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Published: July 20th 2015
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Day 23: Auntie dropped us off at OAK and we checked in for our flight to BOS. Our plane was delayed by 40 minutes but Captain Chuck got us back across the country safe and sound where Grammie greeted us with our Opie. We pulled into Mansfield and the house was still in tact-just as we left it--thanks to our awesome neighbors.
Coast to coast, we logged over 5,000 miles travelled in 17 States plus Ontario. We spotted every US license plate, including Hawaii three times and five of the Canadian provinces. 4,142 pictures were taken. Our modes of transportation included automobile, plane, mule, raft, boat, tube, subway, zip line, cable car, elevator (to the top of the Willis Tower in Chicago), the hiking boots on our own two feet, and of course, Silver Sally.
I am sure most people will ask, "Would you do it again?" Yes, without hesitation. However, we probably won't because there is still too much of the world to see. I dreaded the car ride and it had its moments. However, I am the luckiest man in the world and everywhere we went was home because the four of us were together (five if
you include the mouse in SD). The saying is indeed true; it is not the destination but the journey that matters. In our case the destination was the journey. Three years ago we started sketching out this trip of a lifetime. When we started, we weren't sure if it was possible for many reasons, time, money, would we snap being cooped up together for three weeks in a car and for the most part sharing two beds in the same room and one bathroom for most of the trip. We want to show our kids the world and started with our own country and the possibility, opportunity, danger, diversity, wonder, and heritage contained within.
What was our favorite part? Each stop along the way was truly different and contained its own magic that made it special to us and we will remember each fondly.
Our points of interest that we stopped at along the way and what made each special:
Niagara Falls, standing at the bottom and feeling the waters rush over was baptismal.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, our lives have a soundtrack, this was a new way to internalize it.
A Christmas
Story House, Christmas in July and for a moment living out one of our favorite movies.
Notre Dame, will one of our boys go here? Where will they go to school?
Willis Tower, Chicago, looking out over four states seeing the country from a thousand feet up.
Moe's Diner, slice of Americana.
Lake Minnetonka, thanks to Brad for opening our eyes to a new beautiful part of the country we didn't know much about.
Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, man made or natural monuments, and wildlife we need to preserve it all so our grandchildren may also appreciate it.
Arkansas River, the excitement of rafting with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
Mesa Verde, the Ancestral Pueblo People proved that wherever you go is home.
Four Corners, made me think as we were each standing in a different state, will our future lie in different states as the boys grow.
The Grand Canyon, setting sight on this sitting atop our mules at the edge of the cliff and looking out at the colors and the true grandeur of the canyon.
Route 66, Sonic Drive In, no
cross country road trip is complete without it.
Hoover Dam, Bellagio, Vegas Variety Show, David Copperfield, everyone has a talent and can turn what seems like nothing into something great.
San Francisco Bay, Lombard Street, Cable Cars, SF Bay cruise, Walking the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Napa Valley and setting foot in the Pacific at Muir Beach, it was even better to share the culmination of this journey with our West Coast family. We certainly felt at home just as we were starting to feel homesick after being on the road for previous two plus weeks.
Going west is a part of American History, it was never meant to be easy or enjoyable, but always contained the promise of a better tomorrow to all who have attempted it and there is a certain romance and poetry that accompanies its undertaking. I have said I am the luckiest man in the world; this trip will not likely be reproduced by our family again. That is for Luc and Alec to decide when they have their own families. There were moments and days on the trip that may have been trying or nerve wracking, but that promise contained
in each new day was fulfilled as we woke up and faced a new adventure.
I am overwhelmed by the interest in our journey. Thanks for reading. I will get to post our videos soon enough so look for at least one more entry later this week.
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Krissi
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Thanks for sharing!!
Loved reading about your trip. It was like we got to share a little of it with you and it was great!! We read some of your posts to Charlie and thought about how we'll try and copy your trip some day. We loved the post cards from the boys. Nobody sends postcards anymore so it was so nice for Charlie to get them. They will go in her baby book. Thanks again for sharing and so glad you guys had an awesome time. Can't wait to see the photos and videos!! Love, The Nolans