6 months, 20,000 miles, 37 states and 25 national parks later we have returned to Spokane. 

 

WE DID IT!!!  It feels really good to say that. 

 

The last leg of our trip was spent in Idaho.  From Yellowstone we traveled west to Ketchum and caught up with our good friend Rick Lethbridge.  We absolutely LOVED Ketchum!  Rick showed us a great time (thanks again!) at his bar, the Cellar Pub.  Sun Valley is so beautiful this time of year, with changing leaves and a touch a snow on the mountain peaks.  We can't wait to return, next time in the winter to ski! 

 

 

 We continued north and took a few days exploring the Sawtooth Mountains.  Needless to say, we were dragging our feet to return home.  We camped each night on forest service land (free!) and found many beautiful spots.  Nights grew very cold and we woke to snow on our last two mornings. 

We stayed just north of McCall near a beautiful reservoir on what could have been our last night.  But it didn't feel right to make the drive to Spokane just yet.  I BEGGED for one more night.  And I'm so glad we made that decision. 

From McCall we headed towards Lewiston and Clarkston and stopped for a pint at the Riverport Brewing Co.  Afterwards, we grabbed a bottle of whiskey and headed towards St. Joseph National Forest in northern Idaho.  We found a great campsite up an old logging road, listened to the debate, cooked a feast, drank whiskey, danced and watched the snow fall.  It was a perfect 'last night'.  And, of course, I cried. 

What an amazing adventure.

I cried because I was sad to return home and so bummed for our trip to be ending.  Our little life in our tiny camper was wrapping up.  But more importantly I cried because I was just so darn happy and thankful we were able to put our lives on hold and just take off.  To see and experience so many wonderful parts of our country.  Places I had no idea existed.  And most importantly to have shared all this with the most amazing person in my life.

 

We survived the unforgiving heat of the desert and the unbearable humidity of the south in the dead of summer.  We survived swarms of insects so big and unfamiliar and their consumption of our flesh.  We ate BBQ in Texas... and Tennessee... and Georgia... and North Carolina.  We had fried chicken, biscuits, cornbread, grits, collard greens, New Mexican style chili, po-boys, oysters, blue crab, gumbo, philly cheesesteaks, buffalo wings, lobster rolls, chowder, deep dish pizza... My god we ate a lot (I see a personal trainer in my very near future).  We hiked in 25 national parks.  We followed fall from New England and on through the north.  We out-ran Hurricane Issac.  We met the friendliest people in Texas and the rudest in Washington DC.  We saw the land of the west and the history of the east.  We slept at Walmart, Target, truck stops, rest stops.  We drank cheap beer and even cheaper whiskey.  We played cards, watched X-Files and had many dance parties.  We drove, or rather Joe drove, 20,000 miles.  And there is not a single thing we would do differently. 

 

Since we've been back in Spokane we have been getting the camper fixed up and ready to sell.  We've been catching up with Pat and Char and all their 'Micabilly' friends.  We had drinks with Matt and Vanessa and their wonderful kids last night!  I even had the chance to visit with Brooke and her lovely mother Joan, Sean and their kids at their new house here in Spokane (a HUGE congrats to you two!).  It's been great fun.

 

But, we are getting ready to make the final trip back to Seattle in just a few days.  We're in search of a new place to live and are getting (mildly) excited about returning to work.  Well, our bank accounts are excited about us going back to work.  Mom, Dad- I CAN'T WAIT to see you!  To our friends, you know who you are- we can't wait to catch up.  And of course we're very anxious to see our man, Chester.  Oh, and the turtles.