“THE GIGANTIC INDEX” – DAY 8

Miles driven: 1,730

Miles driven before we left Springfield: 3,277

Total miles on the van: 5,007

Number of oil changes/tire rotations: 1

Number of hours spent hanging out at a cool Subaru shop in Aztec, NM helping a new friend service our van: 2

The amount of travel time in the van: 34 hours, 11 minutes

Travel time in which we’ve felt like a crosswind was going to blow us off the face of the planet: 9 hours, 13 minutes

States we’ve traveled in: 4

Times we’ve worked out at Planet Fitness: 2

Average miles per gallon: 16.4

Mountain passes, where we were getting below 7 mpg: 8

Number of times a light came on warning us our brakes were overheating: 2

Average speed, including city and highway driving: 50 mph

Total number of traffic tickets: 1

Days since getting a traffic ticket: 3

Number of days we’ve sworn we will never return to Idaho Springs, CO, because of the way they treat travelers with out-of-state plates who roll through stop signs at 4 mph: 3

Cost of stopping for pizza at Beau Jo’s in Idaho Springs: $117.41, including tip and traffic ticket

Hugs Maybe has given to strangers: 4

Hugs Maybe has given to members of the Idaho Springs Police Department: 0

Number of people we’ve met: 21

Number of new friends: 8

National Parks visited: 1

Loads of laundry: 2

Grocery trips: 2

Hikes: 3

Bike rides: 2

Number of days we’ve been amazed at how incredibly beautiful this country is: 8

Number of days we’ve regretted our decision and wished we had built a new house, kept our jobs, and maintained a normal life: 0

Number of days we’ve been reminded how amazing people are…with the exception of a particular officer in the Idaho Springs Police Department: 8

 

**If anyone is or knows an attorney who can help us with a Colorado traffic ticket, we would be grateful.**