North Carolina
Dec. 2024

Dates: December 25-30, 2024

People: Mark, Sarah, Luke, Jonah, Seth, Anya, Ben

Itinerary

• 12-25 (Travel Day)

• 12-26 (Family Day)

• 12-27 (Family Day)

• 12-28 (Family Day)

• 12-29 (Family Day)

• 12-30 (Travel Day)

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 25

Christmas Day.

We went to 10am Christmas Day worship at Grace and then home to finish packing and grab a lunch.  We mostly ate up leftovers and made sandwiches for lunch.  We used the rocket box for this trip and got sleeping bags and clothes bag up there. Left home at 12:45pm.

As usual we wondered what would be open for Christmas Day.  We found a gas stop at a travel plaza on the Ohio Turnpike.  At the New Stanton Travel Plaza we made another stop for bathrooms and for Sarah to take over driving.

We did supper at 6pm at the Somerset Travel Plaza. It was all open and very busy. We did a video chat with the Witte family and Grandma Witte while there.  We were there about 45 minutes.

We did a gas stop at the Gateway Exxon in Breezewood which was all open.  Sarah was still driving until a bathroom stop just south of Washington, around 10pm when Mark took over again.

Along the way we had made the choice to drive all the way through and not hotel it.  We made it to Lisa's place at 120am.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 26

Today was a basic family day spent at Lisa's place the whole day.  I woke up and got a run in around the neighborhood.  We had breakfast casseroles to start the day.  We did chicken patties for lunch.  We played games into the evening.  We ordered pizza for supper.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 27

Luke, Jonah, Seth and Mark were up first thing and headed to the Northwest River Park for outdoor recreation. Mark trail ran, Jonah hiked, Luke and Seth disc golf.  Mark finished first and found Luke and Seth on the disc course and followed them the last few holes.  Jonah met everyone at the car.

For lunch was leftover pizza, chicken nuggets, and sandwiches.  For supper was a taco bar.  In the evening we played Christmas Winter Olympics. Jay was gone all day on navy duty.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 28

A quiet morning with all at home.  Mark got up and had a short run in the neighborhood.  Jay left with his mom around 9am.  Sarah made cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Mark and Sarah left at 1030am to get Mark to ORF Norfolk Airport.  Dave was over smoking a brisket for a big Christmas lunch.

Mark's ORF flight left 25 minutes late.  Also arrived in BWI 25 late. Lunch at Chick-fil-A at BWI.  Lots of restaurant choices there.  In the morning Mark's BWI to DTW flight was listed as 90 mins late. That changed to on time during the day.  That flight boarded quick and was only half full.  However it ended up leaving 30 mins late while waiting for connecting passengers and possibly other unexplained delays.  Arrived in Detroit 30 mins late.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29

Mark was home.  The others went to worship in Norfolk and then lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings.  Spent the rest of the day home and then celebrated Ben's 3rd birthday in the evening.

MONDAY DECEMBER 30

The group was up early and left Lisa's place at 7:45am.  Shared driving on the way home.  The group made it home around 10pm.