I was fortunate to spend many of my early years traveling with my parents. Mom and Dad would plan lengthy trips every couple of years: we saw everything from Civil War battle sites to grand plantation homes; from the Okefenokee Swamp to the Grand Mouse House (DisneyWorld–in its early days) and New Orleans; from the Great Smoky Mountains to Kitty Hawk and the other beaches of the Outer Banks. On the off years, we would travel a bit more locally. Sundays were drives in the country. Weekend trips to such places as Amana, IA were the highlight of the gas shortage era. My parents introduced me to Door County, WI as an adult, when Adrian was a mere toddler.
I am trying to give this same gift to Rowan.
Thus, five- and four-years ago, our trips to Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and Rocky Mountain National Park; Theodore Roosevelt National Park, through much of Oregon, and back to Yellowstone.
This year, after a two-year hiatus, we are living more of our dream of staying on the road. At this writing, we are beginning our sixth week of adventuring. We have met many wonderful people–growing our community–and discovered awe-inspiring beauty of all shapes and sizes. We rarely, this trip, have chosen the quickest path from place to place. More, we are taking the time to wander, look, listen, taste our beautiful country.
A journey that would have taken a bit more than 10 hours via superhighway, has taken that and more since we chose the local highways.
Those 10 hours are relative: see flat lands and rest areas; or see mountain peaks, sand dunes, wild rivers, pass through (and sleep in) numerous (10, in the past week) national forests, meet many interesting people, drool over sweet little ranches, gaze in awe at lightning from several storms surrounding us as we are completely encircled by mountain, lose track of the number and beautiful colorings of the horses seen, and record the several rainbows–one double, one which lifted its left leg even as it placed its right leg on the earth–and LIVE!
Our journey also takes a bit longer for other reasons: partly because we take Mischief and Puck for walks each day, as well as making more stops to make sure they are fed, watered, and comfortable. They walked–and were carried, a bit–about two miles up a mountainside near Santa Fe. It is good for them to stretch their kitty legs and smell, taste, and see the different forms the world takes.
Mischief and Puck are still not used to traveling, but they are more eager to go exploring, pacing and meowing when we show them their leashes.
And the journey would not be possible as such, were it not for Serenity Blue, our sweet little Chevy Astro Van. She has borne up well during many reconfigurations along the road. She is a true Firefly Class Ship, always flying that extra parsec.
Thanks, Mom.
Peace. Love. Journey.
