You Can’t Drive 55: Driving to TN

I am here. FINALLY. I didn’t leave till almost 2 pm on Friday due to getting all the stuff packed, the cleaners in, etc. Whew. So leaving around 2 on a Friday in the Northeast Corridor means, yes you guessed it, TRAFFIC. I ended up going around Baltimore toward Frederick to 81 and went 81 the rest of the way until after TN. But omg it took forever and a day. Because A) VA is a huge ass state B) Those mountains are very huge and the grades going up and down them are intense C) Dogs have to stop and pee A LOT.

The damn cat, the one I was stressing about the most? Was the best one (besides the snails) that was on the trip. Peeves was very stressed at first (it was hot, the sun was hot and he just wasn’t sure). I had him in a wire crate in the front with me (don’t worry people the air bags were off!). This worked out well on Friday due to his stress level as long as I was petting him he was fine. He meowed some but pretty much was settled by the time we stopped for the night. I had to take forty five trips to unload stuff (litter box, dog/cat food, my luggage, dog dishes, cat dishes, snails you name it) to get into the motel room but it was a nice clean room at a Ramada that actually had the doors to the outside at each room (my preferred stop with animals with me, easy access to get them out for  potty break). We ended up stopping in Harrisonburg which is not that far but since it took me almost 3 hours to get from north of Baltimore to Frederick (I am not kidding the traffic was HORRIBLE) I was ready to stop.

We all settled in and the motel was loud (walls were thin and people are loud) but the dogs were tired enough to pass out with me and the room had a window in it so Peeves did some people watching for awhile and I woke up once to see him spread out on the other bed in the room (The dogs were in bed with me of course). So that first day was exhausting but okay.

I woke up at 430 am (yes that early) due to people staying at the motel leaving for work that early (There were a lot of construction workers staying there)..so I got up and took dogs out and came back and passed out again. But was up showering at 6 and started LOADING the truck and trailer again. UGH.  But we were on the road by 7. Little did I know 13 hours later I would still be driving but by that time I was determined to get there, I just could not think about unloading into another hotel/motel. I also got sore as shit driving, my right hip was killing me due to the everlasting mountains i could not use cruise. My left knee locked up. I ached all over. With the truck pulling a trailer up and down the Blue Ridge Mountains, that is not fun for someone alone. Me and the 18 wheeler’s dutifully used the far right lane out in place for ‘slower vehicles’ for that reason to get away from the speedsters.

Because if it is 70 mph on an interstate, that means 90 plus for most people. Whew. I could not keep up. We were lucky to keep it to 60 mph in that mountain range. So it took me a lot longer than it should have. From starting out later on Friday to the terrain on Sat….IT WAS OVER 700 MILES (I just calculated it and was like WTF I AM nuts)!

That Saturday is a blur in my mind now. Like I have never ever been so tired but had to get there so kept on trucking! From Nashville to Millington (right before Memphis) it was desolate and I had no cell signal. AND needed gas. (Luckily I found a gas station but they did not have many on that stretch).  Speaking of gas I could have bought a Cambox or something else nice for the amount I spent on my thirsty truck. (Note to self, mountains, Honda Ridgeline, pulling trailer = not conducive for good gas mileage HA).

At one gas station after I got to TN I literally got blocked in after getting gas by a Penske truck and various other work vehicles, family vans you name it! So I may have done an Austin Power rendition of getting out of that parking lot. I sure wish I had video but think it might have been like this!

And Ollie ended up yakking up a rawhide bone about an hour from our destination (he decided to eat the whole thing then rather than chewing on it the whole freaking journey). SO  I am on the side of I40 cleaning up smelly ass dog puke with rawhide chunks in it. Living the life am I not?? LOL

But finally finally finally I arrived in Millington to see my husband pacing in a Walmart parking lot, waiting to lead me to the new house. I think he may have been a bit nervous poor thing. Remember I had not seen the place yet in person. HA poor guy.

We headed toward the new place and guys, yes it is remote. YES it is way out there. But it is gorgeous. Is it perfect? Nope, it needs more lights and some paint but the barn might be perfect.  But I do love the layout of the house, I love the apartment and I love the privacy but it is not so private that you feel isolated. It is very nice. And that is all you get until I rest more and write a new blog  post. LOOKS LIKE WE MADE IT THOUGH! WHEW.

More about the house and land etc. later. Right now I am catching up on email and work. I am in Mark’s rental apt which is about 45 minutes from the new property so it is a haul to get there. Peeves is living it up with a penthouse view in the garage apt. He was so good on the trip I felt like moving him to the rental then back home would be way too stressful. He may be a bit lonely when we aren’t there but less stress means less sick kitty! The dogs are fine and happy wherever we go. They are being really good at the new place and even at the rental. I still feel like I could sleep a week. SO TIRED. More to come! But baby it is hot here. UGH