Here's a new one for me: I'm going to participate in a blog challenge! Gwen Bell has issued the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge.  I figure that this is a good way to get in the habit of daily blog posts. The bonus is that I'll be part of a a bigger community sharing this experience while reflecting on a pretty amazing year.

Day 1: What was your best trip of 2009?

That's an easy one: Our three-day drive from Austin to Orlando!

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We closed on the sale of our house on the Thursday afternoon before Labor Day weekend, while our three cats waited in the car (totally stuffed with stuff, air conditioner running, of course). After taking care of a few final errands on Friday morning, we headed east. Gary drove his Elantra, and I piloted the Kittiemobile, AKA my minivan fitted with a pet kennel. We both had headsets for our cell phones. Thank heavens for unlimited mobile-to-mobile time!

First overnight stop was just east of Lake Charles, Lousiana, where my van's front left tire died. After getting a new tire at the Wal-Mart auto center Saturday morning, we continued on to the panhandle of Florida. We spent a quiet night at a very nice pet-friendly hotel near Crestview, then drove the rest of the way to Orlando.

The most fun: Carting three cats in and out of three different hotels! At first they didn't like going into the kennel in the van. By the time we got to Florida, they dove right into the kennel each morning and quietly went along for the ride. Truly a miracle!

So that's our best trip of 2009. I've been thinking about destinations for 2010 travel, and so far it looks cruise ships will be involved.