Those miles: I drove them. It may have been closer to 1,700-1,800 actually, I didn’t keep track very well. I’m at my parents’ house in Texas for a couple weeks. It’s summer here. I might melt. In other news this week:
Ran all the errands. As one does before one leaves for a trip. And I didn’t forget anything while packing! ….Then I left my phone charger at my grandparents’ house.
Fit in a couple runs. 2.5 miles at home Tuesday. 4 miles on a trail near my grandparents’ house in Arkansas on Saturday. It’s a pretty trail but I forgot how much a person can sweat when it’s humid (the person is me).
Drove through 4 new states. I didn’t actually stop in one of them, but I think I was still there long enough to count as “states I’ve been to”. (But states where I’ve only been in the airport don’t count. Airports are neutral zones. I’m not the only one with these rules, right?)
First stop: South Dakota. I stopped at the Geographic Center of the Nation Monument in Belle Fourche. And then I learned that the monument is at the exact center, it’s just in the town closest to the center, which is about 20 miles away. So I can’t say I’ve actually been to the center of the nation.
Then I stopped in Badlands National Park. First thought – I can’t imagine camping here. There’s NO shade. Just rock formations and prairies for miles and miles. I actually managed to get a sunburn even though it was after 4:30 when I got there. And people used to live there!
Friday I finally got through South Dakota (driving west-east through Montana and South Dakota takes a long time…) and drove through my second new state, Iowa. I only stopped for coffee and gas – and maybe lunch – I’m sure there’s something interesting to see in Iowa but it wasn’t along the highway I was on.
For a break from Iowa, I crossed into Omaha so I could check Nebraska off my list. And to take a walk in a park.
After Iowa I headed through Missouri and actually had no plans to go through Kansas – but then I realized the road I was on would take me right through the middle of Kansas City (the Missouri side) during rush hour. So I tried an alternate route that went around K.C. on the Kansas side. It worked….kinda. After driving mostly empty highway for two days straight, even suburban traffic is stressful. This is the new state I didn’t stop in – but I looked at it for a couple hours, so it counts?
Got reacquainted with Texas driving…look, I learned to drive in Texas, and let’s just say that in other states I’m often in the vehicle constantly passing people on the highway. But in Texas you’d think I was that person who hangs out in the left lane while driving 10 under the speed limit. Seriously, Texans, slow the ***** down. YES YOU.
What “counts” as a visit to a new state (or country) for you?
What’s the longest road trip you’ve taken alone?
Linking up with Meghan for week in review and HoHo Runs and MissSippiPiddlin for Weekly Wrap
We just completed an over 4,000 mile road trip a couple of weeks ago! We spread the driving out over 2 weeks and hit up only one new state, but stopped at a lot of places we normally don’t. I think if you’re driving through a state and at least stop for gas… it totally counts. Haha! We were actually in South Dakota for a bit as well – in the Black Hills area! Much nicer for camping. 😉
Heather recently posted…Week In Review – Sunshine!
Yes, the Black Hills looked nice! Everything east of that….mainly just flat 😉
Wow, that’s a lot of miles in one week. I’m impressed. Were you driving solo? I would have needed a zillion cups of coffee and some loud music to stay awake, either that or just drive in Texas. It sounds like that kind of driving will keep me up. 🙂
Yep, solo….there was LOTS of coffee involved.
Oh my goodness! I’m not good with long rides- I give you props for all of that driving!
Julia @ Drops of Jules recently posted…Happy Mother’s Day & Let’s Play Catch Up!
Oh it was definitely long. Stopping to take a walk helps!
I’ve got a road trip through the states first up on my travel bucketlist. Can’t wait. Though I’m really going to have to gear myself up for all those miles in a car…. and all those deserts…
Airport? Yeah…. no. That’s a bit of a cop out. Driving through and stopping at a monument or for coffee? Absolutely. You’ve made your mark.
Cora recently posted…Week In Review: Liminal Space and Small Accomplishments
Oh yeah, airports definitely don’t count. They’re like a completely different country/state from anywhere else.
You are SO right. Texans drive like craaaaaaaaaazy people! Especially to me because US speed limits are generally way higher than hours (you can’t go more than 60-75 mph here even on the highways).
That is a wholeeeeeeeeee lotta miles!
The highest speed limit in Montana is actually 80 mph…but a lot of people still don’t drive that fast! Whereas in TX if the speed limit is 80, you know everyone will be going at least 90.
We drove roundtrip nearly 3000 miles back in March and got stuck in a blizzard on the interstate on our way home. I’m qualifying New Mexico as a “states I’ve been to”. I previously used the rule that I had to spend the night, but now — spending 5 hours at a standstill will work. Badlands National Park looks incredible. I’d love to visit all the National Parks! Thanks for linking, Hannah!
Oh wow. I think stuck in a blizzard definitely qualifies!
I really want to go on a cross-country road trip back to the west coast when I’m done with residency! Fooding and national/state parks galore! *-*
For me, a state visit counts if I actually got to step out of the airport and do/visit/eat something. (aka I need to go to Colorado forreal sometime because sleeping under some chairs at the airport doesn’t cut it!)
That road trip does sound fun! I agree, definitely have to leave the airport for it to count.
[…] couple months ago I drove a long way by myself – probably 4,000+ miles by the time I got back home. I’ve also driven from […]