Google Maps shows the route from Kansas City, Mo., to Sarasota, Fla., as an estimated 20-hour drive. Even with the excitement of spring break lingering in the 2000 Dodge Caravan, the string of pavement ahead seemed intimidating.
Our relationship was four months fresh, and the trip had potential to impose a lot of stress.
We ran into a few obstacles immediately.
Our rent-a-car was supposed to be ready at 10 a.m. Sunday.
As we pulled up to Hertz in Overland Park, the hours stuck to the glass door indicated the business wouldn’t open until 11 a.m. Mistake No. 1.
We pit-stopped at Walgreens for some sunscreen and Burger King for some breakfast.
When Hertz finally opened, the manager started throwing hidden charges at us until we couldn’t afford our reservation anymore, hence, the 2000 Dodge Caravan. Mistake No. 2.
Around 12:30 p.m. we were finally on the road. At roughly 12:32 p.m. we realized the speedometer wasn’t working.
The trip had begun, and there was no turning around. We were gone.
Finding a legal speed with no speedometer was a challenge. We would pace ourselves next to other vehicles in different speed zones and record how many RPM’s we were going.
Our method served us well. We drove the entire way down without getting stopped.
After finding a comfortable speed, it seemed the trip had finally started to sail smoothly.
The first four hours leading into St. Louis provided a private concert for the two of us.
We serenaded each other with classic jams ranging from Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby, One More Time” to Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls.”
After busting vocals until our throats were sore, we turned down the music and transitioned into sharing stories of our rebellious teen years.
I told my sneaking-out-of-the-house story, and he shared his breaking-the-window story.
The arches passed, and we exited onto Interstate 24. Our first “roadument” – Ryan’s word for an argument on the road – occurred shortly after the exit.
The directions told us to take I-24E, but as the highway started to fork both signs said I-24E. Instead of veering one direction or the other the car steered straight until I yelled "right" or "left". <br/>We made the correct decision and ended up going the right way, but neither one of us could stop laughing.We made the correct decision and ended up going the right way, but neither one of us could stop laughing.
We made the correct decision and ended up going the right way, but neither one of us could stop laughing.
I joked about us eating the median if it wasn’t for my command, while he tried to convince me he was merely testing my skills under pressure.
Our adrenaline slowed down and hunger started to set in. I pulled out our cooler and made turkey sandwiches while we continued to cruise down the interstate, both of us content.
The sun set on our eager spirits, but didn’t bring us down. We weaved through the empty valleys in Tennessee.
The temperature started to rise as the night got darker and we drove further south.
A thick fog seeped onto the interstate and hid our surroundings, but we found entertainment in our isolation.
We fought drowsiness with gas station cappuccinos and bitter grapefruit juice. When that stopped working, we put in the Backstreet Boys.
Eventually, I fell asleep. When I woke up it was about 2 a.m. I took the wheel, and he fell asleep. Around 4 a.m. he woke up. We alternated and made it through the night.
After some McDonald’s breakfast at 6 a.m., I fell back asleep. I woke up in time for the home stretch.
As the fog retreated to its daytime lair the sun started to stand, pushing humidity out of the trees. I’ve seen a lot of sunrises, but none as refreshing as the one that meant we made it.
And with only one “roadument”.
We were there.