Seattle Bound: Denver to Ogden

Travel day 3: 510 miles

We got on the road late in the morning after staying in Denver to visit friends. The dogs got some play time in and we got to catch up with the people of the house; a much-needed break all around. I also want to note that everything good in this home (from tables to quilts) is hand made, including this beautiful elephant.

I don't think we were even remotely prepared for what the day would bring. Our drive began in the nice, warm city of Denver and ended in snowy mountain passes. Despite being only 510 miles, I think today was particularly taxing. Here's what it looked like:

Just like yesterday, today involved three different states. I'm still surprised how scenic the drive has been. I expected to be totally sick of at least one of the views by now, but it's still pretty and changing rather consistently. 

One of today's most interesting spots was the Sinclair, Wyoming.

After a long day of driving in a straight line for what seemed like FOREVER, followed by windy mountain passes and truckers determined to keep a steady pace of Ludicrous Speed, we're pooped! Achy legs, frazzled nerves... we piled out of the car at the closest La Quinta to Ogden and splurged on a room with a jet tub. Let me tell you, it was worth every penny.

Here's a peek of today's scenery:

Northern Colorado

Welcome to Wyoming!

Later on in Wyoming

Utah snow

Seattle Bound: Lubbock to Denver

Travel day 2: 560 miles

Today's adventures began with Texas shaped waffles before sunrise. To say we didn't get the best night's sleep last night is quite an understatement. We finally gave up hope that either of us would fall back asleep somewhere around 5:30 this morning, and decided to head for Denver to see some friends on our way home.




So, a little change in plans from the original route (which was by no means planned meticulously) and off we went on our three-state tour!

The GPS has not always been taking us on major freeways, which has turned out to be quite pleasant. It's very interesting to drive through the small towns that you would normally pass by on major thoroughfares. My favorite town names of the day include Dimmit and Trinidad.

Today held a lot of great views and some anxiety in the form of crazy and heavy traffic in Colorado Springs and Denver respectively. Yet another reason I'm glad "the Garmin" seems to be taking us on the shortest, and not necessarily the fastest, routes which tends to bypass large cities and the traffic that comes with them.

I'd be lying if I said I remember where this was taken.

Dogs posted at the observation deck

More lovely views, this one in southern Colorado

And what is a family road trip without an ice cream stop?!

Seattle Bound: Houston to Lubbock

Travel day 1: 520 miles

We finally made it out of Houston today! A little later than anticipated, but better ready and tired than rushed and exhausted, especially with the kind of driving we have ahead of us.





It went like this, more or less. I would love to adjust the route to figure out exactly where we went, but the internet connection at our lush accommodations can’t seem to handle google maps.

The drive itself was really scenic and largely uneventful (what we’re looking for). We went through small towns with names like Bangs and Pole and something called Noodle Dome that was almost enough to pull us from our course to find out what it was. Casey is full to the brim and I have the pups, who have been surprisingly okay with the amount of driving we did today. After the past weeks of strange schedules and the contents of our apartment both moving around and disappearing, I think they’re just glad we’re all together.

As the sun started setting, the views were beautiful! The only catch is… we’re generally heading West. I’m pretty sure I helped power my car by flapping the visor from windshield to side window so often. Back to the front, side. Front, side, front, side, front, si- no, front still.

I would also like to mention that the walkie-talkies we bought last week is hands down our best Costco purchase ever.

Current task: try to fall asleep with our cars (and lives) in a hotel parking lot.

Let's Get This Over With: 13x13x13 - 9

I'm a bit late in posting about my half marathon adventures this month. Sadie and I both ran #9 on September 6th, about 2 weeks ago. Sadie knocked hers out before work, like the champ that she is, and I was in my hometown of Canby, Oregon visiting my family.

Now I can't complain that this run was too hot, but I will tell you it was pretty miserable (for a variety of reasons that would take far too long to explain). It would seem that one of the main sources of my suffering involved running on a course with hills; none of them were too terribly long or steep, just really consistent. When coming from a place where the closest thing we have to a hill is a freeway overpass, lets just say I don't get a lot of practice with them. This caused a secondary issue of muscle cramping. I never have problems with muscle cramping on runs, but this one was the exception - my little calves were begging for mercy and I just kept going. For THREE hours!

This brings me to another significant misery factor: how long I was out there. In most of my blogs you can usually find a phrase something to the effect of, "it wasn't my best and it wasn't my worst. I'll take it." Well, let me tell you, this was my worst.
Final time: 3:09:47

I've recently finished reading a book by Sister Madonna Buder called The Grace to Race. She's an 80-year old nun who competes in triathlons - including the IronMan. Specifically, you could say she specializes in opening (or creating) new age group brackets. At the end of the IronMan, after swimming 2 and a half miles, then biking over 100 miles, you still have to complete a full marathon. She describes her experience with the final marathon not as running, but as a "death march." And that is exactly what I did in the last 3 miles of this half marathon.

The good news: we're almost done!
The bad news: due to the impending move and subsequent craziness, I haven't run since this day. (oops!)

Also, my phone filled up after taking the picture of the t-shirt, so here are a couple of photos I found of the trail I ran on. At least it was pretty!

Seattle Bound: an Intro

Many people know by now that Casey and I are moving to Seattle. 

I've said it. I'm writing it. By the looks of our living room, we're clearly doing it. But I just can't seem to process it! My brain might not be cooperating, but my mediocre Photoshop skills are (more or less). 

Check it out!

"When are you leaving?" 

"What's the plan?"

"Where will you live?"

These are all (very logical) questions that people keep asking us. I would love to be able to answer just one of them. If I had a dollar for every time I've replied, "That's a great question! We're not sure yet." this week, I'm pretty sure it would cover the gas for the entire trip. So, here's a better answer: It's an adventure! We'll let you know how it goes.

And we will! I plan on blogging our travels from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, so stay tuned! And no, I don't know when that will start. But when it does, it will probably go something like this: