Odometer Reading: 146,270
Miles Traveled: 500 miles

Summary: Well we left Kim's house around 1:00pm. About 4 hours later than what I had initially scheduled. After the emotional departing, Tram and I set forth on our journey back to Sacramento. We figure it will take about 9 days to make it back home. Our first stop is in Alexandria, Virginia where we will stay with Tram's friend's house, Lisa. As always, we hit New York traffic at 5:00pm and then finally got out of traffic at about 7:00pm. Switched driving about 9:00pm in the middle of New Jersey and only 3 and a half hour to go. Got to Lisa's house in Alexandria, VA at about midnight.

Day 2 (December 13, 2002): Alexandria, VA to Savannah, GA

Odometer Reading : 146,770
Miles Traveled: 557 miles

Summary: It was raining pretty much the whole day. It cleared up at night. I wasn't able to take any pictures due to the weather. The drive was pretty much a straight drive through Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. When we stopped to fill up in North Carolina we arrived at a Travel Center that openly sold shotguns and rifles displayed on the walls. We arrived in Savannah at about 9:00 pm.

Day 3 (December 14, 2002): Savannah, GA to New Orleans, LA

Odometer Reading : 147, 327
Miles Traveled: Not available

Summary: Today is supposed to be the longest drive on our trip (11 hours). The weather was a lot better today. We stopped in Jacksonville, FL to see some live alligators and sharks that were advertised on the side of the road. Apparently, it was a welcome center that sold gifts and food. The rest stops in Florida were very clean, a lot cleaner than those in California. I took a picture of some swamps that were on the side of I-10 freeway.

Day 4 (December 15, 2002): New Orleans, LA to San Antonio, TX

Odometer Reading: Not available
Miles Traveled: Not available

Summary: Woke up late today. We were planning on going into the city to walk around Bobourn St. but decided that we needed to save some money for the rest of the trip. So here we are….driving to San Antonio. The weather was really really nice. Probably the best day so far for traveling. Anyway, according to the freeway signs, Texas is about 900 miles wide!! I can't wait til we're through with Texas!!

Day 5 (December 16, 2002): San Antonio, TX to Las Cruces, NM

Odometer Reading : 148,572
Miles Traveled: 585 miles

Summary: We started driving about 11am. Ate lunch at Chili's. They have a lot of them around here. Its another sunny day here in Texas and a great day to travel. Our destination is about 600 miles away and should take about 9 hours. So far the drive is a very long one. Speed limit is 75mph and we have yet to get caught for speeding (cross your fingers). There really is no scenery in Texas but power lines and road kill. =)

Day 6 (December 17, 2002): Las Cruces, NM to San Diego, CA

Odometer Reading : 149,157
Miles Traveled: 702 miles

Summary: When we first arrived in Las Cruces, I thought to myself we are in the wrong part of the neighborhood. There were so many emergency vehicles: police, fire trucks and ambulances. As we made our journey out of the city, it didn't seem too bad at all. Now we're on the road to San Diego, the last leg of our cross-country journey. No car problems yet, only a scare when Tram backed up into the curb. This part of our trip is the longest one in terms of miles. I believe we travel a little over 700 miles today. It went by fast because the speed limit for the majority of the trip is 75mph. Finally arrived in cactus county (Arizona) after driving through the dry lands of Texas and New Mexico.

Day 7 (December 18, 2002): San Diego, CA to Sacramento, CA

Odometer Reading : 149,859
Miles Traveled: 500 miles

Summary: It seemed like it took forever to get to San Diego last night. I forgot that we had to go through a mountain. On top of that we drove through a storm that consisted of hard showers, hail and fog. Thank goodness we made it through. Now is the last day before we hit Sacramento. I'm glad my car made it past the Grapevine. It surprises me that my little 94 Mitsubishi Mirage made it cross-country and back….what a trooper! The trip has been fun. I would've liked to stop at some of the great sight seeing cities along the way, but with time and weather conditions….and car conditions, I was unable to. Maybe sometime along in the future I will.