Destination: Home! (10.5 hours, 670 miles)
I started the day in Cleveland after struggling to fall asleep when I got to the hotel last night. It’s a lot quieter and simpler getting ready by myself vs. a family of four lol. I checked out and stopped the Cleveland Bagel Company (again) for breakfast. I got half a dozen to bring home (hopefully they survive). I got on the road a little after 8 and made quick work of Ohio and Pennsylvania. I took a gas break outside Buffalo and then stopped in Clifton Springs for some Shake Shack (when in Rome!). Unfortunately the line was about 50 people deep because they opened at noon and I arrived at 12:02. After roughly 30 mins I got my food and headed back to I-90. I actually got on I-90 in Indiana and will drive it all the way back to the Mass Pike!
The driving after lunch is always the hardest for me. Around 2-3 I usually get pretty sleepy and that was always when my dad would take a shift on the way out to NM. I took a break just short of Albany to wake up and get some sugar! I was considering an energy drink for the first time this trip…
At the last minute I decided to re-route through Vermont as traffic in Mass was really starting to build. I ended up getting caught in a big thunderstorm on top of a mountain between Bennington and Brattleboro which certainly helped me stay awake and focused! I made one last stop right outside of Keene and headed for home!
The last 15 minutes of my drive were the craziest of the day as people were flying down the highway and weaving through traffic (which is what you’d think I’d be doing!). I made it home just in time to see the kids before bed.
I stopped outside the house and both kids hopped in to help me drive down the driveway. We didn’t even accidentally drive into the garage with the cargo box! Road trip officially over!
-Jay