And happy about it. The house is still standing, the lawn still green and the chickens still living. Even the non-layer, who was put on palliative care before we left. Piles of paper remind me I have been gone all summer but we slid into summer activities without a second thought. The Natatorium, Clock Tower Pond, bicycles and routine!! It is the routine for which I am particularly thankful. Having familiar surrounds and routine have made the kids easier to be around.
How is it to be home, people ask. Like I never left, I reply. Still struggling with what to make for dinner, still doing laundry, dishes, complaining about picking up after three people. I feel we have accomplished something but no real difference. I am acutely aware how the minutiae rules my life and I can learn to manage that better. One of the takeaways of the trip.
How far did we travel you ask? After 'mapping' it out in Google Earth and reliving the trip in 20 minutes, approximately and conservatively....drumroll please........
8600 miles. Wow! I had no idea!!!
Anyway, just wanted to touch base and create some closure. We are home safe and better for the experience.
Friday, August 15, 2014
Sunday, August 10, 2014
The Last Leg
August 10. The last leg. We stayed in Park City after a long day in the car. Of course, the pool was visited before bed. We headed into downtown for breakfast where people were setting up for Stage 7 of the Utah Tour, a staged bicycle race. The race was a nice spontaneous diversion, visiting tents, bringing home too much schwag. I think Reese's favorite was bicycling and mixing his own smoothie. Not sure about Ruby. They both really wanted to ride the mechanical bull but felt differently once on it. We beat feet outta there before all of the roads were shut down. The kids decided they like western mountains more than eastern and Ruby wants to move to Park City and live in a hotel.
Here we are on our most familiar route, headed north on 84. El Caporal in Burley for a late lunch will bring us full circle. We swing by the Hill AFB museum to admire planes through the fence with a promise of return. Reese finished reading his first 'Flat Stanley' book. Ruby can write some of the alphabet. She still writes her name backwards, however. The kids ask about the Natatorium and Snow Cones. Our only selfie. Boise, here we come!
Here we are on our most familiar route, headed north on 84. El Caporal in Burley for a late lunch will bring us full circle. We swing by the Hill AFB museum to admire planes through the fence with a promise of return. Reese finished reading his first 'Flat Stanley' book. Ruby can write some of the alphabet. She still writes her name backwards, however. The kids ask about the Natatorium and Snow Cones. Our only selfie. Boise, here we come!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Here We Come!!
Today has been a whole different animal. First fail, Hill Air Force Museum is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Second fail. Missed an air show there two days ago. Reese took it like a trooper. No crying or tantrum. Best to hit them hard with disappointment in the morning, they have more reserve.
Third fail, going through the mountains. We set off at 0900, which has proven to be our take off time. We took I-70 which is beautiful, but climbing up to Eisenhower Tunnel was anxiety provoking and maddening. Because of the altitude and the climbing, the van did not appear to be working correctly. Rich had it floored and we were crawling at 45-50. It brought back flashbacks of the previous engine, the Tiico, and all that we had moved past with the conversion. Rich was apoplectic, and calling Ricky Mtn Westy, ready to turn around and take it back. The exit after Eisenhower Tunnel (the tunnel is 1.7 miles long at an elevation of 11,013 ft) is a few miles downhill cooling Rich down a bit. We stopped, I talked about my lifetime of experience in four cylinder Subarus dogging it up the hill, as well as the elevation before deciding to move on. I was ready though, contacting coworkers about switching shifts and looking up the schedule. Now sixty miles down the road and a drop in elevation all has calmed and we are headed home. It seems the 4x4 won't disengage, but we'll look at it later.
We stopped for a bite in Glenwood Springs, realize we are stuck with the 4x4 until home. While we saw glimpses of red rock and desert plants hinting of the southwest and drier climes it is passing through Rifle we feel it. Junipers, dried grasslands, and sage blanket sandy, sedimentary soil. Utah, here we come!
Friday, August 8, 2014
Almost home
August 8. The trip is over, for all intents and purposes. We have been living the good life at my folks house in Louisville, CO for the past week soaking up sun, playing in the pool and watching the cousins horse around. My sister, her wife and their kids live a half hour from here, and my brother, his wife and their two kids live a bit closer. Water parks, pools, Museum of Nature and Science, what more can they ask for. I am exhausted from all of the field trips, sitting in the sun and waking at 7:30 every morning to see 'Poppa' and 'Grandma'.
The kids, Ruby in particular, was under the weather when we arrived. Red, sore throats, and she was feverish and tired. Reese looked sick the day before, slept a lot in the van but seemed fine the next day. A good friend called in a scrip for amoxicillin as a preemptive measure as we were going to be spending lots of time with cousins ranging from 5 years to 18 months old. I think Ruby did have strep, not sure about Reese. Two days after antibiotics she said her throat didn't hurt anymore. We have a history here, of showing and leaving some extra 'love' for the cousins. I am trying to break the cycle.
As always when we are here we so enjoy the family. Spending time with siblings, watching the kids grow, reconnecting. It makes one long for the days where geography and distance prevents family from moving away. I think Rich would be more amenable to moving to the Front Range than I would. Despite the excellent restaurants and the ability for the open space and trails to balance the traffic, I don't think I could get over the sheer humanity of this area. We are truly blessed in Boise.
We took Piper and Nikkol out for dinner for Piper's birthday last night. No kids (had we ever had conversation without kids interrupting?) and it was great. The only time on the entire trip I wore make up, had cocktails and excellent food. It was a pork joint, but the vegetarian choice was to die for. No second class 'we have a pasta prima Vera', but real, delicious, fine dining. I so appreciated the food, the company and the experience.
The van went to Ft Collins the second day we were here for some minor changes and adjustments. The Subaru conversion necessitated a new wiring harness which we bought from an outfit there. Rich went up and hung out while the guys fined tuned the rig, making it that much more bomber. They also took everything out of every storage compartment which I replaced today. It is nice because I got to pre-organize for the great dismantling that will take place two days from now. That really made it feel as if the journey is over. Although we have two more days of Vanagon fun before pulling in the driveway!
The kids, Ruby in particular, was under the weather when we arrived. Red, sore throats, and she was feverish and tired. Reese looked sick the day before, slept a lot in the van but seemed fine the next day. A good friend called in a scrip for amoxicillin as a preemptive measure as we were going to be spending lots of time with cousins ranging from 5 years to 18 months old. I think Ruby did have strep, not sure about Reese. Two days after antibiotics she said her throat didn't hurt anymore. We have a history here, of showing and leaving some extra 'love' for the cousins. I am trying to break the cycle.
As always when we are here we so enjoy the family. Spending time with siblings, watching the kids grow, reconnecting. It makes one long for the days where geography and distance prevents family from moving away. I think Rich would be more amenable to moving to the Front Range than I would. Despite the excellent restaurants and the ability for the open space and trails to balance the traffic, I don't think I could get over the sheer humanity of this area. We are truly blessed in Boise.
We took Piper and Nikkol out for dinner for Piper's birthday last night. No kids (had we ever had conversation without kids interrupting?) and it was great. The only time on the entire trip I wore make up, had cocktails and excellent food. It was a pork joint, but the vegetarian choice was to die for. No second class 'we have a pasta prima Vera', but real, delicious, fine dining. I so appreciated the food, the company and the experience.
The van went to Ft Collins the second day we were here for some minor changes and adjustments. The Subaru conversion necessitated a new wiring harness which we bought from an outfit there. Rich went up and hung out while the guys fined tuned the rig, making it that much more bomber. They also took everything out of every storage compartment which I replaced today. It is nice because I got to pre-organize for the great dismantling that will take place two days from now. That really made it feel as if the journey is over. Although we have two more days of Vanagon fun before pulling in the driveway!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Sunflower State and Back to the West
August 1. I just realized Reese hasn't showered in a week. Lucky boy. I feel like it has been at least that long for me, so much so that I may start lobbying for a KOA. Tonight we plan on getting to a state park in central Missouri with swimming. We got duped yesterday.
It is a strange phenomenon here in the corn belt. We stayed at a relatively deserted state park off of Highway 50 with a small lake. I had looked it up online while we were driving (I spend a lot of time on the internet while Rich drives) and it said nothing about not being able to swim. But there was no swimming due to snapping turtles or algae or something. The kids adjusted more quickly than we did, switching to fishing. Ruby made a friend there as well.
Today we stop in Illinois for lunch at a state park thinking we would take a dip at the lake there. Again, no swimming!!!! And looking for a camping place in Missouri at state park or national forest campgrounds there would be an option to fish or boat but no swimming.
On highway 50 to St Louis corn and soybeans prevail. We witness food being grown to feed livestock instead of food for humans. Oceans of soybeans and tunnels of corn. Corn so high in some places it obstructs our view. Getting to our camp yesterday we wound through sections of farmland, houses sparse among the fields. The fields are labeled with signs, 'Pioneer' or ' Agro-Gold' advertise something I am not comfortable with. The seed? The chemicals? Not sure, but I don't like it. As we move through southern Illinois we see a version of the Bible Belt here, churches and signs for Christ on every corner.
I think we are all beginning to feel like we are ready to be home. Shorter tempers, Ruby crying for Idaho for the first time two nights ago. The kids sink into the iPad as soon as it is charged. We are 'headed for the barn' in this case Colorado. It is in our sights yet hours away. Stopping to eat takes too much time and when we do we are invariably disappointed in Yelp's ratings. I am too stubborn to join and give places a poor rating because of the politics--ALEC in particular. Look it up. Koch brothers suck.
While Reese sleeps (Tangled is not his thing) we cross the Mississippi again into St Louis, the Arch presiding proudly, the new bridge beautiful. We didn't stop, keeping our eye on the swimming prize, but saw a lot of beautiful old brick buildings in states of disrepair and abandonment. We arrived in time for dinner and a swim--at least the kids and Rich. Warm ponds give me the creeps. The best part was the shower, although it was cold. The state park had an ORV race this weekend and fortunately no one was racing around after eight pm. We bailed out early after a noisy evening of crickets, frogs and whatever holds concert most of the night and hit the road.
After stopping in Kansas City for another terrible lunch (thanks for nothing, Yelp!) and a visit to the Steamboat Arabia we headed out again. The steamboat is fascinating as it went aground in the Missouri River in the mid 1800s. Since then the Missouri rerouted itself and someone found it in a cornfield outside of KC. It was unearthed and large fortune of goods was found. It's side wheel paddle is open for display and the rest you can view through a museum. Both the kids were enthralled.
So, who has been wondering about the state of the van and the air conditioning? The engine still cuts outs under load at high speeds, for which we are seeing some folks in Colorado. It is similar to the feeling of having a clogged fuel line. It has started to stall after driving for awhile when slowing to stop as if the idle is set too low. Nothing that has proven dangerous. The air conditioning? It is fading. The air is not as cold as it was, but cooler than outside. As I type I am warm, sticky in places and I feel a sheen on my upper lip. The back of my head is cool, the kids aren't complaining, and it is hotter as we drive west. Guess time will tell. I don't see any changes until getting back to Boise.
It is a strange phenomenon here in the corn belt. We stayed at a relatively deserted state park off of Highway 50 with a small lake. I had looked it up online while we were driving (I spend a lot of time on the internet while Rich drives) and it said nothing about not being able to swim. But there was no swimming due to snapping turtles or algae or something. The kids adjusted more quickly than we did, switching to fishing. Ruby made a friend there as well.
Today we stop in Illinois for lunch at a state park thinking we would take a dip at the lake there. Again, no swimming!!!! And looking for a camping place in Missouri at state park or national forest campgrounds there would be an option to fish or boat but no swimming.
On highway 50 to St Louis corn and soybeans prevail. We witness food being grown to feed livestock instead of food for humans. Oceans of soybeans and tunnels of corn. Corn so high in some places it obstructs our view. Getting to our camp yesterday we wound through sections of farmland, houses sparse among the fields. The fields are labeled with signs, 'Pioneer' or ' Agro-Gold' advertise something I am not comfortable with. The seed? The chemicals? Not sure, but I don't like it. As we move through southern Illinois we see a version of the Bible Belt here, churches and signs for Christ on every corner.
I think we are all beginning to feel like we are ready to be home. Shorter tempers, Ruby crying for Idaho for the first time two nights ago. The kids sink into the iPad as soon as it is charged. We are 'headed for the barn' in this case Colorado. It is in our sights yet hours away. Stopping to eat takes too much time and when we do we are invariably disappointed in Yelp's ratings. I am too stubborn to join and give places a poor rating because of the politics--ALEC in particular. Look it up. Koch brothers suck.
While Reese sleeps (Tangled is not his thing) we cross the Mississippi again into St Louis, the Arch presiding proudly, the new bridge beautiful. We didn't stop, keeping our eye on the swimming prize, but saw a lot of beautiful old brick buildings in states of disrepair and abandonment. We arrived in time for dinner and a swim--at least the kids and Rich. Warm ponds give me the creeps. The best part was the shower, although it was cold. The state park had an ORV race this weekend and fortunately no one was racing around after eight pm. We bailed out early after a noisy evening of crickets, frogs and whatever holds concert most of the night and hit the road.
After stopping in Kansas City for another terrible lunch (thanks for nothing, Yelp!) and a visit to the Steamboat Arabia we headed out again. The steamboat is fascinating as it went aground in the Missouri River in the mid 1800s. Since then the Missouri rerouted itself and someone found it in a cornfield outside of KC. It was unearthed and large fortune of goods was found. It's side wheel paddle is open for display and the rest you can view through a museum. Both the kids were enthralled.
So, who has been wondering about the state of the van and the air conditioning? The engine still cuts outs under load at high speeds, for which we are seeing some folks in Colorado. It is similar to the feeling of having a clogged fuel line. It has started to stall after driving for awhile when slowing to stop as if the idle is set too low. Nothing that has proven dangerous. The air conditioning? It is fading. The air is not as cold as it was, but cooler than outside. As I type I am warm, sticky in places and I feel a sheen on my upper lip. The back of my head is cool, the kids aren't complaining, and it is hotter as we drive west. Guess time will tell. I don't see any changes until getting back to Boise.
Friday, August 1, 2014
Through the Heartland
July 31 Headed to Indiana after leaving Athens and friends behind. We nearly stopped at Big Muskie Bucket on the way there, but we were too close and it was to much out of the way. Big Muskie Bucket was used with drag lines and the entire OSU (that's Ohio, people, not Oklahoma) marching band could fit in it. We noticed in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and southwestern Ohio there was a propensity of adult stores. Like, superstores. Don't miss this exit! It was kinda wild. One had a billboard at the property line condemning pornography and those that engage in such nefarious activity "in the name of Jesus Christ."
Athens was lovely. A table of ten folks, some I knew well, some I knew a bit and a few I just met greeted me at Casa Nueva. It is an excellent worker owned Mexican type restaurant I ate many meals nearly thirty years ago.
We spent most of out time with our dear friend Tom out at his "shack" eleven miles out of town. He owns 16 wooded acres that he taps for maple syrup. It was Reese's favorite place to be, where he could admire the tractor, catch fireflies and play with the camp fire. We walked around town and campus, memories popping up like crocuses in the spring. I didn't know I wanted to revisit my first dorm and the walk up the bridge to town but Rich suggested we walk around campus and I was grateful he did. The kids weren't too happy about it all so to make life more manageable we grabbed Carol, Tom's wife and headed back out to the country.
Tom and Carol were awesome with the kids, as only childless people can be. Tom showed them fossils he had collected although Reese was more fascinated with the arrowhead collection Tom couldn't find. Carol held Ruby and played with both of them. The kids weren't feeling Athens. All adults, all the time. Like I said, Tom's place saved our sanity.
The town hadn't changed all that much. I was struck by what was still there twenty-five years later. That isn't to say the town hadn't grown or downtown businesses hadn't changed. It has, but much was still the same. The weather wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered either. I remember taking three cold showers in one day because it was so hot and humid. It was pleasant, and minimal bugs! We got to watch a thunderstorm come in turning the skies purpley gray. The thickly treed hills seemed to roll forever, obscuring cell signal making us feel more isolated than we were. Driving through the hills reminded me of our Saturday morning bike rides, pre-mountain biking. Twenty to forty mile rides with two to eight of us rolling around the hills, fighting off dogs on lonely roads. Lovely memories, lovely visit.
Athens was lovely. A table of ten folks, some I knew well, some I knew a bit and a few I just met greeted me at Casa Nueva. It is an excellent worker owned Mexican type restaurant I ate many meals nearly thirty years ago.
We spent most of out time with our dear friend Tom out at his "shack" eleven miles out of town. He owns 16 wooded acres that he taps for maple syrup. It was Reese's favorite place to be, where he could admire the tractor, catch fireflies and play with the camp fire. We walked around town and campus, memories popping up like crocuses in the spring. I didn't know I wanted to revisit my first dorm and the walk up the bridge to town but Rich suggested we walk around campus and I was grateful he did. The kids weren't too happy about it all so to make life more manageable we grabbed Carol, Tom's wife and headed back out to the country.
Tom and Carol were awesome with the kids, as only childless people can be. Tom showed them fossils he had collected although Reese was more fascinated with the arrowhead collection Tom couldn't find. Carol held Ruby and played with both of them. The kids weren't feeling Athens. All adults, all the time. Like I said, Tom's place saved our sanity.
The town hadn't changed all that much. I was struck by what was still there twenty-five years later. That isn't to say the town hadn't grown or downtown businesses hadn't changed. It has, but much was still the same. The weather wasn't nearly as bad as I remembered either. I remember taking three cold showers in one day because it was so hot and humid. It was pleasant, and minimal bugs! We got to watch a thunderstorm come in turning the skies purpley gray. The thickly treed hills seemed to roll forever, obscuring cell signal making us feel more isolated than we were. Driving through the hills reminded me of our Saturday morning bike rides, pre-mountain biking. Twenty to forty mile rides with two to eight of us rolling around the hills, fighting off dogs on lonely roads. Lovely memories, lovely visit.
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