Numbers from our trip:
Total miles driven: 8,460
Number of states we went through: 23
Number of days we were gone: 55
Number of family members we saw:75
Number of Sundays we were gone: 8
Number of wards we attended:7, including the two times we split up, some going to one ward the rest going to another.
Number of cities we went through that had a temple:17
Number of temples we saw: 11 Plus we saw 2 more under construction
Number of Books of Mormon we passed out: 6
Number of pass-along cards:7
Tunnels we went through: 12
Dust devils we saw in each state: NM-11, AZ-9, NV-21
Number of bugs we hit: innumberable
Number of times we washed the windshield: 0
Number of times it rained:6 (4 on the way there, 2 on the way home)
Number of days we hit road construction: 16. That's every driving day but one. The only time we didn't have road construction was driving from Nauvoo to Columbia, MO
Number of teeth that were lost on the trip: 3
Number that were lost as soon as we got home: 2
Money:
Total expenditures: $2885.77
Gas:$1171.05 ($557 there and $574 back)
Motels: $1249.11 ($500 there, $749 back)
Eating out: $82.70 (ate out 6 times--3 there and 3 back.)
Groceries, paper towels, bagges, a knife to cut apples (forgot to bring ours), etc.: $209.24
Site seeing: $190 (This sounds a lot higher than I expected because most everything was free, but includes national parks pass, seeing a state park zoo, parking in big cities, tolls, pageant, St. Louis arch)
itunes: $17.67 I bought an American CD with songs from different cities/states (Deep in the Heart of Texas, My Old Kentucky Home, Tennessee Waltz, etc) plus a few that weren't on there like Meet Me in St. Louis. We played these songs as we went through the state and had a great time singing them.
Number of times Nathan went to the store while we were gone: 1
Number of items he bought:1-- just a head of lettuce to go with our garden tomatoes
Amount of money Nathan spent on hospital cafeteria food while we were gone: $89.46 and fast food close to work: $60.44
Amount of money we saved on A/C and water since Nathan was hardly ever home: ~$300 (Both month's bills were down $150 from last summer)
Other numbers:
Biggest temperature difference in one state in one day: 30 degrees. That was in NM. Going through the Lincoln National Forest/ Sacramento Mountains it was 74. In White Sands 2 hours later it was 104. Also, in Wyoming it was 63 going through the Bighorn National Forest. When we got out it was 93.
Number of things we left behind: 2 (one nursing pad and one sandal)
Number of things we took home with us: Many! I think everyone we stayed with on the way home gave us something: yarn and crochet hooks, toys, burp cloths, tupperware, lip sticks, books, donut coupons, candy
What I loved about our van was the temperature gauge and the compass. Many times it reassured me I was going the right direction! What I wish it had was elevation. I'd love to know that as we drove across the country and back.
What I'm glad I brought: trail mix. It probably saved our lives as I snacked on it to stay awake many days. I went through 2 gallon size bags of it.
Also, my friend's ipod with lots of great songs and books on it. We loved it!
What I wish I brought were flushable wipes. I've never bought these before but as Kaitlyn had many days with a messy bottom I wish I had flushable wipes so that I didn't have to throw awake stinky disposable ones into the garbages of people we stayed with. Sorry if we smelled up your bathroom! Thanks for letting us stay anyway! And by feeding us we saved a lot of money!
It was such an awesome trip. I am still in post-vacation sadness. It was the best trip ever and I miss it.
Easy Sourdough Discard Hamburger Buns
2 days ago
