Well, that was fun...

One of the few times we actually left on time, September 30, 0600 the group set off on our big adventure. Well to be accurate, it started as we fed two cats a quarter of a sedative pill 40 minutes earlier. The pill had to be ground up and put in wet food because they are not cooperative. But sure enough 15 to 20 minutes in and they start to wobble. We get them in the car and they are quiet. That NEVER happens. They cry the whole way to the vet's office. These pills are good. They are a God send. Can you imagine 2400+ miles with crying cats? Heck for that I would need the sedative.

We leave in the dark saying goodbye to our little canyon. If we could, we would have loved to pick it and it's inhabitants (ok most of them) up and take them with us. Surprisingly no tears. Heck, I used to cry at Shirley Temple movies. Yes I did just date myself. The cats are quiet. No radio. Just driving and appreciating all the things I will miss.

The drugs work for the first few hours. We let the cats out of carriers and roam the car. Which consists of them wanting to be in my lap. Seriously? I left stuff out of the car to give them room and all they want is to be on top of me. Sigh. It takes hours to get out of California and we are going across the state, not the length which would have taken a heck of a lot longer. The cats get needy. Crying, wanting to be under feet while driving, but we made good time. We get to a pet friendly motel in Albuquerque, NM around 10pm. Now the real fun begins. Never having brought pets in to a motel before we weren't prepared for the loads of things brought upstairs (no elevator of course). One of us has to stay with the cats, one of whom, Harley, wont stop meowing, loudly and high pitched. Three trips later, litter, personal belongings, cats in carriers and we are in. Where is Harley? He couldn't have gotten out but we can't find him. Loving the quiet but a little concerned. Did he get behind a piece of furniture? A few moments of panic...and then he is found behind the curtains. Can we sleep now? Please? Even 6 hours would be great. But of course the cats do not want to eat the sedative laced food this morning. Groggy, not looking forward to two more days in the car and no coffee yet and my patience is thin. Time to do the kitty purrito thing where you wrap them in a towel so they cannot wiggle away or scratch you. Pill down the throat and you have to wait to make sure it is swallowed.....they can fool you better than any of those movie scenes where the person fakes taking the pill and you look under their tongue and everything. But miracles of miracles it works and we are out the door on schedule.

Day two brings new scenery and continued demands for closeness from the cats. But they are not eating or drinking and we are a little stressed over them being stressed. We make it through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and TN is in site. We cross over the river in to TN at 10:30 local time. Memphis. GPS says our new home is only 6 1/2 more hours away (without stops of course). Do we really want to deal with another motel? Heck no... and we keep on driving, and driving. We reached the house before sunrise.

Leaving almost everything in the car, except the airbed, we head inside. We get the bed filled and the cats settled. Go to get in bed and find it deflated. Seriously? Now I am not a WalMart fan...but folks the 24 hour WalMart saved us. Drove the 20 minutes to get a new air mattress and 20 minutes back to the house (without the cats in the car...it was nice) Finally able to rest after 2400 miles in 45 hours.

We are NEVER moving again.