The first day is done and under our belts. How strange it was.
While we got a late start to the day, we left the acrid, smog choked city in Texas and with very wide eyes to prevent tears, we were underway just a bit before noon. I cried, I have no shame in saying that but thankfully my children didn't notice.
They were too enthralled with their brand new Samsung Galaxy Tablets. Everything in the bed of my truck has been strapped down, tarped and squished within an inch of it's life, and now I sit in a quiet-ish hotel room in El Dorado, Arkansas to update you all.
The first leg of the journey went well, we stopped for gas once and once for food. Sadly, not at the same time, I feel it would have cut down on the time spent on the road. Although, I think that's more my practical side talking. The whole point of being on the road, of taking over a month long road trip is to Enjoy it. I think part of my brain missed the memo.
We've made the executive decision to stay off the main highways this whole time. While in some places, I'm sure we may have to traverse them, I did actually enjoy the almost idyllic drive at 55mph down a small, two lane 'highway' through Arkansas.
The boys were finally pried from their electronics once we reached the state line and soon came to enjoy that voiceless feeling of hands out a car window and the smell of pine and rain in the air. We discovered tiny towns, sprawling corn fields, ancient barns and there was much laughter. It's strange to think that we spend so much time striving to get somewhere, we often forget to enjoy the trip.
I blame interstates. Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things; to quote the infamous Bilbo Baggins. While I understand their importance, it wasn't until we were passing tiny homes and wandering roads disappearing into the trees that I remembered, there is so much beauty and peace to be found in this world still.
I hope the boys come to love travel as much as I do; or at least, respect it. Whilst my youngest is clamoring for us to get to Florida and spend a few days camping on the beach, I think we're still going to take our time, we have plenty of it.
Next stop is DeSoto National Forest. A few days of camping there, to get a solid feel for how to get our camp set up, I think will do us good. My oldest is begging for us to camp near a lake so he can practice fishing, and I have to agree. I enjoy fishing, well, as much as you can when you have children. I spend more time unhooking fishing lures from rocks and detangling lines than I do getting to cast my own line in, but I'm sure I will find a few moments here and there in the hours to enjoy it myself.
I'm not looking forward to the mosquitos but such is life when camping!
I know tonight's update is short but it is best, as sleep is calling to me in the rather loud voice of my children's snores.
I look forward to our next stop and I'm sure a few pictures might find their way onto here soon enough.
--Amie and The Boys