Epilogue

We made it home in time for Joshua to attend his first day of school :)

Here is a photo of the toilet paper that made it across the country.  I had purchased it for our home before we left, but David thought that I had purchased it for the trip, so he packed it in the car.  Every time we wanted something out of the car, we had to move this gargantuan toilet paper package.

Don't be surprised if you receive a roll of it for Christmas!

The following are some "catch phrases" and remembrances from the trip...

Listening to "Last Friday Night" by Katie Perry - again!

Jackalopes ARE real

"Turn around when possible"

The forecast says there's a chance of hail.

Is that an (insert animal)?  No Dad, it's a bush

Did you see that lightening?

We can get gas here because Mobil is owned by Exxon

Mom doesn't have a fear of heights, she has a fear of falling

I think the path is this way....

Does it have a swimming pool?

Who's shaking?

This isn't a top 40 station.

Sure you can, it's America!

Did you know that California was known as the bear flag republic?

What 2 states were republics before joining the union? hint above

Do we have Montana?

Did you know that the Romans....

We better hurry up before we have to drink our own piss.

It's my FLASK!

"Look kids, at the (insert feature) on the right".  - Dad, that's the left

Mom, look right.

Remember the awkward seam?

We're cammed

A solid block, I mean solid!

Is that the Rockies?

Get your kicks on Route 66

Standing on the corner of Winslow, Arizona

You're careening

Is that Route 66?

What is that?  My (grandfather, Uncle, brother...) had one just like it.  It's a 1961 Shasta Compact

Best time THIS SIDE OF THE MISSISSIPPI!

Day 31, Tuesday, August 30, Jonestown, PA to Sandwich, MA

We got up early and stopped for breakfast at a Diner/truck stop where Dave remembers eating when he was a kid.  They have the best corn beef hash I've ever tasted.  We filled up on a delicious breakfast, got some massive chocolate chip cookies to go, and set our sites on home.

packed up and ready to go

Trainer's Midway Diner - great food cheap

However, home turned out to be many more hours away than we had thought.  Hurricane Irene, turned Tropical storm Irene, had flooded out many parts of the highway.  We were diverted, re-routed, and detoured from PA through NY.  Thank goodness for the chocolate chip cookies!

Cars were dropping like flies - overheated or out of gas at the side of the road

Almost there....

Home Sweet home!

Hazel missed us!  And we missed her!!!!

We made it back home, just in time for a quick shower and Joshua and I had to go to a "convocation" at his school.  Nothing like cutting it close!

We had an awesome time, but it's good to be home.  I'm starting to plan next year's trip.........   :)

Day 30, Monday, August 29, New Lisbon, IN to Jonestown, PA

I awoke to the thought that today is Monday and Joshua starts school on Wednesday!  We need to get home.  Today, we visited Pittsburgh, PA to check out Carnegie Mellon.  They have a music technology major that Christian is very interested in.

We didn't get to see much of Pittsburgh itself, though what we did see, we liked.  It looks like a good size city with a lot to offer.  The campus of Carnegie Mellon is beautiful.  There are some really interesting buildings.  We stopped by the admissions office to pick up some information.  They were very helpful and friendly - a good start to the day.  We walked around the campus and saw the usual frenetic activity of the beginning of the semester.  Christian will go to an info session near Boston and he'll schedule an interview at Carnegie Mellon.

on the campus of Carnegie Mellon

ceiling paintings in arts building

not sure what's going on here

We tried to make it to Allentown so we could see Gramma and Papa again in the morning, but we could only make it as far as Jonestown, PA.  This is where we got our first taste of the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.  

Though the storm had passed, there were many limbs down and substantial flooding.  Our stop for the night, the KOA in Jonestown was without power.  We set up camp, cooked dinner and hung out at the fire.  Tomorrow, we drive home.  It is bittersweet - we are looking forward to seeing our friends (and hopefully - our house), but this has been a fun vacation and I'm a bit sad to see it end.