Justin and I have just finished eleven and a half hours of driving. We left La Veta this morning heading to Cape Cod (Hyannis, MA) for our Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminar. We have made it to Lincoln, Nebraska for the night. We hope to make the drive in four days. Someone wondered if I stopped flying to places because one of my quilt was lost (then found) during an international flight this year. Not so. It is out of necessity that we drive. Is this a trip, a journey, or a quest? I'll let you decide after reading the facts.

1. We drive because we are pulling a trailer containing everything it takes to produce the event: boxes of syllabi, store merchandise, stage set-up, and of course, quilts, quilts, quilts! We also take audio and video equipment.

2. Because we are wagging a trailer, and because we have a schedule to keep, there are no side trips or stops. At the hotels, we usually have to call out for pizza so we don't have to haul a trailer to a restaurant. So, no, there's no stopping at every quilt shop along the way. However, we wave at all of you as we zoom by.

3. What do we do during all those long hours on the road? Well, today for example, there were about three hours of conference calls relating to - you guessed it - The Quilt Show. I spent about 3 hours writing an article for an upcoming issue of The Quilt Life, and I was able to weed through my photos I took at the Lady Gaga concert in Denver (see above). Yes, I went, yes, it was AWESOME! No, I'm not crazy - just ask Alex. I posted several quick posts on my Facebook page (go there and "like" me). We jammed to rock classics from Justin's iTunes playlists.

4. Because our new truck (and much of our equipment) was stolen a few years back (the morning before setup for a seminar) we bring all critical things into the hotel. It takes several trips even with a cart. Included in this endeavor are our clothes suitcases, all of our electronics, and all of the quilts (the most critical) - which is several cases. Each morning, it all has to be carted back out and repacked into the truck and trailer. - are you tired yet?

This will continue for the next three days and nights before we arrive at our destination. There I will meet Alex and John (Alex teaches at the seminar) and also Libby Lehman.

Next Thursday we will gather with our volunteers to set up. It takes about 5 hours. Then the registrants arrive and the fun begins. There is nothing that can describe this, but trust me - it's worth all the effort we go through to make it happen. - oh, and then there's the four day drive home following the same format we took to get here. The dog sitter is waiting - so, there is a deadline to get home too!

You decide - is it a Trip - a Journey - or a Quest?