When I started to compile this list I realized how crazy this trip really was, there was a LOT of driving, over 20,000 miles, although I don't have the exact number on that, a lot of work (I only had 17 work days without meetings out of the 138 we were on the road) , some weeks I was working seven days a week just to try and keep up with everything going on, on top of all that we managed to do the following in 28 weeks:
Stayed at 47 different locations (that's why we got so good at setting up and taking down the RV!)
Went to 37 different states
Visited 21 national parks/monuments/historic sties
Went to over a dozen state/regional/local parks
Were in seven of the top ten largest cities, or eight of the top 11 largest metropolitan areas (which are different lists) and places as small as Halfway, Oregon with a population of 351.
Visited with more than 30 families we know throughout the country
Went to at least eight libraries
Four amusement parks
One water park
26 churches
Swam in the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans
Went to the two great lakes we had never been to before, so now everyone in our family has been to all five great lakes.
Went up to an elevation of around 10,000 feet
Consumed approximately 80 Wendy's frostys (Wendy's was a go to stop on drive days and we had the frosty key tag, so every time we went everyone could get a frosty!)
Replaced five tires
Went to six museums and three shows
And that doesn't include everything, such as random local attractions or going out for ice cream or eating doughnuts, which I didn't even count how many of those were consumed!
We've now been back home for two and a half weeks, one of my children thought we had been home over three weeks when it had been less than two. Time is a very weird concept, 2023 was a very long year with so much packed into it. I've been telling the kids we did more in the past six months than some people do in their life time! It's strange to think about.
