Yes, you have a geek for a Dad/husband when the GPS gets dusted off and tracks your every move on your vacation.

Note the elevation gain as we made our way from Tulsa, OK to Albuquerque, NM

OK, according to the blue graph, you can see I largely stayed within 5 mph of the 70 mph speed limit (75 mph in New Mexico). We also took two rest stops.

There was an unplanned third rest stop when I was pulled over by a Texas State Trooper (around 4 hours and 30 minutes on the blue graph).  The trooper came to the window and saw all the wires connected to GPS devices hanging off my windshield.  He asked me for my license and insurance and said I was speeding.  I replied kindly,

“Sir, GPS had me going no more than 75 mph”

He said he clocked me at 77 mph.  Then he looked at all the wires again, paused, and then declared, “Say, I’ll just write you up for a warning – no fines or penalties.” Five minutes later we were on our way, cruising at 74mph.

It pays to be a geek.

We’re off to Arizona.  Just a quick post of pictures of our first day, which included a rainy start…

…but Ruthie was well attended to. She loved the attention and was a stellar baby for the 10 hour drive to Tulsa.

This was how she was able to catch a glimpse of Mom despite her seat being rear facing.

And she spent hours playing with her toys, which the boys quickly gave her the moment she attempted to communicate any complaint.

The boys switched between playing games, to Playstation, to watching movies, and to asking Dad “How much longer?”

And when we arrived in Tulsa, we stayed at the Janowski’s house. Heidi and I took Braden’s $185,000 car out on a late night Taco Bueno run after the kids went down to sleep. Heidi looks like she fits just fine in it.  Me on the other hand…

For the record, Ford produced only a handful of these cars in 2005 and 2006 to prove to the Italian sport car manufacturers that they could produce a better, faster sport coupe. The car easily tops out at 200mph, although we never hit above 60 going to Taco Bueno.

After breakfast it’s off to Albuquerque, NM and then to Flagstaff, AZ