The drive home from my friend's beginner clogging class Monday night was terrible! It was pouring rain AND the road is under construction in multiple places (lines not really visible, including the center line, long waits at a traffic light where the road is down to a single lane, no streetlights to help visibility). Driving along at a snail's pace, tense and hunched over, trying to see the road, silently cursing oncoming big trucks who throw water all over my windshield, I thought about the miles driven in the name of clogging:

Are-we-gonna-get-there icy miles, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs sunny miles, where-on-earth-is-this-show miles, I-hate-city-traffic miles, where-is-my-mocha morning miles, eyes-propped-open late-night miles, orange-barrels-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see miles.

Who knew that showing up to try a dance class would eventually lead to this?! And we love it! Every clogger has a collection of funny stories beginning with, "This one time, I was driving to a clogging show/practice/competition and ..."

My personal tips for a great drive to your clogging event:

1. If you have not already done so, give your car a name! (Apparently, there are people who don't name their vehicles. I don't understand this.) A car expected to haul you and your crinolines to who-knows-where deserves some love. Pictured above is The Mighty Neon. Before her, The Mighty Beretta took me to practice. I now hop along the highways in The Mighty Frog.

2. Sing it loud! The car is a safe performance space for those of us who should never sing in public. A cd of Mindy McCready's Super Hits lives in a side panel of The Mighty Frog, always at the ready for a Ten Thousand Angels musical moment. (Yes, a cd. I should probably buy the digital version soon.)

3. When your vocal cords need a break, audiobooks and podcasts can save the day! They are my secret weapon to staying awake and alert on those late-night drives.

4. Don't let that gas tank get too low. Unexpected detours could leave you searching for a gas station in a small town where nothing stays open late.

5. Hurray for GPS! Also, beware of GPS! It once lead me to a cow pasture in Kentucky instead of the festival where my team was booked to clog. Not kidding.

My next clogging miles will take place this Saturday on the way to the Red Barn. My team gets to dance in the pre-show for Earl Thomas Conley's concert!  Those will be classified as familiar miles and late-night miles.

Drive safely, cloggers! Where will your next clogging miles take you?