Day 1: 655 miles, 3 stops, 1 dead deer

Since I'm typing this on my phone and tired as can be after <4 hours sleep last night and 9+ hours of driving today, this will be brief. We made it to Cleveland this evening around 5:something with only 2 bio breaks and 1 gas fill-up. The kids were great, the cousins a Godsend, and the Thruway uneventful. We got rain throughout New York and construction throughout Ohio. 2 years ago, it took almost 2 weeks and crossing the entire country until we hit any traffic in Portland, Oregon. This time around: day 1 rush hour in Cleveland. Oops. 

A few notes from today:

-We spotted the first cows of the trip in Fort Plain, NY, 238 miles in. 

-Manchester, NY was super stinky

-At 3:45pm we drove past our first dead deer of the road trip in Ashtabula, Ohio. Coincidentally, the kids had just seen a preview for Bambi on the DVD player. Poor Bambi. 

-Our hotel has the strangest bathroom/tub/shower situation I've ever seen before ever. See photos below. 

 

The green fleeces are back! But both getting small for their owners. 

All the kids ready to go!

Mary checking some work emails while Danny and Em read. 

Jenny helps Mary dry her hands in Pennsylvania since we couldn't find her other shoe before leaving the car. 

Oh don't mind us, just hanging out on the living room while someone takes a shower right here. No biggie. 

Tomorrow we are off to Chicago with a hopeful alumna planning to sneak a trip to her alma mater on the way... Go Irish!