The open road .....

Driving 5 hours to Tulsa was an interesting experience.  This was the first time the girls had traveled in the back of the truck.  John had constructed (with the help of Uncle David and Dad Lattimore) a fan that blew into the covered bed area.  We could not keep the truck cool enough on the ride and the girls were antsy the whole way.  

We stayed at Keystone State Park right outside of Tulsa and got in just in time to see a pretty sunset over the lake.  

Keystone 

The drive to Kansas City was about another 5 hours.  We decided to move the girls into the truck for this ride.  It took a little bit for them to settle down in the back of the truck and little Ralphie got used to laying right at my feet.  The trip was much easier for them and for us this time around!  

We enjoyed the open prairies and beautiful rolling hills in OK and KS.  It was a nice drive.  We have gotten to visit quite a few small town parks on our drive with the dogs as well! 

A state highway somewhere...

Hillsdale State Park was our spot south of Kansas City.  It was right on Hillsdale Lake with plenty of walks through meadows.  

We arrived just in time to drive to KC to see my cousin Jeannie, her husband Matt and their son Jackson.  It was a lot of fun to get to see them and catch up!  We really hope to see them again over 4th of July at the Jersey Shore!  Jackson was the ring bearer in our wedding (he was almost 3 at our wedding and is turning 8 soon!--my how time flies!).  Anyway, they took us downtown to eat in the Power and Light District.  We had some fantastic steaks at the Maker's Mark Steakhouse and enjoyed great conversation! 

Matt and Jackson in KC

The weather in the Midwest has been crazy, so when our campground in Des Moines called us to tell us they were closing due to flooding, we decided to reevaluate.  The decision to travel 9.5 hours on to Louisville in one whole day may have not been a super smart one but we made it happen.  Now, when I say 9.5 hours that is not taking into consideration dogs or dog walks.  As a result, Wednesday was possibly the longest travel day ever.  We left KC at 9 and arrived in Louisville KY at 12:30 am.  We tacked an extra 2.5 - 3 hours on to each travel day because of the dogs and dog walks (we like to find parks).  It is a little crazy -- however --- but we get to see some interesting parks.  For instance, we saw the end of a Renaissance festival in small town in Kansas and almost witnessed a fight in another small town in Illinois, not to mention the woman I spied posing on a motorcycle in a bikini for her photographer boyfriend.    

very serious 

Wednesday was also the first day I got to drive the truck with the trailer.  I think I did well but you may want to ask my husband. 

So when Fiona crawled up into John's lap (don't worry I was driving) the last hour of the drive on Wednesday night we decided maybe a +12 hour travel day is too long. On the bright side the dog's think that the Casita is a palace compared to their space in the truck!  

C+J & 4 ready to be in one space pups 

Escapes

0

Wildlife Seen

Not really any yet been driving too much 

Lessons Learned (plenty!)

1.  Check the weather in advance (we feel a little silly on this one!)  

2.  Don't drive more than 6 hours per day (factor in 3+ extra hours for dogs while traveling!)

3.   Make sure the window lock is on at all times (this happened a few times when the dogs would just be looking out an open window--sheesh)

4. Eating meals while driving with 4 dogs requires some skill so finding a place to eat inside is a good idea! 

Enough room for little old Ralph but not my feet!