DAY 1 - 562 miles, Nags Head, NC to Pigeon Forge, TN
Departure: 12:00PM, planned - 12:15PM, actual
Arrival: 9:00PM, planned - 11:22PM, actual
Stops: 2 for bathroom, 1 for gas
It wasn't as bad I thought it might be. The kids were amazing! Since we started with two weeks at the beach (thanks to our families) we were in good mental shape. First a week in Avon, NC with my family and then one in Nags Head with Jim's family. Both stays were in beautiful homes with swimming pools, game rooms and of course, the beach. Needless to say, we were all as rested and relaxed as possible.
The trip started uneventfully enough. We drove through an amazing storm outside of Raleigh were the temperature dropped 22 degrees in two miles and Tristan thought he spotted a Snornado (Tornado).
It did rain for most of our drive but we made good time and were only 46 miles away 8:40PM. And the drive was pretty through the mountains. Then we hit traffic. A rock slide (we heard when we got to the hotel) had closed one of the two lanes and it took us two hours to go 22 miles. Then the Foothills Parkway was closed, so another detour.
The kids were so good and patient. I was thinking of Jack's input on doing the trip in the first place "Gee, Mom, I loved to spend a month in the car with you (big fake smile that borders on total fear). Jack was the best on the first day. I could tell Tristan was strained when he couldn't fold a piece of paper the way he wanted and started to cry about the situation. Jack had an ear ache but he was a total trooper.
We checked into the Creekstone Inn in Pigeon Forge and the kids feel asleep almost instantly. I changed them into PJs and brushed their teeth while they were sleeping. The motel is cute with a balcony over a big creek where people are tubing. The kids are dying to go in so I will sign off for now. Tonight we go to the Dixie Stampede, whatever that is...Griffin found it online and begged to go. Funny he didn't mention Dollywood but that works for me :)
XOXOXO Beth
Beth, Tristan, Griffin, and Jack,
ReplyDeleteLove, Love that you are doing this blog! I wish you and the boys a super duper trip and look forward to more of your blogging.
We had a wonderful time with all of you at the beach! Tell the boys I'll give them the candy that I owe them, when they get home, for all of the wonderful smiles-for-photos!
Love, Aunt Karyn