Better Late than Never... Getting Started

 Oy, what a day. At 11 am, we picked up a stowaway before we even got out the door! The man in the family, feeling left behind, couldn't bear to see us depart  without him. A flurry of last minute gyrations, the addition of 2 more pieces of luggage, and the impact of a last minute traveller resulted in, well you figure it, it wasn't always pretty. As long as 24 hours in a day seems, the moments compress and elongate at will.

We got a very late start, hitting the road finally after numerous false starts. Looking at the back of the car, all the planning of traveling lightly looked like they were forgotten. And yet, we did have to make choices. By the end of the trip,we will see how much less we could have lived with. It's a constant life challenge to carry only what is needed at the moment or in the short run.

We got out of our house 8 hours later than we thought we were going to. But then, leaving before ready, just to meet an imagined time line, would be but a small part of the purpose for our trip, foiled already.

I was totally shocked to have Dad come with us. It is the single most spontaneous thing I have ever seen him do. 

Ah, the best laid plans always have room for adjustments, it's a matter of perspective.

We stayed at a Marriott in Madison, WI, deciding to give Laura and Tim, the willing hosts of our first night's stay, a break and a full night of restful sleep. We checked into the hotel at 2:30 am, CST, 3:30 am our time. Marriotts have great beds! zzzzzzzzz