Left Lane Ends

Where the
checklists came from.

24 trip notes, 2016 to now: living in Germany, cruising the Baltic, night trains across Europe, and Japan. Morgen comes along when dogs are allowed.

2026

Boise to Tokyo

Driving the dog west, then flying on to Japan.

  1. Driving Morgen to Boise (and Learning When to Drop the Charge Streak)We drove to Boise to drop Morgen off with family before a long stretch of travel. The kids flew. We waited for them, then left around 5 a.m. with the…
  2. Boise to Haneda, Jet Lag Outside Tokyo, and Why We’d Move Closer SoonerWe flew from Boise to Haneda, and it felt so much nicer to land there instead of Narita. A typhoon shuffled the day and turned our layover into about…
2022–2023

Back to Europe the slow way

A transatlantic cruise, London, a return visit to Germany, then night trains through Munich, Budapest and Zagreb.

  1. Our Transatlantic AdventureThe idea forms… After our big cross country road trip, visiting friends, family, and exploring the expansive USA, we start to pine after our time in…
  2. A Transatlantic Adventure on Princess: Madeira, Art, and Rolling with the WavesWe set sail on a Princess transatlantic cruise, hearts buzzing with anticipation for a journey across the Atlantic. The itinerary promised exotic…
  3. From Southampton to London: A Train Ride, Chinatown Stroll, and Hostel HavenFresh off our Princess transatlantic cruise, we hopped a train from Southampton to London, eager to swap the sea’s sway for the city’s pulse. The…
  4. A Whirlwind Few Days in London: History, Pubs, Foxes, and Fish & ChipsLondon always feels like stepping into a storybook, and our recent few days there were packed with chapters we’ll be rereading in our minds for…
  5. Returning to Germany: A Joyful Reunion with Old FavoritesAfter five years of calling Germany home, we moved away last year, leaving behind a life we’d grown to love. So when we boarded our flight back to…
  6. From Stuttgart to Dachau, Munich, and a Night Train Dash to BudapestOur journey began in Stuttgart, where we caught an early morning train to Dachau, a trip that blended the ease of German public transit with the…
  7. Budapest Unveiled: An Overnight Train Arrival and Easter Market MagicRolling into Budapest after an overnight train from Munich felt like stepping into a new chapter. The train’s gentle jolt woke us as dawn broke over…
  8. From Budapest to Zagreb: A Slow Train and a Surprising TransformationWe left Budapest on a slow train to Zagreb, a five-hour journey that let us soak in the scenery—rolling hills, quaint villages, and the occasional…
2021–2022

Home again, then on the road

Moving back to the US, skiing in Idaho, and the drive to Florida.

  1. Back in the USAfter 5 years abroad we returned to the US with tears in our eyes. There is a saying in German about one eye smiling and one crying…it fits our…
  2. Fun in IdahoThe last time we were in Idaho, the weather wasn’t right for skiing and it wasn’t warm enough to white water raft. This time we got snow! Being in…
  3. Dropping off the pupOur plan to leave Alabama was a bit up in the air but our son wanted to finish a class he was taking so we unenrolled him the last day of February.…
  4. More fun in IdahoWho knew Boise would have so many interesting things to do? Luckily, our daughter was celebrating her birthday while in ID. That meant we all got to…
  5. Leaving MorgenIt is hard to imagine being heartbroken about leaving a dog for an extended period if you have never had a dog before. Even leading up to the…
  6. Hollywood…FloridaOur transatlantic cruise was leaving from Ft. Lauderdale so we wanted to find a place nearby but not too expensive…this is going to be a long trip,…
2018

Baltic cruise

Berlin first, then six countries by ship.

  1. Our first cruise, but first…A stop in Berlin. Our cruise departs out of Rostock so we thought we would take a little detour to Berlin. We booked a hotel that was kinda like a…
  2. Cruising, part 1It seems there are cruise people or people that hate cruises with a passion and not much in between. We have heard tales of wonderful trips on the…
  3. Cruising, part 2Turns out we are most definitely cruise people. All 4 of us had a blast, from the hilarious crew to the all day every day pizza and soft serve. The…
  4. Port of Call- Tallinn, EstoniaOk, so being a child of the 90’s I have to admit that I was excited to visit Estonia just because of the movie Encino Man. Tallinn really impressed…
2016–2020

Five years in Germany

Moving abroad, first weekend trips, and the cruises the pandemic cancelled.

  1. Just arrived in Germany!Oh my goodness, what have we done? Let me back up a little bit. My husband had been with the same company since he was an intern in college. It’s had…
  2. First Trip, Strasbourg!So, we have settled in a bit and are itching to travel. Some things are getting easier but it is still all so new and different. We have heard that…
  3. Fairy Tale RouteThere are so many beautiful drives in Germany! The Romantic Route is probably the most popular, and for good reason. But, if you have kids that love…
  4. Finally, we get to cruise again!After our first cruise we thought we would try another one. With school breaks and other trips planned we postponed booking. After talking to some…

The printable trip checklists are in the Left Lane Ends shop.