Day 5, road to heaven

Sarah woke me this morning about 6:30. I hear this muffled voice say “Mom, wake up, let’s get the hell outta here”. I said, “OK, lemme nap a few more minutes”. We left “the sauna” at 0900, heading for Aspen, and Maroon Bells.

Online, I’d read that you should take the bus to Maroon Bells and tour the park, blah blah. I thought, I am NOT taking the dang bus.

We took the bus.

I’m glad we took the bus.

The drive up took about 10 minutes, and was beautiful. We hiked about 4 miles overall, the air was thinner than a runway model, and everyone (tourists) breathed like Darth Vader. :O)

Like Arches, Maroon Bells took beauty to a new level. I love it, but it did not have the impact Arches had. MB was crowded, and lovely, but once we’d had our hike, I was ready to get outta there.

Now, I’m a penny pincher (ok, don’t ask my husband – he would probably beg to differ…) The town of Aspen whispered like the trees, and those whispers said “EVERYTHING HERE IS EXPENSIVE”, so, we didn’t eat in Aspen. Looking at the map, I told Sarah – “Hey, we can head south, and pick up a bite somewhere along the way. It’s only 40 miles to the next town.” Well, taking HWY82 for 40 miles is no mean feat… What that means is forty miles of snakey highway that climbs in elevation. This is the most beautiful road I’ve been on. If you ever have the chance, take 82 out of Aspen to 50, ending up in Buena Vista, or vice versa. I shot more images along this highway than I care to admit… it was incredible. This entire drive since we left the campground from hell has been beautiful.

Driving through the Sangre de Christo Mountains, we reached Buena Vista, and decided to keep going to Canon City. Driving through these mountains reminds me of the Paul Simon song about Rene and Georgette Magritte…

Along the way, we stumbled across Colorado’s wonder… a bridge spanning a gorge. The suspension bridge is 1300 feet above the gorge. You can drive across if you want. We paid, and got 20 feet on the bridge before queen bee that I adore said “STOP!”. Maybe it was the swaying of the bridge? Maybe it was the rumbling and noise the wood underneath made… Admittedly, I wasn’t terribly disappointed when she demanded we go back. :O) I backed up, parked the car, and we started to walk across. We met a nice couple who said they opted to walk it first, and they were going to get their car and drive across. I thought “Hmmm, Maybe I’ll go over after them – alone”. Well, they showed up in one of those #@*(&)@(* smart cars – you know, the ones that are as long as a parking space is wide (you can park 2 of these in the space a normal car would parallel park in…). I thought “OMGOSH! That car weighs less than a Harley!” I didn’t drive across. Sarah walked ¾ of the way… and was DONE. She’s like mom, she doesn’t do heights. :OP

Tonight, our host is the Best Western in Canon City. NICE place – a “family room”. Two queens, fridge, sofa, desk, etc.. these are GREAT beds. The first two nights were in Marriott establishments. They were nice, but they weren’t GREAT for sleeping. This place is older, but the beds remind me of that Muppet Show episode with John Denver, “Grandma’s Feather Bed”… four feet high, six feet wide, and soft as a downy chick …

Hopefully i can have pics up tomorrow… as usual, pick ‘n post. Hopefully when i have a chance, I can actually do something decent with them! :O)

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Day 4 Cabin from hell

My travel partner was so keen on hitting Arches with me, I invited her to sleep in while I returned to enjoy sunrise alone (yes, that’s sarcasm you see dripping off the screen). Leaving the cabin at 0500 (yes, I woke w/o an alarm clock…), I drove the few miles to Arches, and along with a handful of hard core hikers, the place was sheer paradise! I enjoyed double arches without any touristas, it was quiet. Birds and small critters were everywhere in the cool morning temps, I can’t begin to describe the silence, and the peace to be felt there. It was truly a wonderful calming place.

I made it all the way to the firey furnace before the sun was just too bright for any good images. Delicate arch was a “moderate” hike. Moderate is no biggie; but the air is a little thin, so it can be a little more than you’d expect. Silently I climbed, and as I neared, the top, I began to hear voices. Topping the hill, I was astonished to learn that at 0900, it was me, and about 200 of my best Chinese friends… Delicate arch was fun, I can say I’ve been there, but so can all those tourists. I sat down, and just laughed. I know they thought I was nuts, but to breeze along, in solitude, enjoying the beauty of God’s handiwork, only to find a gaggle of Chinese tourists was pretty damn funny. Funnier yet, because that stereotypical asian tourist with camera thing was going full blast. EVERYONE had a camera, and seemed to be taking everyone else’s photo! I think they were all associated somehow (family reunion?) because everyone from little kids to teens to elders all knew each other and were chirping away. EVERYONE spoke Chinese, but many were obviously native English speakers, so I’m sure it was all related. Makes me jealous, how wonderful it must be to have such a large family network. This is just another reminder of how beautiful our country is, that folks would come from so far away to visit such a spectacular place. I didn’t get to see the entire park. I would have loved to, I managed in the few hours last night, and the few this morning, to see roughly 60%. It’s a big place, and there is much to explore. It was intense touring. :O) I know this is a place I’ll return, and ultimately spend at least a week. I don’t think you can see all this place has to offer in less than a week.

After touring the park, I headed back to the cabin and rolled the queen bee out of her hive, to hit the road. This tiny place was soooo quiet. Sarah and I both slept better there than we’ve slept in many moons.

Checking out at eleven, Sarah and I set off to the Aspen area for our next campground. We’d chosen this campground online because a) WIFI, b) electricity and close proximity to Aspen. Aspen was 30 miles away (not MY idea of close proximity…), the electricity consisted of a lightbulb (emphasis on A), and the WIFI wasn’t much good when you had no place to plug in to… Thank God for my inverter, I sat in the Jeep and blogged last night. LOL We paid for two days of this hell. Sarah and I asked upon checkin if we could possibly cut our stay short… We were told “Sure, but you won’t get a refund.” You see, this place was right on the river, they hosted a rafting company, and hell, upon checkin, we got a WHOLE 5.00 off a raft trip(2.50 each…), and >big bonus< it had MORE SMALL CHILDREN than a yard dog has fleas. (AUGHT!) They were EVERYWHERE, screaming, running loose in the road, parking lot, etc. Now I love small kids, but again, it was a classic case of family vacation meaning PARENT vacation. I hate this because it means *I* am at risk of injuring one of their 2’ tall kids because they’re behind my car and I can’t see them… UGH!

Of the seven cabins, only one sat unprotected by trees. Guess who got that one!? Yep. Opened the door, and had to stand back so the roaring flames of hell could burn out… We opened the windows, and let it air out while we went to town. Upon arrival in town, seems everything closed at 8p. We managed to eat Mexican food (can’t hardly go wrong there), and returned to El Campo de Diablo.

Now I love to camp, but there was just something about this place that didn’t ring our bell. Honestly, the tent we have would have been, oh, at least eighty degrees cooler. We have a summer tent that is perfect. The cabin, well, it was cute, named The Fox cabin… awwwww… Imagine a cedar sauna with a cutesy porch and swing, and a couple of windows…all we needed was a pile of lava rocks, a pail of water, and ladle. We tried to sleep… Lots of moths in the cabin. Sarah had a beetle on her in the night… We’d have been better off in the tent. :O)

Again – all images are pick ‘n post. I just don’t have time to do any cropping/etc. everything is straight from the camera…

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Day 3 – two cats in a bag

Couldn’t post last night because WIFI at the campground wasn’t really there.. :OP We left Salt Lake around 11ish, we were pooped, and slept late (again). Stopped at the Walmart for some “stuff”, which makes me wonder – can an American travel without a stop at a WalMart, Cracker Barrel or lookout point? Oh, the Walmart in SLC had an Indiana Jones made from LEGOs. Nary a coffee joint to be found, not even a (blech!) Charbuck’s! Oh, that’s right… LDS and caffeine are NOT a match. Circle gets the square. (Look the other way when it comes to PEPSI…)

Taking our sweet time, we drove from SLC to Moab, UT. Ohhh this took forever, but those of you who know me will not be surprised. Worse than a cat, I have to explore every nook and cranny. I blame it on my school principal, Keith Grimes. Whenever we went on trips with the school, he was famous for finding us unusual things to see/do… Well, not that unusual, but it did wake my gypsy genes, and instill in me a love for exploring. My poor husband can attest to that fact… as can my children… Seems like I’m off exploring a lot. The car has more than one seat, come on, or get left behind… <sigh> I can understand Marc, the Navy beat that love of travel right out of him… But my kids!?!?! They can’t be mine… LOL That, or, their own gyspy gene has not yet awakened. Help me when/if it does! Hahaha

There were so many beautiful things to see along the route from SLC to Moab, it was an amazing drive. I have realized that in addition to the desert (which I’ve always known I loved), I have a serious passion for a 75mph speed limit. The sign says 75, which means it REALLY means I can go 85 w/o getting a ticket! YEAH! Washington HAS to be *THE* slowest state in the lower 48.

Made my first trip to a Cracker Barrel today. Had a one-eyed waitress named Bev. I wanted to ask about that eye… Cheat at poker? Bar room brawl? Probably nothing so glamorous, I bet she just had plastic surgery and it was a fancy band aid. OH COME ON! You know you would have thought the same thing! Gimme a break!

Last night, we had a place just outside of Moab, about 4 miles from Arches Nat’l Park, and 10-ish miles from Moab. The “cabin”, I kid you not, was all of an 8×10 space (think storage shed). Double bed on the right, bunks on the left, shower (a la travel trailer size), toilet, sink, micro – tiny microwave and warm refrigerator. It was the most clever use of space since the two holer outhouse.

My dear friend Nora is the one who recommended Arches. If you get anywhere near, and you can, you must go to Arches Nat’l Park!” she says. So, having done my google homework, I was prepared. We checked in, unloaded bags, and left around 5:30 to Arches Nat’l Park. I have to say that my travel partner (daughter) is much like traveling, well, it swings from traveling with a badger to traveling with Bernie. Yes, most often our trip has been like a scene from WEEKEND AT BERNIES. She’s slumped in the seat, head WAY too far to the left/right, DEAD to the world. Exciting conversation to be had when she’s like this (NOT!), and some fun with the point and shoot – she would kill me if those weren’t destroyed immediately. :O) I’ve also learned that the nice girl surfaces around 1330hrs… Until then – do NOT speak to her. Let her contact you first….

Annnnyway…. Arches was easily one of the most BEAUTIFUL places I’ve ever been. IMMENSE rock formations that truly boggle the mind. Sarah slept in the car the entire way. She had a great time. Ugh. We were sick of fast food, so we went to the grocery. BAD choice. No grub last night… sick of road food. Tomorrow, I’ll be up at dawn’s crack and heading to arches while “she” sleeps in… :O)

I have to add, that the GPS purchase has been one of THE smartest things I’ve ever done! OMGOSH!!!!!  My other BEST PURCHASE EVER, has been the TOKINA 12-22mm f/4 aspherical lens.  This lens truly kicks ass!  Most every image I’ve shot on this trip has been using the TOKINA.  Canoga Camera in Los Angeles had the best price – 480.00.  I had to ditch my buds at B&H in NYC, they couldn’t TOUCH Canoga’s price.  THis lens is not only built like a tank, but the clarity, focus, it is just SPOT ON!   Sorry Canon – you COULD have done this with the overpriced 10-22, but you didn’t… you lose this round.  I have ventured from the Canon camp this time… maybe never again, but this one time has SURE PAID OFF!

Slideshow below – please be kind, none of the images have been edited… just pick and post – WYSIWYG. :OP

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False Starts and a Lack of Smarts…

You know, I can remember reading articles about the effects of stress and fatigue on human thought process and reasoning. I always nodded thinking “Hmmm, makes sense, I guess…” and went on about my business…

Let me tell you, it’s all true. Since my mother’s passing, I have been a raving lunatic. I think more of a closet lunatic than any would ever know.

Mood swings, wondering if I’m going to collapse from the immense load of tasks that have to be performed, keeping everything scheduled, holding together, trying to make sure I’m still being a leader for my kids, dealing with one kid who is currently behaving in such a manner, that if I disappeared, he’d only be concerned because of the financial impact to him, managing to perform in a somewhat intelligent and professional fashion at work… I forget more things than I remember, I am constantly in a fit of panic and worry, while trying to maintain the calm cool exterior and “in control” demeanor I usually pull off… Luckily all my foibles, well, most of them, anyway, have not been glaringly apparent. However, when enough snowflakes gather, eventually, an avalanche ensues. I had a small avalanche trying to get this freaking trip going… OMGOSH, Friday and Saturday, I just KNEW I was destined for a padded room, and honestly, I would have welcomed the solitude.

Little things… getting a car top carrier ordered, mailing things that need to be mailed, doing this/that the other. BIGGIE was the Thule car top carrier. Did my homework. Selected the correct car,e tc… Carrier arrives, I’m in Seattle, no chance to mount the carrier until Friday. Now those swedes are master engineers… but they can’t prepare me for a partial supply delivery. When we start the project, all of the order but the footings and crossbars are there. Uh, in other words, only the damn carrier is there. CRAP! Nothing is open. Well, THERE goes my 0600 departure on Saturday! (BTW – not Thule’s fault, my fault for not identifying ROOF RAIL as beign different from ROOF RACK. (Stress/overload maybe???)

Saturday morning, like crazed fiends, we head off to Kitsap Sports. The store is run by children. I kid you not. I had ONE adult walk by us about twenty times, he was doing something with bikes. Did he EVER ask if we needed help? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Now I hate to be pounced on by sales follk; however, when a customer has obviously been scratching their heads by the “ASK US! FACTORY TRAINED TECHS ON STAFF” sign, you’d think SOMEONE might ask if we needed some help… After 10 – 15 minutes of head scratching, one of the boys stopped recanting his antics to another, and walks over and asks if he can help. He proceeds to do the same thing my husband was doing – LOOK IN THE PARTS BOOK. Being the patient woman I am, I am furiously whispering in Marc’s ear LETS GO NOW ,THIS IS FUTILE…. After being told the parts we wanted, they didn’t have because they were the most popular ones (uh, if they’re so popular, wouldn’t you ALWAYS want them in stock!?!!?) we leave, heading to Poulsbo to the Kayak Shop (who, btw, had effortless wonderful help, and also the necessary parts). We score teh parts, and head home. (I’m leaving out the part about the WHALING DAYS 5K RUN that was a slight problem for me – it’s too traumatic for me to write about in a rational fashion… let’s just say I hate the thought we block off the main drag in town for Whaling Days. Probably only because *I* needed to get into town… I was seriously in a little bit of an “all about me” mode today.

FINALLY, we get started. Remember, the whole point of this trip is to settle my mom’s estate, and bury her ashes next to my father in Texas. We forgot her. OMGOSH!!! I am HORRIFIED! How could I? I am about to cry at this point, I am SO FRUSTRATED.

Friday night, Marc graciously cleaned out my pig sty jeep (I’m sure there are some seagulls somewhere feasting on the french fries that came from under the seats…). He took EVERYTHING out, cleaned and vacuumed. I went through the stuff, and put what I needed/wanted BACK into the jeep. Uh, I didn’t realize mom was in the garage on the shop counter. <sigh> Even in death, she is a patient and loving mother. We get her, and we’re back on our way. We didn’t get very far before realizing she wasn’t with us…. thanks to my wonderful daughter. I completely forgot about her… i was so focused getting the car packed, itinerary, last minute tasks, etc…

We have a rider with us, a beautiful Stetson hat belonging to easily one of the most wonderful young women I’ve ever met – our very own Miss Teen Rodeo Washington, Mandy Milovich. http://www.missrodeowashington.com/htdocs/mtrw.htm

Now the plot thickens. The hat is supposed to be in Pendleton, OR by 1600hrs. The hat master of all hats is there, and he’s going to shape the hat, but he’s got somewhere to go, so he’s leaving at 4… NO problem – IF you leave Bremerton on time. Well, thank goodness for patient men, cell phones, and GPS systems. I made it from Bremerton to Pendleton, OR in 5:45. He had to leave at 4, but luckily the man he was with owns a business, and we were able to work out a secure drop for the hat, and it’s nice and safe, he’s picking it up first thing in the morning.

So, for me, the trip REALLY started after Pendleton. :O) I was a nervous wreck, terrified I would mess up that hat delivery, freaking out because my best laid plans were not on track. Sometimes, God delivers us some serious curve balls to make us step back, realize it’s NOT always in OUR hands, and we need to B*R*E*A*T*H*E. Today, I breathed.

The arrival in Boise was supposed to be MUCH earlier than we made it, but oh well, we’re here, and on schedule. Sleep is callign, I’m seriously bushed. Tomorrow – MOAB!

Along the way, the drive was lovely, the roads were AWESOME! NOTHING, NOTHING prepares you for the beauty of eastern WA as you come through the passes. I am one of those folks who appreciates the beauty of this type of landscape. The gentle calligraphic curve of the smaller mountains and hills, mixed with the jagged rock formations here/there. The beauty of wheat and corn growing alongside the road between Ellensburg and Pendleton, mixed with patches of black from fires, and plots of dirt from newly mown hay all present a visual patchwork quilt, joined together by man and nature. The vast endless sky and graceful swoops of clouds free to perform on an immense blue stage remind me how little of the sun I really see on my side of the state. The sun, the WARMTH, the scenery, it was truly a LOVELY drive.

The death of my mother, and having my own daughter has really made me think a lot about life, and what happens when we’re gone. The CSN song I selected for the slideshow really puts into perspective, how I’m feeling right now about the changes life brings.

I am exhausted. Parents in the next hotel room who don’t realize hotel hallways are not racetracks for screaming toddlers at 0730. We might make Moab today, we might not. I’ll drive until I’m tired. I am truly thankful for safe passage on Saturday, I was exhausted. Thank you all who have prayed for our safe travel.. :O)

If you can’t view the video below – you can go here:

Crap – can’t get anything to upload in this stupid Springhill Suites internet connection. THANX MARRIOTT – way to go!

To View ONLINE: http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=3005491&alb=143065

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Making a list and checking it twice…

Wow, I did more in one day today that I’d ever dreamed humanly possible. Prepping for this trip has been a royal pain – I have to work for a living, so that must come first.  And  like shims, I wedge a personal task in every time I have the odd moment of a bit of free time. Free time on my workdays is a joke. Non-existant is a more apt term. Today, I had roughly 1.75 hours between 8 and 5. I worked diligently on my “to do” list, pummeling it flat! HA!  Unfortunately, when I was busy kicking it’s butt, it spread out and secretly grew. UGH. My nemesis… Were I a super hero, I’d be called something like Plantastic Woman. I can plan and create an itinerary that will conquer any/all! My nemesis, however, would be “The To Do Monster” which can easily absorb my wonderful plans. :O(

So going to Texas, the itinerary is done! Looks like this:

Day 1 – Boise (I’m sure there’ll be SOMETHING here to photograph. <sigh>)

Day 2 – Moab (I’ll probably photograph every rock in the place.)

Day 3 – Moab

Day 4 – Aspen  (Jf you’ve never seen an aspen, hang on, you will soon… LOL)

Day 5 – Aspen (will also visit Maroon Bells – somehow)

Day 6 – Amarillo (MUST see the Cadillac ranch, ok!?)

Day 7 – Sallisaw, OK  (There’s stuff here to photograph, I just have to find it…)

Day 8 – Lufkin or Bryan Texas  (I can capture the magnificent Texas A&M or the lake)

Day 9 – Victoria (early a.m. – Jury’s out on what to photograph here… maybe document why it’s a plce we don’t want to live? LOL), and Santa Fe (p.m. – used to be small town USA… I’m sure it’s NOT now…)

Can all this be accomplished? Pshaw… sure it can! (i think)

Across that Great Divide

Two weeks ago, the world lost one of the finest women to walk the planet, and I was lucky enough to know her, be related to her, and call her friend, as well as mother.

My mother left this world at the age of 76, having been a breast cancer fighter for twenty six years. She was a valiant warrior, and an incredible example. She was not ready to go, as she told me so about a week and a half before passing, when she quietly asked me if I thought she was dying. I told her “Mama, only God knows if you’re dying, because he controls the clock.” Mom said “I am not ready to go…” and I replied “When God calls you home, that’s it, you have no choice, and it will be on his schedule, not ours. Let’s just enjoy each day he shares with us.” We continued watching television, and chatting about this/that. Later that week, she began Adriamycin and Cytoxin (sp?), with a blood transfusion the following day.

Mom was already weak, but she miraculously endured a day without any side effects from the chemo, it wasn’t until the following night (Sat) and Sunday that she reached a level of misery I can’t even begin to describe. The Monday following her AC chemo, she was hospitalized. Tuesday was an MRI, and we learned the cancer in her soft tissues had awakened with a vengence. She had two 2cm places on the lining around her brain, and her spinal fluid was loaded with cancerous cells. We thought she had a month left, in actuality, I enjoyed four more precious days before she went to sleep, and her body quietly shut down that Saturday night.

Packing up her apartment, caring for her doggie, going through all the bills and making sure they’re paid have been a quiet comfort, yet also a painful reminder. On one hand, I feel so close in her apartment, surrounded by her papers and books, her perfume, etc. On the other, I know if she were with me, I’d not be completing the tasks at hand.

I take great comfort and rejoice in the fact she’s no longer on this earth suffering, that she’s in Heaven, and not giving us/earth a second thought. When I die and arrive at Heaven’s gate, I know she’ll point at me and say “HEY! When did you get here? You’re late, AS USUAL!!!!”

Mom swore she’d never leave Texas. Her first visit here to Washington made such an impact on her. She loved the smell, the green, the water and mountains everywhere. After her third visit, she moved up. We found her an apartment on the water, roughly 50′ from the water’s edge. She loved watching the eagles, osprey, herons, and such… she loved kayaking as well, and found it a life changing passion.

My job had me traveling extensively for several years, and I’m sad to say I didn’t get to spend much time with her during that period. Emails, phone calls were the extent, and when I was home, dinners and church made it better. Once I changed jobs to not travel so much, we might not have seen one another every day, but we did spend serious time yakking on the phone on a daily basis, as if we’d not spoken in months.

I have many happy memories, and a lot of healing to go. I know the wound will never fully close, I have to focus on the fact she’s with the Lord, and not suffering. There is great comfort in that, especially after having lived with her for weeks caring for her, I know how frustrated she was that she couldn’t do things, that she could barely walk. She was an independent spirit, determined, and headstrong. It was as if she were a free animal that had suddenly been caged. A heart breaking thing to watch.

As I prepare to settle the estate by the sale of our family home, I will be traveling to Texas with my 16yo daughter and my mother’s ashes for her final rest next to daddy in our Texas hometown. This will be a good time for healing AND bonding between us. We’ll also be visiting a much loved aunt on our way down. I worried about my girl “creeping out” over taking Grandma’s ashes with us (hey, at 16, you never know what will make them go “EEEK!”… ) She’s been so very quiet throughout these last two weeks, I asked if she would be ok with that… she thought for a moment, and smiled… Then she looked at me and said “Grandma always wanted us girls to take a road trip, now she can… she can sit in the back.” It took a minute for her humor to register, and then I laughed. We had a good warm hug, and I knew she was going to be ok. She has her grandma’s irreverent sense of humor.

We inherited our “Three Stooges” sense of humor from my daddy. The dark cynical irreverent wit, we all got from Mom. I don’t know which I like best… it’s like having a Comedic Swiss Army knife – I can laugh in any/all situations. I happy I have such a well rounded view of life, it helps to heal a lot of sadness.

On this trip, I plan to post photographs and blog each day as we proceed. Hopefully I can post along the way. We’ll be camping and maybe spend a night or two in a hotel as we venture. I’m sure by the time we arrive, we’ll know each other far better than we ever imagined, and hopefully, we’ll be on speaking terms. If mom were here, she’d worry that we’d fight like wild coons the entire trip – my daughter and I are polar opposites.

My next blog entry will be the 27th of July, day two of the road trip… It will be titled something like Dylan meets Snoop Dog, the war of the radio. Maybe I should just buy the Rosetta Stone CDs and we could do something constructive like learn Gaelic or the vanishing dialect of some rare African tribe…

The trip will be healing. We’ll arrive having a much better understanding of one another, and our relationship will have to grown stronger. Each day, I’m sure, will either resemble the script of a BBC comedy, or a macabre episode of The Twilight Zone. I’m not sure which, much like quarter flipping, the odds are 50/50.