Escaping the Everyday

We had anticipated this trip and drove 39 hours to be home for the holidays with family. Our non-stop journey was motivated by eagerness to arrive and the limited time off from work. Additionally, we wanted our Cassie with us on Christmas, so it was out of the question to bring her.

We commenced our journey at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening after work, which proved to be advantageous as we were traversing the Great Plains, which I find rather dull. However, we did not anticipate the extremely cold and windy conditions. As I was driving, I saw the temperature dropping from 1 degree to 0 degrees. Surprisingly, due to the wind and cold, we consumed gas more rapidly, resulting in a few additional refills.

One thing that saved us during our trip was the new cooler we purchased. Consuming gas station food for 39 hours straight is something I do not wish to experience again. We ended up packing cold cuts to make sandwiches, yogurts, and a variety of different snacks. It also saved us a significant amount of money by packing our own food instead of eating out or relying on gas station food.

If you’re in need of a new cooler or want your first one, check out my affiliate link below! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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We actually enjoyed driving through the night because we would place Cassie in the front as our copilot while one of us slept in the back. When we were sleeping, the time definitely passed faster.

Despite the cold, the conditions were relatively decent until we reached Chicago. We avoided driving directly through city but encountered significant traffic, which delayed us by an additional hour. It wasn’t the worst situation, but Cassie really needed to go pee, and we couldn’t pull over to the side in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Eventually, once we exited the traffic we pulled off to the side and found some grass for her. The area where we stopped was questionable, but we were uncertain Cassie could hold it any longer.

While in Chicago, we encountered a snowstorm, but fortunately, it was not severe. I was greatly relieved that we had purchased snow tires; I would been driving at 20 mph, and we would never have made it to the Boston. At one point, the roads became slightly slick, but it was manageable. That likely added another hour to our journey, but it could have been much worse. Once we reached New York, there were only flurries.

A week before our trip, we monitored the weather to ensure we would not encounter any severe snowstorms. Initially, we planned to travel through North Dakota, but due to the of inclement weather we altered our route to South Dakota, which was the right decision!

Apart from those two minor setbacks the journey across the country was quite smooth overall. We did not waste a single moment during our visit as we drove around to see friends and family.

Bird & Co

Bird & Co is a delicious restaurant in Portland, ME that has amazing tacos and a variety of other foods as well.

While researching a little about Bird & Co, I found out that they cater various events and also operate a food truck, which is quite impressive.

The tacos I ordered were served on corn-based tortillas instead flour-based to ensure they were gluten-free, and I always request no cilantro. My tacos were delicious, although the Tijuana was slightly greasier than I anticipated.

The Friendly Toast

One of our stops was The Friendly Toast in Portland Maine. It was founded in 1994, and has long been one of the most popular brunch spots in New England. Since its humble beginnings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, it has grown to serve benedicts and mimosas additional locations in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine.

Charities were invited to use their spaces free-of-charge for various fundraising events, with the benefit of offering their donors delicious Friendly Toast food and drinks. Since then, they have expanded our charitable efforts company-wide, leveraging the locations to increase their impact.

Currently, they have a rotating fundraiser that occurs every four to six weeks. In addition to these, The Friendly Toast donates its own dollars to local nonprofits in the aim of inspiring others and fostering a pay-it-forward spirit within the community.

Boston Bruins v Washington Capitals

Attending a Boston Bruins games has always held a special significance for me. In my early twenties, I would annually treat my dad to a Bruins game. It was an event that both of us eagerly anticipated until it became too strenuous for him.

Fortunately, I found Jake with whom I can share my passion for the game. Since we were back in Boston and the Bruins were playing, we had to attend the game! We received a pair of tickets as a Christmas gift, and not only were they excellent, but the Bruins also played one of their best games of the season.

We were seated next to couple of Washington Capitals fans, and I was certain they believed they had the game secured. However, it was amusing to witness the disappointment on their faces.

Coming Soon!

Jake and I accomplished so much in one week I will need to divide into two parts, maybe three! Please stay tuned for the continuation of our adventure in next week’s post.