The Fat Lady Has Sung

After 6 weeks and 11,000 miles on the road we arrived home after midnight on Friday. To our surprise Michael and Jessie had spent a couple of days mowing grass, raking, blowing the leaves, scrubbing the porch of pollen, etc. They even found time to make a welcome home banner for us. We're fatigued, but still very excited about our adventure and will soon start planning next summer's excursion. I'm still hopeful of finding a summer job for us in Yellowstone, but Pat refuses to spend that much time away from the baby.

Sometimes you think you've seen and learned all there is to learn or all you care to learn, but this trip was a remarkable learning experience in addition to being a great adventure:

1. Although we have bonded over a 45 year marriage and several additional years
of "dating", six weeks together living out of a van, motels, lodges and on the
road was a chance to draw even closer together.

2. See America first! What a beautiful and diverse country. The National
Geographic Channel, the Learning Channel, the History Channel and the Travel
Channel on cable TV provided us with more exciting ideas and things to do than
we could possibly fit into our schedule. Of course Julia was the final word
on the route and priorities.

3. You always pack more clothes than you need. Rather than carry multiple suit-
cases with us, we purchased a large plastic bin from WalMart. It fit perfect-
ly into the well behind the rear seat in the van. We stored about ten days of
clothing in the bin and about three days worth in one suitcase. Still, we had
to carry the a suitcase, cosmetics case, and laptop into each lodging.

4. The best laundromats are at KOA. Remember to bring soap and bleach.

5. Don't forget vehicle maintenance. We changed oil three times on the trip. It
is always a surprise to the quick lube people to discover that you changed oil
only seven days earlier.

6. Always stop at the Visitors Center when entering parks. They have great film
about the park and many "freebies". In addition to postcards, we purchased
refrigerator magnets at each stop and have about 25 to attach to the fridge.
They are very colorful and some are 3-D magnets.

7. Write a blog and share it and your photos with your friends. It's a fun way
to keep a diary and share experiences with others.

8. Look for side trip opportunities or the chance to experience a new thrill such
as whale watching, hiking to the bottom of a canyon, or rafting through the
rapids.

9. Talk to other visitors. They will have stories and experiences to share with
you and may provide information to get you excited about something not pre-
viously included on your itinerary.

10. Carry laptop, cellphone, cameras, camcorders and any other technology that you
can fit into your vehicle. We don't have a GPS system, but only got turned
around a couple of times. As any fellow travelers know, the wireless
reception in some lodging can be sketchy, so be prepared to sit in the lobby
while you communicate.

11. If you don't have GPS and get turned around, seek directions from a policeman,
fireman or postal carrier. Too often the clerks at convenience stores and
motels have recently relocated and are still learning their way around town.

12. Carry water by the gallons. If you are traveling in the high deserts you will
get dehydrated and your skin will make you look like you've aged about twenty
years. Carry snacks also. In some areas of the West one can travel a hundred
miles without seeing a town, service station, convenience store or rest area.

13. "Go west, young man, go west". Horace Greeley was correct.