"LIVE THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED" -Thoreau

Wed, 5/14. Welcome to the PA Wilds, a most spectacular and undisturbed wild lands east of the Mississippi. If you can get past Tim's leg (he's napping), you can see the beauty of the lush green forests.



What's this? traffic? congestion? We're coming into NY, crossing the Geo Washington Bridge. You can't see the skyline because of the haze.



Hello Zack! We missed you! Moose is a little annoyed that we've been gone for so long, but he'll get over it.


Hello house! It feels great to put up our feet and relax on the porch. But not for long...now that the driveway is in, Tim's "Garage Mahal" needs to be completed.



We are blessed to have had a safe and adventurous journey of 7,475 miles (520 gal. gas) and countless wonderful memories. We are truly "living the life we've imagined" and have 6 loving children, 2 grandchildren (and one on the way), extended family, and fun friends to enjoy life with.

Ryan! Memaw and Grandpa miss you and want to see how much you have grown. See you on Sunday for pancakes! School is almost out for Erin, a school counselor, and Rob, a gym teacher. Time to plan another trip to VT.



On 6/20 we will be sharing in the celebration of Patrick and Daria's wedding! The handsome couple will be ready soon to publish their imaginative art-filled story book.

Kate is working and studying hard for her teacher's certification. She has the support of her beau, Mike, and we look forward to seeing their new apt. We'll bring the wine and chocolate!

Hey Andy...what's up? Since graduating from UDel, you have been determined and steadfast in pursuing a career path in business. We wish you happiness in your move to the city.

Memaw and Grandpa had fun during our VA visit. Eric is happy with his soil scientist position at a consultant company. Susan has advised the schoolboard that she will be resigning her position as counselor and soon we will find out if Nathan will have a little brother or sister.

Hi Mom/Grandma/Nana! Ready for a trip to Richmond in June for Nathan's 2nd birthday?



Cory and Sheri, we had great time in AZ, miss you already, and look forward to the next time we can get together. KEEP ON COOKING!




This is the end of our roadtrip adventure...until next time! Thanks for sharing with us!


XOXO , LOVE TO ALL,




JOAN and TIM

HOMEWARD BOUND

Mon, 5/12.

Downtown Des Moines, Iowa, is the location of the historic Renaissance Savery Hotel, at which we stayed, and we took the time in the a.m. to walk the charming capital city. I relaxed with coffee outside of Java Joes while Tim learned from Jeff how to roast the beans.

Not only kids can have fun at the Science Center of Iowa and IMAX Dome Theater. We, too, played in all the discovery and experience platforms. Can you recognize our face and hands? Our skeletons? Is that Tim on TV? The weather station, of course!

Goodbye Des Moines! We continue 80E through Iowa and straight through Illinois where the farmland continues to be prominent and soothing.

Tues, 5/13. Trivia question: What university is featured in the movie "Rudy" featuring actor Sean Astin?

Answer: Notre Dame! It is truly a beautiful campus. Actually, today is sunny and gorgeous in Indiana. Whoa, $4.19 for regular gas in Sturgis. Traveling east to Ohio, a part of us wants to keep driving and head for home. Another part of us wants to slow down our roadtrip and search for more adventures. One thing we know for sure, we can always take off whenever and whereever again because....ready?.....WE'RE RETIRED!

Eateries are slim picking in Montpelier, Ohio. Tim stops at the local drugstore asking where is a good place to eat and gets "invited" to Maywood Restaurant.

Excellent choice. The warm chicken waldorf salad sandwich with cranberry brie was the best ever. Tim is in heaven with the liver, onions, gravy and crispy potatoes. Tim is also ready for a nap.

Tracking (blogging) our roadtrip through an online journal has been a wonderful way to document and communicate to our friends and family. We have technical expert and advisor Andy to thank for setting up our blog. XOXO Andy...you're the best! Our blog will remain active as we anticipate many future trips and events. For those interested, e-mail notifications of specific postings will be sent.

The PA border is close and it's getting late. Punxsutawney! Once a thriving coal, oil and lumber town, it is now a nostalgic charming town and site of groundhog Phil's world-famous weather forecast. Surely, everyone has seen the movie "Groundhog Day?" Bill Murray was here!

Will Phil see his shadow on Feb. 2nd and predict 6 more weeks of winter, or will there be no shadow, foretelling an early spring? Located off Barclay Square, Punxsutawney Phil is hiding somewhere in his habitat.

Zack and Moose...we're on our way home! Rest easy, thanks to Hannah, they have been lovingly taken care of. Our roadtrip has been all the more enjoyable knowing that our home and pet family are in good hands. Thanks again, Hannah! See you tomorrow?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Sun, 5/11. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY Mom! and to Erin and Susan and all the other special Moms out there! We are thinking about you and hope you have a great day.

Historic Nebraska City is where Arbor Day was founded, where Lewis & Clark's legendary expedition passed and where John Brown made history by hiding runaway slaves in a cave.

At the Lewis & Clark Center, which overlooks the Missouri River, we learned that the Lewis & Clark expedition spaned from 5/14/1804 to 9/23/1806 with 3 boats, 33 people, 1 dog, 30 tons of supplies and gifts for Indian tribes. It was a weary trek along the Missouri River, but rewarding as they were the first Americans to explore the LA Purchase. They recorded their discoveries in journals and identified 178 plants and 122 animals new to science. This is "Seaman," a replica of Lewis' black Newfoundland dog, who retrieved squirrels, geese, deer, and other animals brought down by hunters and guarded the boat and crew from grizzlies. "Pee Dee" (very much alive), is a black tailed prairie dog.

We found the exhibits and interactive displays to be unique, fun and educational!

As we cross the Missouri River and into Iowa, the scenery changes to vast green and hilly farmlands on both sides of the road.

What the heck is broaster chicken? We have to stop and check it out. Not only do we have lunch at the M.C. Grill in Cornell, IA , but we find a "substitute Mother's Day family" to have lunch with.

We also find out from the May-Johnson Family that up the road a bit is John Wayne's birthplace and the movie location site for Bridges of Madison County. Thanks ya'll, we'll be on our way.

"This kind of certainty comes just once in a lifetime." Ring a bell? In Winterset we found the Roseman Covered Bridge featured in the novel and movie Bridges of Madison County. A small house on 2nd St, also in Winterset, was home to the one and only John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison in 1907 (Jim Mayberry, take note).

"Time to move on, Pilgrim."

We love Iowa's agricultural countryside and as we drive through the city of Des Moines, it is charming as well. Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Works was casual and comforting. Why not stay here for the night? Thanks Tim! for making my Mother's Day a day to remember.

GOODBYE AND EASTWARD HO

Fri, 5/9. Four weeks and 5,002 miles. Previously, well-known resident contractor Dusty Pierce visited again to review plans for Luis and Mimi's future home. Tim found his match in telling enthusiastic tales of history. They bantered back and forth ending with Dusty recalling a true civil war event in Colorado not found in any printed books.

TimTim and CottonwoodLou have more exploring to do so they grab their map, compass and food supplies and we travel the road again through Durango, CO to NM, and back across the border to CO for the return to Cottonwood Canyon.

Where's our Eric?.. a soil scientist with a background in geology, you would LOVE the flora and fauna, unusual rock formations, and serenity.

The views are breathtaking...could this be a new site for Luis and Mimi's home? Our expedition was a success!


The Animas River runs through downtown Durango, CO, a nationally registered historic district with a feel of the old west (minus the dirt roads). Quaint shops and galleries line the streets. An eclectic shop one should visit is "The World According to Mark."

This is "Mark" and he has quite a collection of beautifully handcrafted wares. We will proudly display at home the stunning adobe/good luck lizard planter. The Durango Steamworks Brewing Co is a popular eatery and our regional menu choices were amazing. Wake up Luis!, it's time to pack (cram) our shopping treasures into the car.

Oh no!, a slight mechanical problem with the car, but Tim has it fixed in record time.

Sat, 5/10. It's 3:00 a.m. and Luis is knocking on our door. We gather our personals and leave Pagosa Springs via 160E to 112 ascending the Rocky Mtns and crossing the Continental Divide. As the sun is coming up, Tim is going down. We pass through Salida, up Ponchas Pass Summit and through more mountains. The time is 6:00 a.m. and it's snowing.

The time is 9:00 a.m. and we made it to Denver Intl Airport Goodbye! Luis and Mimi as they board their plane back to NY. Our time together was so special. We're going to miss you!!

"Eastward Ho" as we open the map and decide to take 76N towards Nebraska. Keenesburg sounds interesting so we stop and peruse a flea market the small town is hosting. NE Colorado landscape is flat, very flat and the windy conditions are throwing tumbleweeds into the road with no warning. We keep driving, and driving and reach Nebraska...landscape the same. The wind is now turbulent, it is raining with some sleet, and we keep driving. We drive the width of Nebraska and the landscape is the same as when we entered. It's been a long day and a record 850+ miles of driving so we find quaint Apple Inn in Nebraska City and retire for the night.