Friday, October 19, 2012

Friday ~~ Heading South, Thawing Out

Yesterday, we were "planning" to stay in Mount Rushmore-land longer, and do more exploring. After that, we were planning to see visit/surprise/hug friends in Wyoming and see some of the gorgeous parks there.

But then..... we were soooo dang cold and going a lot stirrr crazy inside Maxine.  Like on the verge of Bonkers. The winds were crazy & freezing all morning long, which kept us quarantined and staying put~~ (even the dogs were weather wimps)  (picture drooling dogs, active kids, and 4 tired adults inside Maxine) ....  and then the electricity went out at our campground, due to the out-of-control fires that sprung up nearby and billowed smoke on the horizon.

And so, with visions of Mt Rushmore still dancing in our heads, as soon as the winds began to subside in the afternoon,  we got our hineys in gear superfast and hit the dusty trail south, for warmer temps. We did not really know WHERE SOUTH we were going, we just pointed Maxine  in that direction.

We were all so ready to thaw out and get warm ... (hi, my name is Diane, and I am a weatherwimp -- it is true)

After driving just a few hrs, we did a quick dinner stop/ doggie run & swim / and stretch legs time, at a State Park in Nebraska. Then, Derek and Abby did our first night drive.  (you woulda thought we were in a hurry or something ;-)  .... The kids slept.  And Papa and Gigi snoozed away in our overhead bunk.

I told Kai last night, as I was reading her stories, that I used to love night drives as a little girl.  My brother and I would sleep in the back of the station wagon, our parents would drive all night, and it would be SO MUCH FUN  to wake up in the morning in a brand new spot.

And wha-laaa, we woke up in Colorado in a WalMart parking lot ~~ our kids drove til about 2:00 in the morning. And now, we are  on the road again, a few hours from Santa Fe.  Can't wait to introduce Derek to the good ole South West. And the best Huevos Rancheros & Sopapillas in the universe.

And we can hardly  wait to play outside in the warm sunshine :-)  ~~~  Kai is 'cited to wear her slippers (flip flops) again, Derek is looking forward to grilling outside tonight (gas and charcoal he says),  and we are all perty darn excited about taking off 37 layers of clothing

Well, south we go.  Thanks to all who have asked us to stop in.  It blesses us so much,  and we do wish we could make all the stops to hug our friends.

And to those who are still ahead on the journey, if we can, we'd love to say "aloha" in person.

How thankful we are for friends across the country who love us so.  We love you right back.
                                       


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