Shelly, wonderful to read about where you are now. The comfortable seductively lit guest bed sure looks inviting. We will try to come by in not too distant future.
Very happy for you and Jeff, for the new found places you've found for yourselves in life. It sounds as if you two are really happy with what you do now, more at peace and all that!
Hugs and kisses to you both!
I'm jealous Many people dream of doing a once-in-a-lifetime-trip like yours but never actually get around to it. I'm jealous! But in defense of 747 jets, they can hold over 500 people!
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
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
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.
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!
Y'all are making me homesick for the Colorado Rockies. Luke and I are taking Evelyn that way for the holidays at the end of December to meet all of her grandparents and her great-grandma, plus paying tribute to her great-grandpa's memory. I am sooo looking forward to having you meet Evelyn and to play some olde time tunes with you guys again. Hope you are bringing back some "new" ones for us to learn. :-)
Shelly and Jeff, after your visit here a few months ago, I too have enjoyed reading your various escapades and adventures. I have similar thoughts as you, regarding the political situation in this country. I'm crossing my fingers things are going to get better! You must be getting close to home now. All the best during the remainder of your travels. P.S. David is happy at Cal Poly, SLO, as is Drew at NU, and Leah is merrily marching and riding. All the best.
Nice to meet you. Hi. Just looked at the pictures of family,farm, and the crane leaving the Necedah Refuge. The pictures are great. Also the article. It was nice to meet you and hope to see you again. Sorry you didn't get the job Jeff, but I'am sure there is a better one waiting for you. Take Care. Jennie
Wow!!!!!!!!!!! The travel adventures are getting better and better. How will you ever settle down to a "normal" life after this? As usual this was one heck of a nice blog. We are looking forward to seeing you soon but will miss the naratives of your travel across the country and great photos of people and places where you have been. All our love, Dad and Mom
Thank You for Sharing Hi Guys! We are lookig forward to your return...(when is the big day yo u roll in?) And wanted to say big thanks for sharing the adventure....My sister and her family in Cape Cod were delighted with your visit! Your website and especially meeting the wonderful two of you has opened the world wide open for my nephew and nieces. Miss you...
Sarah, Josh, Agnes, Caitlin, and Lilliana Peters
Looking Sooooooo Good Just finished reading and looking at the photos of the latest blog. Wow, what a nice write up and photographs. We relive some of our travels every time we see your travelog. What a great experience you are having. Looking forward to seeing you both soon. Love, Dad and Mom
Glad to have met you two! We so enjoyed having you stay with us for those two days, and are very greatful to have met you both. Emma still asks about you now and then. Maybe our paths will cross again someday. We will continue to follow your journey with the good feelings that we were a small part of it. Safe travels!
Ye Olde Stomping Grounds! Oh boy, now you are stirring the old pot of New England memories...having gone to school in Amherst; lived in Rockport right near those rafts of rockweed; hung around Woodenboat Magazine in its earliest days; visits to family farm in Vermont; visits to my daughter (Coyote) over her years at Smith; commune life in the woods of New Hampshire starting in the late 60's....and on and on down memory lane your blog has taken me!
Lovin' It! I am traveling with you! Enjoying every word and picture! They are fantastic. Look forward to 'fall color' photos from Mass to NY! Take care and we miss you.
Nancy
WOW Quite a story. I had a feel for the Lobsterman fishing with your great pictures and write up. Looks like a rough life but enjoyable also. As always the photos were great and told the story. Keep it up. We were happy to hear from you tonight. Switched the cable to the new computer and the pictures popped right up. Love it. Take care. Love, Dad and Mom
See you one day at your Skinetic Festival! Hi Jeff and Shelly! That's so fabulous that you could arrange such a day on a lobsterday, we couldn't have wished you better for a journey in the Maritimes! We're back from Nova Scotia, we really enjoyed our trip but it was definitely too short. You can have a look at it on our new blog at http://valetmartin.blogs-de-voyage.fr, if you ever have time. It's in French, but pictures are an universal language! We are very pleased that you enjoyed so much your trip in Eastern Quebec and in the Maritimes... Gaspesie, New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia are some of the places we really cherish. We hope to meet you again someday at Quebec's Carnival or in your hometown at the Skinetic Festival! ;) We really enjoyed your stay with us in Charny, as well as Val's family enjoyed it in La Pocatiere (enough for Val's mom to think about taking English classes to receive more wonderful hosts like you and be able to have a good conversation with them!), you made our weekend!
Val and Martin
Canada, aye! Greetings - Great pics and narrative . . . Jen the kids and I are in Vernon, BC soaking up some canadian sanity. All goes well on the home front (including your home). I've been playing guitar all the time, I've now done six open mikes and have written a number of songs and rap/spoken word pieces - very political as you can imagine (George Bush lies/the rich man decides/the Iraqi children die/while the poor people cry). My bike shop, Sister Cycles, opens in November and I'm no longer working in Poulsbo (which is a good thing). In the immortal words of David Bowie, ch-ch-ch-changes but all positive - safe travels.
Cheers
Randy, Jen, Charlotte and Olivia
We almost crossed paths Hi there! Finally have some time to peruse your blog! I had two weeks in the Hollywood Hills with my aunt, then flew to Charlotte myself for a meeting! They had a tour the whitewater park and hosted us to a dinner at the Speedway! I had an extra twenty-four hours so drove to Asheville through the mountains and had a great time - visited the larged house in the nation...had some BBQ, etc....great stories and photos - whoo hoo!
All the way from downunder I have been following your journey for sometime(being attracted by the waltzing matilda title). No I am not some crazed Aussie stalker, just a mum whose first son is at present travelling the world for 4 months. He set up a blog and had such good intentions to keep the old folks at home up to date. Unfortunately studying Acturarial Studies at University in Canberra for 5 years did little to increase his communications skills, or his ability to give us a little glimpse of the places he visits,therefore I find myself heading straight to Waltzing Matilda. I do hope that you are not offended that a stranger on the other side of the world is eagerly logging on to your site and very much enjoying the detailed journal of your amazing adventure.
Second viewing We took the time to look at the blog again on our new computer screen. We couldn't see all the photos on our old computer as it didn't want to load all of them but they poped right up on the new one. The pictures are fantastic right down to the final one of Matilda going to sleep for the night. Great job! Thanks for taking the time to put it all together. We send our love and wishes for a second half of the trip as great as the first. Love, Dad and Mom
Great write up and pictures. Well, as usual, we really enjoyed the description and pictures. What an experience you two are having. We thought back to our visit to PEI and the visit to Anne of Green Gables birthplace. That was a neat time. Glad you picked that for your graduation trip. Keep the wheels rolling and making friends and music as you go. Love, Dad and Mom
Why we thought you were the perfect guests Dear Shelly and Jeff - well, here it is. Why you were the perfect guests: Apart from being friendly and casual, you were totally self-sufficient, you knew when we needed our space and never imposed yourselves. I had mentioned that we were going to be very busy but knew you would be able to take care of yourselves, at the same time, being available for a few meals so we could get to know you. I noticed that you had an uncanny way, both of you, of observing exactly how we did things (in the kitchen for example) and of doing the same, adapting yourselves to our ways, never imposing your ways. (I didn't rinse the dishes; you didn't rinse the dishes). you were considerate, clean, generous with your preparation of two delicious meals for us. You did not ask me for even an onion but went to the market and purchased all you needed and you never bothered me about anything when in the kitchen; you understood that when I said you could open any cupboard door, I meant it. You graciously enjoyed our meals when you joined us. You didn't mind being soaked to the bone on our way to Alec and Vickie's after the movie. I loved shopping with you at my favorite store and seeing you find such gorgeous apparel. You were my first globalfreeloaders and you gave a definite new definition to the word "freeloader". I have even more faith in global networks now and really feel we CAN make the world a better one by spreading friendship. It was a delight to meet you. With much love. Danie ps btw it should be : Tombes en amour... (with an accent aigu on the e but I don't know how to do it :))
We are a writer/photographer and a land-use planner from Port Townsend, Wash., who quit our jobs to take a year-long "sabbatical" for the 12 months of 2006.
Our travel vehicle was a Volkswagen Westfalia camper-van named Matilda, after the Australian phrase (and song) "Waltzing Matilda" -- meaning to hit the road with your possessions slung in a bag over your shoulder. We were glad not to be wandering on foot like those Aussie swagmen!
We had a memorable trip waltzing around the U.S. and Canada, learning as much as we could about this vast and diverse continent we call home. So glad we di... full info
Marinkie
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Shelly, wonderful to read about where you are now. The comfortable seductively lit guest bed sure looks inviting. We will try to come by in not too distant future. Very happy for you and Jeff, for the new found places you've found for yourselves in life. It sounds as if you two are really happy with what you do now, more at peace and all that! Hugs and kisses to you both!