ROAD TRIP STATS & THANK YOUS

So now that I am home and a bit more settled, here are some interesting stats about my roadtrip across the USA...

TRIP STATS
-14 states
-over 14,000 miles of road covered
-3 months and 5 days of traveling
-2 pee stops on the side of the road (literally)

WHERE TO STAY
-1 camp (2 different sites in the same park)
-3 hotels
-8 hostels
-10 couchsurfing experiences
-13 stops with friends, family, family of friends

CAR STATS
-1 carwash
-1 tire to change
-2 tires repaired
-3 oil changes
-4 new spark plugs and wires

IN THE CAR
-2 cactuses, 1 still alive
-4 pine cones
-7 other car friends (including ursula the monster and ursula the sea witch, 1 alien, horton, 2 mexicans, and a rubber cactus)
-27 flat coins for mom (25 are pennies)

FOOD
-17 pieces of pie
-16 other fabulous desserts (including cheesecakes, ice cream, etc)
-8 packs of gum
-5 jars of peanut butter
-countless bottles of water and odwalla bars

I'd like to put a big ole thank you out there to Hot Mel, Mel's Cali parents, Wang, Andy, Kelley & Randee (two different times!), Huy, De, Shirley & Richard, Bill & Nancy, Sunshine & David, Dawn & Adam, Dick & Ardath, and Adam for letting me stay with you. The best part of my whole trip was catching up with (and meeting) all of you.

To all my couchsurfing hosts - THANK YOU - Thanks Andres & Patricia, Assaf, Deb & Rob, Richard and roommate, Zoe and husband (and four dogs!), Rachel & Nick, Pat & Nori, Amanda, Eric, Rivers, and Cherie & Whitney! My couch is ready when you get here!

Thanks to all my loyal readers - even the ones who read via printouts from my mom. You never are quite traveling alone when you share your adventures with over thirty people - especially when emails arrive to find out if you are ok when you haven't posted in three days. Believe me, sometimes it kept me going.

And most of all there are not enough thanks for Mom and Dad for coping with my sporadic calls, reading my blog religiously, offering advice and emergency funds, and supporting me on my extended trip. I am happy to be home. For now.

And no, I am not going to stop writing in my blog - just going to write about different sorts of adventures. Keep reading. :)