The following is the first in a series of posts that highlights our five-week road trip across the U.S.

It was exactly three years ago today that W and I embarked on a five-week cross-country road trip. Although we had casually discussed this sort of vacation for years, it took some major happenings in our lives to make us ”just do it.”

First was the passing of our beloved golden retriever, Emma, in June of that year. This influenced our decision not because we could now travel more freely, but because we were so crushed by her loss that we hoped the journey would be a welcome distraction, something to lessen our sadness. Since I was laid off from work six months prior to Emma’s passing and had not yet returned to work and W was between jobs, we decided to give it a go and get on the road by autumn—we would venture from Northern Virginia to the California coast in our 1997 Toyota 4Runner that had already logged close to 161,000 miles. Yikes.

For the remainder of the summer I poured over maps and trolled the internet for interesting routes, must-see landmarks and popular restaurants. I started gathering everything I could think of that we might possibly need—water, flashlight, batteries, first-aid kit, paper towels and a lot of other stuff that came back home, untouched (rule #1: don’t overpack). We made arrangements with a friend to come by and water plants, pick up mail and make sure that all was well. Lastly, with crossed fingers we made a trip to the mechanic who told us that our SUV should make the trip fine. As we could not bear to leave Emma home alone while we began a journey that she would have loved, we placed the beautiful wooden box that held her ashes in a cotton pouch and packed her with our things. Crazy dog owners? Maybe, but that’s how we are. On October 15 we set off from Northern Virginia.

Although my notes on the trip are sparse and our plans kind of haphazard, we did get some photos, and I can still offer a glimpse of what it’s like to drive cross-country. So buckle up!

October 15, 2005

We didn’t consider this the “official” start of our trip, as we visit my family in eastern Kentucky often. The drive from Virginia is about 8 hours, so we decided to spend a few days there then continue west toward St. Louis. Though I didn’t document the time with family, I have posted photos of my mom’s horse, Lady, and beautiful Emma.

Next stop, St. Louis, Missouri…