Fin.

Arrival!  It feels absolutely wonderful to have made it to California.  We spent all afternoon hanging with the cousins in Monrovia...they've gotten so big!  

We're headed to Universal studios tomorrow and the beach on Saturday (jealous?).  Scott and Chris leave on Monday and I start work on the 1st!  

What a trip.

Final mileage: 4,241.4 miles.  

State Lines Crossed (18): Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California.  

Favorite State Motto: "Drive Friendly-The Texas Way" (Texas obviously)

Favorite City: San Antonio, TX

Favorite Sketchy Pit Stop: Two-way tie between Bayou Lebatre, AL and Somewhere, TN (John 3:16 bible lesson from gas station attendant).  

Temperature Extremes: 115 Degrees while crossing the Hoover Dam

Days with Rain: One (New Jersey for half day and random rain in Las Vegas)

Notable Wildlife: Weasel in Tennessee, 2 deer in Fall Creek Falls, TN, 5 deer in Grand Canyon National Park, 2 pet sheep in pickup truck in Arizona, skunk at Carlsbad, NM (Stacia stops to watch it, Chris tells me to get the hell moving).  

Favorite National Park: Grand Canyon National Park, AZ 

Favorite Roadkill: Coyote in Arizona

Quote of the trip: Scott says while looking at the floor in New Mexico, "If you're in Mexico and you want to buy a rug, are they called Mexican rugs or just...(pause)rugs?"

Individual Low Points: Scott - Camping in Tennessee (for the record, I had a great time). Chris - Puking on shoes and pants (which were thrown away) on Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA. Stacia - Walking 6 miles in the 110 heat index while dehydrated, with no water, and wicked hung over in New Orleans.  

Best (and by best I mean worst) hotel experience:  Carlsbad, NM.  Continental breakfast consists of 2 dozen sketchy donuts. Scott goes to check in and there is only a poodle at the front desk.  Tournament softball team comes back at 11pm and has a party outside our room. 

Favorite Drive: Durham, NC to Fall Creek Falls, TN

Least Favorite Drive: San Antonio, TX to Carlsbad, NM...lets be real, all of Texas and New Mexico was the least bit exciting. 

Favorite Historical Stop: Montgomery, AL - Civil Rights Movement Birth/Memorial

Movies to Watch After/Before Driving Across the Country: Bull Durham, Forest Gump, Vegas Vacation, Blue Crush, The Alamo, Apollo 13.  

Lots of love from sunny California, 

Stacia, Chris, and Scott