Day 5: The End is Here

            When I woke up on our last day, I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. Trevor was already awake and ready to go: I could tell he’d probably woken up early because he was so stressed.

We hopped in the car to get on the road at about seven. But when Trevor tried to start the car, it wouldn’t turn on. I hopped out and opened the trunk, and even though neither of us were car experts, we finally discovered that we had a broken water pump. It was a pain, especially because it would set us back a few hours.

Our broken water pump!

I used my phone to find a repair shop nearby; luckily, there was one only a few miles away called Scott Crump Toyota. We called them, and asked if they could repair a broken water pump in a 1998 Toyota 4Runner. Within about ten minutes, they were there with a tow truck ready to go.

The tow truck that picked us up

The drive to the shop was fairly short. I figured we would run into some problems today, but not this early! I tried to stay calm, but it was incredibly difficult because I knew we were running out of time. It only took about an hour for them to fix the car, but it cost $50 for the towing, and a whopping $500 dollars for the repair! We only had about $100 dollars left; now there was no way that we would make it to Sarasota. All that we could do was get as close as we could, and hope for the best.

As soon as we left Jasper, a worrisome silence filled the car. It was as if we had an unspoken agreement between the two of us, that even though we both knew we would never make it to Sarasota, we would go as far as possible. My stomach began to grumble, telling me I needed food, but I barely noticed the pain. I was afraid that if even one word escaped my mouth, I would be burst into tears. And I couldn’t do that just yet. I had to stay strong.

Finally, I gave into my hunger. Trevor and I ate about half the bag of pretzels and drank some water. The salt of the pretzels almost burned my mouth. Trevor noticed how troubled I looked: he tried to make me laugh by singing some cheesy, goofy song that I didn’t even know. It helped a little bit, but it didn’t help for long. When he realized there wasn’t much he could do, he just held my hand. And truth be told, it made me feel a lot better to know that my close friend was there with me.

In Georgetown, Georgia, we stopped at a gas station to fill up the tank. As the tank filled and filled and the cost rose and rose, I couldn’t help but wonder if we would be making another stop at a gas station. How far would we even get? We had to at least make sure we were in a major city where we could find food and shelter. I felt like curling up in a ball and just having a good cry. Had all this hard work been for nothing? I didn’t know what I could have done to make it better. I tried to make myself feel better, saying the classic, “I did my best,” but that didn’t help. I knew I did my best, but that didn’t reduce the pain of knowing that I’d failed my entire family.

We stopped in Albany for a quick rest. I’d been driving all morning, and it gave us a chance to eat a short snack. We needed to save as much money as we could, so we just ate some more pretzels and chips for a lunch. Again, a silence filled the air between us, but this time it was uncomfortable. I felt as if one of us should voice what both of us were thinking, but what was I supposed to say? I think we should give up? Sorry, we did the best we could? We might not have enough money to survive? As all these thoughts ran in my head, I couldn’t help but burst into tears. I put my head down on the table for a minute as the tears came in a never-ending stream down my cheeks. When I lifted my head up, Trevor looked as if he was at a complete loss for words. Confused, I watched as Trevor looked at me before quickly running the car and opening the trunk. When he came back, he was holding, of all things, our preschool yearbook! He had packed it in one of our old boxes: I couldn’t believe he’d taken it with us. Before I could yell at him about being able to pack something more important in the car, he sat down and opened the book. I gasped as I recognized familiar faces and images, ones of teachers and friends and some of the happiest times ever. We only had time to look at it for about ten minutes, but even after that short amount of time, I left the rest area feeling much better, but I still couldn’t come to terms with what had happened. I had failed.

Our adorable preschool yearbook pictures!

A sigh releases my mouth and I lean back in my chair. Although Kate and I have both had our suspicions about whether or not we would reach Sarasota, our car malfunction has solidified our failure. This whole day has gone by with very minimal talking, for there was nothing to say. Failure had its name and we couldn’t seem to get out of its grasp. Avoiding eye contact with Kate, I walked solemnly out of subway to our car. The only problem we had was time. It seemed to be a race and if need be, Kate and I would drive through the night to reach our destination. Then the water pump robbed us of 500 dollars and a new card was on the table. Our hopes flew away when we found out that not only will we not have enough time to get there, but also we didn’t even have the money to sustain ourselves along the journey. Kate and I both solemnly hulled ourselves in the car and the car drifted away without a purpose or destination. Although the drive was mostly spent in silence Kate and I talked about what we could do now that Sarasota was not an option. The final conclusion was that we would try to obtain a job in Ocala and once we require enough money, we will go on. Although failing my family has given me one of the worst feelings possible, the knowledge that Kate and I are doing all we can has assuaged some of my pain. I stare ahead at the rode and suddenly fear a ball of anger start to boil up inside me. Needing to blame this incident on something I turned to the thing that had seemed to harbor me throughout the journey. I somehow feel betrayed by the highway. I put my trust in the broken pavement, but in return I only receive regret and remorse. I slam my fists against the door and scream mentally. Confined in this metal box and although “free”, I have no choice or say in the following actions to come. All I want to do is stop, put on a pair of running shoes and run away. Run away from the car, the highway, and start anew. I liked the life I lived. I miss the rolling hills submerged in fog, and memories of my friends seem to haunt me in my dreams. Although my family says this move is in our interest, I was still reluctant to leave. I realized that change is not always good. I believe that one should always try to succeed and not be afraid of what lay ahead. I also stand by Steve Prefontaine saying, “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the Great”, but sometimes what you have is better then what lay on the other side of the grassy hill. I never realized how great my home, friends, and community was until I left it. I close my eyes and sigh, trying to let go of all of the what ifs, and should haves. What’s done is done and I can’t change that, so I might as well move on. I close my eyes again and let my mind drift away.

My slumber was broken by the heavy jolt of the car when it went over a speed bump. I rubbed my eyes and looked around and was instantly happy when I saw the sign read Ocala, Florida. Kate and I parked the car and walked into the Super 8 hotel and found our bedroom. I unpacked my cloths and belongings as Kate ordered dinner from Pizza Hut. I might as well get comfortable for we will be here for a week or so. I stared out the window as a family of four walked together laughing and smiling. Suddenly the feeling of failing engulfed me as I lay down on the bed. The thought of my family occupied my mind and a new sharp pain tore through my mind. A single, chilled tear ran down my cheek caring my hopes and memories with it.

The Super 8 Motel in Ocala, Florida

Details of Day 5:

Route:

Continued on I-22 E to Birmingham, AL, where we merged onto I-65 S. Followed GA-50 E to Tifton, GA. Then, we followed I-75 S to Ocala, FL.

Breakfast:

None. Main priority was finding a repair shop.

Cost: $0.

Lunch:

Not enough money to eat lunch. Just ate some of our snacks.

Cost: $0.

Dinner:

One dinner box at Pizza Hut.

Cost: $10.

Pizza Hut

2327 S Pine Ave

Ocala, Fl 34471

Hotel:

Slept at a Super 8 Motel in Ocala. Less expensive than a campsite.

Cost: $10.

Super 8 Ocala

3924 W Silver Springs Blvd

Ocala, FL 34482

Gas: 

Stopped first at a gas station in Georgetown, GA.

Cost: $59.5.

Weeks Big Cat

1213 Us Highway 82

Georgetown, GA 39854

Repairs/Supplies:

Had a broken water pump. Got towed to a repair shop in Jasper, AL. Had to get a replacement water pump.

Cost for Tow: $50.

Cost of repairs: $500.

Scott Crump Toyota

3815 Highway 78 E

Jasper, AL 35501

Money spent on Day 5: $629.50.

Money left after Day 5: $18.61.

Miles Driven: 506 miles

Hours Driven: 9 hrs.

Bibliography:

Unknown. Broken Water Pump. Mx6.com. Web. 6 March 2012.

Unknown. Ross Valley Preschool. Facebook. Web. 7 March 2012.

Unknown. Super 8 Motel Ocala. Destination360.com. Web. 7 March 2012.

Unknown. Tow Truck. IdahoReporter.com. Web. 6 March 2012.

Day 4: Reality Starts To Sink In

An irritating buzzing sound filled the air followed by a loud slap. I reached towards my cheek as the sharp pain spread through my face. Startled and confused I quickly sat up to find myself starring into Kate’s smiling face. She laughed and replied to my questioning countenance with a courteous, “You’re welcome”. Still groggy I tried to come up with a witty response but failed and retreated to the cover of my mattress. A small laugh escaped her lips and once again I feel as if she has bested me. I got up to find myself completely covered in mosquito bites and was equally angry at the fact that Kate didn’t seem to have any. With hesitation, we both quickly packed up.  Eager to be on the road again we set off without bothering to stop for breakfast. Twenty minutes went by and both of us could tell the other was starving. Finally we were forced to succumb to our stomachs and stopped at the nearest gas station. Two crispy cream donuts caught our eyes and we couldn’t resist the temptation. There was also a water fountain inside the building so we got a chance to refill our water bottles. On our way to the cash register a newspaper picture lured me towards it. The picture was one of a violent storm and caution was printed in big letters before the title. Instantly intrigued, I learned forward to read the print briefly and was relieved when I found out it was based in the Rockies, far enough away that it shouldn’t be a relevant to us. Kate and I both paid for the donuts and we were on our way again.

I stared out at the landscape as the car rumbled towards or destination. The land has notably changed; it has become more lush and sustaining. Even the humidity has seemed to lower sense we left. I couldn’t resist the thought that Florida might closely resemble the scenery before my eyes. I have seen many pictures of Florida and heard positive comments on its behave, but still a small hint of doubt is still implanted in my chest. I stare back at the horizon and then back at Kate. When we were kids our parents would take the whole family onto the highest hill in sight so we could have a great view of the ocean of colors rolling across the sky. Our family… The time span between our last conversation has not been considerable long, about a month’s time, but still I yearn to see them again. The saying you don’t appreciate something until its gone is truly starting to make sense to me. I smile as childhood memories flood into my mind. My reverie was broken by a sharp turn from Kate to make the exit into Little Rock, Arizona. She told me to be the lookout for a nice place to eat lunch. Scanning around the town, I was surprised by how hard it was to find a cheap restaurant now that the law was passed forbidding fast food restaurants. The old malls resembled ghost towns with their bordered off stores and abandoned parking lot. Finally I spotted a Subway and we veered to the right into the parking lot. We leaped out of the car and entered the restaurant. Across the wall, there was a large group of pictures. One on the far left caught my eye and after a few seconds I realized it was an orange farm in Florida. I closed my eyes. We are almost there, almost there. At least, I hope we are almost there. I hope we make it in time…

Picture of the orange farm in Florida in Subway

            After lunch, it was back on the road. Again. I must admit, I am a little bit sick of eating footlongs for almost every meal. I can’t complain to Trevor though, because we need to focus all of our energy on making it to Sarasota. We only had two days to make it there, or else our family wouldn’t be able to drive to their job interview. And without that job interview, we didn’t have any guarantee of work. And without any guarantee of work, we don’t have any guarantee of survival. And without that—oh gosh, I need to stop worrying! I will go insane if I keep on thinking of all the negative outcomes, even though they heavily outweigh the positive ones…

We finished the last book in the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay, at about three in the afternoon. Even though I had read the book at least five times, I still cried when Prim died. Trevor couldn’t believe it when I told him that I cry every single time I read it; but, as Mary Collie well knows from water polo, I cry at just about everything, including cooking shows! We both really needed a distraction from the long, monotonous road; I only wish I had more audio books on my iPod.

Our snacks were running low. I decided to open the box of Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars. Trevor and I each ate one; the car filled up with the delicious smell of peanut buttery goodness. Trevor also munched on some of his leftover footlong as I drove. Unfortunately, our not-so-great quality food was beginning to take a toll on us. I hadn’t been feeling good all day; I knew that we needed to get to Sarasota as soon as possible, because we couldn’t eat better quality food until we got there, due to the cost.

 In New Albany, Mississippi, we passed by a movie theater. I longed for the cold temperature, delectable candy, and salty popcorn that it brought. I could almost taste the sweet peanut butter in my favorite Reese’s Pieces. The Lorax was showing! I knew we couldn’t spend money on movie tickets or waste any time, but it was hard not to feel disappointed. At the end of the week, all of our hard work could be for nothing. What happiness would be in our lives anymore, when we knew we had failed our families? Oh gosh, I’m doing it again! I tried to make myself and Trevor feel better by making some weird faces…

My weird, embarrassing attempt to make Trevor laugh!

We made it to Jasper, Alabama, at about eight that night. After driving around for a little while, we decided to eat dinner at a Pizza Hut. The cheapest, largest meal there was the $10 Dinner Box, so Trevor and I agreed to share that.

Our dinner box from Pizza Hut included pizza, breadsticks, and cinnamon sticks

We ate our dinner mostly in silence. As we munched on the pizza and breadsticks, Trevor’s face was furrowed with concentration. When I asked him what was wrong, he quietly said to me that he couldn’t bear the idea that we would let down our family. It was then that I truly realized that Trevor and I were feeling the exact same way, and how dire our situation really was. And the worst part was, I didn’t know what I could do to make him feel better. And even worse, we were giving up when there was still a chance that we would make it to Sarasota.

I knew that we needed some cheering up. When we got to our campsite in Jasper, we immediately went to go check in. After parking our car in our campground, I told Trevor that I would be right back. I walked around to all the other campsites to see if anyone had a guitar that I could borrow. I asked about twenty people before one couple was nice enough to lend me theirs for an hour or so.

The area around our campsite in Jasper, AL

Trevor’s face was absolutely hysterical when I came back: he looked around confused for a second, and then quietly asked if I had stolen it. I laughed and told him most definitely not; I took it because I knew he needed to be distracted from the harsh reality of our world. Trevor started laughing uncontrollably when I started playing and singing Lean On Me, one of the best, cheesiest songs ever. After I began belting it out with my horrible voice, Trevor finally joined in, probably in order to make me lower my voice. We played just about every song I knew, from Here Comes the Sun to Pumped Up Kicks. It was exactly what we needed! Trevor finally looked happy for the first time in days.

We returned the guitar at about ten that night. We thanked the couple profusely, for they were able to bring joy back into our lives that night. As soon as we got back to our car, both of us promptly fell asleep, trying to remember the joy of that night and forget the cruel actuality of our situation.

Details of Day 4:

Route:

Followed I-40 east from Okemah, OK, to Conway, AR. Then, we took US-64 E to Memphis, TN, where we got onto US-78 E to Jasper, AL.

Breakfast:

Donuts from gas station in Weleetka, OK.

Cost: $3.

Bernhardt Fina Truck Shop

I-40 & Highway 75

Weleetka, OK 74880

Lunch:

Two $5-Footlongs at Subway.

Cost: $10.

1 Stagecoach Village Dr.

Little Rock, AR 72210-4750

Dinner:

One dinner box from Pizza Hut.

Cost: $10.

1160 Hwy 78 W 


Jasper, AL 35501

Hotel:

Stayed at a campground in Jasper, AL.

Cost: $22.

Blackwater Park

2030 3rd Ave S

Jasper, AL 35501

Gas:

Stopped first in Atkins, AR, to fill up the tank.

Cost: $59.50.

K & S Exxon

1209 N Church St

Atkins, AR 72823

Stopped for a second time in Sherman, MS.

Cost: $50.75.

Wild Bills

460 3rd Ave.

Sherman, MS 38869

Money spent on Day 4: $155.25.

Money left after Day 4: $647.81.

Miles Driven: 593 miles.

Hours Driven: 9 hrs., 35 min.

Bibliography:

Salarpi, Niki. Weird Face in the Car. Facebook.com. Web. 4 March 2012.

Unknown. Blackwater Park. Blackwaterpark.com. Web. 4 March 2012.

Unknown. Mandarin Orange Farm. Panoramio.com. Web. 2 March 2012.

Unknown. Pizza Hut $10 Dinner Box. Guysgab.com. Web. 3 March 2012.

Day 3: Oh Library, Wherefore Art Thou?

            It was about seven in the morning when we woke up on our third day of the trip. After getting changed and packing up our stuff, we jumped in the car to get started driving. I rummage around in my bag to find my cell phone because we needed to determine our route for the day; when I turned on my phone, I quickly realized that I had no service. I started freaking out!

Kate was freaking out!

            I walked around our entire campground, hoping to find even just one bar, but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. When I told Trevor, he actually started to hyperventilate! He started mumbling things to himself, things about how we never should have tried, how we were going to die out here, how he should’ve found a campsite near a larger city. I let him freak out for about five minutes as he ran around the car, yelling and kicking dirt. Then, I led him back to the car, and convinced him that everything was going to be all right (even though I didn’t quite believe it myself). He sat down for about five minutes to calm down while I contemplated what to do.

Finally, I decided it would be best to check in with the manager of the campsite. We walked to the office, which was only about a five-minute walk from our car. I knew that we needed to find a library or some sort of store who offered access to a computer or to the Internet.

When we arrived at the office, we asked the receptionist if she knew of a public library close by. She had no clue if an Edgewood Public Library even existed; she thought our best bet was to drive back to Albuquerque because there was bound to be one there.  Driving west on I-40 could set us back by a long shot, and decrease our chances of getting to Sarasota. Trevor asked if they had any other way of looking up a library nearby: she lent us the office’s phonebook. Since neither Trevor nor I had ever used a phonebook, it took us a little while to figure out what to do. The receptionist was nice enough to lend us a hand, and we finally found out what number to call. We called information at (575)-555-1212. There, we asked for the public library nearest or in Edgewood, New Mexico.

Luckily, we found out that there was a public library in Mexico, so we were able to get the library’s number. Trevor called and asked for directions from Red Arrow Edgewood Campground. He repeated the directions to me as the librarian told him, and I quickly scribbled down as much as I could. He even had to call back because I didn’t catch the name of the exit we were supposed to take off the freeway.

Directions to the library!

Once we struggled our way through the vague directions, we found the library. I practically jumped out of my seat due to my excitement. Our day was not a complete waste! Once we parked, Trevor skipped into the library, laughing and smiling all the way. We were able to quickly determine our route for the day, find gas station and restaurants to eat, and find a place to sleep that night. We were on the road at about nine.

The Edgewood Public Library

Fortunately, for the rest of the day, it was pretty smooth sailing. We finished listening to the second books in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. After driving for a little over two hours, we had to stop and get gas. Until we took this trip, I didn’t realize how expensive gas was. $3.50 per gallon seems like so little until you have to buy seventeen or more gallons!

By the time we got to Amarillo, Texas, I could hear Trevor’s stomach growling. I knew we needed to stop for lunch: we hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning because we had been so stressed about finding a library. I had figured that we would need to stop around there that morning, so I had researched some possible restaurants. There was a Subway very close to the highway, and that was the easiest, simplest food to get. While we would prefer to go to McDonald’s because its cheaper, the FDA has issued a warning on all meat products in fast food restaurants. Trevor and I couldn’t risk either one of us getting sick because we needed to get to Sarasota in two days. We quickly pulled into the Subway parking lot, and hurried inside to fill our aching stomachs with more $5 Footlongs.

After we finished lunch, Kate and I hurried to the car. We had a very rough morning due to poor cellular service and both of us were eager to get the days travels to an end. The dirt and dust has started to become visible everywhere we went and the layers of filth not only covered our bodies, but it also encased all of our belongings. The dust seemed to settle down straight from the air and no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t escape its unyielding reach. Finally Kate and I gave up and claimed the problem insurmountable. Kate started the car and I tried to navigate the map that the library gave us. Finally we found highway I-40. I have started to feel attached to the road for it is the only thing that is constant in our journey. The long stretch of pavement has turned into my temporary home and it has developed an air of security and certainty. I turn into my seat and stare at the sunset. In the time of this road trip I have learned to appreciate nature more then I used too. Kate and I could now sit in silence occupied by the horizon and it’s multi-colored swirls traversing across the sky like waves. Although the sight was soothing, it brought back memories of San Francisco; the place I will always call home. It makes me question if our leave was the best choice. I shake my head and dismiss the thought. It’s too late to have doubts now; we already made our choice. Bored and in need of comfort I turn around to talk to talk. I don’t know how she does it but she always knows what to say. When I was a kid, I stole a bag of candy from the corner store and the manager caught me. Kate was about 10 at this time and she somehow managed to talk my way out of trouble and said it was an accident. When I was told I had to bring our belongings to Florida, I was very glad to hear she was accompanying me. Right before I was going to ask if she regretted leaving, a billboard saying Okemah, OK passed to my right. I tapped Kate on the shoulder and pointed and she nodded and cut through the traffic lanes to reach the exit. 

We cruised into the town and soon spotted the lake. It was 6 miles north of Okemah and supposedly was the best lake in America for Bass fishing. We spotted a sign directing us to the primitive campsite, paid the ranger an $11.00 fee and drove up to our tent. The area was pretty nice, furnished with a fireplace and a grill in the commons place. To our surprise there was also a very cheap, flimsy fishing pole leaning against one of the sides of the tents. Kate and I both looked at each other and a silent agreement was made. We grabbed the pole and headed towards the lake to try our luck. Within 20 minutes we had 3 pretty descent size bass. I started the fire and Kate took out some simple cooking supplies. I was never that big of a fan of fish, but freshly caught bass is a different story. 

Okemah Lake

Within an hour Kate and I were both laughing and having one of the best meals of our life. A neighboring tent had someone playing the guitar and the music danced through the night. Before entering the tent, I stared up at the stars one last time. The beauty of the ancient balls of flame radiated across the sky, completely untouched by humanities influence. I lay down in our tent and smile. I have now driven across a great portion of the country and yet my most cherished moment was one beside a lake in the middle of nowhere.

Details of Day 3:

Route:

Continue east on I-40 to Okemah, Oklahoma, about one hour outside of Oklahoma City.

Breakfast:

None. Too preoccupied with finding a library.

Cost: $0.

Lunch:

Two $5 Footlongs at Subway.

Cost: $10.

Subway

2001 S Western St.


Amarillo, Texas 79106

Dinner:

Caught some fish at the Okemah lake!

Cost: $0.

Hotel:

Campground in Okemah, Oklahoma. Rented primitive sight, without electric or water (see left box in link reading Camping and Park Rules for rental fees).

Cost: $11.

Okemah Lake

103065 N 3760 Ter

Okemah, OK 74859

Gas:

We stopped in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and later in Calumet, Oklahoma.

Cost for Stop 1: $57.75.

Fast Stop 21

3900 Route 66

Tucumcari, NM 88401

Cost for Stop 2: $61.25.

108 Food & Fuel

550 S Walbaum Rd

Calumet, OK 73014-8536

Money Spent on Day 3:  $140.00.

Money Left After Day 3: $803.06.

Miles Driven: 586 miles.

Hours Driven: 8 hrs., 45 min.

Bibliography:

Claman, Kate. Directions to Edgewood Library. Web. 22 February 2012.

Claman, Kate. Worried Kate in the car. Web. 21 February 2012.

Unknown. Edgewood Public Library. Maps.google.com. Web. 21 February 2012.

Unknown. Okemah Lake. Okemahok.org. Web. 21 February 2012.

Day 2: And We Drive Some More...

A loud ringing bell pierces the air followed by a couple of low hums. Groggily I turn away and try to muffle the irritating noise with my pillow. The loud sound is the breakfast bell, so it must be 7:00am. I let out a deep sigh. The best quality of sleep is that it doesn’t matter where or what time you fall into a deep slumber; it is always just as satisfying and rewarding. I slowly get up and hit my head on the frame of the tent. I hear a faint hearted laugh from Kate, but decide its not worth the energy to defend my pride. Kate pulls apart the tent flaps and the blinding ray of light slaps me on the face. A little stunned I get up and follow her outside. The campground was surprisingly quiet and there were only 3 other families in the dining hall. Kate’s eyes gleamed hungrily at the table to my left and I turned to follow her gaze. A buffet table was set up with eggs, bacon, and many other extravagant breakfast foods. We both hurry over to the table and fill our plates with pounds of food. Soon there was only grease and scraps of meat left on the plastic plates. We thanked the manager and pushed the heavy double doors open. Our car was right outside and the early morning dew was still dripping down the chilled metal. We hopped in and I turned the key to start the engine. The rich, heavy rumble broke the silence and then shut off just as fast. I trickle of fear ran through me. I tried again and the same conclusion occurred. The nearest car shop was about 50 miles from here and we had no way of getting there. I closed my eyes and slowly turned the keys once more. The engine rumbled to life and kept its fast heartbeat. With a sigh and a cheer from Kate we traversed onto highway 40.

After a couple of hours, we saw a said that read, “Tonto National Forest.” We saw some absolutely beautiful landscapes, ones that were much more exciting than dirt and sand. I wished we could stop, take a hike, snap some pictures, and soak it all in, but I knew we couldn’t. I promised Kate that one day, we would come back and enjoy it with the company of our families.

The view from our car of Tonto National Park!

The highway seemed never-ending and abandoned. It was present through the end of your sight and only occasionally did a car appear. The sun was still very much present but its rays of heat were noticeably cooler then yesterday. There was a slight breeze from the west and it took control of Kate’s hair, thrashing it about in the wind. The conditions were perfect, but the landscape was still bare as ever. The road, as straight as a ruler carried the car across land which only sand and small bushes could thrive. A blinking red light turned my attention to the dashboard. The cause was the gas signal. The next exit was Kingman and we decided to try our luck. Luckily we spotted a shell gas station and with a quick fill up we were on the road again. Kate turned on the radio and the only channels that we could capture without being interrupted by static were country songs. I personally did not mind the genre, but Kate’s constant remarks about how most of the lines were the song didn’t even make sense installed a little bit of longing for some different type of music. Kate’s verbal assault was halted as a billboard came into view. It read Holbrook, Arizona next left. Under the giant letters a list of resting places and restaurants were evident. My eyes caught the Dairy Queen section and I aggressively swerved to make the exit. The clock on the dashboard read 1:26pm and hunger was started to spread through me like a disease. We pulled up into the parking lot and entered through the double glass doors. I felt as if I walked into a barrier when the air conditioner ran over my head. With a joyful countenance, I walked up to the cashier without looking at the menu. I ordered two classic Grill burgers and asked Kate to refill our water bottles. The overall cost was $4.38, a good deal for something seemingly priceless at the moment. We both sat down in one of the booths to wait for our number to be called. I leaned farther back in my chair and smiled. Wherever we end up in Arizona, there better be a Dairy Queen.

The Dairy Queen in Holbrook, AZ

After we finished lunch, we were right back on the road again. The sky was getting darker, and I was worried that we were going to hit a storm. I turned on the radio, and we found out that there was indeed a huge rainstorm in Denver. It was supposed to be moving north, which was lucky for us. I didn’t pack a raincoat or rain pants, and we didn’t have any umbrellas either!

We continued our drive along I-40. I was feeling a bit more positive than I was the day before. I knew that if we had run into the tempest in the north, then our driving would have been almost been cut in half! And then we most definitely would not have made it to Sarasota. At the rate we were going, there was a really good chance that we would be in Florida in three days.

In order to pass the time, I decided to play an audio book that I’d bought on my iPod before we left. I chose the Hunger Games, a.k.a. the most amazing thing ever. Trevor and I share an obsession with that book series, and we decided to listen to all three books in order to review for the movie. We agreed that most likely, the movie would not look exactly how we imagined, but we wanted to see it all the same. I bought the audio books before we left because we didn’t have enough room in the car to take the actual books.

            We arrived in Gallup, New Mexico, just as we were finishing the tape of the first book. We were running low on gas, so we stopped at a 7-Eleven. Trevor filled up the tank and we both used the restroom before we left. I also refilled my water jug: I get dehydrated pretty easily, and the last thing I wanted was to faint during the drive and delay us for an hour while I recovered.

The 7-Eleven Store

            I decided to open up the container of Pringles. While normally I ate organic and healthy foods, during this trip, I was only concerned with the price of my food. As long as it was pretty cheap, and I only had to live with it for a couple of days, then I could eat anything. Trevor and I were going to try and make our snacks last for the whole trip, so I tried to ration out our food appropriately.

            I was so thankful that Trevor had offered to drive after lunch. I was completely and utterly exhausted, even though all that I had been doing was sitting in a car for five hours. I slept for about two hours, and when I woke up, we were in Albuquerque, which was only half an hour away from our campsite.

            Before we checked in at the campground, we went to Subway down the street to buy dinner. I bought a Veggie Delight Footlong, and Trevor had a Turkey Breast Footlong. While we were there, all I could think about were the commercials that I had always seen for 5-Dollar Footlongs! We grabbed our sandwiches, and drove right down the street to Red Arrow Edgewood Campground.

The Subway where we ate dinner

            Trevor and I checked in, and drove our car right over to our spot. We ate our sandwiches in the car, and then got ready for bed. We knew we had another long day of driving ahead of us, and we needed a lot of rest. For tonight, since they hadn’t provided us with a tent, we slept in our car. After listening to some more of the Hunger Games before bed, Trevor and I were asleep as soon as our heads hit the headrest.

Details of Day 2:

Route:

Continue east on I-40 to Edgewood, just outside of Albuquerque.

Breakfast:

Served at campground.

Cost: $0.

Lunch:

Ate at Dairy Queen. Two Classic Grillburgers ($2.19 each). Refilled water jugs ($0).

Cost: $4.38.

Dairy Queen

1001 Navajo Blvd

Holbrook, AZ 86025

(928) 524-6553

Dinner:

Two $5 footlongs at Subway in Edgewood.

Cost: $10.

Subway

5 George Ct Ste A

Edgewood, NM 87015

Hotel:

Stayed in Edgewood at RV Park.

Cost: $30.

Red Arrow Edgewood

1981 Old Us Highway 66

Edgewood, NM 87015

Gas:

Stopped in Kingman to fill up tank.

Cost: $43.75.

970 E Blake Ranch Rd.

Kingman, AZ 86401

(928)757-2799

Stopped for a second time in Gallup, NM. Completely filled up tank.

Cost: $61.25.

610 W Maloney Ave

Gallup, NM 87301-5395

(505)722-9493

Money Spent on Day 2: $149.38.

Money Left After Day 2: $943.06.

Miles Driven: 561 miles

Hours Driven: 8 hrs., 40 min.

Bibliography:

Unknown. 2 7 11, Gallup, NM. Flickr.com. Web. 20 February 2012.

Unknown. Subway Restaurant. BeTheBoss.ca. Web. 20 February 2012.

Unknown. The-Hunger-Games-Books-1-3. Hungergamesdwtc.net. Web. 19 February 2012.

Unknown. Tonto National Forest. Landingaday.wordpress.com. Web. 19 February 2012.

Day 1: The Beginning of the Journey

Here we are! After all this time preparing for this trip, it’s hard to believe that it’s really here. In some ways, this day seemed as if it would never come; and yet, here it is.

            With our car full of gas, we departed at eight that morning. Beginning our journey, we first drove to a McDonalds to buy breakfast. We ate quickly, and then zipped quickly over to Walgreens to buy snacks. We bought two liter-sized water jugs to avoid dehydration, and some various snacks in order to keep us energized during the day.

Our snacks from Walgreens!

            While at the pharmacy, we noticed a newspaper near the front of the store. It said that all tolls for the day had been raised by 25%! Our route did have a fair amount of tolls that we were required to pay, so Trevor and I sat in the car for about half an hour, and mapped out an entire route without tolls.

            After that, it was time to get on the road. The tension in the car was palpable: we truly had not idea what lay ahead for us in the East. With butterflies in our stomachs, we began our journey east.

            Knowing that Trevor had ADHD, I knew that this trip would be difficult for him. I volunteered to drive the first half of today’s trip so as to make it easier on him. I tried my best to keep him entertained, and I think I succeeded. Having known each other since a young age, we remember the “good ‘ole times” from preschool, the playgrounds and play dates, the easiness and freedom of it all. We spent time getting to know each other again; after all, we had changed a lot since our Ross Valley days! Before we left, we made a playlist on my iPod with some of our favorite music, including Bruce Springsteen, the Fray, and Counting Crows, and it was nice to have some familiar voices in the car. With laughter and giggles filling the car, time passed pretty quickly.

            After driving for a little over three hours, we stopped at the Coalinga-Avenal Safety Rest Stop for about half an hour. We used the restrooms, filled up our water bottles, and stopped outside for a little snack. It felt nice to breathe in the fresh air, stretch our legs, and spend some time not being cramped in the car. The rest area was quite crowded: it seemed as if some people had the same idea that we did.

The rest stop in Huron, CA

            We spent the next couple of hours playing some car games, like the license plate game. The car was filled with the joyous crunch of Lay’s Potato Chips, which we happily munched on as miles and miles of land passed by us. Cold air blasted us in the face through the air conditioning vents in the car, shielding us slightly from the strength of the sun. We soon fell into a comfortable silence. As I watched the terrain flash by my eyes, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. We had no idea what lay ahead of us. Would we be able to find jobs, or even a place to live? I decided not to mention these negative ponderings to Trevor. It wouldn’t benefit either of us if he knew that I was not hopeful for our future. I didn’t even know if we had enough money to get to Sarasota.

            We reached Tehachapi around one in the afternoon. Trevor could barely keep his eyes open, and I knew that we needed food and we needed it fast. Since we were low on gas, the first thing we did was drive to the Sunnyview Gas Spot in order to fill up our tank. Then, we drove right down the road to Denny’s. While walking into the restaurant, we met another family, the Wilsons. They were also on their way east! We wished them luck on their journey, and then rushed into the building to calm our whining, aching stomachs.

Denny's in Tehachapi

I stare up at the sky and squint at the gleaming sun. The flaring, bright ball of flame is pretty high on the horizon, so it must be around noon. I wipe my mouth with a napkin and look over to see the satisfaction gleaming from Kate’s eyes. It’s incredible what a meal can do. One moment you are angry and worried and the other you feel for a moment as if everything is peaceful in the world. We both stayed in our seats a moment longer, not wanting the moment to end and then we heaved ourselves out of our seats. The burn running through my stretched muscles like a wildfire was agonizing and we slowing stumbled out the door. Jumping in the car I felt a feeling both of pleasure and sorrow. This car is the path to many more exhausting and bitter days, but it is also everything we own. Our transportation, possessions, and even past memories all lie within the rusted metal frame. With a jolt and a heavy rumble the car started and made its way back on Highway 40.

Before we left, Kate and I discussed a scheduler for the responsibility of driving. Although we are not driving through the night, many hours on the road with nothing but dead shrubs is surprisingly, extremely mentally exhausting. Kate offered to drive for the rest of the day until we reached Needles. I turn over trying to find a better position to rest but can’t get comfortable. The combination of scorching heat and rusted suspensions doesn’t make the ideal conditions to sleep. Annoyed and defeated I sit up and stare out to the horizon. Although it is still hot, I could tell there was a slight drop in temperature. I gaze as far as I can in hope of spotting some form of civilization besides passing cars, but the heat waves obstruct my view. What if Florida undergoes a drought and resembles this landscape? I know the idea is absurd, but if the conditions are just as bad as everywhere else, where we will go? I discard the thought and offer to take the wheel. Kate pulls off to the side so we can relieve our self’s and to allow the transaction of the driving. I take the wheel and start it forward, feeling the vibrations of power radiate throughout the car. I step on the gas, lean back and sigh. The first day I am already longing to get as far as I can away from the car as possible.

In a hazing reverie, I slowly make out many black shapes on the horizon. By now it’s almost dark and our cars dim lights poorly illuminate the road. I shake myself in order to awake myself as well as Kate and exclaim my finding. 10 minutes later we pull up in front of the KOA camping facility.

Our camping site in Needles, CA

Truthfully I expected more, for the compound consists of one main building and a couple small others surrounded by a bleak desert, but at the time, I was so glad we arrived I didn’t even care. We park the car and get out of the car. Again I feel as if I have rid a horse all day, and my legs are stuck in awkward positions. Kate and I rush through the doors and head directly toward the dinner hall. Strangely, I am more famished then I have been in a long time. Both Kate and I pile enough food to feed multiple families. The rooms come with free meals so the thought of money for once didn’t even cross our minds. We relish our meals and finally go and check in. The owner points east and tells us our tent is already set up. Quickly thanking her, we stroll out to the camping grounds and find our tent. Two mattresses supplied with pillows and sheets are already made and seem to call me in. I drop my bag in the corner of the tent and glance at my watch. I’m started for I feel as if it was midnight, but the clock reads 9:30. I look over at Kate and a smile spreads across my face. She’s already sprawled across the mattress and sound asleep. Too tired to laugh, I slowly made my way to my bed and with a sigh fell asleep.

Our route for Day 1

Details of Day 1:

Route:

We went south on I-5 through the San Joaquin Valley. Then we went southwest through Bakersfield, and then picked up Highway 58 to Barstow. From there, we took I-40 to east to Needles, California.

Breakfast:

None. Ate some of our snacks from Walgreens.

Cost: $0.

Lunch:

One cheese quesadilla ($2) and one classic burger ($6). No drinks. Refilled water jugs ($0).

Cost: $8.

Denny’s Restaurant

9000 Magellan Drive

Tehachapi, CA

Ph. (661) 823-7380

Dinner:

Amenity included in campground. Pasta with tomato sauce and salad.

Cost: $0 (included in fee for campground).

Snacks:

Bought one bag of pretzels ($2.25), one bag of Chex Mix ($1.75), one bag of Lay’s Potato Chips ($2), one container of Pringles ($2), one box of Sweet & Salty Nut Granola Bars ($1.98), and one bag of tortilla chips ($2.10). Should last us almost whole trip.

Cost: $12.08.

Walgreens

790 Van Ness Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Ph. 415-292-6155

Supplies/Repairs:

Two one liter water jugs at Walgreens.

Cost: $3.98.

Walgreens

790 Van Ness Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94102

Ph. 415-292-6155

Hotel:

Slept in the car at Needles KOA Camping Ground.

Cost: $24.

Needles KOA Camping Ground

5400 National Old Trails Road

Needles, CA

Gas:

Bought at Sunnyview Gas Spot in Tehachapi. Got full tank of gas.

Cost: $59.50.
Sunnyview Gas Spot
1050 Capitol Hills Pkwy
Tehachapi, CA 93561

Money spent on Day 1: $107.56

Money left after Day 1: $1092.44

Miles Driven: 553 miles

Hours Driven: 9 hrs., 16 min.

Bibliography:

Brennan, B. Coalinga-Avenal Roadside Rest Area Northbound Interstate 5, 12 Miles North USHWY41/I5 Junction. 17 September 2010. Wikipedia.org. Web. 15 February 2012.

Claman, Kate. Various Snacks from Walgreens. 5 February 2012. Web. 15 February 2012.

Unknown. Denny’s Restaurant. TripAdvisor.com. Web. 15 February 2012.

Trevor’s Longest Rode Trip

The longest road trip I have ever been on was from Marin County to Salt Lake City. The journey was 741 miles and took a little over 12 hours. We were on our way to the 2002 winter Olympics and at the age of 5 I couldn’t stop anticipating our arrival. I don’t have many memories at that age, but my experience in Salt Lake is still perfectly clear to me.

I am diagnosed with ADHD, so as you might suspect long car rides aren’t particularly my thing. Let me state that there was no hardest moment in this trip because the whole ride was terrible. Only the knowledge about what lay ahead sustained me and kept me going. The ever-changing scenery was a helpful distraction. The transformation from small rolling hills to jagged, aggressive, snow toped mountains amazed me and made we feel smaller in the world. Also, at that young age snow was still majestic and fascinating. For the first 50 miles where snow was evident on the ground, cooper and I would search the ground with hungry eyes and scream and point if we found a patch of snow somewhere. Now I realize that that must have been quite aggravating for my parents, but luckily my dad didn’t come completely unarmed. He brought one of those really old portable DVD players with countless disks of dragon tails. Yes, dragon tails, the two words that fully embody my childhood. Once we arrived in Salt Lake City, I awoke from a deep slumber and was acutely aware from the sudden surge of adrenaline. This was the place were the best of the best were. People from all around the world came to compete in extravagant events that currently made no sense to me. Fortunately the cheers surrounding me gave me a substantial clue when something good happened. This rush lasted until I was confronted with a bed. Without bothering to take off my cloths I leaned forward and was sound asleep before I hit the mattress. The moment I leaned forward with a smug smile on my face was easily the best moment of my trip.

Although the trip itself was excruciating, every second was worth the experience. Memories from the side lines cheering and ringing my cow bell from every event from hockey to cross country skiing has rooted itself in my mind and brings smiles to my face when I recall them. That trip has also inspired me and changed my life in many ways. After that trip whenever I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said to be in the Olympics. The idea of being one of the best in the world at something has appealed and still does to me in a way like no other. I hope Kate’s and I have an equal rewarding experience when we reach California. I know the journey itself will be miserable, but the end destination could prove to be worth it all.

Kate's Last Road Trip

This past summer, I went on a road trip with my family to Ashland, Oregon, for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It was about a 350 mile drive, and took us about six hours. This was our third trip to Ashland for the festival, and I enjoyed it every year. While the drive itself is long and tiring, the days that come after it are all worth it.

Every time that I’ve been on a road trip, I’ve packed an entire bag full of items whose sole purpose is to entertain me. I usually bring about five or six books, my iPod, a book of Sudoku, and a journal. The best part of the trip was reading and spending time with my family. Because I have so little free time during the school year due to homework and swimming, I use my summers to catch up on all of the reading that I’ve missed. Now, while some kids go crazy spending six hours stuck in a car with only their family, those car rides are some of my favorite memories. On this one, when we were nearing the end of the car ride, my mom and I sat in the back seat and ran down my iPod’s battery while playing Scrabble. It was a pretty competitive game! By far, the worst part of the trip was the extreme heat that I experienced in the car. I was sitting in the backseat for the entire trip, and I could barely feel the air conditioning even though it was on a very high setting. As someone who has passed out several times from dehydration, I think I drank five bottles of water in order to avoid getting heat stroke. Unfortunately, this meant that we had to make more stops than usual so that I could use the bathroom. I can’t imagine how the Joad family made their journey without any way to cool themselves off in or out of the car. At our last stop before Ashland, I bought a Starbucks iced coffee at the gas station; it was by far one of the best moments of the trip. I was so tired, and the caffeine rejuvenated me enough that when we got to Ashland, I was just as excited as I was the first year that we came.

Despite the heat, I have always enjoyed road trips. The annual family trips to Tahoe, and even three hours rides to sporting events, are always worth it when you get to enjoy time with family and friends. While the Joads may not have found what they had hoped to in California, I hope Trevor and I have more luck with our trip!