It’s only been a week since we told you about our last whirlwind weekend and we’ve already topped it with an even crazier weekend adventure. In fact this one was so nutty that it actually lasted six days, took us through ten states and required forty hours of driving. Yep, you read that right. Four. Zero.
What possessed us to embark on such a trek? My cousin was getting married in Dallas, TX and I had some spare vacation days. And what can we say, we’re suckers for a good road trip. So last Thursday we set out westward from Richmond spending about 10 hours in the car on each of four legs of the trip. We took a day long break in Nashville to see the sights and eat some BBQ with two of our favorite home bloggers (where we were spotted and nearly outed on our secret romp across the southeast). We finally pulled into Dallas for a gorgeous Sunday wedding before jumping back in the car for two more days of driving back towards Richmond, this time via Birmingham.
Yes it was a lot of driving, but it was also a lot of fun. We got back to Richmond late Tuesday night just bursting at the seems with stories, pictures and videos to share with you guys. From the funky hotel we stayed in with the Bowers and a quick how-we-travel-with-Burger video to my cousin’s beautiful DIY wedding decor, we can barely decide where to start. And that’s not to mention the footage we captured of our four ten-hour driving days courtesy of our homemade dashboard camera (fashioned from a tripod and some classy white duct tape).
So as we like to say around here, stay tuned. There are a slew of home-related posts about our days on the road to be written. We promise to get started just as soon as we stop seeing road signs in our sleep…
Ahhh! You guys are sneaky!
I live in B’ham and would have been so surprised if I had spotted you! Nice picture with Vulcan btw…isn’t he kind of scary looking? :) Can’t wait to see more posts on the trip.
Very cool guys! Hubby and I have done some crazy driving trips too, but yours ranks way up there! And you were really close to our old stomping grounds of Lawton, OK – only about three hours north of Dallas. We used to plan big shopping trips when we got to go down to Dallas – good memories!
I know this has nothing to do with this post but I wondered where else you can suggest to pick up those lovely capiz frames you have in your bedroom. I checked Target, Pottery Barn, and a host of other places in store and on the net and cannot find them anywhere.
Also I’ve been coveting your 8×10 JC Penny Honeycomb rug (which is no longer avail except in a smaller size in their outlet), and would love a tip as to where to find a similar color, style and size. I need a nice neutral shade like that for my living room and am having a tough time of it. You seem to have your finger on the pulse of alternates and where to find them.
Thanks
L.
Hey Lisa,
Try ebay and nextag.com. They’re two great places to search for things by name and hopefully track down identical (or extremely similar) versions. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Hi Sherry & John!
So, the Dallas wedding… was it at White Rock Lake. The picture looked like it. I am getting married next year and having my reception at the Filter Building. Was wondering if that was where you two were at.
Hope you liked your Dallas trip! That is where I am from and grew up. I live in Austin now…
TTYL!
Hey Melanie L,
Good eye – that is White Rock Lake. Not sure what the name of the building was, but it was at Winfrey Point (according to our directions). Maybe they’re one in the same? It certainly was beautiful so you’re in for a treat next year. Congrats!
-John
You were 3 hours east from me in Texas :) hope ya’ll enjoyed your awesome HOT stay!
O-M-G……My best friend and I are HUGE fans of your site. Today’s post showed that you passed right-through-our-town recently and we didn’t even know it! We are located in Monroe,LA-right off I-20-you passed us on your way to Birmingham! So sorry we missed you guys!!!
Hey Emily W,
So sorry we missed you! Secret trips are fun but next time maybe we should announce our route beforehand to meet some friendly readers along the way!
xo,
s
Crazy! I read your blog all the time and and then here you were in the Magic City! I live next door to Vulcan — perhaps I saw the Petersik-mobile and never even knew it. We love living in this crazy place — hope you enjoyed your fleeting tour of our fair city. And maybe take next weekend off…
Wait a minute…I didn’t see burger in any of these pictures. Where is he??
Danielle, you know we don’t leave home without our trusty four-legged traveling companion! Rest assured Burger enjoyed the trip and will make many appearances in the posts and videos that we’re putting together this weekend.
xo,
s
It would be a great idea to announce your route! I’m in Arkansas and you drove right past me! Road trips are the best
You went to the Vulcan! It’s so funny to think that I might have spotted you cruising around Birmingham last weekend. I was even in Vulcan Park on Friday evening with my dog… That would have definitely made me do a double take. Looking forward to your posts from your trip.
Enjoy all the roadtrips you can! Hubby and I used to travel them all the time… until we had kids. Not as much fun with a carsick 4yo and 1yo toddler who doesn’t like staying strapped in longer than 2 minutes. HAHA! I’m living (maybe ‘traveling’) vicariously through you guys. Can’t wait to see some posts from the trip. Glad you returned safely.
I’ve been itching for a road trip. Sounds like fun!
New fan of your blog… also a former Bham resident and current Nashville resident. Love both cities to death! Hope you guys had a blast in Nashvegas.
It looks like you took I-85 back home which would have taken you right through Greenville, SC, which is just an hour north of Abbeville, SC, where I live. Looking forward to upcoming posts resulting from your secret trip!
I’d just like to say “I can’t believe you were in Dallas and didn’t look me up!!!!” heh heh. maybe next time. I’m sure what you want to do with all your time is meet all your groupies. :-) Maybe you could rent out a convention center or something… :-)
You were so close to where I live when you went through B’ham. We love our Vulcan even if he is kind of scary and moons some of the good folks of the city. Hope you had a good trip through. Next time you should announce the route and arrange for all the folks who follow your blog to meet up for a big food fest somewhere.
I THOUGHT you were at Winfrey Point! I used to go there growing up for parties (ah, memories), and thought about having my wedding there. I live about 2 miles away from the lake now – small world!! Can’t wait to hear all about your trip to Dallas!
I live in Birmingham as well and a brief encounter would have been fun! Hope you enjoyed it!
Phew! I was starting to have Burger withdraws!
Sounds like a fun trip! Just got back from a road trip of my own… my best friend and I drove from Miami to Boston! One of our many stops was in Richmond, and I definitely thought of you guys while I was there. I’d never been before, and fell in love with all the two-story row houses… so pretty! Enjoyed an awesome breakfast at the Three Monkeys… have you been? If not, I highly recommend it! :)
We looooove Three Monkeys! That’s actually where we took my best friend and John’s cousin for dinner two years ago and they fell in love, got married and now have a little baby girl! We have Three Monkeys to thanks for their whirlwind romance!
xo,
s
Hope y’all had fun in Nashville! Did you do any honky tonkin’? :)
What a trip! If, for some reason, you’re headed to Seattle some weekend I’ll take you out to lunch! Although that would involve a plane, probably… :)
xoxo Maggie
Not to be pushy, but where are those after pictures you promised us!!?!?!?!? We’re wa-a-a-a-a-ting! :-)
They’re a comin’. Lots of fun stuff in the hopper so we’re doing our best to dish it out asap!
xo,
s
Please tell me you did some fun shopping and/or eating while in Dallas. That’s what we do here! Wisteria Outlet? Great restaurants? Something?:)
Hey Nichole,
We definitely had fun in Dallas! No time for Wisteria Outlet since we had a wedding to attend but we ate like kings and queens and actually hit another outlet on the way home. Stay tuned for those details…
xo,
s
I wish I had known you were in Birmingham! We could have showed you around. If you ever come back, you must tell us in advance. (p.s. Vulcan is just about my favorite site ever.)
Hey, hey, hey! Cee-leb-bri-teeez :) Won’t it be a wild ride when you sign your first autograph??
Seriously – how crazy to get noticed by a complete stranger while you’re eating ice cream. I’m just warning you now, if I ever see you guys out in public somewhere, I’ll probably just yell out, “Sherry!” and “John!” and, of course, “Burger!” and give y’all a big hug. Straight out of the blue.
Then, I’ll introduce myself :)
Just thought I’d warn you.
XO,
Jacci
What an awesome road trip. We know first hand about long road trips – when we moved from Springfield, MO to Raleigh, NC two years ago, it was a 16 hour drive taken over 2 days with 4 dogs in the u-haul cab with us. Fun fun!
Ha! That’s so funny that you were here in the Ham. I would have definitely done a double-take if I had seen you… I used to live just minutes from Vulcan but moved farther out to the ‘burbs to be able to get our first house! Hope you enjoyed your quick visit through our town. :) And I totally agree with get-togethers when you come through different cities. That, or you could just swing by my place and decorate it for me. ;-)
why didn’t you guys visit Austin??? We wanted to say HI!
There’s always next time…
xo,
s
Another local you (nearly) passed by. Montgomery, AL, area here, just an hour and a half from Birmingham. Though I’ve been to Bham numerous times, I’ve never stopped to see Vulcan.
after you have been to dallas, you get to call it D-town.
How fun! Can’t wait for the stories and pictures! Do you guys blog on the road? I didn’t even notice you were away (in a good way!)!
Yup, thanks to finally springing for an iPhone we are now able to publish posts, approve comments, organize giveaways, and answer questions on the go. Of course before we go anywhere we work overtime to write a slew of posts so they’re easily shared while we’re on the move. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I live with Burger’s doppelganger, Biggie Smalls. I keep meaning to email and ask about how you travel with Burger. I’ve been finding it hard to find places that welcome dogs. Even wee-wee-chus like Biggie and Burger. Can’t wait to read your tips.
How did you find places for Burger to stay? I have to take my little Boston Terrier to the kennel this afternoon while we whisk away to the beach for a few days. I wish we could bring him with us! ~Tracy
Stay tuned for more details all about how we travel everywhere (even our honeymoon to Alaska) with Burger! We addressed that often asked question on our trip, and even made a handy little video about it.
xo,
s
Whirlwind trips are the best! Thanks for linking me! I still can’t get over that fact that I met all of you! :)
Is it true? Am I seeing a picture of Sherry with her hair down?! :) hehehe
Hi guys.
I cant believe you do so much travelling.
How the hell do you both keep so trim with the constant temptations of roadside diners???
KIM
http://theweightlossdebutante.blogspot.com/
Hey Kimberly,
It is quite a challenge to find good healthy food on the road! We always keep an eye out for Subway and buy apples and bananas at rest stops, but sometimes they’re few and far between and we find ourselves at McDonalds or Taco Bell. The horror! But we do our best to stay active when we’re not in the car (walking the dog, biking, hiking, swimming at the river here in Richmond, etc) to make up for all that sitting and face-stuffing.
xo,
s
I live in Nashville and if I had seen you guys out I probably also would have said hi like I actually knew you! And with my other favorite blogger Katie Bower! Too fun. : )
hi guys! how did you mount the flip in the car?! was it a DIY invention?! as always…impressive!
Hey Amy,
We just used a $15 tripod from Target and some white duct tape to mount it in the car for the duration of the drive. Worked like a charm and John’s hands were free to drive (while I approved comments, wrangled the dog, etc). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I wanted to ask it that was White Rock (ah many skip days playing fresbie). I also wanted to ask if you knew how close you were to the Crate and Barrel outlet, then I read you had no time for shopping, but I learned there is a wisteria outlet, YAH!!!!!
Old people (47) learn stuff here too!
Oh my word – you guys are NUTS!
I live like 5 minutes from White Rock! :) Looks like you guys have a good time!
The way you travelled all along Four ten hours by car is amazing.And carrying a white camera is perfect when attached to your car. your photos are pretty good and you look made for each other. I use to travel in India while i was doing my graduation.