Our ‘Little’ Road Trip

Dec 4, 2024

A recent road trip with my twinster, my brother-in-law and myself took longer than I thought, but I am glad we went. More importantly, I am glad Kent came.

We had decided to go visit Bill’s and my one son living in Idaho attending school at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa. He is studying Nursing.

Since I was “so close” while visiting my twinsters family out west this month, we decided a road trip would be fun. This was no little trip. Kent did nearly all of the driving, while I sat comfortably in the back seat of his smooth-riding, spacious Ram 3500 truck taking pictures.

Well, I have since learned that their idea of “so close” is not the same as my Virginia idea. As it turned out the travel time was over 13 hours, covering over 900 miles! One way! What? That’s close?

After leaving Colorado, we traveled through Wyoming, Utah, and finally to Idaho. We did take a bit longer route going as we spent a night at Bear Lake, Utah.

Known as The Caribbean of the Rockies, Bear Lake shares the Northern Utah and SouthEast Idaho borders. Historically rich as a focal point in the settling of our United States with wagon roads, fur trading, and early settlements. It is a busy summer destination. However, in the middle of November it is very nearly a ghost town.

The beautiful turquoise-colored lake is just as stunning regardless of time of year.

I believe every American should drive cross our beautiful, vast country at least once in their life. The expanse and desolation in those midwestern states was stunning. Miles and miles of nothing but rocks and brown dirt. No towns, one lonely house here and there. Where do they go for milk and eggs?

Three fun days were spent in Idaho with Gordon. Right behind his house is a big potato field! How neat is that? He said the potato trucks lose potatoes all along the road when loaded!

We made a bee line back to Colorado upon departing. And now I can check Idaho off my list of states to visit, with only three states left. Nebraska, Oregon and North Dakota. Almost done with this bucket list.

Happy road trips to you, gentle reader.

***Our ‘little’ road trip was great fun!***

***Back home in Colorado. Thank You, Lord, for safe travels.***

Riding Shotgun

Jul 17, 2024

They left two days ago. Gordon is driving and Bert is riding shotgun. They have safely reached their first destination on their way back to Idaho, which they will reach on Friday.

Do you know where the term ‘riding shotgun’ came from? It came from the early days of stagecoach travel in our

A bodyguard sat beside the driver of the stagecoach. This seat was on the top and outside of the coach, on a wagon seat made for them. His job was to keep safe the valuables, known as the strongbox, from bandits and/or hostile Native Americans. If there was no armed man riding shotgun, this usually signaled only passengers were on board.

Watch any old good western tv show, and there will surely be an exciting scene of a stagecoach attack by bandits. The team of horses running wildly, the driver urging them on as the cowboy riding shotgun turns every unbelievable way to ward off the bandits, while beautiful women scream inside the stagecoach (it’s always more thrilling with screaming, frightened women!). It sure makes for a thrilling hold-up.

So there you have it. Gordon is driving, Bert is riding shotgun. Happy, safe travels you guys.

*Fighting off an attack of hostile Indians in the Wild West.*

*Gordon checking the route. Bert on the lookout, ever vigilant.*

There and Back Again

Apr 23, 2024

I have borrowed Bilbo Baggins title of his book of adventures in the classic book The Hobbit, for this post. I think it is a great title for a book of adventures. Which is just what we recently returned from. We being my husband, Bill, our daughter, Helen, her husband, Jon, and their little five month old baby boy, Francis.

Our adventure was not across the worlds but was across our country. We spend 9 terrific days on a 725-mile road trip in Northern California. The main reason for the trip was threefold; for Bill and me to meet Jon’s family, and for them to meet their only great-grandson for the first time and to see the Redwoods. Jon grew up in California. He knows the area well, and he planned the whole exciting road trip. There were places he wanted us to see. This is my most favorite kind of travel. All the plans are made, routes are figured out, wonderful old hotels were awaiting our arrivals. What a grand road trip he gave us!

I have never been to California, everyone else, except baby Francis, has. So it all was a thrilling first for me. We landed in San Fransisco. Rented a big SUV, the smallest person had the most stuff! First stop on Jon’s agenda; burger and fries at the In n’ Out Burger restaurant. Oh my goodness, wish we had them here. Crossing over the Golden Gate Bridge was surreal for me, as I have only seen it in photographs. We toured around on the park side of the bridge, picked up Rt 101N. We bid the big city farewell as our sights were set on the ‘Lost Coast’, the name given to N California.

Jon’s grandparents live in a wonderful cabin home in a tiny town called Hayfork, CA. Next door Jon’s great-Aunt Shirley has a cozy cabin as well. Other family members flew in. We were there for Easter. Words are not able to explain how special it was meeting these delightful extended family folk. Spending Easter with them made it doubly special.

Two beautiful towns, Hopland, where the old Thatcher Hotel gave us a warm welcome and overnight stay. Next was the historic, logging company town of Scotia, where we lodged for two fun nights at the Scotia Lodge. Spending two exciting days among the Avenue of the Giants. Those incredible Coastal Redwoods are beyond description. Living testimonies of a great and mighty God.

Rt. 36, off Rt 101 carried us East to Rt. 3 where we met Jon’s lovely family. They were thrilled at meeting their only great-grandson, Francis. The air B ‘n B, Ivan’s Lookout, near Weaverville accommodated us perfectly for the three nights there.

Jon completed our circuit by driving through the absolutely gorgeous, fertile Sonoma Valley. California raisins and almonds will never taste the same to me. The land was gorgeous, the wine country stunning, the people friendly, and now I know where the dinosaurs and BigFoot live—in the Coastal Redwoods!