree with the others; road trips are the best! (Although if you go through Idaho? This may have improved since the 60’s, but warning; do *not* have Chinese food in a wide spot in the road in Idaho. Trust me. [g] Who puts black olives and sliced, hardboiled eggs in perfectly white ‘fried’ rice?!?)
And that is one creepy gravestone.
Posted by: MonicaPDX
I was thinking of emailing and asking what had happened with the closings. I’m thrilled to hear that it all worked out Thurs/Fri. Keep in touch, y’hear?
Posted by: Cassie
Sating “Hi!” from Nashville, TN as you pass through. Have a great trip. It sounds like big fun to me.
Posted by: Catherine H
i cant, for the life of me, find a contact email address for you. shoot me an email if you find the time…. i have a question about a shirt you are wearing in one of your pictures.
thanks!
-aimee
Posted by: ab
What a great little dispatch! I’m really looking forward to keeping up with your travels. Thanks for writing them.
Posted by: Amy
I’ll be living vicariously through your road trip. We had to hightail it to MN due to work and school schedules. I am so excited that you’ll be taking the scenic route!
Posted by: Sarah
Kevin and I road tripped out to Seattle (from Boston) three years ago and it was a blast. Good luck with your trip, and watch our for the sunflowers along the road west of Kansas City — so pretty!)
Posted by: susan
Enjoy the road trip! My trips out to NM, then back east were so much fun! I hope you have time to stop at Graceland–it’s totally worth a few hours of time!
Posted by: beverly
Thank goodness your closings went well. Have a safe and happy trip and thanks for sharing with us. You all look wonderful.
Posted by: delia
I was thinking of emailing and asking what had happened with the closings. I’m thrilled to hear that it all worked out Thurs/Fri. Keep in touch, y’hear?
Posted by: Cassie
Sating “Hi!” from Nashville, TN as you pass through. Have a great trip. It sounds like big fun to me.
Posted by: Catherine H
i cant, for the life of me, find a contact email address for you. shoot me an email if you find the time…. i have a question about a shirt you are wearing in one of your pictures.
thanks!
-aimee
Posted by: ab
What a great little dispatch! I’m really looking forward to keeping up with your travels. Thanks for writing them.
Posted by: Amy
I’ll be living vicariously through your road trip. We had to hightail it to MN due to work and school schedules. I am so excited that you’ll be taking the scenic route!
Posted by: Sarah
Kevin and I road tripped out to Seattle (from Boston) three years ago and it was a blast. Good luck with your trip, and watch our for the sunflowers along the road west of Kansas City — so pretty!)
Posted by: susan
Enjoy the road trip! My trips out to NM, then back east were so much fun! I hope you have time to stop at Graceland–it’s totally worth a few hours of time!
Posted by: beverly
Thank goodness your closings went well. Have a safe and happy trip and thanks for sharing with us. You all look wonderful.
Posted by: delia
Hooray! Safe travels.
xoxo
Posted by: irene
Yea, a real “On the Road” from Cari. This is going to be fun to read.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
A road trip sans baby…now that is fun!
Posted by: Natalie
I can relate. When we drove away from our friend’s house for the last time, J and I both had our WHAT THE HELL DID WE JUST GET OURSELVES INTO freakouts in our respective vehicles. Then we were just excited to be moving on to the next chapter of our lives. After being here for 3 months, I can say that it was totally worth it, and I have no regrets.
And I am glad that you have a GPS. It has been a lifesaver for us, at least until we figure out the lay of the land, as it were. Plus it is excellent for wine-tasting trips 🙂
Posted by: Jean
Yay! On The Road is one of my favourite places to be, so I’m excited that you’re blogging from your trip. Keep us posted when you can, and have lots of fun.
Posted by: alison
Happy trails, behbeh. I hope you post regular dispatches.
Question: If a diner is ideal, why the need for a New Ideal Diner?
Posted by: Michelle
And their off! Here’s to a great roadtrip. I
can’t wait to see what’s next.
Posted by: Heidi
Diego’s Excellent Road Trip sounds like it should be the title.
Posted by: Norma
Hooray! Safe travels.
xoxo
Posted by: irene
Yea, a real “On the Road” from Cari. This is going to be fun to read.
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
A road trip sans baby…now that is fun!
Posted by: Natalie
I can relate. When we drove away from our friend’s house for the last time, J and I both had our WHAT THE HELL DID WE JUST GET OURSELVES INTO freakouts in our respective vehicles. Then we were just excited to be moving on to the next chapter of our lives. After being here for 3 months, I can say that it was totally worth it, and I have no regrets.
And I am glad that you have a GPS. It has been a lifesaver for us, at least until we figure out the lay of the land, as it were. Plus it is excellent for wine-tasting trips 🙂
Posted by: Jean
Yay! On The Road is one of my favourite places to be, so I’m excited that you’re blogging from your trip. Keep us posted when you can, and have lots of fun.
Posted by: alison
Happy trails, behbeh. I hope you post regular dispatches.
Question: If a diner is ideal, why the need for a New Ideal Diner?
Posted by: Michelle
And their off! Here’s to a great roadtrip. I
can’t wait to see what’s next.
Posted by: Heidi
Diego’s Excellent Road Trip sounds like it should be the title.
Posted by: Norma
Great post! I love road trips, and yours looks like it’s going swimmingly. Hope you’re feeling better. And that gravestone IS creepy!
Posted by: Annie
I’ve been reading your blog – FUN! Hope the rest of your trip is full of adventure (the good kind!) Enjoy Graceland!
Posted by: Rebecca
Great post! I love road trips, and yours looks like it’s going swimmingly. Hope you’re feeling better. And that gravestone IS creepy!
Posted by: Annie
I’ve been reading your blog – FUN! Hope the rest of your trip is full of adventure (the good kind!) Enjoy Graceland!
Posted by: Rebecca