Road trip essentials

We got all packed this morning and set off for the airport and to drop off our rental car.  On the shuttle ride from the rental car company to Orlando International, I got a phone call from my Aunt Tonya who thought she had heard on the news that Charlotte-Douglas Airport was not receiving any arrivals.

Ug.

When we got to the airport to check-in, we found that our flight to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Charlotte had both been canceled…again.

Double Ug.

Three times in less than four years, winter storms have caused our mode of transportation to be canceled.  I’m convinced we’re cursed.

But, because this has happened so many times to Brad and I, we are kind of used to it and decided to make the best of it.  We went to Avis at the airport and rented a car.

Avis was super nice to us and upgraded us to a Ford Escape, which would be more helpful in ice and snow than the basic or economy class vehicles.

We bid goodbye to 72 degree weather and palm trees.

We said farewell to Orlando and a very eventful (and very long) weekend and headed north where we were sure to find ice and snow covered roads.

Only 543 miles to go…

We stopped along the way at a Walmart to pick up technological essentials to keep us sane on our trip.

These photos of the rental car are courtesy of Brad.  Can you tell he likes the car?

His family is all about Fords since his dad and his grandfather both worked and retired from Ford.

To survive the 9+ hour trip, Brad bought two things:

1. A male to male plug for audio so we could use play the music on our iPhones through the car’s speakers

2. A power adapter to charge the computer battery via the car’s cigarette lighter

The first purchase was only $9 and kept us from constantly flipping through radio stations, which I am known to habitually do for hours until I find a song I like…hours, seriously.  I even annoy myself.

The second purchase was only $29 and allowed me to blog, tweet, Facebook, email, and look up marathon training plans to my heart’s content.  : )

Is it crazy to be planning another marathon two days after my first?

Don’t answer that. 😉

Currently, we’re on Hwy 77 North with about 60 more miles to go.  I can’t wait to be in my own bed!

What are you road trip essentials?