I agonized for about 6 seconds over what label I should give to this trip. It certainly isn’t my first trip to Texas – I flew to Austin at Christmas – nor is it the first time I have traveled to Texas by car or RV. It is, however, the first road trip where Texas is the destination and that makes it worthy of a trip label.
This is actually Ooma’s trip – she is attending the wedding of a dear friend on May 27, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. She asked if I would like to go very shortly after we met a month ago, apparently after she became convinced that I was not a serial murderer. Having already been smitten, I jumped at the opportunity. It took me about 3 nanoseconds to accept the invitation. I don’t think the invitation was quite complete when I said “Hell yeah!”.
I have already met the groom and bride as they were in Ft Myers last week for some pre-wedding festivities (they lived here for a number of years). They told me that when Ooma called to request an invitation for her “plus one” they looked at each other in puzzlement and said “Ooma has a plus one?” But they seemed to like me so I guess I passed the Plus One Test.
I am not quite sure why Ooma wants to drive. It is a long trip – over 2,500 miles, round trip. She doesn’t have a pet so that wasn’t a factor. But I guess the reason is irrelevant – the trip is on. We leave May 25 and return June 6. 11 nights. She has booked all the hotel rooms. I have made arrangements for Rusty’s care. We are taking her car. It is nearly 40 hours of travel in 7 hops. That is 360 miles per hop or about 7 hours of travel on each travel day. That is a LOT of driving. We will be taking several audiobooks and lots of snacks.
The hops:
- Tallahassee FL (373 miles via I-75 and US 98). I am opting for US 98 which is shorter miles-wise but longer minutes-wise because I like that road and the return trip is otherwise identical to the trip to Austin, so it introduces a small amount of variety. 1 night at a hotel.
- Port Allen LA (443 miles). 1 night at a hotel.
- East Austin TX (424 miles). We are staying 5 nights at an Airbnb.
- Lafayette LA (379 miles). 1 night at a hotel.
- Fairhope AL (271 miles). 2 nights with Ooma’s sister.
- Lake City FL (343 miles). 1 night at a hotel.
- Fort Myers FL (290 miles).
Ooma will likely do most of the driving – it is her car and she likes to drive nearly as much as I do – so it will be a rare opportunity for me to be a passenger on a road trip.