The trip: Day 1

Today, we loaded up the last of our stuff into our two little cars and began our trek eastward.

It felt like pressing rewind on our drive westward from Florida just three years ago.



So far the path is the same -- the weather, too -- and the nervous anticipation of life in our new home is just as palpable.



The packing and loading went great, although we temporarily lost the cats after the movers left on Saturday night, but managed to find them behind the chimney flue and microwave respectively. This morning we coaxed them into their travel crates, loaded the rest of our belongings and said good-bye to our home in Coronado.



The road has been good to us so far as we carve our way across the Southwest.



On this trip, I'm thankful for desert scenery, cool cars in the 113-degree afternoon and these happy little travelers.





They are grateful for cotton candy from the dessert bar at the Golden Corral, the "Berenstain Bears" on CD and tonight's Marriott-sponsored oasis in the desert.





Tomorrow we're setting our sights on Albuquerque, green chile and a few days off the road for some good family time.