Early Saturday morning – as in, just after sunrise when we would typically leave if I was in charge of roadtrip itineraries – I left on a 10-hour drive. I’m headed to my dad’s house in East Tennessee, then he and my step-mom, and I will get in their car (after sufficient sleep and a day for just the three of us to visit), and drive another seven-plus hours to Ohio.
I’m a bit nervous about the trip. Not the long drives, or who I’m traveling with, nor the sad reason for the trek, but because it’s been more than 20 years since I’ve returned to my birthplace, and home to most of my paternal branches of the old family tree. Much too long. I have second, perhaps third generation cousins, I’ve never met. That and all my contemporaries are really old now… well, they are actually younger than I am, but… 20 years!
It’s always been this way, though. I moved from Ohio (Lima, if anymore is wondering), to Tennessee when I was probably three. As I was growing up, we rarely made the trip back north, and when we did, my Yankee kin were flabbergasted that 1) I wore shoes, being a hillbilly and all, 2) that I did not listen exclusively to country music and that indeed we did have rock and roll and 3) I had never heard of pop, and kept trying to call Pepsi, soda.
As with the early departure time, if it were left to me, everyone in the household would be packed, and ready to go the week night before any trip. I also want my car ready. My son changed the oil, and the Mr. had four new tires put on. (The timing was fortuitous, but the tires weren’t just for the trip.)
My part of the make-ready was to detail the car. Again, early Friday morning, before it got Hades Hot, I went about washing and vacuuming. Now, my car and I both are prepped for the trip.
Because I want to get to my folk’s as soon as I can, I’m not planning to make many any photo hike side trips. Hopefully next week, I can post some photos from the trip. I’ll be traveling through five states, I should be able to capture something interesting.
You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.
(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)
For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.
Thin spiral notebook 
Just catching up. Hugs to you and yours.
LikeLike
I’m sorry there’s a sad reason for this road trip, but hopefully reconnecting with family will ease that burden somewhat. That’s a long way to travel. Be safe.
LikeLike