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Fifteen days after starting the move, we are beginning to see the end. From the flight to Texas to the drive back, we have had adventure after adventure. It was great to see Daryl & Jan and Doug & Joanie, awesome to meet Wesley, and a whole lotta fun to join in the party with Deanna and her family. Even the drive itself was an experience.
We arrived in Texas on Monday afternoon and picked up the rental truck from Penske. On the way to Mount Vernon we stopped and visited with Dean. He showed us his gardens and we had a very nice chat. Storm clouds were gathering and we still had to drive over an hour. While lighning and wind swirled all around us, we made our way to the motel in Mount Vernon, arriving about 9pm and tuckered out.
Up early and off to Daryl's we picked up items from his place before heading to Mom's apartment. We spent a few hours loading the truck and found ourselves finished in short order. Barb visited with friends and said last good-bye's. Later in the afternoon everyone met at Daryl's and played with the tractor before enjoying a delicious steak dinner. There were some intense moments as family good-bye's were said and preparations were made to go.
The drive to Southern California included a night in Pecos, Texas and a night in Tuscon, Arizona. Long days of desert driving were puctuated with gasoline and food stops. We had a memorable stop for dinner with Art and Joan Cardona. They took us to Reb's Café, "The Biggest Little Cafe" in Benson, Arizona. The food was absolutely delicious. Friday night we had dinner at a favorite resturaunt, Accapulco, with Wes, Tricia and Andrew (yep, he is getting big!). Laughter and chatter filled the evening, then a drive to Chatsworth to the motel.
Saturday was the big family party day and members of Barb's family and ours joined for an afternoon of wonderful food and drink. It was especially good to see Deanna and her daughters, along with their families. Wes, Tricia and Andrew joined Lisa and Lexi on the patio as we ate and enjoyed the warm weather.
Mother's Day was spent driving up and over the Grapevine and down into the San Joaquin Valley. The rich, fertile farm land was a welcome change from the desert. We ended the day in Redding and prepared for the mountain drive ahead.
Up into the mountains around Shasta brought spectacular views of rain clouds and mountain sides. All the way through the Siskiyou's we had showers. By the time we reached central Oregon the weather cleared. We arrived in Vancouver, Washington, just in time for dinner.
Our final day of driving brought us through Washington to the Puget Sound area and Kent. Plans were made to unload and return the truck the next day. Allen came to help and in quick time we were ready for lunch. The next few days were spent rearranging furniture and unpacking boxes. Final furniture deliveries and service connections should be made by next weekend when Barb moves in.
After six days of driving almost 3000 miles and some intense partying, it'll be good to get back to work and rest. What an outstanding vacation!
Click here to see page 1 of the move pictures.
Click here to see page 2 of the move pictures.
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