Last updated on 11/02/2010
This is a guest post, written by my father, Jim Barefoot. He doesn’t have a blog, a book, or a website, but he does love to travel! He is a retired CPA/CEO, a respected citizen of my hometown, Bedford, Virginia, and a United States Army Veteran. He grew up in Dunn, North Carolina. He has four children and three grandchildren, and has devoted his life to my mom, and to providing for our needs, as well as an abundance of experiences and great memories … many of which include travel. My Mom and Dad recently celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary, and I am lucky to be blessed with such great parents.
During our recent road trip, I asked Dad if he’d like to write a post together. We each agreed to write a few tips for a father-daughter road trip. So this is the first of our two-part road-trip series. Hope you enjoy his tender humor. I’ve kept his words just as they were written on the sheets of his yellow legal pad.
For A Six-Day Auto Trip With Your Adult Daughter:
1. Make sure she really likes to travel long distances and long hours. We drove one day 14 hours, 600 plus miles. Tired but no complaints. We had to find a motel at 9:00 at night.
2. Make careful driving a top priority. She drives a little faster than I do but is a good driver. She hit the rumble strip on the side of the interstate three times. I told her “Four times and you are out,” kidding, of-course. Traveling in the summer on any road is frustrating with all the repair going on. In Indiana we were held up for 2 1/2 hours and when we got to the repair sight there was one man with a concrete saw in his hand. He was creating such a dust until they just stopped 2 lanes of traffic on the interstate.
3. Appreciate what is along the way. For 2 days through Western Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Eastern Iowa ~ nothing but cornfields and soybeans. She saw the beauty of corn tassels in long rows and contoured with the changing elevation of the fields. usually tucked away in the middle of the huge field was a farm house and varying shapes and sizes of barns. With a long-range lens on her husband’s new camera she took dozens of pictures of barns rising out of the cornfields. Now comes the task of deleting the unwanted ones. I think that will be harder than she thinks. Maybe like losing part of her soul.
4. Most people when traveling wear shorts or slacks ~ not my Jane ~ long flowing skirts. Out thru the woods she goes making pictures of wildflowers and buffalo in Yellowstone. It’s a joy to see the ‘I’ll do it my way’ attitude.
5. Where do we eat? Special consideration must be applied when diet is such an important part of health issues. heating food in the car with a pot connected to the cigarette lighter outlet sounds good in theory, but didn’t prove to be very practical. Blew a fuse so no radio for the trip. Eating the right food is essential but hard to find the right ones on the road sometimes. Be very flexible when choosing places to eat.
6. Silence. Agree before you travel that it is o.k. to ride long periods of time without speaking. Just enjoying the scenery and nobody is offended.
7. Thank God every day for a daughter who will take off a week from work and accompany an old guy way past his prime on a 2500 mile trip. I love you.
Well, as you can see my dad is a sweetheart, and is an awesome travel partner … always itching for another trip. He’s an old fashioned guy, but I’ll share your comments with him, and maybe he’ll respond to some of them.
Note to self: must meet Jane’s Dad someday and buy more long flowing skirts. I love this!
Thanks to you and your sweet dad for sharing,
Brenda
Hi Brenda, I was waiting for dad to return, so that he could respond to everyone’s comments, but I think I’ll jump in anyway. You’d love my dad, and I hope you can meet him someday. Also, you can imagine where I got most of my skirts … the hippie skirt store at Battery Park! Make a wish for me when you go by next time 🙂
Take good care sweet Brenda…
Jane
You two are too sweet! What a great idea. I hope you create a slew of new memories together.
Hi Laila,
Dad is still traveling with my younger sister, so I wanted to jump in and say thanks for visiting, and for taking a moment to leave a comment. We did make many wonderful memories, and even more when our family all joined us in Montana. Much fun and relaxation for us all.
Take good care Laila, and I hope to see you again soon!
~Jane
I love, love, love your dad’s blog and love that you could spend some sweet time with him! I know you will cherish every memory. And I love this picture of you two together. Thanks for sharing this precious time with all of us.
Susie, you’re so welcome. We had a great trip together, and I thought of you … and remembered not to take my parents for granted. Thanks for all that you’ve taught me.
Love you,
Jane
I’m just wondering where she got that “I’ll do it my way” attitude that you appreciate . . . I know you both had a great and very memorable trip.
We all had a great time in Montana and I’m so thankful I could sail across the corn fields and their flowing tassels.
This was a dream maker memory . . .
(On building dreams)
-I parceled away the sweetest;
those morsels which clung to me
and gnawed away at my soul,
those, I packed neatly away.
JSB
Well, I’m really not sure where I got that attitude … as Forrest Gump would say, “Maybe both.” Wherever it came from, I’m grateful, and I love you both so very much. Thank you, Mom, for everything.
Speaking of sweet, cherished morsels, tucked away … now, let me see if I can dig up some pictures from July 2007, Taos, New Mexico! 🙂
Hi Jane,
Wow! I so loved reading your adventure together. How wonderful for you to have your Dad to travel with. My Dad passed away 10 years ago and I still have empty days. I miss him so much. Chris and I have been blessed meeting and having dinner with you, Frank and your Dad.
Thanks for sharing!
Love, Rona
Hi Rona,
Thanks for stopping in. My heart was happy when I saw your comment! Thanks!
While we were planning this trip, so many people told me how lucky I was to have this opportunity. I’m grateful for that, and for heightened awareness of what a gift these experiences truly are. My mom and I had a beautiful trip in 2007. I cherish the memories from both trips, and pray for as much more as God will give.
I pray that time will ease your pain, and that you’ll hold onto the beautiful memories of your dad.
Thanks for your friendship, and give Chris a hug for me!
Jane
[…] Tips For A Six Day Road Trip With Your Adult Daughter Tags: Grand Canyon, National Parks, travel […]
Jane, this post is beyond beautiful, heartwarming and fabulous!
What an amazing blessing that you and your Dad have each other and can turn a long road trip into a great experience.
I love that your Dad wrote this post and you shared his voice with us, your readers.
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Hi Aileen,
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thank you for the tender words. I enjoyed watching Dad write this post, as I fixed supper one evening in the hotel room. He sat on the side of the bed, in the lamplight, and worked for a long time on it. He said “I’m fixing you up!” There was no way I could change any of his writing … I’m grateful for the opportunity to share his thoughts with everyone. So very grateful for my time with him, and with my mother … always.
Take good care,
~Jane
If all dads could be as sweet…
I used to travel with my mom every weekend, just the two of us. She is gone now and I really enjoyed having spent so much time together.
Lucky the ones like us who can appreciate their relatives company.
Marilia, I’m glad you had so much time, and made many memories with your mom. Hold them close in your heart. I know that you and your sweet daughter are making wonderful memories every day.
~Jane
You and Dad are awesome, as always. I’m jealous that I didn’t get the experience, happy that you did, and thrilled to know how much it meant to Dad.
Hey Jeff, Thanks for stopping by. My heart is always happy when I see that you’ve stopped by and left a comment. We did have a great trip. We missed you, and hope you can join us next time! I wrote a new post tonight, with my travel tips. 🙂
Love you!!
Jane
[…] a driving trip from Virginia to Montana. Â We agreed to each write some travel tips. Â I posted his Tips for a Six-Day Road Trip With Your Adult Daughter last […]
I love this idea, and I love the postcard that you sent me…it is on my refrigerator, s door to see the beauty through your eyes…love you both…
Besitos
I remember the voice mail you left for me one day as we were driving … about going to the mountain, and being with my higher power. You are a precious gift, dear Ana. Love you!
I just recently met your Dad..even though I had seen him many times and knew who he was. I always saw him as a true professional/businessman and when i met him briefly at your home..I saw a different twinkle in his eyes. I feel like I’m in the backseat of this journey and that I loved it as much as you did.
I know you realize how special parents are and how we’re not guaranteed that they will be with us forever..You have a most special memory that no one can ever rob you of..and you have 2 most wonderful parents.
My Dad would have been a travel person..my Mom was not..I would have treasured having this beautiful memory of such a trip..but I do have special memories and no one can ever take them away. Thanks for sharing and special healing to your Dad.
Thank you, Dianne, for such a special, heartfelt comment. I’m so glad you stopped by. I do, indeed, know that I am truly blessed with a great mom and dad. They are wonderful people, and I try to remind myself often, to cherish every moment with them. I’m glad you got to meet dad. He does have a special twinkle … which makes the travels all the more fun. 🙂
Take good care, and know that every moment with your mom is a gift.
~ Jane