The big July 4th fireworks are launched over the Charles River just a few blocks from our hotel. So we killed time (and kept the girls awake) by going to a movie (Ice Age 3). Audrey held out and got to see her first live fireworks show. Charlotte fell asleep in Carol's arms about 10 minutes before the fireworks started (it didn't start until 10:40). Carol and I will have sore backs tomorrow from carrying both girls all the way back to the hotel.
We had a fantastic trip. The Yellowstone challenges seem like a distant memory. We had a lot of fun together and the girls got to see a lot of interesting sights. Seeing my relatives in Chicago and Detroit was a real highlight for me. The girls fared better in the van than we could ever have expected. They got pretty accustomed to driving for hours every day.
Once we got the CV joint fixed in Montana, Ruby brought us through with flying colors. She ran like a dream. We had fun camping in her about a third of the nights on the trip. We look forward to exploring New England and beyond in her.
One thing I keep meaning to report is just how much road construction we saw along the way. At least a couple hundred miles of I-90 are being resurfaced. We went through one 26-mile section in South Dakota where one half of the dual roadway was completely removed down to the soil and was being reconstructed. From Montana onward we passed through many, many long construction zones. And there are many bridges being rebuilt or repaired. Some of the projects are signed as being part of stimulus programs. A lot more of them probably are but aren't signed as such.
Now we move on to getting settled. Tomorrow we'll find a place to do some laundry. Monday I report to my new office. Tuesday we close the purchase of the new house. Wednesday the movers arrive with our stuff and the TV and internet services get installed. Then we get unpacked and start living a normal life again.
Carol and I love a good road trip. We're looking forward to having a home again and to reestablishing the girls' routines, but we'll also miss being vagabonds. Thanks for following along!
1 comment:
w00t!!! congrats! you made it! and congrats to ruby too. i never doubted her for a second (snark). thanks for all the posts. i feel like i've been hiding out in the pop-top, traveling along with you the past couple weeks. looking forward to hearing about your new life in boston, and of course to your first visit back to seattle.
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