DisneyMom5
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2003
- Messages
- 4,567
Travel Day #1
Somehow, after months of waiting, and a week of panicked packing,
the Hicks found themselves at Disney Trip Eve.
We packed the last few things, loaded the big suitcases in the van,
and went to bed somewhat early.
The alarm was set for 3 am, with hopes of being on the road by 4.
We have a theory that if you leave really early,
you beat a lot of traffic,
and the children will sleep for the first few hours.
The first thought almost always proves to be true,
and the second almost always is false.
Once my kids are awake, theyre awake.
I was up before the alarm and showered, which really woke me up.
We had made some peanut butter toast the night before,
to take in the van, which is part of our Motion Sickness Prevention Plan.
The Chef also takes motion sickness meds, and last time, I also gave the youngers a dose of benedryl.
Since I couldn't remember who had been sick before, I skipped that step this time.
That decision would become a bit of an egregious oversight.
But I digress.
When I started loading the last minute stuff into the van that morning, I could hear thunder in the distance.
We hurried to get everyone moving,
but by the time we were loading them in the van it was really raining.
Not a good start.
I had mapped out a route that would take us down through IL,
then swing over to KY,
then head across TN for our first nights stop in Chattanooga.
I had checked the GPS to make sure it concurred,
and was satisfied that it did.
That morning, either due to John heading the wrong direction to begin with,
or the GPS being a bit goofy, it started sending us to Chicago.
We drive through Chicago ALL THE TIME to visit relatives.
In the words of the You Tube All-Star Aint NOBODY got time for that!
I grabbed the GPS, and typed in my super sneaky end run around its programming Peru, IL.
Lately, when travelling to MI, we avoid Chicago and current construction by heading to Peru, then changing our destination mid-route to MI.
It works.
We end up on 80 east, and go from there.
I tried this again, only changing mid-route to Chattanooga.
It worked again.
After that first few minutes of travel stress, the trip got much smoother.
Because it was Labor Day Weekend, there was no active construction going on.
Here are some of the highlights of our first day--
Interesting site #1...Gigantic Cross along the highway in IL:
Somewhere deep in the interior of IL, Babycakes (dd7), started feeling sick.
Her toast didn't sit well (she doesn't do peanut butter, so had just butter).
She wasn't too bad, and I was thankful that it was only ONE kid feeling quesy...one trip it was THREE.
Once she got lunch in her she was fine.
IHOP off of 24 in Paducah, KY. Highly recommend!
We ate at three different IHOPs this trip, and this one was the best.
[What can I say...we like IHOP.]
Mountains ahead!
At Nashville we encountered a big traffic jam.
It was people heading to the Univ KY vs. W. KY football game. WOWSER, those are some serious fans!
Onward to Chattanooga:
12 hours in the van is a LONG time.
Beware the falling rocks!!!
Getting closer to Chattanooga!
Hard to see, but on 24 you dip into GA for 5 minutes before coming back into TN.
We finally arrived at Comfort Inn and Suites - Lookout Mountain, in Chattanooga.
We stay here every trip, and highly recommend it. Free breakfast is a plus!
We had our usual first night meal at the nearby Cracker Barrel...also a favorite.
We then told the kids to go to bed early, because we were exhausted and wanted an early start in the morning.
The quicker we leave TN, the quicker we will get to DISNEYWORLD!!!
Next up:
Georgia on my mind...does this state NEVER end???
Somehow, after months of waiting, and a week of panicked packing,
the Hicks found themselves at Disney Trip Eve.
We packed the last few things, loaded the big suitcases in the van,
and went to bed somewhat early.
The alarm was set for 3 am, with hopes of being on the road by 4.
We have a theory that if you leave really early,
you beat a lot of traffic,
and the children will sleep for the first few hours.
The first thought almost always proves to be true,
and the second almost always is false.
Once my kids are awake, theyre awake.
I was up before the alarm and showered, which really woke me up.
We had made some peanut butter toast the night before,
to take in the van, which is part of our Motion Sickness Prevention Plan.
The Chef also takes motion sickness meds, and last time, I also gave the youngers a dose of benedryl.
Since I couldn't remember who had been sick before, I skipped that step this time.
That decision would become a bit of an egregious oversight.
But I digress.
When I started loading the last minute stuff into the van that morning, I could hear thunder in the distance.
We hurried to get everyone moving,
but by the time we were loading them in the van it was really raining.
Not a good start.
I had mapped out a route that would take us down through IL,
then swing over to KY,
then head across TN for our first nights stop in Chattanooga.
I had checked the GPS to make sure it concurred,
and was satisfied that it did.
That morning, either due to John heading the wrong direction to begin with,
or the GPS being a bit goofy, it started sending us to Chicago.
We drive through Chicago ALL THE TIME to visit relatives.
In the words of the You Tube All-Star Aint NOBODY got time for that!
I grabbed the GPS, and typed in my super sneaky end run around its programming Peru, IL.
Lately, when travelling to MI, we avoid Chicago and current construction by heading to Peru, then changing our destination mid-route to MI.
It works.
We end up on 80 east, and go from there.
I tried this again, only changing mid-route to Chattanooga.
It worked again.
After that first few minutes of travel stress, the trip got much smoother.
Because it was Labor Day Weekend, there was no active construction going on.
Here are some of the highlights of our first day--
Interesting site #1...Gigantic Cross along the highway in IL:
Somewhere deep in the interior of IL, Babycakes (dd7), started feeling sick.
Her toast didn't sit well (she doesn't do peanut butter, so had just butter).
She wasn't too bad, and I was thankful that it was only ONE kid feeling quesy...one trip it was THREE.
Once she got lunch in her she was fine.
IHOP off of 24 in Paducah, KY. Highly recommend!
We ate at three different IHOPs this trip, and this one was the best.
[What can I say...we like IHOP.]
Mountains ahead!
At Nashville we encountered a big traffic jam.
It was people heading to the Univ KY vs. W. KY football game. WOWSER, those are some serious fans!
Onward to Chattanooga:
12 hours in the van is a LONG time.
Beware the falling rocks!!!
Getting closer to Chattanooga!
Hard to see, but on 24 you dip into GA for 5 minutes before coming back into TN.
We finally arrived at Comfort Inn and Suites - Lookout Mountain, in Chattanooga.
We stay here every trip, and highly recommend it. Free breakfast is a plus!
We had our usual first night meal at the nearby Cracker Barrel...also a favorite.
We then told the kids to go to bed early, because we were exhausted and wanted an early start in the morning.
The quicker we leave TN, the quicker we will get to DISNEYWORLD!!!
Next up:
Georgia on my mind...does this state NEVER end???
