Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Day 1

Ok, we are off to a very late start, only leaving San Juan Capistrano @ 11a today... oops! At any rate, we are now traveling on the 55 freeway heading for the CA-AZ border. Keep us in your prayers and thoughts as we would really like to make tonight's destination before 8p! This post will be updated as more information and pictures are taken.

Depart from: San Juan Capistrano
Depart when: 9a 10a 11a
Routing: I-5 N to I-405 N to CA-55 N to CA-91 E to CA-60 E to I-10 E to US-60 E


Arrive at: Mesa, AZ
Arrival Status: Arrived!
Arrival Time: 7.50p

Cumulative Pictures:
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Review of Day:
     Alright,so we survived... mostly. We had a great time with our friends in San Juan Capistrano, getting one last good night sleep in cloudy SoCal. When we got up in the morning, we had a great breakfast, talked a bit more and rearranged stuff in the Sprinter so that the load was more balanced (when we loaded the van yesterday, it was very unbalanced towards the rear, causing it to bottom out when going up inclines at any speed faster than 5mph). Said our good byes, then started up the van and left the house at around 10.10a. Filled up the van with diesel (we think that it holds only 15-20 gallons of gasoline), then stopped at a pharmacy to grab some assorted items.
     Unfortunately, I discovered that my Kindle was missing while they were in the store. Intensive searches, frantic calls and general discontent followed for the next thirty minutes, with no results. We had to give up, so we finally started rolling at 11a (reflected above).
     The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van rides very comfortably and smoothly, with a nice open cabin and enough room for everyone and everything. Even the chinchillas seemed to enjoy it once we were in motion for a while. There was little to no traffic, enabling us to make good time through the inland empire.
     Around 1p, we stopped in Indio, CA for our last In-N-Out meal for quite a while. Since it was as busy as usual, Sister & I went down to a Gamestop caddy-corner to the restaurant only to discover that most used XBOX 360 game will run us about $15-20 per disc. Ouch. We then went back to the restaurant to eat while Mom & Dad went down CVS to pick up some lotion and other necessary travel supplies that accidentally got buried in the back of the van. (I'll post pictures of those tomorrow.) Then we pressed on.
     Another stop in Blythe, CA for a restroom break, and then non stop to Mesa, AZ. We managed to arrive in the greater Phoenix area by 7p and to our hotel by 7.50p. We then dropped the chinchillas off in the room, where they seemed much happier in their larger cage. Then off to Souplantation (here called Sweet Tomatoes) for our final meal of the day (and probably the last time for a while, seeing that they don't seem to be interested in the Sooner state quite yet).
     Typing this review now in the hotel room, we have a few things that we'd like to admit:

  • Yes, the chinchillas are alive and happy.
  • Mom accidentally took our friend's water purifier jug and is very sorry. What would you like her to do with it, friend?
Our first day is over. Our next few days will get us closer to OKC, so definitely keep an eye on this blog for updates, wins, and fails. Launch time for tomorrow is set for 9a MST/8a PST, so bookmark our location page and keep an eye on that Twitter feed! (You can also choose to follow us @leunews.)

Thanks for all your support (and for reading that paragraph above, that was a chunk!)

-Brother

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