I tried to blog while we were gone. On my phone. But after my phone ate two blog posts -- posts I typed on a tiny (meant for a mouse) keyboard -- I gave up. I just lived in the moment, only occasionally composing blog posts in my head for fun (and out of habit).
So...Merry Christmas. I totally missed out on that one. We arrived in Salt Lake in the wee morning hours of Christmas Eve. There's a story behind that, and I might as well tell you now.
From the very beginning of planning this trip we decided we would drive. We would haul all of Christmas and ski gear for six people. And we would drive straight through. It takes just under 24 hours. Most Texas Mormons know this route by heart.
In preparation for the long haul we even contemplated buying a new car. Our suburban has seen better years, and I certainly didn't want to get stuck. So, we test drove a few different models and considered our options. The only problem was I wanted to downsize. I'm tired of fueling up the suburban. Plus, I'm losing two kids pretty quick to college. Maybe I don't really need the Beast anymore.
But the Beast, we decided, is needed for cross-country traveling. The kids needed breathing room. No problem. New tires, alignment, oil change, and a trip check by our mechanic. We were set.
We left Thursday, December 22nd, at 2:00 and planned on arriving in Salt Lake around 2 PM the next day. So....everybody sit back and relax.
I was monitoring weather conditions (via iphone) in New Mexico. There was snow there, but we had four wheel drive. Nothing we couldn't handle.
Until I felt the car come to a slow, quiet stop at about 3 in the morning. I opened one eye.
Sterling looked confused.
The entrance ramp to I-40 was blocked off.
Ugh.
We pulled over to the nearest gas station/truck stop to ask around. "The freeway is closed folks."
"We can see that."
Not one to be deterred, Sterling quickly adjusts our route and intends to go south...and around Albuquerque.
That freeway was closed as well. And it was snowing (which secretly made me happy).
I suggested we get a hotel room since we were clearly stuck.
Sterling balked for about 30 seconds.
And then we found the warmest, cleanest Best Western ever in Santa Rosa. In the end we were stuck in Santa Rosa for 12 hours. We slept. Played cards. Played liar's dice. Watched the weather reports on TV. Drove around in the snow. Made waffles in the Best Western lobby. And then finally, finally...we were back on the road by 3 the next afternoon.
Right after Albuquerque the temperature gauge on the Sub started acting wonky. Up and down. Never really overheating, but definitely not normal. This made my anxiety meter (made active by snow delays) increase three notches. And as we pulled into Gallup? The engine light came on. OF COURSE IT DID. WE STILL HAD EIGHT HOURS TO GO!!!!
So at 7 pm we pulled into an AutoZone, where a really nice AutoZone worker hooked our car up to a special hand-held machine thingy and let us know that our oxygen sensor wasn't working properly. The good news? We could certainly drive eight hours with a faulty oxygen sensor. Good enough. [While I was driving I wanted to tape a square of paper over the engine light because my delicate psyche couldn't handle the engine light glaring at me through the lonely roads of New Mexico.] Also during this time I composed a list of 27 reasons why we shouldn't be having these problems (remember THE MECHANIC?). And wondering if our trip was doomed. And trying to keep up a high level of righteous indignation because it made me less sleepy.
But fear not....we pulled into Salt Lake at three in the morning. Too many nights up till three (for sure).
But we were in plenty of time for a Christmas Eve trip to Temple Square. And lots of hot chocolate. And presents. And even some fondue.
Up next, the Texans hit the slopes...and I perfect the death wedge.
(And not to spoil the surprise...but the car made the entire trip home without mishap...so we're friends again.)
What a magnificent picture of the temple and lights on temple square! We loved spending time with your family!!!!!
Posted by: rebecca ellis | January 02, 2012 at 09:39 PM