Summer Statistics

Now that we’ve alit in Durham, we can look back at our summer travels. In conversation with Mark, it occurred to me to work out just how far we’ve come. Beginning somewhat arbitrarily with our departure from Princeton in early June, this is what we’ve done:
 
Princeton to Pittsburgh (memorial event for my Dad): 336 mi.
Pittsburgh to Evanston (packing week): 480 mi.
Evanston to Ypsilanti (visit Nate and Laura): 270 mi.
Ypsilanti to Princeton (return trip): 613 mi.
Princeton to Baltimore and back (Loyola faculty picnic): 262 mi.
Princeton to Hyannis (to ferry to visit Mom): 303 mi.
Hyannis to Boston (drop Pippa off, visit Taylor-Coolmans): 71 mi.
Boston to Princeton (return trip): 266 mi.
Princeton to Durham (first load): 449 mi.
Durham to Chicago (via air; we didn’t drive this leg, so I’m not counting it)
Evanston to Indianapolis (big-ass truck evening one): 203 mi.
Indianapolis to Johnson City (big-ass truck, day two): 460 mi.
Johnson City to Durham (big-ass truck, last leg): 219 mi.
Durham back to Princeton (return trip): 449 mi.
Princeton to Durham (second load, round trip): 898 mi.
Princeton to Framingham (on our way): 246 mi.
Framingham to Augusta to Brunswick (See Pippa’s play): 216 mi.
Brunswick to Damariscotta to Quincy (pick Pippa up, visit Himmers): 219 mi.
Quincy to Shoreham NY (visit Clevengers): 139 mi (not counting ferry mileage)
Shoreham to Baltimore (see Orioles, visit Fowls): 246 mi.
Baltimore to Durham (phew!): 323 mi.
 
That’s a total of 6,668 driving miles this summer. That’s roughly a round trip from Fort Kent, Maine, to San Diego. That’s roughly the distance from New York to Kabul. At 60 mph, that’s 396 hours in the car/truck cab. At an average of 20 mpg (a guess, between the Subaru and the rental vehicles) and at $4 a gallon, that’s $1,333.60 in gasoline. We won’t even calculate the collateral expenses of prepared food, hotels, and wear and tear on our flesh and spirit.

5 thoughts on “Summer Statistics

  1. Since my church-related travel alone is about 2000 miles/month (1955 mi/mo, average to date this year), your figures sound very normal to me. But that doesn’t make it right. I’d rather we were all on the road less!

  2. OK, Jane — your weekly routine does put me in my place. If it didn’t sound defensive, I might note that your driving doesn’t always entail transporting all your temporal possessions from several dispersed locations to a new array of different locations — but then, I got to drive along with Margaret and Pip and Phil Kenneson for many of those miles. At least they’re tax-deductible for both of us.
     
    Thanks, Emily — having never been to either OKC or Logan, let alone the highway between them, I can’t compare; I bet I’d prefer my comfortably familiar Eastern highways, though, even with crazed Massachusetts drivers cutting across three lanes of traffic to make exits.

  3. Let’s just say we went the extra mile(s) not to cross Kansas on 70. . .

    Colorado on I-70 through the mountains was incredibly beautiful. Highly recommended.

  4. You win. It is approximately 3,748.686 mi between my present home and the new one. That would be as the (very tired) crow flies.

    As United flies, I’ll be traveling 3,858 miles, not counting the miles I may walk through the Denver airport from gate to gate.

    It is 18 miles from the airport to my new house. Add that to the airline miles and you get 3,876 miles.

    No matter how you work it, you guys managed more miles than someone crossing the Pacific Ocean to move. Congratulations.

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