Driving across the country

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, we piled in the Prius and drove from Newark, DE to Vancouver, BC. The trip was amazing - amazingly smooth, amazingly beautiful, amazingly long. The trip wouldn't have been possible without Hedgehog Guy. He took a week off work to literally drive me and the dog away from him.

The first day we went from Newark to South Bend, Indiana (650 miles). Driving through southern and western Pennsylvania was beautiful with all the leaves changing colors. For once the forest was more than just green with individual trees picked out in gold, orange, and bright red. The stop for the night was not so beautiful. I don't know what was more disturbing, the repeated drive-bys of guys yelling at each other, the spider in the tub, or the fresh deer head in an ice chest on the back of the neighbor's truck. Next time just keep driving to Gary.

The second day was our short day from South Bend to Andover, Minnesota to visit my parents (520 miles). It was wonderful to stay in a clean, bright home with family that night. We both slept like babies. I had secretly been hoping we would have kabobs for dinner with my parents, and sure enough, we did! It was great. I think we both wished we could have stayed for a couple days. Hedgehog dog loved it so much that he tried to run away and stay!

The third day we drove to Big Timber, Montana (920 miles) and stayed at a local bed and breakfast, the Grand Hotel. This was our longest day of driving and it took its toll on all of us. North Dakota was pretty boring, but the end of the state was worth it. At the state line with Montana we crossed through a portion of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The canyon at the rest stop was just amazing, multi-colored rock layers down for several hundred feet. We saw antelope, bison, and prairie dogs! We have got to get back there and do some camping. During the drive we listened to Ringworld by Larry Niven. It is definitely worth a read for scifi enthusiasts. The Grand Hotel was really neat - the bed was the softest I have ever slept in. You kind of just fell in, sunk, and went to asleep immediately. I think we stayed in room 4. At first I was nervous about the "shared bathrooms" but it turned out to be pretty cool - individual showers, tubs, and toilets in their own little rooms (2 of each) in an area across the hall. It reminded me a lot of the old hotels in Hot Springs, Arkansas, but with western instead of southern decor. I only wish we hadn't left before breakfast!

The fourth day we drove across the Rockies to Seattle, Washington (730 miles). The scenery again was stunning. Little villages nestled among the mountain valleys. Fields and mountain lakes. However, the drive was pretty stressful at the end going through the mountain pass. It was raining and snowing and the drop on the passenger's side appeared to be straight down. Lots of trucks sweeping by us combined with bumpy roads that last year's snow tires and chains had ripped up. Hedgehog Guy defined driving white-knuckled that afternoon. I could not have done it. We stayed in the Carriage House Loft of the Bacon Mansion on Capitol Hill of Seattle. It was great too! We walked a couple blocks for pizza and beer at nice local place (I wish I could remember the name!). Breakfast was delicious muffins made fresh that day. I can't wait to go back there for a weekend vacation.

The fifth and last day we just drove from Seattle to Vancouver (150 miles). The idea was to give us lots of time at the border in case something went awry with getting my work permit or importing Hedgehog Dog. But the crossing went great! It only took about 20 minutes to get my work permit printed out and our forms stamped. They didn't even look at Hedgehog Dog! I was sooo relieved that it went well. Not sure if we can leave, but...(just kidding). It was only about 30 minutes to our new home on the south side of Vancouver from the border. We're about 5 minutes from the international airport and 30 minutes from UBC.

I must say that something odd happens to me when I am in the car everyday for more than 6 hours. My brain slowed, my vision adhered to the road, and my hearing dwindled to the cone of the car. I have gained a new respect for truck and delivery drivers.

I am so glad that we made this trip. It was idyllic and surreal. Sad and uplifting. Seeing new things and the same things.

I am sad to be here away from family and friends, but the opportunity to see the country was really worth it. I mean we literally saw purple mountains and amber fields of grain. Herds of cattle, big cities, little towns, and did I mention the prairie dogs?