Background for the Trip

"A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys. It has a personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike." John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley
When he wrote Travels with Charley, Steinbeck said he was looking to rediscover America.
I cannot say that that is the motivation behind my trip.
In fact my motivation is very simple: to get to the other side.
Of course, it would be much easier and less expensive to take a plane.
But, I cannot do that. I don't want to leave my friend, my 4-legged son for such a long time alone.
I would like him to meet the rest of my family and enjoy playing on the beach in Rhode Island.
So, it seems I have no choice but to drive across the country.
According to Google maps driving directly across the country is about 3000 miles and 45 hours of driving...
Going out my plan is to leave early on Friday the 11th and to make it to a meeting in NYC at 11am on Friday July 18th.
I hope to average 10 hours a day and take a break in Chicago and/or Mars, PA.
On the way back I hope to take a more leisurely and scenic route, taking in a national park or two.