the rest of the story

I've definitely waited to long and all interest has been lost - except a friend reminded me I never finished this story. Well, I went through the nudie-scanner and was told I needed to be checked out. eep! It turns out the lady needed to pat...my HAIR! It was a very respectful pat. No cupping of the scalp. Gloves worn. etc. etc.

I documented my hair do that morning. It is a french braid with a little extra fluff thanks to being slept on the previous night. And now you know the rest of the story.

FINE.

So, once upon a time, I traveled from Mapleton, Utah. That trip was much more successfully documented. I don't really feel like finding the links right now. Sorry. At least I'm even updating, right??

Well, there came a day where I was to return back to wee little Mapleton. Though I may never get pictures up here, I can at least show you the route that I took.

See below:

View Larger Map

Day 1: left Greensboro finally at 6pm, and traveled to Knoxville, TN
We had hoped to stay in Marriott's because of sweet discounts available, however, said hotel chain charges 75-100.00 PER STAY for bringing a fuzzy companion. No, not brother Matthew, but Max. sigh. So instead my Auntie Marki, Max and I took our business to Days Inn, which is 5-10.00 and night.

Day 2: left Knoxville, TN, and drove all the way to Fort Smith, AR
PS - the Mississippi River is HUUUUGGEE.

Day 3:Left Fort Smith, and traveled to Clayton, NM, via Elkhart, KS.
NOT via Texas. That's right, Texas was avoided. Mission complete.
OH, and we took a little 8 mile side trip on State Line Road, in Elkhart to a location where KS, OK and CO meet. There's a pretty neat windmill marker to commemorate the fact you drove eight miles on a dirt road, just to say you've been where three states meet.
PPS - The Arkansas River is pretty darn big, too.

Day 4: Clayton, NM to Cortez, CO.
Mesa Verde was about to close, so we didn't feel like $15 was worth paying for an hour. BUT we did make it to Four Corners Monument, fulfilling a life long goal of mine. Woo HOO.

Day 5: Cortez, CO to Mapleton, UT.
Via Scipio, because Highway 6 is a road I try to avoid at all costs.
No special stops, excepting an inordinate amount of potty breaks. One too many Dr Peppers, I guess??

Max was quite the good kitty during the trip. I didn't even have to drug him! YAY.

Oh, and the reason for the traveling across the country? I was hired for a 3/4 time position at a former university. It was not the job I originally applied for, but when I was told, 'No Thanks' for that position, I was informed about a soon to be available position, which they wanted me to apply for.

So there you have it.

And although I was here in Utah County only last summer, there have been some major changes. It's a bit disconcerting! The biggest being the fact that there's a TRAFFIC LIGHT in Mapleton. Stupid Maple Mountain High School. Just because people want the teenage drivers to be safe or something. geeze.

And that, my friends, is the rest of the story.

recap: 8 - Kentucky to North Carolina

Kate drove all this day.

We called my landlords as we neared the Virginia/North Carolina border; She said it would probably be another few hours. It ended up being closer to 45 minutes.

We were ready to be done.

We unloaded the car, went to dinner at Panera Bread, a few essentials from WalMart, and then made up little beds on the floor, and went to sleep.

We got up soon after five, so Kate could get to the airport in time to catch her plane, so she could finish her almost cross the country twice in a week trip.












And that, my friends, was the last picture taken.

recap: 7 - Nauvoo to Kentucky

We spent longer than intended at Nauvoo, but we got our souvenir bricks, were mistaken for EFY kids, and saw a former missionary Kate and I were neighbors with in Tampa. Oh, and I saw a couple of clarinetists from BYU. I even waved.

After Nauvoo, there was Carthage.

Followed by Hannibal MO. St. Louis, Indiana, with our stop in Lexington, KY.

recap: 6 - Nebraska to Nauvoo

We said goodbye to Dave, and headed out, stopping first at Winter Quarters, arriving in Nauvoo around dusk.

Kate wandered around town, while I talked to mom and dad online. I was tired, not having slept well the night before. This trend continued the remainder of the trip.

For all those thinking of staying at the Nauvoo Family Inn and Suites, there is an emphasis on Family there (i.e. little children running amuck at all hours) and don't let them put you in a room near the elevator, either. They do have free wireless, though.

recap: 5 - Colorado to Nebraska

Breakfeast was at the Waffle House.

We toured their cute apartment, and left Fort Collins at noon that day. The next stop, Omaha, Nebraska.











I didn't find Nebraska as daunting to drive through as I'd been warned. And as Kate pointed out, you don't have to worry about many curves in the road.

I've been informed that this opinion won't last longer than the next time I drive through.

We'll see.





That night we stayed with Dave Fredericks and his family.

recap: 4 - Utah to Colorado

Technically it was Portland to Salt Lake to Fort Collins, but that was much too long of a title.

Thanks again to Auntie Marki, Kate and I were picked up from the airport. She went home to repack and attend church, and I to rearrange the car I packed late the Wednesday before, so more than one person could fit. I ended up taking out six boxes worth of things that were ended up being mailed out to me.

I didn't make it to church. Instead I napped. I knew Kate probably wouldn't have gotten a nap, and I had said that I would take the first leg of driving.

We finally got out of Salt Lake around 6pm and headed East on I80.







We stopped the night in Fort Collins, CO with Julia and Eric, and new baby Elizabeth.

It was so very good to see them again. I wish time had permitted a better visit. Or even a better time for the visit.

recap: 3 - Seattle to Portland

Seattle really is lovely, if you know where you're going. Thankfully Kate and I have been in driving situations before, and she realizes that when I get frustrated about where I'm going, it's really nothing personal....

We made it on time (barely) to the ship and boarded. Yup, it was on a boat, the Argosy.












We made our final farewells to the newlyweds, and headed to meet a high school friend, Julia, who now lives in Seattle. We wandered around Seattle's library for a bit, then we gave her a ride home while I charged my dead phone so I could contact Jenny, my cousin.

We made a quick stop at a restaurant to say "Hi" then "Bye" to Jenny and her family, then headed back to Portland, via the Seattle Temple.





The temple was closed for renovations; Moroni received a new layer of gold leaf. A worker on the grounds told me that all the leafing was completed while he still stood on the spire, because if he had been lowered, city ordinances would not have allowed him to be raised up again.

After the temple, and some nasty gas station corn dogs, we were off, arriving at our hotel around midnight, ready to sleep fast for our 7am flight that morning.

recap: 2 - Portland to Seattle

Day two. Friday.

We went shopping. We had an entire morning, and were tempted by the lack of sales tax. Oh, and I brilliantly forgot dress shoes. I have to say we were successful, though I used more self-control then normal, for which I am proud. Just say no not only works for drugs.

As we were finishing our little outing, we, well, Kate received a phone call from the bride to be, saying that they were running late, and if we could meet the photographer at the temple to let her know the situation, that would be fabulous.

Of course we were willing to oblige, but food was needed desperately. No one likes a grumbly tummy. There was a quick pitstop to Quiznos. The photographer was informed, and all was well.

The Portland Temple. It is beautiful. While we were waiting for the bride and groom to arrive, Kate and I were able to wander around the grounds.





This is when I was informed of a possible engagement of my cousin Taralynn and was asked to do detective work. I called her sister Amy and left a message. I later received a confirmation of the information and passed along the news. Such happy news!

The wedding was lovely. He is a good man and will take care of her, and she will allow him to take care of her. They will be happy.



On a side note: My mom, because of her experience of being a maid of honor, did not do that to anyone else, and seeing what others have gone through (gratefully I have not had this blessing myself) I have vowed not to do this to others. It only causes stress.

An hermanas photo. Both Kate and I had the honor of being step-daughters to Sarah. Kate being my daughter, Sarah was both step-grandmother AND step-mother at the same time.





We left Portland that night and headed to Seattle for the reception the next morning. We took a bit of a round about way, but it all worked out, for we found a Taco Bell for dinner.