 Home Again 10 Months Later: Photos 21 to 42 |
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Home Again 10 Months Later: Photos 21 to 42
North America » United States » Washington » Port Townsend
December 11th 2006 by Waltzing Matilda
November 10 - December 10, 2006
Arches National Park, near Moab, Utah - Port Townsend, Wash.
25,796 miles wraps up our road trip
2,097 miles this final leg
At 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Nov. 17, Matilda crossed into the original time zone from whence she came, and well after dark at 7:30 p.m., we crossed the state border between Idaho and Washington and were HOME!
Our road trip officially ended a few days later, on Nov. 20, when we pulled into the driveway of Jeff’s parents’ house in Coulee City, Wash. We thought the Thanksgiving holidays made a convenient endpoint for our travels. Our year-long sabbatical continues, but there'll be no more wandering for Waltzing Matilda. We worked our way to Port Townsend a couple of weeks later over very familiar territory, and in separate vehicles, in fact.
Time to send that skeptic in North Carolina a postcard from Port Townsend to let her know we completed our 10-month road trip and still want to be married to each other! Laura, if you’re reading this, know that we not only finished, we finished just in the nick of time.
Because less than 24 hours
Full Text Entry: Home Again 10 Months Later
TB: [diary=109913]
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December 12th 2006 - Josh, Sarah & the girls: welcome home!
Welcome home from your drive-about! Looking forward to some in-person supplemental story-telling. Glad to hear you made it back safe and sound, though not without some heartache along the way. (Sorry to hear about that.) Congratulations!
December 12th 2006 - Michael Burns: Welcome Home
Happy that you all made it and now have eclipsed all records for seemingly trouble free driving in a VW van. You may also have set the record formost freinds visited in places unlikely.
I hope you learned how much there is to see, how many there are to meet, and why a trip may be over, but a journey never ends.
Stay well. I hope to see you out there again.
December 14th 2006 - Dad and Mom: Welcome Home
Well, you made it in grand fashion. We, of course, are glad to have you back home but we know the trip was worth every minute of the adventure. We think there must be a book with all the beautiful photos and write up's. Time will tell about that. As you reflect back on the journey and all the people you met along the way, it will be hard to say what was the most inspiring or meaningful. In time, it will all melt together as one of the most important things you did in your life. We look forward to hearing more and more of the tales as time permits and to reflect on the personal growth you have had along the way. Love, Dad and Mom
December 15th 2006 - Chuck Henry: Home, safe
Glad to have you home safely, with the adventure of a lifetime tucked in, and all that remains is (and this is just my own idea, of course) to write a book about it. Bet you hadn't thought of that. We have enjoyed vicariously all that you have done, seen, sung and played, and imagine you have plans for more Great Adventures. Congratulations and welcome home. Chuck
January 4th 2007 - Molly McCarthy: welcome home
Shelly - Its been just a treat following your travels these last months. Welcome home!
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Lava Hot Springs, ID
What we are bound to look like in a few years...ha! This is actually our favorite hot springs in SE Idaho, where had a luxurious stay the week before Thanksgiving.
Kathy & Quilt
In Nampa, ID, we visited the family of Shelly's bosom friend Angela, whom we visited in D.C. This is her mom Kathy with one of her quilts.
Shoulder Rides
Angela's brother Aaron (lower left) has 5-y-o twins (Hannah & Caitlin) and a nearly 3-y-o daughter (Alysa). Other brother Arlen & his girlfriend Lindley are often tapped for shoulder rides. Mother Jul... [more]
Randy & Twin
And here's Angela's father Randy with one of his granddaughters (OK, I can't tell the twins apart!).
Salmon River Canyon
...and turned to this, in the incredibly scenic Salmon River Canyon. We were getting so close to our home state, we could taste it!
Nez Perce Land
The Salmon River gouged out this landscape, which was the traditional home of the Nez Perce tribe. You can see why they fought to keep it.
Liberty Lake, WA, Hosts
Near Spokane, WA, we visited Jeff's high school classmate Mike, his wife Robyn (center), and kids Hailey, Darcie, Troy, and Kiley. (Son Casey not pictured.)
Jeff, Mike, Don
Mike's brother Don (far right) happened to be visiting, too. These three guys used to be good buds in high school.
Mica, WA, Hosts
Our last nights "on the road" were spent in Mica, WA, with another of Jeff's high school classmates, Don. We were welcomed by his wife Tammy and kids Landon, McCall and Parker.
Shelly Journaling
Shelly demonstrates how she spent many of the trip driving hours in the passenger seat, feet up on the dash, making notes in her journal.
Happy to be Home
On Nov. 20 we arrived at Jeff's parents' home in Coulee City, WA, and our road trip was officially over. His mom took this photo of us expressing relief and excitement both.
Thanksgiving Hosts
We spent Thanksgiving Day at the home of friends Verle & Joann in nearby Bridgeport, WA.
Shelly & Moms
Shelly's family drove over from western Washington to join us. Sitting down to dinner are Shelly, mother-in-law Gloria, and mother Ann.
Thanksgiving Gaggle
Here's the whole gang. Jeff's dad Jim is at far left and Shelly's dad Bill is in front of her in the checked shirt.
Apples to Apples
We played our new favorite card game, Apples to Apples, and here Roland (Verle & Joann's son), Bill (Shelly's dad), and Gloria (Jeff's mom) react to the revelation that "Viagra" is considered most "ha... [more]
Orchard Boxes
Our Thanksgiving hosts live in orchard country, with apple, pear and cherry trees irrigated by the nearby Columbia River. Here Jeff and Ann are dwarfed by a stack of apple boxes.
Thankful for Music
And of course we played music that night, with some other fine musicians in attendance.
5 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
December 12th 2006 - Josh, Sarah & the girls: welcome home!
Welcome home from your drive-about! Looking forward to some in-person supplemental story-telling. Glad to hear you made it back safe and sound, though not without some heartache along the way. (Sorry to hear about that.) Congratulations!
December 12th 2006 - Michael Burns: Welcome Home
Happy that you all made it and now have eclipsed all records for seemingly trouble free driving in a VW van. You may also have set the record formost freinds visited in places unlikely.
I hope you learned how much there is to see, how many there are to meet, and why a trip may be over, but a journey never ends.
Stay well. I hope to see you out there again.
December 14th 2006 - Dad and Mom: Welcome Home
Well, you made it in grand fashion. We, of course, are glad to have you back home but we know the trip was worth every minute of the adventure. We think there must be a book with all the beautiful photos and write up's. Time will tell about that. As you reflect back on the journey and all the people you met along the way, it will be hard to say what was the most inspiring or meaningful. In time, it will all melt together as one of the most important things you did in your life. We look forward to hearing more and more of the tales as time permits and to reflect on the personal growth you have had along the way. Love, Dad and Mom
December 15th 2006 - Chuck Henry: Home, safe
Glad to have you home safely, with the adventure of a lifetime tucked in, and all that remains is (and this is just my own idea, of course) to write a book about it. Bet you hadn't thought of that. We have enjoyed vicariously all that you have done, seen, sung and played, and imagine you have plans for more Great Adventures. Congratulations and welcome home. Chuck
January 4th 2007 - Molly McCarthy: welcome home
Shelly - Its been just a treat following your travels these last months. Welcome home!
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The text and photos of this article remain the copyright of the Author (Shelly & Jeff Randall). Under no circumstances should the photos or text be used without the express written permission of the Author (Shelly & Jeff Randall). If you wish to use or publish photos or text from this article - please
Contact Shelly & Jeff Randall.