Lee Family Vacation ‘09: B-Town to Louisville

The grand vacation adventure continued on today.  It began like any other Thursday, slowly, and with a bowl of Berry Captain Crunch.  After we all got our asses in gear, it was nothing but a packing frenzy.  Becca was non-stop-laundry-robot, Abby was question-asking-drone and I was, well, bewildered me.  Regardless, we had a deadline of leaving the house by 1 pm because Becca had a Dr.’s appointment today.  And don’t you know it?  We made it.

The van was (is) FULL.  Not only did we pack for 6 days of vacationing with a rip-roaring toddler – replete with toys, tricycles, DVDs, games, pull-ups, etc. – but we also packed for camping in TN.  After weathering the torrential downpours Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, we agreed to do it AGAIN.  Guess we just like camping that much.

After Becca’s appointment, it was on to the road.  Being ever the fan of On the Road, Kerouacian quotes began to run through my mind:

“Isn’t it true that you start your life a sweet child, believing in everything under your father’s roof? Then comes the day of the Laodiceans, when you know you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and with the visage of a gruesome, grieving ghost you go shuddering through nightmare life.”

Wait, not that quote.  More like this one:

“Why think about that when all the golden land’s ahead of you and all kinds of unforeseen events wait lurking to surprise you and make you glad you’re alive to see?”

In the tradition of my parents (who are wild and not unlike said beat-elite, Jack Kerouac), we decided to take the road slightly less traveled.  Heading out of Bloomington, we zoomed down highway 37 catching 150 in Paoli.  Southern Indiana really is beautiful.  Gently rolling hills (yes Phil and Jess, I know that our hills are like ant-hills to ya’ll, but they’re still pretty), endless corn and tobacco fields and randomly-named towns dotting the way.  What is a Paoli or Palmyra anyways?  And who the heck was Rego?

We arrived in Louisville just in time for the evening rush hour.  Great planning on my part.  I-64 fills up nicely at 5:30 pm.  DOH!  We survived and got to our hotel just fine.  After dinner at Ruby Tuesdays (I have to keep Phil employed, don’t I?) we hopped in the outdoor pool for a swim.  Damn it was cold.  Abby’s lips were turning blue, I was cutting glass and Becca was just plain cold.  It was fun, but cut short due to the warmth-free pool.  We’re cuddled up in the hotel now.  Abby’s asleep, Becca is watching random TV and I’m blogging.

Tomorrow is back to the road.  It’ll be an easy-going day, but you can bet your ass I’ll be planning to hit Knoxville BEFORE rush hour.  I’ve already had my fill of bumper-to-bumper action for this vacation.  Until tomorrow!

3 Responses to “Lee Family Vacation ‘09: B-Town to Louisville”

1. Phil says:

   July 24, 2009 at 9:01 am

   Good news is that the I-40 Smartfix is done, so traffic won’t be as bad as a month ago!
2. Brad says:

   July 31, 2009 at 3:27 pm

   Good golly… I haven’t seen any pictures of your house yet Phil. That one that John posted on Flickr is awesome. Money must be good in the Seaton household )
3. John says:

   August 1, 2009 at 8:33 am

   Nah… Phil won that house with Peggle. They give out awesome prizes. Think he picked up a Shetland Pony and Iguana, too, for outstanding Peggletude. But yes, nice house.