Making the Big Move
On Monday, August 7, 2023, with the help of my family we loaded up everything I had packed for my new apartment (really a bedroom and a few kitchen tools since I have a roommate) and all my classroom stuff into the back of a U-HAUL. The plan was to leave by 5:30 the next day.
What do they say about the best laid plans? We finally left at 8:30 PM. I was still putting things in boxes up until leaving. Plus, Kevin had to get my car loaded up on the trailer. It was a team effort to get us on the road; Alex and my father-in-law helped. I was stressed out, sad, and tired. Saying goodbye to Alex and Miriam was hard.
We started off with excitement and anticipation for a great adventure, but by the second day when we knew we would still have two more days until we reached our final destination we were over it. Sitting in a UHAUL for that many days is uncomfortable and exhausting. Pulling my car and having to maintain a 55-60 mph speed was so slow. We didn't eat on a regular basis, and I remember deciding to stop in Virginia to get a full night's sleep and eat a meal with vegetables.
In summary our trip consisted of:
4 hotel stays
1 flat tire on our car trailer
12 states
$580.71 spent on gas
Listening to the entire Hamilton soundtrack one time
a beautiful rendition of "On the Road Again" which Kevin didn't appreciate
We arrived in Massachusetts on August 11, 2023, but we would have reached my apartment after dark. We would not have been able to unload, so we stopped for the night. We got up early, went to Walmart, then headed for my school to unload there first. My badge didn't work (even though we tested it when we it was given to me). So, we went to my apartment and unloaded there. It took a little while, but the weather was nice (it was in the 80s), and several neighbors helped with boxes.
I'll give an apartment update in another post, but I'm all settled in at home. I'll also give a classroom update in another post. I'm not so settled there yet.
I have to quickly share my favorite part of our trip. Besides all the beautiful scenery in the states that have mountains (Because East Texas is pretty flat), I fell in love with the pancake machine at the 3rd hotel we stayed in. I was so happy to have something other than waffles. I loved how I pushed a button and out came these delicious, perfectly cooked, pancakes. When you spend hours and hours in a UHAUL going 55 mph, it's the little things that make you happy.
Want to know anything specific about our trip here? Ask in the comments, and I'll answer!