I was hoping that we could still get started this morning – even if we were a bit delayed in leaving. However, I was experiencing cold chills, serious body aches, and had also developed a fever. Suddenly, it seemed less like a fast-case of food poisoning and much more like a real cold, or worse, the flu – sickness that could not just seriously delay the trip, but cancel it altogether.

Luckily, a night of sleep and an early decision to postpone the trip a full day seems to have done the trick. Though I have some lingering symptoms, I feel better and anticipate that we’ll be hitting the road in the morning as long as I don’t regress any.

Since it was obvious that we wouldn’t be leaving on time, Kim’s been working on revisions to the trip plans. Most of them cut out at least one national park unit. After several revisions throughout the day, I think we’ve settled on one that manages to maintain the original list of sites. It will require an additional motel stay and also some relatively late arrivals at the motels – not too mention a post-midnight estimated return time back home – but I think we’ll be able to get it all in. And if not, we can cannibalize the night in Austin and/or arrive home later on Sunday to make sure it all fits.

At least if we can stay healthy, that is.