3,462 Miles...and Counting

D-FART III  (3rd annual Davis Family Road Trip)

For Spring Break this year we decided to continue the D-FART family tradition of driving to an exotic location.  Scottsdale, Arizona (home to Grandma Barb & Grandpa Les) was the winner.  Not only did we decide to drive halfway across the country with 4 kids, but we also decided to bring our dogs as well.  Seriously, what were we thinking?  The correct answer is we weren't.

We began our drive knowing we had a hotel reservation in Amarillo, TX which is about 12 hours from St. Louis.  We decided to skip the hotel and drive straight through to Arizona for some crazy reason.  The total driving time was 23 hours and 15 minutes.  Have you ever spent 23 hours and 15 minutes in a car?  Again, I ask, "What were we thinking?"  Again, I answer, "We weren't."  

I learned a few things driving across the country.  First of all it is imperative that you take your dogs to the groomer prior to having them accompany you on a trip.  Any of you who have big dogs know that they do the carpet scoot sometimes, right?  Well that is to express their anal glands.  If they get groomed, the groomer will take care of that.  When their anal glands are not expressed they become impacted and they really stink in a major way.

I did not realize that our puppy's anal glands were impacted and OMG did she smell!  It was seriously rotten.  Seeing as though she spent most of the 23 hours on my lap due to the lack of floor space I absorbed the smell. Smelling like dogs impacted anal glands is super swell. 

I also learned that a 3 year old can ask 1,000 consecutive questions without taking a breath.  Where is God?  Does he live in my mouth? What's his first name? What's his last name? Why? Why are there sharks in the sea? What is their first names? What is their last name? Can penguins fly? Why not? Daddy, what is your first name? What is your last name? What is my name? Why? Can I have candy? Why not? Can I live at grandma's house? Where is your parachute? Is it broken? Why is Mommy driving? Where we going? Why? Can i play your iPad? Can I have a drink? How about a soda? What is that smell? Is that a rocket?  He asked so many questions that even the dog started to answer them just to get him to shut up.

Another interesting fact: As much as dogs believe they are co-pilots, they are not good at reading maps.

I also learned that you begin to hallucinate after sitting in a vehicle for 23 hours.  Upon arrival to Arizona in the wee hours of the morning, I thought I was seeing the alphabet appearing in the desert. 

 
After a good long rest we enjoyed a fabulous visit with the grandparents.  They had a myriad of activities planned that kept everyone entertained including:

Hiking

Swimming

Bull Riding

Marshmallow roasting

Fire Fighting

Train Riding

Easter Egg Dying

Horseback Riding

Kite Flying

And so much more!

After a week of fun in the sun we packed up the mini van and prepared for our trip back to St. Louis.  Rather than heading due East back to the Lou, we took a little 4 hour detour north through Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon. 

 Ever seen the movie 'Vacation'?  As we were nearing the Grand Canyon, my brother sent us this message of what he envisioned was going on in our car...

"Cyndi: Honestly, Drew, I don't think we're going to find the Grand Canyon on this road.

Drew: Jesus, it's only the biggest god damn hole in the world.

Aunt Edna: Drew, watch your language!

Drew: Make that the second biggest."

Spot on, friends, spot on.  

We lugged everyone (including our 4 legged passengers) all the way out the the canyon rim to what can honestly be called one of the most breath taking sights I have ever seen.  5 minutes after our arrival to the rim, our 3 year old announced that he had to poop.  That was the end of our canyon viewing.  So much for the 4 hour drive.  At least I have the picture to prove that we made it there!

From the Grand Canyon we drove to another national park where there is a petrified forest.  Yes, trees that are now rocks.  The kids were thrilled to see another tourist attraction (read that as sarcastic). 

  

And of course they followed all the rules.

It really was a fascinating place.  Kinda looked like another planet. I, for one, am glad we stopped.

From here we headed to Albq, NM for the night and on to St. Louis the next day.  Total car time for the ride home was 34 hours.  You could say we were pretty cooked by the end, but it was worth it.  We made memories that will last a lifetime, and that's what our D-FART is all about, right?  For 3,462 miles it better be!

From This Side of Disaster,

Cyndi