Abbie's First Road Trip: Preparing to Leave and Day 1

While Tuna is away working in Pecos, Abbie and  I are going on a road trip.  We were invited by my dad and Guilford to join them in going to Telluride, CO to Kent and Janet's ranch.  We are driving and making a road trip out of it!

Preparation - getting ready for a road trip is a tough task in itself.  Getting ready for a road trip with a one year old is even tougher...especially when you have to consider the fact the we are taking 4 days and two different hotel rooms to get there.  In this situation, I think that you pack the best way you can and see what works.  Ultimately, no way is really going to be easy.  We had to get some long sleeves and were only able to find a hoodie for Abs.  Hopefully, CO won't be THAT cold!  Also, considering food has been a challenge, but we shall see if I packed the right stuff!  We are spending the night at Grandpa and GG's house the night before we leave, so we can get everything packed the night before and then just get up and go.

Day One - Wednesday, July 3rd - Happy Anniversary to Us! - we got up early and at a little breakfast and packed the last minute items in the car.  Miraculously, we were off by 8:05 am (planned time to leave was 8:00 am).  We had a quick stop at Bucee's for ice and then we were on the road.  We traveled up through College Station and Waco then caught 35 West to Fort Worth.  We stopped for lunch at the Dairy Queen right outside of Hillsboro...which, by the way, does not have a baby changing station (even thought is newly constructed and along a busy highway!).  We made it through to Ft. Worth in good time with Abbie only catching a couple of short naps along the way.  We pulled in to the Clarendon Best Western around 5:15 pm.  Clarendon is the town where I have spent time as a child. It is the hometown of an old family friend and fellow State Farm agent, Billy Hearn.  He and his wife, Dolfia grew up there and on several occasions had my family up there for Thanksgiving and 4th of July.  We unloaded, freshened up and headed out to Dolfia's relative's house - the Shadles.  Specifically, Jim and Susie Shadle.  I saw people I haven't seen in over 30 years!  Joeneill and his family were there and many other new faces to me...but they remembered me from 30 years ago!  We had steaks and Abbie and I adventured around while Dad and Guilford chatted with old friends.  Everyone was SO nice and was so happy to have us there.  We headed back to the hotel about 9 pm (it had just gotten dark!) and called it a night.

Pictures of the Day...

My traveling buddy!

Sleeping on the job

Abbie enjoying the beautiful Texas night in the Shadle's hammock

Panhandle sunset from in front of the Shadle's house...what a beautiful end to the day!