We just wanted to give an update of our plans for the big move out of Kirksville! We are incredibly excited about moving to AZ! Mentally we are already there, with just enough brain power left to finish finals, pack, and drive!
Thursday I am going to pick up the Penske truck and bring it back to Kirksville (one more thing Kirksville doesn't have!). Mara's Dad, Dan, my Dad Larry, and someones sister, Michelle, are all coming down Thursday to help up pack up the truck and probably to see Rohan one more time too...:) Mara has "orientation week" this week at school (don't get us started on that) and will be done on Friday, probably around 10. After she gets back, and we say our good-bye-for-nows, Mara, Rohan, me, the puppies, and that stranger Michelle will all be heading out towards AZ!!! One person will be in the Penske with the dogs, the other two will be in the RAV4 with Rohan.
The plan right now, with Rohan's cooperation, is to drive as far as we can Friday. 16 hours (with stops) puts us in Albuquerque, NM around 4am. We are hoping with the drivers, and as many Starbucks as we can find, it shouldn't be a problem. We'll stop when we need to, and we won't be too daring if we are getting tired or anything. We have PLENTY of time to get there if we need to stop, but if we can, we'll get there as early as possible.
After a quick nap in NM, the plan is to drive about 3 hours to Petrified Forest National Park where we thought of getting out and going on a "quick" 3 mile jog to stretch our legs and see the park. When are we going to get the chance to jog through PFNP again? We might as well take the opportunity now. After the jog we are hitting the home stretch of 3 hours until Scottsdale! With a nap in NM, jog, etc, it should put us to our apartment around 1:30 in the afternoon AZ time. Just in time for the HEAT of the day! Lately it's been around 100°F so we'll be sure to turn the AC on ASAP! Heather & John offered to watch Rohan while we moved our stuff so that will help immensely!!! Greg and Nicole (soon to be The Caldwell's) also offered to help so it should be a pretty quick move!
There is some debate as to which route is faster. The interstate route takes us from Wichita, KS through Oklahoma City, OK, Amarillo, TX, then to Albuquerque. However, there is a route on HWY-54 from Wichita to just outside Albuquerque that we've heard is slightly faster. The problem is, the route is 100 miles shorter, but it's a 2 lane highway, not an interstate. Our gut says to take HWY-54 since it's shorter, but is it faster? I did talk with Greg and Nate (who had made the trip several times) and they recommended staying on the interstate. With the 2-lane and Memorial Day weekend traffic, it could get really slow. I think we will stick with the interstates and "main roads" for cell reception and food options, gas stations, etc. Although we will have to get out in NM or TX and check out the stars. We did that in Wyoming last year and it was amazing what no light pollution allows you to see!
This week we've been packing things up, and donating to the Salvation Army anything we don't want to move. It's amazing. When we left Milwaukee we through out, literally, a mountain of stuff we didn't move, and donated just as much. Now we are still finding things we look at, which have been sitting in a box for 2 years, and ask "Why did we keep this?". We should have even less in this move then from Milwaukee, so it should be easy to pack/unpack!
Another treat in AZ is on Monday Chris & Jackson are flying in to spend the week with us! We are so excited to see Jackson for longer than a day and a half! We're excited to see Chris too, but he understands we miss Jackson too...:) There are plenty of things to check out during the day (mostly air conditioned), and at night we can try and find some of the trails we've been scoping out on Google Earth, namely the Camelback Walk. Should be a great time exploring our new city/state!
If you were at all curious about our route, and what it looks like, I'll post a map below. It has both routes on it so you can see just how in the middle of Nowhere, Kansas the alternate route (light blue) would take us...:)
View MO To AZ Trip in a larger map
5 comments:
Who cares about a map- I need Rohan-in-tux pictures!
You better hope that "stranger" doesn't leave your ass somewhere in KS as she's diving your crap half-way across the country : )
I didn't think you could get any 'stranger' than Mike!
We wish you safe travels and sunny dispositions! ;)
I know someone who would be glad of premie loaners, if you haven't disposed of them already....
Wow, I don't envy you at all, sorry! I moved with an 8-week-old not too long ago (thanks again Mike for the HELP!!) My advice is to find a babysitter for as long as possible, they're worth their weight in gold! Good luck guys!
Phoenix may be setting a record here soon for "most days over 100 degrees in a row" It was 107 when I flew in at 11:15pm last night. Thankfully there was a brief 5 minute rain fall that knocked the temp down to 95:) Im sure we will be hitting the pool after your move:)
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