2012 West Coast Adventure, Day 33 HOME!

Day 33 FINAL DAY July 25th , 2012:


Good morning / evening from BRIDGEWATER, NJ…

Well, we made it home 1 ½ hr’s before Michael's Birthday…I drove hard yesterday and we arrived home at 10:30pm... What a drive it was! Through Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia was beyond bizarre. I cannot explain, but it was just bizarre drivers, not “bad”, just could not make heads or tails of pattern’s or process…so it was an extremely tough 5 hours through those areas. Couple that with MORE construction and delays, and I must admit I didn’t think I would make it…but then it all opened up and the drive became peaceful, and enjoyable.

Although it may have appeared we had a ton of issues with the MH, in all earnest we could not have been more blessed with good fortune. All the hick-ups happened in VERY convenient locations, and NONE, stopped us. They delayed us and each delay brought a new blessing, so I am CONVINCED they happened for a reason. Also, it needs to be called out, we hammered the MH for 33 days, in 100+ degree weather, up and down up to 10,000 feet mountains…based on that, I don’t know of a car that would not have had a problem, let alone a house on wheels, driving in 80mph hurricane winds for 4 hrs a day…truthfully, the MH is an absolute BEAST of a machine, that has protected us and dragged us across the USA, with a lot of help from God!

In the industry they say “NOTHING CLIMBS LIKE A CAT”…this of course referring to our engine…Caterpillar!

Now, not to be too sentimental, I need to pause and thank ALL of my co-workers, Investors, friends, and most important FAMILY for the support over the last few weeks. Without this our family would not be able to do these adventures…so THANK YOU!!!!!!

In closing, this trip has by far been the most adventurous we have had yet! We did not get rained on one day…each stop was something new…each location cemented a new memory…we did more hiking than any other trip…we saw more nature, but most of all, we “bonded” as a family even more than we already were. It is a blessing beyond blessings, to be able to spend this time with Patty and the boys for this long.

Our trips have become stories, and these blogs are my way of capturing my thoughts. However, it seems over the years the blogs have taken on a life all by themselves, and actually have become part of our adventure. In the end, what started as a way for me to remember I believe has inspired others to embark on the same type of journey…with family!

With much love and blessings, I sign off for 2012, and look forward to our next adventure…thank you all for following, and as they say in Bugs Bunny….”that’s all folks”

ONE ULTIMATE BLESSED ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!

2012 West Coast Adventure, Day 32



Day 32 July 24th , 2012:


Good morning / evening from Crossville, Tennessee…

Sorry no photos today, just a where’s waldo map…yesterday we hauled some 780 miles, rough drive due to idiots on the road and a BOAT load of construction. We sat in at least 1 1/5 hours throughout the day. Also the last fuel stop after driving for 10 hours, we had a little issue with a tire, and thank GOD there was a tire shop across the street. Apparently one of the new tires on the drive axle we had installed, they installed the stem incorrectly…so when I went to relieve a few pounds out of the one tire…the air kept coming. Again, short delay, and thank GOD it happened where we were….God willing today we should be home. We have around 750 miles left, and I doubt the boys will let me do this in two days…

So until then, please have a BLESSED day…

2012 West Coast Adventure, Day 31

Day 31 July 23rd, 2012:


Good morning / evening from Cado Mills, Texas…

As you all know we are all about “family”, and the way we travel and do everything together shows we love to live that way…so what way to end the trip….with family! Yesterday we stopped at my father’s brother and wife’s house in Irving Texas (Uncle Al, and Aunt Helen), and like the last time we visited here 2 years ago, EVERYONE one came to the house…Jane and Bob, June and David, Cathy and her son Shawn, and Albert and his new puppy Buster…Whenever we see my cousins from Texas, we have a BLAST! Last night was no different…and as an added treat, my dad and step mother were there as well, so we had 3 generations of “Dirla” boys in one room. This was the 1st time in SEVERAL years, and like every time we see them it was like we saw them all yesterday. The only person missing from the party was my sister Sue…SUE WE WERE ALL THINKING OF YOU LAST NIGHT…HOPE YOU FELT IT! EVERYONE MISSES YOU AND SENDS THEIR LOVE AND HUGS!

The boys love them as do Patty and I, and it really warmed our hearts after being on the road for 30 days! What a blessing to have such great family and really an AWESOME way to end our adventure…having pizza, wings and beer home-style!

Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Fred, bought Michael a cupcake cake, and our annual Piñata (this year was fitting “CARS” theme) since he will be turning 17 Thursday (July 26th)…and driving by next week (we needed to push his test to next week, since we were not sure if we could get home on his birthday…we will but cannot make the appointment different…sorry Michael…). Truth be told, Patty and I wanted just one more weekend of him needing us…Ha, got you scooter!!!!!! lol….

All kidding aside, it was a fantastic night, great little birthday party, and as I said the boost to get us home the last 1,500 miles…which I plan on doing in 2 days. So because of that, this will be the last blog until Friday or Saturday when we get settled home, and I can recap the trip.

So until then, please have a BLESSED day…

Way too much Estrogen for all the men!

HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY MICHAEL....3 more days son.

2nd generation cousins....

Naaaaa I don't need to hit the bloody thing, I will just open it....

At 6' 4"...I am now the "short" one...David is 6' 9"  I believe Michael is now over 6' 5"

...I think he grew this trip

I think the luckiest mom...

The original "band"...last time June and Albert came to NJ...

we made a band in Rock band...WE STUNK!

3 generations....

Dad's and son's...Albert and I were the only Dirla boys...now we have Michael and Nicholas...

Cousins, less my sister Sue who was stuck in NJ....

Chinese lanterns, Grandma Nancy bought...very cool, but not wise to do in wind, and in a drought...

in the end it worked great and was a fantastic way to end the night

Up....

Up....

and away....

Truly a BLESSED DAY!

2012 West Coast Adventure, Day 30

Day 30 July 22nd, 2012:

Good morning / evening from Midland, Texas…

Yesterday was a really interesting day:

1. the realization the adventure is almost over hit all of us

2. We all slept in VERY late 1st time in 30 days

3. We were about to go cave hiking which was new to us (at least this type of cave..)

We arrived very late to the visitor’s center with the hopes we would be able to do the hike, get out have a bite to eat and then watch the bat flight program with better luck than yesterday.

The cave is over 800’ below ground…you can either walk in and out, walk in elevator (750’ ride) out, or elevator down and walk out…based on suggestion by Michael (great suggestion actually) we took the elevator down, absolutely no line then we would do the 800’ assent opposed to waiting the 70 minutes for the elevator out.

When you step off the elevator it is a blast of 55 deg air and damp…you walk through a good size path about 100’, and then OMG…you walk into the great room which is so massive I cannot even explain, other than saying that all the photos are shot with an EXTREMELY wide angle lens….the one I use for all the big outside shouts. I mean you can literally see the 1 mile loop in various spots. Simply awe inspiring! The hike was a total of 2.25 miles, with a total climb of 850’…the going up was fairly steep…you climb 800’ in 1 mile. Really spectacular to see, and then to find out that Carlsbad is the “small” cave at Carlsbad…they recently un-covered and are still exploring a new cave structure on property 120 miles big…wicked cool to know there is an environment below our’s, and as you drive up, over , or near you just have no idea…

Well, after the hike we found out there was a VERY good chance the bats would not be flying again…so we decided to start heading South, then East into Texas…which is what we did. We pushed about 180 miles last night and are 350 miles West of Dallas, which is where we will be God willing tonight to meet up with family, including my dad and step mother, who happen to be here as well…

After that it’s DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE…the goal is to be home for Michael's birthday which is Thursday…So, this actually may be the last blog until the final one I write when we get home…

Until the next blog, please have a very Bless day(s)…..

El Captain...Highest point in Texas!  As seen from our camper in the am..

Carlsbad Cavern.....AWESOME PLACE...

Michael in awe!

These are ingaes looking down as we were going up....

If you look in the light you will see Michael doing the "pose"

The last 150'.... 

This is the rode into the National Park...

Closest image I have of showing the Earth curve...this was in New Mexico...very cool ride

Another BLESSED day....

2012 West Coast Adventure, Day 29

Day 29 July 21th, 2012:


NOTE…this is one of three blogs….Day’s 27, 28 and 29th…SORRY for the laps, but it has been a BAD few days…you will need to read Day 27 to understand…

Good morning / evening from Carlsbad Cave, New Mexico…

WOW…what a LONG day! We left around 10:00 am., from the campground and drove 25 miles to the White Sands National park, what a cool ride. You drive through a missile proving ground, and the terrain and area is very eerie…big…and cool!...actually near where they tested the A-Bomb…

When you arrive at the NP, you can start to see EXTREMELY white sand, blinding actually. As you drive into the park, you are treated to the absolute coolest and sensor messing place you will ever be. It looks like snow, is blinding like snow, but its sand and it was over 100 deg, but the sand is cool to the touch. So very weird…the contrast between the blue sky and white is so gorgeous, but hard to photograph due to the brightness of the sand. Glad I had my filter. lol…Park is not big, and the hikes are meant for cooler weather, you could die out there! Easy to get lost REALLY easy…As you drive into the park about 8 miles, you are allowed to “sled” down the sand, like on snow. You rent these discs, and wax them, and then go have fun. Awesome to watch the kids and Patty do this, but they got exhausted going up the sand…deep and steep…I just walked the ridges, and admired the sights…what a geek!

After the park we decided to do a scenic drive…you would think I know what that means, but I will NEVER learn. It was 180 miles of TOUGH driving…you climb 4,500 feet in 5 miles, and then you stay at the 8,200 feet for over 100 miles. This part of New Mexico is wicked. You get EVERY terrain known to man. Woods, desert, mountains, streams, forest, farm, flat (saw the earth curve)…simply awesome! Absolutely worth the trip, but man was it hard to drive…TONS of turns for almost 3 hours.

Once down out of the scenic route we opened up to typical highway and headed to Carlsbad cave, where we attempted to watch the Bats in flight show at 8:00pm…everything was a go, and literally minutes before millions of bats departed the cave, a wicked storm came and scared all the bats back in. Needless to say, we have now just got to the campground, after a gruelingly long day, and we were robbed the opportunity to see the bats…oh well, as I now know there was a reason for that!

So, I will cut this short so I can get some shut eye….until the next blog have a great and blessed day!

EXTREMELY COOL LANDSCAPE....

Nicholas testing the hill 

Michael bobsledding... 

The LONG trex up!

Mom having fun!

Nicholas, scoping the scene...

Michael making believe he was lost (which is easy to do really)

Michael playing dead!

Nicholas ROLLING down the sand...forget the dish!

Ok..he needed to wash the sand away...

 The "scenic route"....this was the start of the 4,500 foot climb....

Like I said, it had every terrain! 

The view from the visitors center at Carlsbad Cave...VERY BIG!

Well, we ALMOST saw the Bats!

Another VERY Blessed Day!!!!