actually... the staying overnight doesn't work for us... cuz of our four-legged children... specifically the dogs!

i can't bring myself to kennel them.... so if we stayed in a motel overnight..... we'd have to stay at a dog-friendly place (few and far between) then leave them in their crates in the room while we ride (which is ok... per se... cuz they stay in their crates inside while we work)... however.. being a strange place... not sure they wouldn't bark at every little noise!

so we limit ourselves to 3 to 3.5 hour drive time.. even if leaving in the middle of the night (the dogs stay outside in the yard when we are gone that long.. but it's still not overnight and they get to eat breakfast before we leave and evening breakfast (you know how dogs learn certain words.. well ours eat "breakfast" for both meals! ) when we get home!

i'm still contemplating vegas which mapquest says if 4.5 hours but that means it's really 4 hours... ??????? it's kinda up to hubby since he'll get stuck driving while i fall asleep!

the waiting that mostly "bothered" me was the waiting for the train... waiting of the other train to leave.. etc.. the lines are all a part of the bike ride.. (but still annoying! lol!)