Date - August 28th
Departure time - 7:00 PM
Departure location - Monona
Since we departed several hours later than we had originally planned, our original goal of camping or staying with friends along the way was thrown out the window on the very first night. We briefly considered "camping" in the empty house, but decided to get a few hours out of town, even though that would mean we'd arrive in a campground well after dark. After a pit stop in Fitchburg for Celeste's favorite meal (Qdoba burrito in a bowl), we headed out southwest on Hwy 151, hitting some heavy rain along the way. We pulled in to a Cedar Rapids Fairfield Inn a few hours later.
Arrival time - 10:30 PM
Arrival location - Cedar Rapids, IA
TOTAL MILEAGE - 171
Sunday, September 7, 2008
empty home
This has been, by far, the hardest move for our family. We really felt that we had finally set roots down in this home. Heck, in our 15 year relationship, the Monona stint was the longest time we've ever been in one house. But the show goes on - the opportunity here in Carlsbad is one that I could not pass up.
We were all sad when we took a last tour of the house as we truly felt that we were going to be there for the long haul. Allie and I poured so much energy (and cash) into that place to make it ours over the last five years. We've had a good track record of buying "diamonds in the rough", sprucing them up to our liking and then being happy with the results. While the Monona house wasn't perfect by any means (If I had an ice pack for every time I whacked my head on the low ceiling coming out of the basement), it was from the era we enjoy best (50s-60s), the yard was great and the friends and neighbors phenomenal.
Anyone wanna buy it?
We were all sad when we took a last tour of the house as we truly felt that we were going to be there for the long haul. Allie and I poured so much energy (and cash) into that place to make it ours over the last five years. We've had a good track record of buying "diamonds in the rough", sprucing them up to our liking and then being happy with the results. While the Monona house wasn't perfect by any means (If I had an ice pack for every time I whacked my head on the low ceiling coming out of the basement), it was from the era we enjoy best (50s-60s), the yard was great and the friends and neighbors phenomenal.
Anyone wanna buy it?
Adventures in moving
Okay, ever wonder what happens when the movers run out of room? The account rep from United under-estimated our household contents by a considerable degree. Our truck also had two other families on board - one going from Detroit to Carlsbad and another going from Chicago to Sherman Oaks. This left us with 1400 cubic feet of space on the trailer to hold our estimated 8,000 lbs worth of goods. For what it's worth, an average family has 10-15,000#.
By about 4:00, our truck started getting super tight. At that point, the driver suggested we decide which items we needed immediately and what we could wait a couple of weeks for. Good thing they loaded the snow tires for the van, we're really going to need them come November.
The gas grill, an office chair, some shelving units and boxes containing things like more kitchen utensils and our TV's remote control (needed to properly set up the unit) will be here in a couple of weeks.
Turns out we had 11,000#. Good thing our local United agent has to eat the additional shipping charges.
Oh, and this pic shows the box springs and mattresses that were owned by the other families. Boxed, shrink-wrapped, covered in tarps and then shrink wrapped again. Nifty extending bumper and a whole mess of straps.
bonus points for finding two of our kayaks
By about 4:00, our truck started getting super tight. At that point, the driver suggested we decide which items we needed immediately and what we could wait a couple of weeks for. Good thing they loaded the snow tires for the van, we're really going to need them come November.
The gas grill, an office chair, some shelving units and boxes containing things like more kitchen utensils and our TV's remote control (needed to properly set up the unit) will be here in a couple of weeks.
Turns out we had 11,000#. Good thing our local United agent has to eat the additional shipping charges.
Oh, and this pic shows the box springs and mattresses that were owned by the other families. Boxed, shrink-wrapped, covered in tarps and then shrink wrapped again. Nifty extending bumper and a whole mess of straps.
Ahh, sweet sweet internet access
After a lenghty call with SBC, we're finally back online today. Allie can catch up with the bills and Celeste can feed her addiction to Webkinz.
Yesterday was spent re-assembling a myriad of IKEA furnishings - all without the benefit of assembly instructions or complete hardware kits. Celeste's loft was the biggest time consumer, taking about 2 hours to build. Too bad her ceiling is 12" lower than the Monona house.
Once we get the house whipped into shape, I'll post pix. Gotta get rid of the cardboard and green inventory tags!
Yesterday was spent re-assembling a myriad of IKEA furnishings - all without the benefit of assembly instructions or complete hardware kits. Celeste's loft was the biggest time consumer, taking about 2 hours to build. Too bad her ceiling is 12" lower than the Monona house.
Once we get the house whipped into shape, I'll post pix. Gotta get rid of the cardboard and green inventory tags!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
The Land of Fruits and Nuts
Well, we finally made it to California, rolling across the border in not-so-beautiful Blythe, CA late this afternoon.
We spent last night camping in Cottonwood, AZ, just south of gorgeous Sedona. Our first stop of the day was at Taliesen West, Frank Lloyd Wright's compound in Scottsdale. What an amazing place, I'll post pix in the next week or so.
Temps were downright unbearable today. Most of the day was 106 with it peaking at 114. Even as I type this (9:30 PM), it's 104 here in Palm Springs. The AC in the van was cranked all day. Because of the high temps, we bypassed campgrounds and are slumming it at a Holiday Inn.
Tomorrow will be spent on the road to Carlsbad (about 2 hrs away) and hitting the beach and getting familiar with the area. We'll get the keys to our rental home tomorrow at 4. I hope we like it...
We spent last night camping in Cottonwood, AZ, just south of gorgeous Sedona. Our first stop of the day was at Taliesen West, Frank Lloyd Wright's compound in Scottsdale. What an amazing place, I'll post pix in the next week or so.
Temps were downright unbearable today. Most of the day was 106 with it peaking at 114. Even as I type this (9:30 PM), it's 104 here in Palm Springs. The AC in the van was cranked all day. Because of the high temps, we bypassed campgrounds and are slumming it at a Holiday Inn.
Tomorrow will be spent on the road to Carlsbad (about 2 hrs away) and hitting the beach and getting familiar with the area. We'll get the keys to our rental home tomorrow at 4. I hope we like it...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Made it to AZ...
Day 5, we're on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance, AZ visiting friends. Hope to hit some of the landmarks 'round these parts in the coming days.
Had some challenges along the way. We went to camp at the Great Sand Dunes National Park on Sunday night, but the campground was full by the time we pulled in at 7:30 PM - even though the ranger had said that they'd have plenty of spaces. So we drove into the mountains of New Mexico and ended up pulling into Angel Fire Resort at 11 PM. Ugh, a 200 mile detour through dumping rain. Oh well, it was still fun.
More posts and pix once we're settled.
Had some challenges along the way. We went to camp at the Great Sand Dunes National Park on Sunday night, but the campground was full by the time we pulled in at 7:30 PM - even though the ranger had said that they'd have plenty of spaces. So we drove into the mountains of New Mexico and ended up pulling into Angel Fire Resort at 11 PM. Ugh, a 200 mile detour through dumping rain. Oh well, it was still fun.
More posts and pix once we're settled.
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