West Coast 2009, Day 35 FINAL DAY

Last BLOG Day 35 (Until next year that is ;-))

I am sorry to be a little melancholy, but this adventure has ended it is has been too short, if you can believe that.

The trip has been un-believable, and it would not have been possible for the support of all our family and friends. We ARE ALL VERY blessed to have you in our lives, and cannot thank you enough for the support. However, I need to send a special thanks to all of my co-workers for covering my back in my absence…you know who you are!

We have been blessed beyond words for this once in a life journey and it is something I wish and hope all of you can do!

God Bless you all!

The Nerd in me comes out again....LOL

Another Blessed Day! We made it home SAFE, without any issues...The good lord watched over us!!!!!!!!

West Coast 2009, Day 33-34

DAY 33 - 34 BLOG

Good morning from Natural Bridge Virginia

Day 33:

This was a day with a very short drive to one of Patty’s dearest friends from when she was very little. Elena and Dan allowed us to park in their driveway and invade there home. They have 2 boys JD, and Joey around the same age as Michael and Nicholas and they had a friend Andrew over, so it was a house filled with children and fun and two dogs Sparky and Ben. It was a great change of pace, and it was great to see Elena and Dan, and a special guest from Hawaii, Elena’s sister Lucy. I am convinced fate has been working to get us here at this time, as it is Lucy’s first trip to Tenn., in a long time, and it was the first time we have seen her in 20 years. So all the little delays and troubles have slowed the trip down to allow us to be here at the same time, a day earlier or later and we would have missed Lucy. Very cool how things work out.

It rained ALL day, but stopped long enough around 8:00pm, for all the kids to go swimming….which they did for 2 hours.

Well needless to say, it was a grand day and the kids all had a blast, so much we stayed the night, the kids in the house, and Patty and I in the MH (that is a first to be in the MH without the kids…VERY different).

Day 34

After all the cob webs were shaken out and stomachs filled, we left Dan and Elena’s and headed north! It once again was a rainy, some spots torrential down pour day, but the weather reflects all of our moods, so it is fitting.

We all know it has basically ended, and as much as we want to get home to see our family and friends, NONE of us want it to end. It has been an experience of a lifetime, and it’s amazing how fast 34 days can actually go.

In closing, I know you have all come accustomed to photos, but the weather has been MISERANBLE…it is a shame, as Arkansas, Tennessee, are very lush (Pennsylvania but woodier and greener), and this part of Virginia is very mountainous and lush, so it is very nice, a good new place for us to take a long weekend..

Until the next blog, please have a very blessed day! There will be one last Blog probably Sunday morning…

Clockwise: Patty, Dan, Elena, and Lucy

In the non compressed photo, Nicholas's face says it all!

The "Boy's"

Another Blessed day!

West Coast 2009, Day 31-32

DAY 31 - 32 BLOG

Good evening from Harriman Tennessee, on Watts Barr Lake

Day 31:

This was a simple drive day as almost the rest of the trip will be for the next 4 days. We arrived very late to Graceland, that’s right we camped across the street from Elvis’s house.

The day was a wash out as far as pictures as it was not a day of picturesque scenery. Sorry…

Prior to getting to the campground, we took Michael for his 14th Birthday to his favorite restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House. We literally picked the lay over based on this steakhouse. LOL!

I do have to say Patty and I took a walk after we settled in and strolled over to the adjacent Hotel…Heart Break Hotel. All I will say is OMG! There were some serious die hard Elvis fans…not a place for me…AT ALL!

Day 32

Today we awoke, to torrential rain…And that latest all the way across Tennessee. Thus the reason for zero photos of Graceland or the scenery. Well, even if it wasn’t raining, it was like driving through Pennsylvania, so I am not sure we would have taken any pictures, but it was sort of a bummer we could not see Elvis’s mansion in the day-light.

We found a RV Resort, by mistake on a gorgeous lake, so tomorrows if the rain ever stops we may get some good photos.

We cannot complain, as today has been the ONLY day it has rained worth mentioning this WHOLE trip…We have been so BLESSED for that and so many other things!

Until the next blog, please have a very blessed day!

Elvis Presley Boulevard...

Nicholas being Nicholas in the restaurant!

Happy Birthday Michael...Another VERY Blessed Day!

West Coast 2009, Day 29-30

DAY 29 -30 BLOG

Good evening from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma…

Day 29:

Was a rest over day after the marathon drive from Lake Powell, we relaxed and had a pre-Birthday Piñata for Michael, that Nicholas picked out…What do you get a kid that has everything, of course a “Hannah Montana” Guitar Piñata…What a hoot!

The RV Resort we stayed out was very nice, and we met such a fantastic lady…Hi Beth! She hung with us and she kept us all entertained with stories of her travels.

Day 30

The morning started off with a floor filled with balloons for Michaels 14th Birthday. After we had a morning B-Day celebration and said goodbye to Beth and her husband Lee, we pushed off for Oklahoma City. However, prior to leaving we found a nail sticking out of our new tire…so with a repair in the parking lot of the Texas Visitor center, we were back on track.

The pan handle of Texas was very flat, so flat somehow the Motorhome got up to 85 in a 70 and a state trooper gave me a ticket to remind me not to speed! LOL!!!!

Oklahoma’s roads were bad and rough as SEVERAL have warned, but we managed and got to the Oklahoma Memorial safe and sound.

This is the first memorial I have ever been too, and it was very moving and surreal. It is a beautiful tribute to those that were lost. If you are ever in Oklahoma City or can visit this site, I have to say it is worth it.

After visiting the site, it put the day’s events and life in perspective. It is simply amazing how fragile life can be at times.

God Bless all of you and thank you for supporting us on this journey!

Until the next blog, please have a very blessed day!

OKLAHOMA NATIONAL MEMORIAL SAYING

WELCOME HERE TO REMEMBER
THOSE WHO WERE KILLED, THOSE WHO SURVIVED AND THOSE CHANGED FOREVER
MAY ALL THAT LEAVE HERE KNOW THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE.
MAY THIS MEMORIAL OFFER COMFORT, STRENGTH, PEACE, HOPE AND SERRINITY

What every Boy needs for his Birthday!



X-Games!

Licorice...The cat that kept us company.

A Texas Sunset.

9:01 am, The time that ended life as everyone knew it...

9:03 am. The time in which all needed to start healing.

Empty chairs for all those lost! It was stated that they represented the empty chairs at the dinner table for those that lost their lives.

The Survival Tree!

This tree was burned after the explosion and was to be cut down for evidence. Right before it was cut, it sprung new life. Now it is called the survival tree. Simply amazing!

Truly another Blessed Day!

West Coast 2009, Day 28

DAY 28 BLOG

Good evening from Amarillo Texas.

Yesterday we drove 780 miles through 5 states…Long day, but very colorful!

The two highlights of the day were the Monument Valley (The Mesas) and the 4 corners. The mesas are unbelievable as many of the sights out west. They are large, red and just simply look out of place in the baron landscape surrounding them. They are equivalent to Devils tower. Flat plains than bam! Large Red Rocks.

The 4 corners was one of those tourist things you have to do. We all stepped in each state and Nicholas Twisted all four. It was ironically a highlight of the trip and something I don’t think the kids will ever forget.

There is a ton of controversy surrounding the site since new technology has un-covered it could be up to 2 miles off. However, the Government and all the states are standing to the original marking from the 20’s. The claim is it is a monument that was erected using the best data available. You know what…I AGREE! Who cares if it is off, it is very cool to step on 4 states based on what they thought were the state lines over 70 years ago.

Until the next blog, please have a very blessed day!

Goodbye Lake Powell.

Still smiling after 28 days together!

Awesome views.

"Mexican Hat"

We all stepped in each state...Pretty awesome!

Another BLESSED Day!

West Coast 2009, Day 27

DAY 27 BLOG

Good morning from Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Park, day 2 here.

This will be a VERY short BLOG with very little photo’s. Yesterday we did NOTHING, but lay on the beach! What a change and treat. It is a magnificent lake, and Nicholas wants to come back for a week and rent a house boat. The lake is huge, some 200 miles winding through the canyon. From what we have heard you can spend several weeks driving up the lake and just anchoring on remote out coves.

We all can say this is another revisit at some point!

Until tomorrow, please have a very blessed day!

Interesting beach, its red.

Another Blessed Day!