Background and itinerary

The CCRT (cross-country road trip) was first discussed in September of 2009. I found out that I could have a few months off before starting at HBS, which coincided with Laura’s summer break from teaching. We decided that we really wanted to take advantage of this opportunity of such a long break and brainstormed trips to do over the course of three months. We tried to meet four primary criteria: (1) something that is better do when we’re young vs. old, (2) something that we’ve never done before, (3) something that is best enjoyed when there is a long period of time, and (4) something that won’t break the bank since I’ll be without a steady income for two years.

We batted around ideas for a few months and ultimately arrived at the CCRT, though the actual planning really didn’t start until March. We each made a list of the places we wanted to go, and stared at a map to identify the route that made the most sense. The most recent itinerary is below and has been changed more than a dozen times. We aren’t really planning more than a few days out for most stops so we can have the flexibility to stay and enjoy a certain part of the country if we want.

May 27: Atlanta
May 27-30: Gainesville, FL for Andy and Paige Swenson’s wedding
May 30-June 1: Destin to meet Greg, Lauren, Krystina, and Brian for Memorial Day weekend
June 1 pm: New Orleans (fly to Fort Lauderdale)
June 1-June 4: Fort Lauderdale to look at potential wedding venues
June4-7: New Braunfels, TX to visit Pence, go to Schlitterbaun, and see Austin, TX
June 7: Carlsbad Caverns and Roswell, NM
June 7-9: Santa Fe, NM
June 9-12: Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona
June 12-17: Southern Utah (Bryce, Moab, Canyon Lands, Arches)
June 18-21: Durango, CO to visit the Kassings
June 21-27: Jackson Hole/Yellowstone/Grand Teton, meeting the Martin’s
June 27-28: Driving with stops at random hotels
June 28-July 1: Yosemite camping trip
July 1-4: San Francisco/Sausolito
July 5-9: Pacific Coast Highway (locations TBD)
July 9-10: Los Angeles
July 10-16: San Diego, visiting Dan and Molly Laufer
July 16-20: Middle America (via Las Vegas, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri, route TBD)
July 21-24: Louisville, KY to visit Merrick’s (Laura’s extended family
July 25-28: Cleveland to visit the Louth’s (Jeremy’s extended family)
July 29: Atlanta, GA

The itinerary is approximately 9800 miles and 148 hours of driving (assuming only driving destination to destination). We will be taking Laura’s 2009 black CRV, affectionately known as the CRaVe.

Please check back at http://www.ccrt2010.blogspot.com/ to keep up with us as we CRaVe across the USA.