ALASKA TO THE LOWER 48 & BACK

Our epic
adventure.

A wedding started it. A whole lot of miles, a little magic, and fourteen days of memories made it ours.

Come along for the ride
THE GLADDEN FAMILYTRAVEL JOURNAL No. 01
ANCORD
ANCHORAGECHICAGO
And everywhere in between.
DEPARTEDOCT 22
14
DAYS
HOME AGAINNOV 04
MEMORIES
MADE HERE
2026
01 — THE OPEN ROAD

Chicago. Tennessee. Florida. The Smokies. Home.

THE ADVENTURE, BY THE NUMBERS

Every mile. Every step.

ESTIMATED MILES DRIVENChicago airport to Chicago airport
How we counted

Driving miles are Google Timeline estimates for car travel, excluding flights, buses, and walking, with Roy’s confirmed corrections applied. Overnight driving stays with the travel day that began the journey. Step counts belong to the named person and the calendar dates they supplied; they aren’t shifted between days or converted into walking miles.

Compare driving with the map

The map includes all recorded movement, including walking and bus travel. Its line lengths also reflect GPS sampling, gaps, and omitted private stops. They measure something different from miles driven. October 27 is corrected to zero driving at Roy’s confirmation.

Miles by journal travel day
Travel dayDriving estimateMapped movement
Total

FOLLOW OUR FOOTSTEPS

One trip. So many stories.

Pick a day. Find a place.
Relive a little of the adventure.

The whole adventure
Recorded travel After midnight · same travel day Photos

Chicago airport to Chicago airport. Gaps and private stops are omitted.

FROM OUR FAMILY JOURNAL

Driving follows this travel day. Mapped movement also includes walking and other travel. Steps follow the calendar date shown above.

THE BEST SOUVENIRS ARE THE STORIES

Far from home.
Right where we belong.

Fourteen days together. A trip we’ll keep coming back to.

Back to the journey ↑