Corolla to Columbus

I was up at 7am after another restful night of sleep. And just like the last several days, I prepped coffee then cleaned up the kitchen from the evening before. I headed off on my run by 735am after taking Mindy a cup of coffee.

I ran south along the beach to the 5 mile marker then back. I ran a tad slower than usual, making sure to take it all in. Mindy met me at the beach access once I was heading back. We walked along the shore for about 15 minutes before heading back to the house. Among other things we firmed our decision to leave for home later that afternoon/evening. At first the plan was to drive no more than 4 or 5 hours just to get on the other side of any potential traffic snarls and then get a hotel. Our original goal being to be home Saturday by early evening.

We shared our plan with the McVey’s during breakfast. They were cool with it. We offered to help with any house clean-up before we’d be leaving. After breakfast and before getting into our swim suits, we packed most of our clothes and miscellaneous gear, that way all we’d have to do after a day of play was shower, eat, and load up. It didn’t take that long at all for me to get my stuff ready – no more than 30 minutes. We headed to the beach by noon.

Unless I’m mistaken, this marked the first time all week that all 12 of us played on the beach. However, we gave Jacob considerable grief for heading back to the house to hang out. Because I would be driving later that evening, I didn’t drink any beer or alcohol. Instead, I stuck with water and soda. Mindy headed back to the house and made sandwiches for everyone mid afternoon. All the kids, including Breck and Collin, played on the boogie boards in the surf. We had a good time.

I’m thinking it was near 315pm when we bagged the beach and headed to the house to shower and do final prep for home. If all went well I wanted to leave by 5pm. Darwin asked if we planned to drive straight through. Jacob thought that sounded good. Sounded good to me too. Mindy wasn’t sure but didn’t pooh-pooh the notion. I checked the weather. It looked like it would be a clear drive all the way home. In fact, it was forecasted to be above 100 degrees again in CMH on Saturday.

By the time we showered and did our final packing it was 430pm. It was near 100 degrees at the Brigadune too. Hot! Jacob helped me load the Pilot. I felt bad leaving all the stuff that Darwin would need to load in the U-Haul after we were gone (Bella’s bike, our large cooler, and a few big plastic tubs). I started the Pilot at 440pm to let it cool. The McVey’s walked out with us for a couple last minute group photos. Hugs for all. We had a fun time and would happily travel with the McVey’s again provided they’ll have us.

We pulled out at 450pm on the nose (Mindy’s Pilot clock is 11 minutes fast and read 501pm). As we hoped, we had next to no traffic jams leaving the island, though we did slow down a time or two traveling through Duck. We made it to the causeway after 40 minutes, which is about 25 miles from the beach house. And it only took a few minutes to traverse the causeway to the mainland whereas it took about an hour the Saturday afternoon prior. We were heading north up rt 158 to I-64 after 1 hour. We ran into some heavy liquid sunshine as we approached the NC state line.

After about two hours were passing over Chesapeake bay & Norflk VA. Seemed to be making good time. And we passed the place we overnighted the prior Friday after only 2 hours and 50 minutes of driving. Compare that to the 6 hours it took to get from there to the beach. Yikes! I felt good so we kept driving. Darkness set in about the time we picked I-64 up again after a 30 mike jog. We had 300 miles behind us after 5 hours and 20 minutes of driving. Most of Virginia is 70 mph. We stopped for a fill-up and food near 10 or 11pm somewhere in VA. Can’t recall the town. We had just under a half tank of gas but it didn’t make sense to stop again. Mindy asked if I was OK. Yes. We kept driving.

Mindy kept Darwin apprised of our progress until about 1130pm. By then we were resigned to at least trying to make it all the way without the benefit of a hotel stop. I would give it my best without putting the family in harms way. I got a little tired periodically but never where I felt it a danger. Mindy dosed several times but never for more than 30-45 minutes at a time. Each time she would wake and ask if I was alright. I knew she wouldn’t be able to drive through the middle of the night. I didn’t even ask.

Once we made it to West Virginia I found my 2nd wind. Good thing, too. It’s pretty much all curvy, mountainous terrain. I was focused on getting us home that night. West Virginia went quickly, passing through Beckley then Charleston. Once we passed through Charleston I knew we’d make it. It was near 1-130am.

You see the first Columbus Ohio sign just before you pass over the Ohio river on route 33. I believe it’s 124 miles from that point. Felt good to be on Ohio soil (pavement). Actually, the most harrowing roadway is the undivided two lane route 33 highway that goes for about 30 miles or so just SE of Nelsonville. The miles and hours passed quickly. After a while an hour would go by in a snap. Mindy remained awake for most of the final leg. With the gas gauge nearing E and the mileage remaining indicator showing 45 miles, I decided to stop and fill-up again near the Hill Rd exit to Pickerington. It was only 30 miles to home.

We pulled in the drive around 430am. We all made a beeline into the house with me carrying in my valuables (laptops, cameras, electronics). While everyone quickly readied for bed, I inspected the yard and home very quickly. It’s always a strange but good feeling getting back home after being gone for a spell. I couldn’t wait to slip into bed and snuggle up with my pillow. We were all in bed by 5am. Seemed almost surreal.