Second Star To The Right

Road Trip!

21 Jan 2012 Leave a Comment

by Alicia in Washington, DC

2011 was certainly a memorable year of travel. I thought my mom’s 60th birthday Mediterranean cruise in May would be the highlight. It was the time of our lives. With that trip, I had finally fulfilled my long-awaited dream to visit Spain and could cross that one off my bucket list. I was prepared to sit patiently through the rest of the year and maybe start planning a few trips for 2012. But, no sooner had we returned home from the cruise, than the winds of change picked up. And Lord knows with my restless spirit, I had been praying for a major change in my life.

Me in front of the iconic Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign

I had spent 13 years of my life in Las Vegas, Nevada. When I tell people that, most look at me and say “how on earth did you stay that long?” It’s such a transient city and when you think of the lifestyle which comes from a city like that, nobody can imagine having 13 years of stamina when a 3-day weekend in Vegas is plenty for anyone.  Four of those years were devoted to college and nine were all about starting my career and climbing that corporate ladder. It was a great city to spend my wild 20s. But life, when I wasn’t traveling, had become stagnant. It was the same ole routine day in and day out. My job was at a dead end; I wasn’t going anywhere. My love life was at a dead end; it wasn’t going anywhere. I was really unhappy with just about every aspect of my existence. And that’s when Washington, DC came calling. And breathed life back into me again.

Leaving Las Vegas!

Truth be told, I was ready to go anywhere if it meant I could finally leave Las Vegas. In my job search, Washington, DC kept popping up again and again. I applied for an open position at Destination DC. The job: International Media Relations Manager for the destination marketing organization for Washington, DC. Essentially, my dream job! After a summer of phone interviews, an in-person interview and writing tests, I was offered the position in August. I was thrilled! But, they needed me to start in 3 weeks. Eeek! Imagine having only 3 weeks to completely end one life in one city, travel across the entire country and start a new life in another city. It was a challenge I was willing to accept.

With the help of my mom and sister, I packed up my entire house

First things first, I gave notice at work. I spent two solid weeks packing up all of my belongings every spare moment I could find. My sister and I embarked upon an extensive online apartment search; a search for a reputable moving company; and mapping out my driving route for the road trip of a lifetime. Somewhere in there, I had to make time to say goodbye to 13 years worth of friendships, which was by far the hardest part. I also had to say goodbye to my trusty Mitsubishi Lancer that had safely gotten me from Point A to Point B for more than 8 years. I sold her the day before I left and picked up my new Chevy Impala rental car for the 2,500-mile journey ahead.

Saying goodbye to my Mitsubishi Lancer

Pulling out of my driveway for the last time - Sept. 5, 2011

On Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 5, 2011 – I watched the movers load the contents of my three-bedroom house onto a moving truck. I loaded up my rental car and said a tearful goodbye to my sister. With my dogs comfortably in the backseat, we pulled out of the driveway for the last time and set course for the open road. As a single woman traveling alone, my goal was to only drive eight hours a day during daylight. First destination: Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A rainbow during the drive through Arizona

The drive took me through Boulder City, Nevada down to Kingman, Arizona and essentially the historic Route 66. It rained most of the way past Phoenix and into New Mexico. Since I had gotten a late start, I ended up driving well into the night and through a torrential downpour which blinded me for the last 90 miles to Alburquerque. I white knuckled it most of the way there. I checked into the pet-friendly Hampton Inn around 11:30 p.m. My dogs – whose biggest road trip until now had been down the street to the vet and back – were completely freaked out by the hotel. They barked at every little noise and would howl as loud as they could if I left the room for even a minute to get something out of the car. I was so nervous about someone complaining that the next day, as I was gulping down the free hotel breakfast, I made them sit in the locked car and parked it where I could watch them.

Large White Cross on Interstate 40

From Albuquerque, my next destination was Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma. Ironically, I passed by Las Vegas, New Mexico which was fun to see. Then, I set the cruise control through the flat Texas plains. Along Interstate 40, I kept my eyes peeled for something unique like the largest ball of twine or something straight out of “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure.” I settled for this giant white cross looming on the horizon for miles. Along the way, I also saw a giant watertower proudly declaring the home of Garth Brooks in Yukon, Oklahoma. Something about Oklahoma makes you want to listen to country music.

I arrived at the pet friendly Best Western Saddleback Inn, which may have been my favorite hotel along the way for several reasons: the awesome southern accents that greeted me at the front desk, and the fact that there was a large grassy front yard in front of my first-floor hotel room for the dogs. There was also room service which meant I could finally have a decent dinner in my room without the dogs howling the whole time. Oh and a spectacular free hot breakfast buffet!

Wednesday morning we were back on the road heading from Oklahoma City to Memphis, Tennessee. I put more country music on to pass through Carrie Underwood’s hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma. Today we were making a very special stop in Morrilton, Arkansas. My step-mom Linda and her husband live there. She was my dad’s second wife for 10 years (from the time I was almost 2 until I was almost 12). I hadn’t seen Linda in years. She works as a janitor for a local elementary school, so when I arrived around 12:30 p.m. she asked me to meet her there. It was a great reunion and I got to see the charming town she lives in. We went to her home where I met her Aunt Donna. They took the dogs and me on a walk along the Arkansas River and then Linda made her famous “Linda Tacos” for lunch, just like old times. I  couldn’t stay long since I still had quite a drive ahead to Memphis, but our few hours together was worth it.

Linda and me

Back on the road, my second favorite moment (next to seeing Linda) was when I arrived in Memphis just after dark. There was something so magical about crossing the mighty Mississippi River and seeing downtown Memphis all lit up at night. It was breathtaking. I so wish I had a photo of  that moment, but you know – I was driving. On a bridge. At night. With dogs panting in my ears. I drove all the way through the winding freeways of Memphis, which was another white knuckle moment for me, until we arrived at Drury Hotel. Our room was on the second floor which meant we had to take an elevator – Maya and Chloe’s first elevator ride. Sounds easy, right? Until they refuse to get in and other guests are sighing and rolling their eyes. And of course they had to howl and bark when I left them in the room to get the luggage. They were driving me crazy.

I got an early start out of Memphis but still managed to run into rush hour traffic. I drove the Musical Highway to Nashville and then past Knoxville and Dollywood. I SO wanted to stop in Memphis and see Graceland. And Opryland in Nashville. And Dollywood. But, I had a schedule to keep and couldn’t take the time. I would go back in a heartbeat. This second-to-last leg of the trip took us from Memphis to Bristol, Virginia. I passed the Bristol Motor Speedway where they have NASCAR races. Then found my way to Microtel Inns & Suites. I went to bed without dinner here because Maya was so freaked out by every noise and smell. She was out of control and I’m sure the hotel was happy to see us go the next day.

Maya in Chloe in Bristol, VA

It was Friday, Sept. 9 and Day 5 of our road trip when we finally arrived in Washington, DC around 2 p.m. We had driven through picturesque Virginia where even the rest stops look like beautiful, colonial brick buildings. The drive was so green with rolling hills and farmland; charming red barns and white picket fences. It reminded me of an east coast version of Oregon. And some place where I wouldn’t mind living one day. The drive was easy and effortless and I grew more and more excited as I saw signage for DC. But, just as I crossed the bridge into the District, I became very confused as the road began to split into different directions. My Mapquest directions told me to stay to the right and exit on Maine Ave. but the exit looked like it was blocked by orange cones. So I kept on going along I-395 until I was headed the opposite direction. And from there it became impossible to get back. I exited the freeway and attempted to take the city streets. They would go one way and then split into two directions and you weren’t quite sure which one was still the road you were on. And then suddenly, the streets were one way. And then if you were in the left lane, you were getting back on the freeway. Huh? I panicked for a solid 20 minutes as I think I broke a few traffic laws. Then I breathed and consulted my iPhone map. I managed to find my way to my apartment building and vowed to never drive here again.

Home Sweet Home - my new apartment building, The View at Waterfront

Me and the dogs at home

My teeny tiny apartment

View from my apartment

The kitchen

The bathroom

After seeing my apartment, I set off with the dogs to explore my neighborhood. I live in the Southwest part of The District. Immediately next door is Arena Stage, a performing arts center. On the other side of my building is the Waterfront Metro stop (subway) and a Safeway and CVS Pharmacy. I’m across the street from the Washington Channel which flows into the Tidal Basin (where the Jefferson Memorial is located). The channel is home to the Titanic Memorial, the Harbor Patrol police department, dinner cruise ships, houseboats, recreational boats, and DC’s very own outdoor fish market. I was so pleasantly surprised that this was my neighborhood.

Arena Stage

Boats along the Washington Channel

The park directly behind my apartment building

Feeding ducks along the channel

The Titanic Memorial

Outdoor fish market

My furniture wasn’t scheduled to arrive for another week, so I prepared to camp out in my living room. Luckily, I had stocked my rental car with all the necessities to get me through. Before dropping my rental car off at the airport, I did a huge grocery store run and stocked up on all the heavy items I couldn’t easily carry home. The grocery store itself was different than what I was used to on the west coast. You park in a parking garage where you either have to pay or can get your ticket validated if you buy groceries. You take your cart into an elevator and take it up to the second floor to shop. Not that I was looking for hard liquor, but I also learned that DC grocery stores only sell beer and wine. Anything else has to be sold at a liquor store. I guess I won’t be making margaritas. Toto, I don’t think I’m in Vegas anymore.

After unloading my groceries at home, I returned the rental car to the airport and thought I was going to die on the way. It happened to be rush hour on a Friday afternoon and the traffic was horrendous. I cabbed it back to my apartment after being thoroughly stressed out for the day. So, there I was. The new girl in town. Car-less for the first time in 13 years. Furniture-less for at least the next week. And starting a new job in two days. Chloe was so stressed about the move that she became incontinent for a few days. And I had to order a bark control device so that Maya would quit barking every time I left them alone. It was an adjustment for all of us. But we made it! We drove 2,500 miles and were starting the adventure of a lifetime.

More to come…..stay tuned for sightseeing pics of Washington, DC, my new home.