Anyone who has ever planned a 10-day road trip knows that the preparation can be daunting. After all, there are supplies and provisions to be obtained and stowed, reservations to be made and confirmed, lists to be compiled and checked, and itineraries to be planned and finalized. And, as Robert Burns reminded us, the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry.

We had hoped to spend the days leading up to our departure doing last-minute checks and an overall cleaning. But those schemes have gone awry, thanks to Mother Nature. Stormy weather throughout the area will definitely dampen our enthusiasm. But it may be a blessing in disguise.

We’ve got more time to think about our first night at Palo Duro canyon, and to prepare for what promises to be an amazing sunset. We’ve got time to consider the best way to maximize our visit to the Grand Canyon (sunset on May 18 is at 7:29 p.m., and we’re expecting to arrive at our campsite by 4 p.m., so maybe we can capture a sunset selfie?). We’ve got plenty of time to consider our first day in the High Sierras (should we devote it to the Mariposa Grove, where dogs aren’t allowed–a couple of chihuahuas marking the tree trunks won’t bring down an entire redwood forrest, but if you multiplied that by a million per year it makes sense that the National Parks Service would impose such a restriction). Most important, we have time to dream and scheme, something that so often eludes us in the rush of daily life.

Still, we’re profoundly aware that the best laid schemes…