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More driving. But unlike yesterday, today is Stacy's birthday; just sayin'. Other than that, lots of driving, and finally, home. But it was a good week, I'd say.

12:00am Much like the catch-phrase of the 70s, we've kept on truckin'... The odometer reads 100,976, which gives us 1,137 miles for the day. And of course, the odometer is spinning faster now, since Arizona is a pretty consistent 75 MPH speed limit (but exceed it by more than 10 MPH and you're arrestable, just make a note of that).
2:01am We cross over from New Mexico into Arizona, having sponged up the 165 or so miles of I-10 in no time flat.
2:14am Without too much argument, Tubby hands over the keys to Robin, and heads off to make sleepy eyes. Which seems like a reasonable thing, I s'pose.
3:32am With a stop in Tuscon, Arizona for gas (18 gallons across 317 miles, or a 17.7 miles per gallon), a liter of Pepsi for Tubby and some 20s for Robin and Rachel, we're back on the road again with Robin still at the wheel.
4:28am There's nothing new to report. I just like typing to stay awake.
5:19am Robin passes the conn over to Tubby as we enter the southern Phoenix area.
5:38am Rachel suggests Tubby actually tries to sleep, and kicks him to the back; she drives.
7:18am There are times that I feel like a Muppet. Today was one of them, having driven under a rainbow, and yesterday, seeing the Pot of Gold on Royal Street.
7:29am
6:29pm (PST)
We cross over both from Arizona to California, and from Mountain standard time to Pacific standard time. The home-ness of being home (at least relative to time zone and state) sets in.
8:01am It's a bio break in La Quinta (at least I *think* it was La Quinta), but with gas starting at $2.23 a gallon, we opt to push ahead to see if we can't find it for a "cheaper" $2.00, say. It begins to lightly rain.
8:08am The rain begins full on, and the radio is mentioning flash flood warnings and such as we pass through the Orocopia Mountains along Interstate 10. Our speeds drop to a dismal 65 MPH, in the interest of safety and general annoyance to me (I'm one of those fast-flying ducks).
8:34am The rain lets up, first going to a light drizzle, then a mist, then just road spray before we return to dry road surface.
9:05am We veered off of Interstate 10, leaving it behind forever (on this trip) and are heading back up I-215 toward I-15 for the last 360 mile leg of the trip. Rachel goes off duty, and Tubby has the conn. (I was supposed to drive, but it's raining, and I'd prefer not to drive in inclement weather; you understand, certainly.)
10:20am A stop in Barstow gives us a new high for the amount paid for a gallon of gas -- $2.08 -- but the good news is, we only needed 23 gallons to fill up... wait, that wasn't good news at all. Dang. Tubby takes the wheel here, too.
1:02pm Jack-in-the-Box becomes a meal point on the final leg of the trip, and we pause here long enough for snacky cakes and beverages.
3:48pm We make a final touch-down at the travel annex, dropping off Robin.
4:02pm The travel vehicle is put in park for the day (and several days later, I suspect), and I'm going for a nap.
 
Trip Stats
Trip Summary - Mardi Gras, February 2004

Well, this is probably my favorite part. Summarizing it all like a snapshot of 13 days of my life into a couple of bullet points. Fun, eh?

  • Cheapest Gas Price - The Shell station at exit 175, Interstate 10, in Arizona, weighing in at 17.9¢ (due to what I expect was a math/decimal error on the clerk's part).
  • Most Expensive Gas Price - Just south of Barstow, California, at $2.08. (We saw it for as high as $2.23 a gallon, but refused to pay that much, so we didn't actually spend more than $2.08.)
  • Most Disappointing Dining Experience - There were several to choose from, but I'd have to go with Krystal Burgers, on Bourbon Street at Canal Street. The employees were disinterested in customers, service, or getting the orders right, and the food (once it was right) was neither particularly yummy or visually pleasing. And, it was quite pricey (burger, fries, drink was $9).
  • Newest Favorite Snack - The beignets from Cafe du Monde. Anything that's doughy and covered in powdered sugar is okay with me.
  • Cutest Girl Encountered at Mardi Gras - Without a doubt, the unnamed girl from New Mexico. Adorable, just adorable. (Yes, those are the duck beads we were giving out.)
  • Cutest Girl Encountered beyond Mardi Gras - Well, doesn't that go without saying? Latest Frank's Chick Manda.
  • Longest Day - The drive from home to Meridian, Mississippi, at a total of 42 hours and change of sitting in the car (with only briefly breaks as we stopped for gas and stuff.)
  • Rainiest Day - Monday, 23 February, in New Orleans, with the tornado warnings and such. The runner up was the drive home.

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