Kim's Perspective:
12,557 pictures and video clips equaling 62.1GB
Total miles driven: 17,500+
Total number of weeks on the road: 16
Total National Parks visited: 16
Total number of trailer mishaps: 2 (tire replacement and broken hitch)
Total number of people mishaps: 2
Total number of hours spent blogging: hundreds
Traveling this beautiful country and experiencing so many amazing things with your best friend/husband and your two beloved Belgian Sheepdog children by your side: PRICELESS
Bill’s Perspective:
This trip was phenomenal. There are many aspects of it that are obvious but some that might not be. For instance, the driving itself was a unique experience. We have done quite a few longish journeys in our time together. We drove home from Acadia National Park in Maine in a day. We also drove home from Port Canaveral FL in a day. We have done multiple consecutive 500 plus mile days on the motorcycles and the occasional 600 plus mile day just for fun. However, this was the first time either of us had driven this type of distance over this amount of time. I was concerned that it would be taxing or get old. I wondered if I would simply tire of driving. I did not. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I continued to hunger for more. The new truck didn’t hurt but it was just the idea that I was going to see something new EVERY DAY that made the prospect of getting back in the truck each day a positive experience. You’d think that after 4 months of this, we would start to yearn for home. We did not…at all. In fact, we largely dreaded the thought of bringing this trip to an end and spoke often of how we could extend it. The funding and the weather made it a futile conversation but one we enjoyed nonetheless.
Another very unique aspect of this trip was the role it played in our relationship. What happens when you reduce your living quarters by 83% (90% if you count the basement), reduce your alone time to that spent in the bathroom, and completely sacrifice the concept of personal space? Throw in 2 medium sized dogs that can no longer just be let out into their fenced yard and must be taken for walks regardless of the weather. You might think this would be a recipe for relationship disaster. For many people, I suspect you’d be right. However, this was not the case for us. There were days when we didn’t see eye to eye but we were both able to maintain the proper perspective and I attribute this almost entirely to our Sunday School lessons, regular church attendance and daily devotions. We have constant reminders of how things are supposed to be and what each of us needs to do to make it happen. If we had done this trip ten years ago, the outcome would likely have been different. :)
I discovered many things on this journey. Here are a few:
- I love not knowing what the next day will hold.
- Fear of the unknown is pointless.
- Time is both precious and meaningless (deep, huh?).
- Old people are cool. Old people who travel are extremely cool.
- Traveling is a lifestyle I could easily embrace (if not afford).
- As much as I thought I was shallow and materialistic, I can get by quite nicely with far less than I have.
If you ever get a chance to do something like this, I strongly recommend it. The things we saw and did will be with us forever. If I were struck down today, I’d have little in the way of things I regretted not doing.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
November 7...En Route to Home
(Kim's Perspective)
We woke up very early this morning as we knew we had a lot of miles to cover. We sped up our usual routine and were in the truck and pulling out of the campground by 6:40am.
We had over 600 miles to cover so we knew the day would consist of NASCAR stops and mile after mile of highway driving. Joyous.
It was quite foggy and made navigating the exit ramps and reading the highway signs somewhat difficult...
...but we were lucky enough to catch a few minutes of the sunrise before we had to deal with the fog.
It did make for a few cool pictures though...
We crossed into Kentucky early morning....
..and into West Virginia by 11am.
Right after getting into WV, we rolled up on an SUV that was on fire.
It took a surprisingly short period of time for the fire fighters to put it out and get traffic moving again. Thank heavens. Knowing we had 6 more hours of driving ahead of us, we were not inclined to deal with traffic delays. Not that we could have done anything about it. We did have to slow down at various points to accommodate these monsters (when we were on stretches of road with only 2 lanes as opposed to the 3 in this pic), but they didn't take too long to get around.
Merlin was losing interest in being in the truck for that long, but he relegated himself to being bored and taking frequent naps. :)
It was depressing to see the Maryland Welcomes You sign. :(
I tried to look at the rolling countryside with a fresh eye and a new perspective. No, there aren't rugged alpine peaks or beautiful meadows or deep canyons, but if I look hard enough, I can find some redeeming qualities. Take this little barn for example. Cute, eh?
At the 79/68 split we became oh so familiar with the drive home and realized we had traveled for 4 straight months without being familiar with the roads or our surroundings. We like that a lot apparently. You just never know what's going to be around the next turn.
The late afternoon sky and the sunset was pretty cool even if it was in Maryland. ;)
We got home right around 6 o'clock and parked the trailer redneck style in the front yard. It will take several days to unpack and get everything cleaned up and put away.
We aren't happy to be back home. We really like this traveling lifestyle. The only 2 negative aspects to it have been no church and no income. (HA!)
This adventure was absolutely fantastic and I am so grateful for the opportunity to do it. Nothing will ever take away the memories we made on this trip. I will never regret spending the money or taking the time. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip...that I'm hoping we'll one day have the opportunity to do again.
Now it's time to make the biscuits... :)
We woke up very early this morning as we knew we had a lot of miles to cover. We sped up our usual routine and were in the truck and pulling out of the campground by 6:40am.
We had over 600 miles to cover so we knew the day would consist of NASCAR stops and mile after mile of highway driving. Joyous.
It was quite foggy and made navigating the exit ramps and reading the highway signs somewhat difficult...
...but we were lucky enough to catch a few minutes of the sunrise before we had to deal with the fog.
It did make for a few cool pictures though...
We crossed into Kentucky early morning....
..and into West Virginia by 11am.
Right after getting into WV, we rolled up on an SUV that was on fire.
It took a surprisingly short period of time for the fire fighters to put it out and get traffic moving again. Thank heavens. Knowing we had 6 more hours of driving ahead of us, we were not inclined to deal with traffic delays. Not that we could have done anything about it. We did have to slow down at various points to accommodate these monsters (when we were on stretches of road with only 2 lanes as opposed to the 3 in this pic), but they didn't take too long to get around.
Merlin was losing interest in being in the truck for that long, but he relegated himself to being bored and taking frequent naps. :)
It was depressing to see the Maryland Welcomes You sign. :(
I tried to look at the rolling countryside with a fresh eye and a new perspective. No, there aren't rugged alpine peaks or beautiful meadows or deep canyons, but if I look hard enough, I can find some redeeming qualities. Take this little barn for example. Cute, eh?
At the 79/68 split we became oh so familiar with the drive home and realized we had traveled for 4 straight months without being familiar with the roads or our surroundings. We like that a lot apparently. You just never know what's going to be around the next turn.
The late afternoon sky and the sunset was pretty cool even if it was in Maryland. ;)
We got home right around 6 o'clock and parked the trailer redneck style in the front yard. It will take several days to unpack and get everything cleaned up and put away.
We aren't happy to be back home. We really like this traveling lifestyle. The only 2 negative aspects to it have been no church and no income. (HA!)
This adventure was absolutely fantastic and I am so grateful for the opportunity to do it. Nothing will ever take away the memories we made on this trip. I will never regret spending the money or taking the time. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip...that I'm hoping we'll one day have the opportunity to do again.
Now it's time to make the biscuits... :)
Saturday, November 6, 2010
November 6...Eastward Bound...Versailles State Park (Indiana)
(Kim's Perspective)
Today was a long day. We woke up, hitched up, and were on the road by 8:15. We didn't realize it when we came in last night, but the campground is on a little peninsula so it's surrounded by water on three sides. Quite pretty really.
We got on the highway and started booking. Out of Missouri, into Illinois...
...into Indiana.
We were initially thinking we'd just bust home on 70 through Ohio and down, but that's boring and we've already done that. So, somewhere mid-Illinois I said "What do you think about going through Kentucky? Kentucky is a really pretty state to drive through. It's been a long time since we've driven through Kentucky." Bill, as always, was open for whatever. :)
I initially found a park about an hour east of Lexington, but we bailed on the highway and took 36 so it took us a little longer to get where we needed to go.
A pretty drive though. Beats being on the highway.
Yes, that is a full size tree growing from that steeple. :-O
Around 5pm, I found another place to camp - someplace a little closer and where we could find a spot and set up before dark. Bill was all for it. We found a spot that required leveling from side to side, but it was level enough front to back that we just kept the truck hitched. This will save us a few minutes in the morning.
Our drive tomorrow will be longer, but we'll pick up the extra hour we lost (end of daylight savings time vs. the hour we gained driving out of central time) and will hopefully get an early start. I'm looking forward to getting home (I miss Lane, church, and our friends and family) but I'm really sad about it too. It's been an amazing four months. I've seen so much and have enjoyed it every step of the way. Okay, so I didn't enjoy the broken rib or the kidney stones or the bronchitis so much, but aside from those things, it's been fabulous. :P
So...This is our last night in the trailer and I'm kind of bummed. Sure, we'll go on other trips, but this is the end of BKEA. And that's what makes me sad.
Guess I'll just have to start planning the sequel. :)
Today was a long day. We woke up, hitched up, and were on the road by 8:15. We didn't realize it when we came in last night, but the campground is on a little peninsula so it's surrounded by water on three sides. Quite pretty really.
We got on the highway and started booking. Out of Missouri, into Illinois...
...into Indiana.
We were initially thinking we'd just bust home on 70 through Ohio and down, but that's boring and we've already done that. So, somewhere mid-Illinois I said "What do you think about going through Kentucky? Kentucky is a really pretty state to drive through. It's been a long time since we've driven through Kentucky." Bill, as always, was open for whatever. :)
I initially found a park about an hour east of Lexington, but we bailed on the highway and took 36 so it took us a little longer to get where we needed to go.
A pretty drive though. Beats being on the highway.
Yes, that is a full size tree growing from that steeple. :-O
Around 5pm, I found another place to camp - someplace a little closer and where we could find a spot and set up before dark. Bill was all for it. We found a spot that required leveling from side to side, but it was level enough front to back that we just kept the truck hitched. This will save us a few minutes in the morning.
Our drive tomorrow will be longer, but we'll pick up the extra hour we lost (end of daylight savings time vs. the hour we gained driving out of central time) and will hopefully get an early start. I'm looking forward to getting home (I miss Lane, church, and our friends and family) but I'm really sad about it too. It's been an amazing four months. I've seen so much and have enjoyed it every step of the way. Okay, so I didn't enjoy the broken rib or the kidney stones or the bronchitis so much, but aside from those things, it's been fabulous. :P
So...This is our last night in the trailer and I'm kind of bummed. Sure, we'll go on other trips, but this is the end of BKEA. And that's what makes me sad.
Guess I'll just have to start planning the sequel. :)
Friday, November 5, 2010
November 5...Goodbye to Darcie and eastward bound (Long Branch State Rec. Area - Missouri)
(Kim's Perspective)
We woke up around 7:45 this morning. Darcie was already up with Gibbs so Bill let the Boys outside while I got dressed and made my way upstairs. Man that bed was comfortable. The best part - that was the warmest I've been in MONTHS. Literally. It was so nice not to go to bed freezing my butt off and shivering while I wait for my sleeping bag to warm me up. Or, to roll out of bed and not have to heat my clothes over the heating ducts. :) We have heat in the trailer, but it doesn't stay warm - it fluctuates drastically. I'm generally either chilly or downright cold. Unless I'm in my sleeping bag...but it's kind of hard to move around in a mummy bag. ;)
Bill made omelets for breakfast and Darcie said she had time to take us on a walk of the property. Wow. 300 acres is really big. We so need to move out here. The Boys had a blast. Gibbs romped around and bounded through the grass trying to keep up with the Boys. He's so cute and so smart. It's amazing to see what patient, kind, and thorough training can do for a puppy. Maybe I'll vacation in Nebraska when we get our next Belgian pup. :)
We got back to the house and chatted for a little longer before Darcie had to leave for work. We said our goodbyes and then headed downstairs for the most amazing shower. I'm not sure how long we were in there, but needless to say, it was longer than the 5 minute showers we had been taking. It was amazing too because there were two shower heads - a handheld massager thingy and then a big garden style shower head hanging from the ceiling. There was a huge air bath tub, and the shower was just in the corner of the room with no annoying doors so there was tons of room. No bashing your elbows in here - another thing we've dealt with for the last four months. Not complaining - the trailer shower does what it's supposed to do, but sometimes a hot, long shower is just in order. Ahhhhhhhh......
We dragged ourselves out, got dressed, packed our things and hitched up the trailer. I left a note for Darcie - a completely inadequate thank you for her hospitality - and we headed out around 1pm. How do you properly show your gratitude for something like that??? I've got to come up with something good.
The drive was nice. Since we got a late start, we didn't get very far, but we did manage to get through Iowa (ha!) and into Missouri.
This trip has been great for my appreciation of the Midwest states. Before, when we've driven through them trying to get to our destination for our week long vacation, they always annoyed me. It takes forever to drive through Kansas and Nebraska and some of those other flat, desolate states - and this always used to irritate me. I just wanted to get where I was going and I wanted to see something "grand and spectacular" along the way. You know, the metropolitan area attitude. This trip has given me new perspective on what is grand and spectacular. In fact, I kind of like it out here. I love seeing the farms and all the beautiful barns.
I told Bill that if I were given the choice of living in a multi-million dollar mansion on a beautifully landscaped lot or living in an old farm house on hundreds of acres of cropland, I'd take the farm any day. There's something "real" about this land. There are no pretenses - everything is as it seems. It's hard to put in words - I know what I feel and what I'm trying to say but it's not coming out right. It's just, well, it's America. It's simple and pure and good and a way of life that is honorable and meaningful and important. It's not about money or the stock market or home values. It's not about climbing the corporate ladder or advanced degrees and certifications or about mergers and acquisitions. It's something totally different and something that is very appealing to me.
Maybe my sister will want to come out here and start up her small farm. She's already got the help... ;) Whatcha' think, Sis? :)
We arrived at Long Branch just as the sun was setting for the evening. We quickly found a site, paid our fees and then took the Boys for a walk.
It was a really great day. I loved getting to know Darcie better and it was great to experience hospitality on a level that I never thought existed. The drive was beautiful and the conversation pleasant. The Boys were great - as they've been for this entire trip and life, well, life is just good.
We woke up around 7:45 this morning. Darcie was already up with Gibbs so Bill let the Boys outside while I got dressed and made my way upstairs. Man that bed was comfortable. The best part - that was the warmest I've been in MONTHS. Literally. It was so nice not to go to bed freezing my butt off and shivering while I wait for my sleeping bag to warm me up. Or, to roll out of bed and not have to heat my clothes over the heating ducts. :) We have heat in the trailer, but it doesn't stay warm - it fluctuates drastically. I'm generally either chilly or downright cold. Unless I'm in my sleeping bag...but it's kind of hard to move around in a mummy bag. ;)
Bill made omelets for breakfast and Darcie said she had time to take us on a walk of the property. Wow. 300 acres is really big. We so need to move out here. The Boys had a blast. Gibbs romped around and bounded through the grass trying to keep up with the Boys. He's so cute and so smart. It's amazing to see what patient, kind, and thorough training can do for a puppy. Maybe I'll vacation in Nebraska when we get our next Belgian pup. :)
We got back to the house and chatted for a little longer before Darcie had to leave for work. We said our goodbyes and then headed downstairs for the most amazing shower. I'm not sure how long we were in there, but needless to say, it was longer than the 5 minute showers we had been taking. It was amazing too because there were two shower heads - a handheld massager thingy and then a big garden style shower head hanging from the ceiling. There was a huge air bath tub, and the shower was just in the corner of the room with no annoying doors so there was tons of room. No bashing your elbows in here - another thing we've dealt with for the last four months. Not complaining - the trailer shower does what it's supposed to do, but sometimes a hot, long shower is just in order. Ahhhhhhhh......
We dragged ourselves out, got dressed, packed our things and hitched up the trailer. I left a note for Darcie - a completely inadequate thank you for her hospitality - and we headed out around 1pm. How do you properly show your gratitude for something like that??? I've got to come up with something good.
The drive was nice. Since we got a late start, we didn't get very far, but we did manage to get through Iowa (ha!) and into Missouri.
This trip has been great for my appreciation of the Midwest states. Before, when we've driven through them trying to get to our destination for our week long vacation, they always annoyed me. It takes forever to drive through Kansas and Nebraska and some of those other flat, desolate states - and this always used to irritate me. I just wanted to get where I was going and I wanted to see something "grand and spectacular" along the way. You know, the metropolitan area attitude. This trip has given me new perspective on what is grand and spectacular. In fact, I kind of like it out here. I love seeing the farms and all the beautiful barns.
I told Bill that if I were given the choice of living in a multi-million dollar mansion on a beautifully landscaped lot or living in an old farm house on hundreds of acres of cropland, I'd take the farm any day. There's something "real" about this land. There are no pretenses - everything is as it seems. It's hard to put in words - I know what I feel and what I'm trying to say but it's not coming out right. It's just, well, it's America. It's simple and pure and good and a way of life that is honorable and meaningful and important. It's not about money or the stock market or home values. It's not about climbing the corporate ladder or advanced degrees and certifications or about mergers and acquisitions. It's something totally different and something that is very appealing to me.
Maybe my sister will want to come out here and start up her small farm. She's already got the help... ;) Whatcha' think, Sis? :)
We arrived at Long Branch just as the sun was setting for the evening. We quickly found a site, paid our fees and then took the Boys for a walk.
It was a really great day. I loved getting to know Darcie better and it was great to experience hospitality on a level that I never thought existed. The drive was beautiful and the conversation pleasant. The Boys were great - as they've been for this entire trip and life, well, life is just good.
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