Asher’s a reluctant driver. When it was time to drive three vehicles (a moving truck and two cars) 865 miles from Petaluma to Spokane, we needed -- not too surprisingly -- three drivers. Math.
Even though Asher had been driving for a while, she had zero interest in a freeway road trp. Kimber and I tried to figure out ways to get around it. We knew we’d be in the Bay Area again. Maybe we could leave a car somewhere and just come back for it at some point? Maybe someone we know would want to drive up and visit? We’d rented the largest moving van in existence, so we weren’t exactly comfortable reaching 18-wheeler status by towing a car behind it.
After much discussion, deliberation, and negotiation, Asher agreed she’d be okay driving if we didn’t “power drive” the two days we had originally scheduled. AND if she could stay right behind me and I could talk her through merging on the freeway. So, we planned out our 4-day road trip with solid hands-free phone communication.
Even though Asher had been driving for a while, she had zero interest in a freeway road trp. Kimber and I tried to figure out ways to get around it. We knew we’d be in the Bay Area again. Maybe we could leave a car somewhere and just come back for it at some point? Maybe someone we know would want to drive up and visit? We’d rented the largest moving van in existence, so we weren’t exactly comfortable reaching 18-wheeler status by towing a car behind it.
After much discussion, deliberation, and negotiation, Asher agreed she’d be okay driving if we didn’t “power drive” the two days we had originally scheduled. AND if she could stay right behind me and I could talk her through merging on the freeway. So, we planned out our 4-day road trip with solid hands-free phone communication.
Day 1: Petaluma to Redding, with lots of rest stops and a missing cat. Motel 6 is one of the few motels that take pets. It’s a great deal. It doesn’t cost anything extra to have a pet and you don’t really have to worry about the pets ruining anything in the room, because…Motel 6. What we didn’t realize we’d need to worry about was losing one of our pets. Asher’s cat Curly is very much an indoor cat. So imagine our surprise when we came back from packing up the car to find her missing. After scouring the small room, we checked under nearby bushes and cars. No Curly. This was definitely looking like a tragic curveball.
After much more thorough searching, we found her under the bed. Not, just your average kind of under the bed. But climbed up in a hole in the box spring, only visible by a small gravity induced lump, kind of under the bed. After lots of furniture moving and cat wrangling, we were on the road again.
After much more thorough searching, we found her under the bed. Not, just your average kind of under the bed. But climbed up in a hole in the box spring, only visible by a small gravity induced lump, kind of under the bed. After lots of furniture moving and cat wrangling, we were on the road again.
Day 2: Redding to Eugene, with fewer rest stops and a horse. Chayse, or older daughter, lives in Eugene, so this was much more of a fun destination. We got to meet her new horse, Glitter.
Day 3: Asher’s getting the hang of this road trip thing. She declares that maybe we could do the whole drive to Spokane from Eugene…if we take our time and make lots of stops.
We send Kimber ahead with the moving truck while Asher and I stop frequently. We were on track for a 10p arrival to a city Asher had yet to ever visit in person.
Asher’s an adventurous kid. When we talked about moving to a new city / school for her senior year of high school, we gave her a choice – we could stay for her last year in Petaluma, or get an early start. She chose to move. Her best friends had all just graduated (the downside of making older friends), she’s always wanted to live in a more urban setting, and loves rain and snow. So…city living with “bad” weather. Sold!
On that third day driving stretch, I could tell that Asher was getting tired of driving. About 60 miles out on I-90, we started a phone conversation to keep us both alert and entertained. About 30 miles outside of the Spokane, I confirm that we’re getting close. I hear some concern in her voice as she says, “I thought we were moving to a city?”
I laugh and say, yes, it’s city.
Then where is everyone? There are no buildings.
Well, unlike San Francisco or Seattle, it’s a city in the middle of a lot of farm land.
Hmmmmmmm. She’s clearly thinking we tricked her into moving to the middle of nowhere.
And, suddenly there it was. We were in the city where the conversation turned quickly to:
Wait. Mom. This is an actual city, city. I can’t drive in the city….
Anyway, after a very long day of driving and reassurance, we pull into the driveway of our new home. We’re very excited to show Asher the house and her new (much larger) bedroom.
Kimber and I start giving the short tour (it’s not a very big house): kitchen, living room, master, guest, and bathroom. Now, to the basement where her bedroom is! We head down the stairs and there it is.
Mold. Everywhere.
We open the door into Asher’s room and step onto the carpet. The squishy, soaked carpet.
The entire basement clearly had been flooded at some point between when Kimber and I had visited in April and that long day of driving in June.
So, 10:30pm, we pack the animals and ourselves back into our cars and head to the local Motel 6. Welcome to Spokane, Asher!
We send Kimber ahead with the moving truck while Asher and I stop frequently. We were on track for a 10p arrival to a city Asher had yet to ever visit in person.
Asher’s an adventurous kid. When we talked about moving to a new city / school for her senior year of high school, we gave her a choice – we could stay for her last year in Petaluma, or get an early start. She chose to move. Her best friends had all just graduated (the downside of making older friends), she’s always wanted to live in a more urban setting, and loves rain and snow. So…city living with “bad” weather. Sold!
On that third day driving stretch, I could tell that Asher was getting tired of driving. About 60 miles out on I-90, we started a phone conversation to keep us both alert and entertained. About 30 miles outside of the Spokane, I confirm that we’re getting close. I hear some concern in her voice as she says, “I thought we were moving to a city?”
I laugh and say, yes, it’s city.
Then where is everyone? There are no buildings.
Well, unlike San Francisco or Seattle, it’s a city in the middle of a lot of farm land.
Hmmmmmmm. She’s clearly thinking we tricked her into moving to the middle of nowhere.
And, suddenly there it was. We were in the city where the conversation turned quickly to:
Wait. Mom. This is an actual city, city. I can’t drive in the city….
Anyway, after a very long day of driving and reassurance, we pull into the driveway of our new home. We’re very excited to show Asher the house and her new (much larger) bedroom.
Kimber and I start giving the short tour (it’s not a very big house): kitchen, living room, master, guest, and bathroom. Now, to the basement where her bedroom is! We head down the stairs and there it is.
Mold. Everywhere.
We open the door into Asher’s room and step onto the carpet. The squishy, soaked carpet.
The entire basement clearly had been flooded at some point between when Kimber and I had visited in April and that long day of driving in June.
So, 10:30pm, we pack the animals and ourselves back into our cars and head to the local Motel 6. Welcome to Spokane, Asher!
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