March 30 - Seattle

It took me 3-4 months to pack for my trip. It took me 10 minutes to unload everything out of my car but will take days to get it all put away! Only hoping it doesn’t take months to put it all away! First day back included grocery shopping, to the beach for a quick picture of the magnificent Olympic Mountains, a little yard work (pruned rose bushes and most the raspberry bushes), swept the driveway, sort thru mail, pay bills, put away Christmas decorations, and visit my very dear friend Carreen recovering from a broken hip. I ended the evening spending sometime on the beach at 8661 watching the sunset! 

And tomorrow look forward to celebrating the Lord’s resurrection!

March 29 - Seattle here we come!

Kristie and I ate breakfast and worked on mapping the route home. We found it was only 11 1/2 hours driving north on I15 to I84 to I90 all 4 lane highways. I decided let’s do this! More beautiful landscape that changed by the hour! We stopped every 2 1/2 to 3 hours for gas, potty break and one stop included a stop at Dairy Queen for a Blizzard! Upon recommendation from Lori we pulled off the highway to drive into Twin Falls Idaho to see the bridge and gorge. See notes below with pictures!

My last day of 9 months of driving cross country on mostly 2 lane roads, intentionally connecting with family and friends, praying for each and everyone. Priceless connections! Receiving countless blessings everyday! 

Lori Daacke Porter, Ogden Utah

Snake River

Twin Falls Idaho Bridge, Perrine Bridge. Base jumpers enjoy the bridge as their launching pad for parachuting to the canyon floor below. BASE jumping is a sport involving the use of a parachute to jump from fixed objects. BASE is an acronym that stands for the 4 categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: Building, Antenna, Span, Earth. The Perrine abridge spans the majestic Snake River Canyon 486 feet above the river and is truly the only man-made structure in the ISA where BASE jumping is allowed year round without a permit!

Home Sweet Home! 

Left Seattle July 9, 2023 at noon.

Returned to Seattle March 29, 2024 7:15pm

Last day driving: Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Washington 

Next post will be some of my reflections of this grand adventure!

March 28 Flashing Lights! Bryce Canyon

We left our hotel in Kanab at 7:45 to begin a two hour drive to Bryce Canyon…all was going well until the car in front of me started braking, I looked in my rear view mirror and their were red and blue flashing lights! Dang! I’d driven cross country and back (18,000 miles) over nine months and I’m being pulled over! Before Officer Friendly got to my car door I already had my driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance ready for him. Grrr! He was very pleasant, said I was going 12 miles over the speed limit. Dang! I have consistently set my cruise control but for a few minutes I hadn’t, seeing a passing lane approaching I’d sped up to pass a car. Gotcha! Well I think Officer Friendly decided to take his lunch break and let me stew in my car! Which I did! 20 minutes later when he came back to my car, he only gave me a verbal warning!!! If I’d gotten a ticket I probably would NOT have told the story!

It was on to Bryce Canyon, but first a stop for a few pictures at the entrance to Dixie National Forest, elevation 7,777. The colors and formations were incredible. Then a quick stop at the Visitor Center at Bryce Canyon to learn how to make the best use of the time. Instructions were to drive the scenic drive stopping at each of the overlooks Natural Bridge, Aqua Canyon, Ponderosa Canyon and finally Rainbow Point at 9,115 feet. Each stop got colder, and windier! By the time we reached Rainbow Point it was so cold and windy we “almost “ didn’t get out of the car! We braved it for a couple of Bert quick pictures but were definitely missing having gloves and warm hats! Others were more prepared that we were! Of course more and more snow as we climbed in elevation, and the wind increased to become bitter cold! What a contrast in the weather and landscape from Zion one day and Bryce the next! Both magnificent! 

 Because it was SO COLD we covered Bryce Canyon much quicker than anticipated! That changed our overnight destination for the day to Ogden Utah. And after determining that would be our stay for the night I was able to get in touch with Lori Daacke Porter, she was in my very early years of youth ministry. Though Thursday is her busiest day, she is a Licensed Master Esthetician. She was able to stop by our hotel about 6:30 and we headed across the street to Slackwater a favorite restaurant of Lori’s and definitely a popular place. We each enjoyed tasty pizza, and Kristie and I had enough leftover for the next day! The best part of the day, if you have been following my blog you know, it was watching the Lord orchestrate the details of be able to connect with Lori and then to share precious and sweet fellowship as we caught up on each others lives. Five minutes after saying goodbye to Lori I was kicking myself! I had forgotten to get a picture of us! She was so sweet and the next morning she stopped at the hotel for a quick pic! Thankfully our hotel was only a few blocks from where she worked!

Our drive into Salt Lake and Ogden was a bit challenging with it being rush hour but the bigger challenge was the super sloppy snow stormy conditions! So thankful and aware of the Lord’s protection.

Natural Bridge, the “bridge” is technically an arch. The arc spans 85 feet and appears solid and enduring but weather is constantly chipping away at the opening. It may last hundreds or thousands of years, or it could collapse tomorrow.

March 27 More Zion Pics

March 27 Tempe to Zion National Park

One word to summarize the sights today! WOW! Our God is an awesome God! Kristie and I headed out from the hotel at 7:30 with a 7 1/2 hour drive ahead crossing numerous mountain passes,  seeing the red rock and terrain I’ve only seen in books. Hard to paint a picture with words! Will include a few pictures! More mountain passes, snow on the forest floor of one mountain passes, maybe even snow in two passes it all becomes a blur at the end of the day! 

Didn’t arrive to Zion Canyon until 4pm! The drive in from the East side to the West entrance was truly amazing but hard to drive and LOOK at the same time! Emma Foulk who is working at the restaurant in Zion National Park was so sweet to rearrange her schedule AND spend several hours with us on a short hike/walk on the Pa’rus Trail along the river. (3.5 miles, I got my 10,000 plus steps easily today even when driving for 8 plus hours!!!! That’s a first!). Then we went into Springdale just outside the park to find a place to eat! It was a hopping place and finally ate at our third stop MeMe’s Restaurant. We had great burgers, fries and shared crepes for dessert! One cinnamon and the other a mixed berry! Emma got to take some fries and crepes home for a treat tomorrow!

We said our goodbyes, see you in a few weeks, at 7:15, just as planned so we could drive back through the park before it got dark…the road was narrow, windy with hairpin turns, an amazingly narrow Zion Mt Carmel tunnel built in 1927, completed in 1930, it is the longest vehicular tunnel in the national park system just shy of one.  It was dusk as we left the park and dark when we reached our hotel 45 minutes later in Kanab Utah. During our drive at dusk we came across 15-20 Bambi’s next to the road, very thankful they all kept eating and the ones that chose to bolt, bolted into the woods and NOT onto the road!

I was reminded once again today that my favorite part of this grand travel adventure continues to be the individual connections with friends, family, former youth, young adults, young children. Hearing their stories, their dreams, their struggles, their joys and then the blessing of being able to pray for each as I drive. 

A couple other tidbits just for my own notes and to add later include filling up with gas next to a self service car wash (the only kind I can use because of my car top carrier). Even though I was in a hurry to get to Zion and meet up with Emma we paused for me to give the car a quick 12 minute car wash.  Also saw Glen Canyon Dam.

March 26 - Albuquerque to Tempe thru snow and…

Another crazy day of weather! Sunshine, rain, clouds, snow, fog, almost whiteout snowstorm (not quite as I’ve been in a real whiteout in Iowa years ago!). Numerous mountain passes, crossed the international divide, red dirt, pines, over the next mountain pass round a corner and there are cactus! And then there were the truck drivers! The ones that give truck drivers a bad name…4 lane roads today, 2 each way which normally have worked great. Today was a full moon for truck drivers! They would pull to the left passing lane as you were coming up to them and they didn’t have enough “guts/power” to make if for another 2 miles! It happened over and over again probably cuz there were so many mountain pass to go over! Most passes were about 6,000 feet! Came around the corner on one pass and all of a sudden there were cactus every where! Looked for the next place I could pull over which was several miles further down the road to take a picture!

Arrived at Hannah and Nick’s (John and Kristie Jacobs oldest daughter) midafternoon and got to meet 4 month old Addie, what a cutie! She and I had some special bonding time and did great! Caught up on Hannah’s work as an Occupational Therapist with young children and new mom. After supper got to hear about Nick’s patent and business venture with Vegas Nerve Stimulation, and he was so patient explaining it and then I got to try it! Fascinating! Opps! And yes, Grandma Kristie flew down on Sunday and will join me for the last 4 days of driving from Tempe to Seattle!

On my drive to Tempe, at Heber, Arizona.

Rio Verda, Arizona

Mommy Hannah could make Addie smile!

Trying Vegas Nerve Stimulation 

March 25 Crazy Weather Day!

Today was a long day of driving Frisco Texas to Albuquerque New Mexico as well as crazy weather but will touch on that a little later.

My plan was to leave Tammy’s between 8-9 this morning, I made it out the door by 8:55. Hard to say goodbyes to Tammy and Tooksey (never did learn how to spell her name!). We were using words up until departure time and I was spoiled with my yogurt and berries each morning, I either got homemade almond cake or raspberry Kringle!!! Today was no exception!

Hoping Tammy and I can connect again in the not too distant future, so the goodbye was really a see you soon!

Notes from today’s driving: lots of windmills, solar panels, red dirt, tractors out working in the fields and SNIW! My first time to New Mexico! Drove Highway 40 most of the day, a little bit Route 66, just to be able to say I drove it! Sure wish I could remember other observations I made while driving today…need a recorder to be able to remember what I saw!

The biggest surprise was driving through 4 hours of snow flurries this afternoon/evening. Saw brightness a couple of times but sometimes visibility was down to1/2 mile! Would drive through snow flurries for anywhere from 15-30 minutes, it would stop and 5 minutes later start up again. Sometimes it was the snow just blowing across the road, really couldn’t see snow flakes. Wasn’t sure if I should call it a shorter day of driving but really glad I didn’t cuz nothing stuck to the roads!

March 23-24 Palm Sunday with Chuck Swindoll

Saturday afternoon was so fun going to Tammy’s daughter Lisa and Tom Peterson’s for a tour around their neighborhood in their golf cart, walking the 3 dogs (sorry no picture!) and enjoying a great bbq and as always great fellowship and conversation. Almost forgot to mention the scrumptious toffee cake made with dates, topped with a drizzle of warm caramel sauce and dollop of whip cream! Youngest daughter Lydia and her friend Maggie were home from college so delightful to get to know them a wee bit! 

This morning joined Tammy, Lisa and Tom in worship and Sunday school at Stonebriar Community Church, with Pastor Chuck Swindoll preaching, still preaching most every Sunday at age 89. Definitely a growing and thriving church! Blessed by the music, the preaching and adult Sunday School class on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12.

Quiet afternoon except for our continued conversation on the sermon and again no shortage of WORDS! 

Tonight  Tom and Lisa joined us for dinner, hopefully Lisa will finish making her Scrubbie (yes she did!), and much more great conversation! Wasn’t just good conversation but sweet fellowship! I so love getting to know each on a personal level!

Unfortunately tomorrow I’m back on the road (630 miles on Monday) for the final 6 days of travel home! What an incredible grand adventure this has been! But, it’s not over yet! Stay tuned!

Toffee cake made with dates, topped with warm caramel sauce and a dollop of whipped cream!

Tom and Lisa Peterson

March 22 - Dallas Arboretum

Daughter Lisa Peterson picked up Tammy and I at 10 and we headed to the Dallas Arboretum! Was an overcast day, perfect for walking and not quite as busy as when Lisa and a friend tried to go last week and couldn’t even get in to find a parking place! Most of the tulips got hit pretty good with rain but yesterday and overnight but everything else was beautiful and the constant conversation such a blessing! After a several hours of walking around the arboretum it was time to enjoy some lunch. Got a taste of Dallas traffic today! Oh my!

Plants ready to go in the ground!

A team “making it beautiful!”

A wall of azaleas behind us!

Might come back later and add a little about the arboretum!

March 21 - McPherson Kansas thru Oklahoma to Frisco, Texas

Left my hotel about 9:30 first enjoying 2 lane roads, then 4 lane roads thru Oklahoma and into Texas. A couple of lovely ladies at the Oklahoma rest stop when asked if I liked tacos (if you know me at all you know I LOVE tacos!) and recommended Torchy’s Tacos in Norman Oklahoma 90 minutes down the road! What a great recommendation! They were excellent!

Then back on the road to drive another 3 hours! So thankful for GPS as it brought me to the doorstep of dear longtime friend Tammy Daacke! Saw her looking out the front door as I drove up at 6:02pm! (Had told her I would try to arrive between 6-7pm! Nailed it!) After greetings and hugs I got my official and very warm welcome from Tooksie (see pics). Quickly unloaded the car and then it was time for us to share an evening of WORDS together! There was no shortage of words! Oh how wonderful to begin to catch up on one another’s lives!

Look at the lead article! 

You gotta love these small towns!

My new little buddy! Receiving some TLC!

March 20 Treynor to York to Lindsborg to McPherson

Said my goodbyes to Anna, Bennett and Dawson this morning. Missed goodbyes to Aaron as he was already long gone to work!

Left the farm outside of Treynor Iowa for a two hour drive due east to York Nebraska for a quick tasty chicken and rice and salad with Suzannah and Matthew Wattermann. You might remember I was able to attend their wedding August 2023, they then stayed in my house August to December as I was out driving the country! Never expected to get to stop by their place on this trip but so very glad it worked out! Sweet conversation catching up and very special to see some of the furniture from the beach house that Suzannah first had in her SeaTac apartment and then transported to York Nebraska.

Next stop Lindsborg Kansas with time at Hemslogd a shop with Swedish items that I learned about years ago and said if I’m ever in Kansas I just must stop! I am and I did! I of course saw many things I have, mom had or I’ve seen in Sweden on the many trips! It was just fun to look and not be in a hurry! I think I spent nearly an hour and a half! Then walking the streets of Lindsborg, stopping for an early supper at Crown and Rye, enjoying their Toast Skagren…shrimp salad with dill and rye toast! Really good! Then on to my hotel to do laundry and relax before a 7 plus hour day of driving Thursday.