Life is a highway...

I don’t remember where I saw it, but some time in the past few months, I read an article that said if you and your mate travel well together, especially by car, then you will no doubt be able to survive the journey that is marriage.

Grizzled and I had our first *date* 19 years ago this week. I accentuate date for my own reasons. He was a very nice man and was one of the few that I felt incredibly comfortable with. I, however, saw this summer fling as going nowhere... 

In a couple of weeks, we’ll celebrate our 15^th wedding anniversary. I’ve never been one of those people to not be able to say I was wrong. :)

When Grizzled and I got married, we were hoping to go to Alaska on our honeymoon, but time and money were telling us that was not in the cards so we planned a trip that might have some of the flavor of  of the bigger, grander trip. We were going to drive out to Montana, spend some time in Glacier National Park, and then spend a few days at a beautiful bed and breakfast on Flathead Lake. This particular B&B was a refurbished one room schoolhouse.

So... we rented a cushy Lincoln Continental with unlimited mileage (they must have hated us upon our return) and we drove. We did lots of driving.  "Life is a Highway" was popular that summer and played often on the radio.

Our only reservations were at the B&B. The rest of the trip was going to be winging it. Our first stop was in a crappy Quality Inn in Fargo, ND, but it was our honeymoon, we didn't care. Grizzled had even brought in his camping coffee gear so that I could have morning coffee. Grizzled had been with me long enough to know I like morning coffee and by morning, I mean as soon as my eyes are open. He had been with me through the stage of keeping my coffee maker at the foot of my bed so that when the alarm went off I could merely lean forward and push, "On"!

Our next stop was Havre, Montana. It was dark, it was late and we were tired. Havre looked large enough to have a variety of hotels/motels, but what we didn't know beforehand and what one chiding clerk told us was that the state fair was in town! All rooms had been booked up for weeks! There would be nothing to have in Havre. We found one creepy drive-up motel that charged $23 per night. The clerk kept asking Grizzled if he was sure he wanted the room for the entire night and not just for an hour because they also charged by the hour... wink, wink.

The next leg of our trip took us to Gustin Orchard where we had a few days of solitude and creature comforts. This was followed by a night of camping in Glacier National Park and then poof, we were winding our way back home.

All in all, we must have spent 65% of our honeymoon, driving. We were on no ones schedule, but our own. Having taken the northern route to Montana, we drove back home via Wyoming, saw Devils Tower (Dick Cheney's home, I believe), went through South Dakota, saw Wall Drug, Mt. Rushmore, and in the *in process* Crazy Horse Memorial. We also did a drive-by of the Badlands. Ironically, we had our only fight in the Badlands. Grizzled was driving at this point and I was navigating. We had intended on doing the much touted *scenic turnout*. We missed the scenic turnout which Grizzled attributed to my lax navigational skills. I have wonderful navigational skills when I have a map and dammit, I had one! I had a brand-spanking-new atlas! It turns out, Rand McNally oopsed on that one and I was vindicated.

If I recall, the last leg of our trip was from Pierre, South Dakota to Chicago. We easily did it in one day. The entire trip was wonderful, was full of lots of unplanned adventures, but best of all, Grizzled and I were just in the car with nowhere to be, nothing we had to do, and plenty of time to talk.

We have since taken many trips. On occasion we have flown, but we are never against getting in the car and driving. We've gone to Atlanta in one day, to Ontario in one day. We once did a 10-day, spring break tour of the Southwest. We hit Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma and this trip was done with two young children and two dogs in tow. We travel well together.

Someone once asked my oldest lamblet if she had a DVD player in her car for those long trips. She said no, she took books, but other than that, she preferred to look out the window at the view. "What's the point of going somewhere else if you're not going to look at the changing scenery?" she asked. I thought she had a good point.

I like long trips because I know I have Grizzled to myself. We talk a lot, we solve a lot of the world's problems, sometimes we just sit next to each other and enjoy the silence of the ride and wonder when the next *hysterical marker* will appear. We've always traveled well together and judging from the fact that we've been together for 19 years, that first long trip must have been a good omen.

Comments

[Idyllopus]

Damn I love a road trip. And I could use one. But they cost money.

Unlike your oldest lamblet, H.o.p. is all for the portable DVD player. He isn't crazed over the passing scenery like I am. "Look, look!" I'll say and he nods vaguely. I was first exasperated and then figured whatever. But still he loves a long road trip and is always eagerly suggesting one because it leaks in the brain past the DVD somehow. He was on it again last night. "We need to go on a road trip!" He is sooo right.

[Jennifer]

They do indeed cost money, especially given the price of gas now. Somewhere in my mind, I always feel like they are so inexpensive, but once you start adding everything up, OUCH!

I love them as well though.

They must be in the air. I've had this post in the works for awhile and finally decided to finish it and put it up this morning. While taking a break, I went over to Mannion's. He's got a post about a 2-yr road trip!

[Idyllopus]

I saw that one last night and was commenting on it last night and then Firefox wigged out on me and shut down and I lost my comment and didn't try another.

[blue girl]

First, Happy Early Anniversary.

I'm a little impatient for really long road trips. We'll be driving 13 hours to the beach in a few weeks and it's just something I feel like I have to endure. Although, I do my best to notice what's around me as we're driving.

But, I also know that road trips with the family are memory building times. Flying to a vacation spot is just not as special as driving there. Everyone getting bored and tired and complaining, mixed with times of telling dumb jokes (Gotta make good time!) and playing silly road games. That's why, after it's all said and done, although I am impatient, I'm glad we drive to the beach. I know Blue Kid will remember those trips for a long, long time.

That sounds like a great adventure you went on! Great, great memory, I'm sure.

[snag]

God, I love driving. The Lovely Bride and I went to Alaska for our honeymoon. Lots of driving, along with some rafting. It set the tone for the rest of our vacations. Putting the little weasels in the car and setting out, DVDs be damned, you're going to look at the scenery and you're going to enjoy it!

There are a couple of 1,000 mile trips planned for the summer, but that's nothing. This December, Snag and the boys heading for Texas, 10 days alone in a car. It's like a cage match.

[Jennifer]

Thanks BG.

I'm sure your 13 hrs on the road will be nothing but blog fodder! Just think of all of the insights, scuffles, anecdotes, etc, that can write themselves in 13 hours! You'll be craving more of the road, I know it. :)

Snag! You took my honeymoon!!! I want it back!!
And I fully expect to read about the "On the Road Cage Match". Do you have a police car divider between front and back seats?

[Claire]

Happy early anniversary! I *love* the story. Sounds ideal to me.

[Kathleen (in Oakland)]

great post! I did a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway for my honeymoon - just wonderful.

He had been with me through the stage of keeping my coffee maker at the foot of my bed so that when the alarm went off I could merely lean forward and push, "On"!

LOL

[blue girl]

Kathleen, "I did a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway for my honeymoon - just wonderful."

The Skimmer and I did that. So, so, so awesome. I cried, it was that beautiful. I'd take that road trip again, with the radio playing and wind blowing through my hair, in two seconds flat.

[Brando]

TLB and I travel really well together. Our greatest "road trip" was flying to Scotland and driving around the country for a week. We always talk a lot and play music for each other. I'm even a little excited that, for our annual beach vacation in North Carolina, we're flying to Raleigh and get to drive together for a few hours.

Congrats on the date and wedding anniversaries!

[Jennifer]

Brando- your Scotland trip sounds like fun. Extra credit to you for extended the road trip to foreign lands!!

[Jennifer]

Kathleen and BG- the Pacific Coast Highway trip sounds like heaven. I've been on part of it, but never the whole trip.

[Idyllopus]

Have never done the Pacific Coast Highway either.

An exciting thing about road trips certainly is putting together all the music. Before our last road trip I wanted Morricone and found none of the stores here had it! So I had to order at the last minute and was so desperate for it that I had it delivered to our destination so that we could at least listen to it once we got there and on the way back.

[Jennifer]

Idyllopus- music is very important to the tone of the drive. There are times when I've chosen by personal desires and times when I've let fate decide (if you're driving through WI, that means LOTS OF FOGHAT! :))

There are also times I've chosen a soundtrack for my trip by what would keep young lamblets calm. Never underestimate the power of Dragon Tales! The theme song still reminds me of The Roches.

However... I've never had my tunes de jour shipped to my destination! Wow! That is intense.

[Adorable Girlfriend]

Happy Anniversary! That's awesome.

I've never been one for a road trip. I don't know why, other than I prefer to fly and just end up doing that. Thus, for me it's about backpacking. If one can backpack thru Europe for two weeks or more and NOT kill their travel partner, they will make it 20 plus years!

[karla]

I used to get horribly car sick, so riding in cars was not my favorite thing. When he and I drove from Houston to California for a summer internship in the early days of our marriage, it was in a Triumph Spitfire with the top down all the way (and all the way back.) I had really long hair, and a horrible sensitivity to bright light so while HE was enjoying that ride, I was swathed in sunglasses and scarves. It was part of learning to live together despite different tolerances for the things the other person loved. Now, I love road trips, too, because I found I can knit (which I love) without getting car sick while he drives (which he loves). We play all kinds of music or listen to non-fiction audiobooks (Krakatoa was the best so far). Rushing back to the car after a Diet Coke break for more 'story' adds to the feeling of being young and on the move. Known each other for almost 40 years - married for almost 32.

[Jennifer]

I remember that Spitfire. Wasn't that the one with the tape label in it that said He wasn't Mario Andretti? And what about Pig Boat? Did you ever do road trips in Pig Boat?

[coffee maker]

Coffee is such a big seller that coffee makers have had to keep up with the demand. Many companys that manufacture coffee makers know that have new technology with new features will keep them going strong. Many new machines have been released to allow for the new flavors and textures that Americans love in their coffee. Mochas and lattes are the tip of the iceburg.

[Kathleen]

coffee maker has supplanted citrus lover as my favortie commenter.