Repairs and Listening to your Gut

 So last week, I got tired of sitting around the house 

and decided to drive to Portland. 

I got in the van, headed out the back way 

and got as far as Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, 

a goose refuge near me. 

For some weird reason, 

I pulled into their waterbird viewing area 

and sat there a few minutes, thinking, 

'Do I REALLY want to go to Portland?'

I thought, 'Maybe I should just turn around and go back home?' 

I mulled it over, going back and forth,
and finally decided yes, I wanted to go,
so I got back on the Highway.

Well. . . about 2 miles before the turn off to I-5,
the check-engine light started flashing
and the van engine started missing. 

I did a U-turn and headed back to Dallas, Oregon,
about a 20 mile drive.
I limped into my mechanic's - and told him what happened.
He said repair appointments were
THREE WEEKS OUT!!!

Holy cow!

Oh well... nothing I could do about it.
So I called my son to pick me up,
left the van there, and hoped for the best.

My mechanic called a few days later.
He had been able to look at the van earlier,
due to a canceled appointment.
He ended up changing the spark plugs, wires, and coils.
It was about a $700 fix.

But you know? That's ok.

I'm grateful it happened here at home,
and not on my upcoming trip.

I had him completely check the van over
and as far as he could tell,
everything else was in good working order,
so I'm hoping for a non-eventful trip.

And I learned, again,
that it's worth listening to your gut. 

This coming week, I'll be super-cleaning the van
and deciding what I do and do not need on my trip.
I bought a car-top carrier
because I need to take some items to my son in Georgia.
I'll probably leave it there once it's emptied.
I'd like to travel light.

So that was my excitement for the week.
How has your week been?

That's it for now!

Happy Spring Equinox World!

Love,

Annie

Cross Country Trip

 Spring is on its way and I'm planning a HUGE trip across the country! I've visited most of Western Europe and I've seen some of the Western United States but except for short stints living in Florida and Georgia, I've never seen the Eastern side of the country.  My son, Rob, moved to Georgia last summer, and I miss him like crazy, and that is what started this trip plan.

I'm hoping to start around April 22 after Joe returns home from the desert. I don't want to leave the house empty, and anytime before that will be too cold.

I love genealogy and part of the trip will be seeing my ancestor's digs, part will be visiting cousins, part will be seeing ancient mounds in America, and part will be visiting LDS historical sites. 

I also want to visit my grandson who is at Annapolis! He's very excited because on May 17, the Naval Academy is holding the Herndon Climb, and I'll be there to watch him climb! (Oops!  He just informed me that it is the Plebes that climb and he is not a Plebe!  lol!). So we will watch the Plebes climb. 

Learn more about the Herndon Climb here:
About the Herndon Climb

I'll begin my trip from my home in Dallas, Oregon. I'll drive to Salt Lake City and spending a few days as a tourist there. 

From Salt Lake, I will travel to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. This is where the Martin Handcart Company and the Hunt and Hodgett Wagon Companies sheltered while awaiting rescue in the Fall of 1856.

From Martin's Cove I travel to Nauvoo, Illinois. Nauvoo was the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1839 to 1846.  There are over 20 historic homes to visit as well as concerts, dance and theatrical vignettes. 

After Nauvoo, I'll visit my cousins, Vonda, Doug, and Steve, who live in and near Harrisonville, Missouri. Then Vonda and I will spend a few days visiting Branson!

From Branson, I'll visit my cousin, Millie, who will show me around the old Hall ancestral homestead in Ash Flat, Arkansas. 

Then on to the Cato homestead in Cape Girardeau. 

From there, I'll shoot down to Chatsworth, Georgia to visit my son, Rob and my ex-husband, Joe. 

PART 2

From Chatsworth, 

it's up to Annapolis to see my handsome, brilliant grandson, Hiathan:

Next is Sharon, Vermont

to see the birthplace of Joseph Smith.

Then to Palmyra, New York, site of the Sacred Grove.

After Palmyra, I'll spend a couple of days visiting Niagra Falls.

Then down to Kirtland, Ohio.

From Kirtland, I'm heading south again

to see the Serpent Mound. 

I'll camp here to rest a couple of days at Mineral Springs.

I also want to see Fort Ancient,

another set of ancient mounds.

It is on my way back up to Chicago.

I'll stop in Chicago just long enough 

to get a quick photo of the beginning of Route 66,

then down to Joliet to start Part 3,

and my trip back home.

Part 3 will be along Old Route 66 

from Joliet all the way back to California.

As some of you may recall,

I started traveling 'backwards' on Route 66

right before my mother fell.

I got as far as Carlsbad Caverns.

This time I'll travel the way it was meant to be traveled.

I will be taking a couple of side trips,

maybe to Painted Desert and Grand Canyon.

I hope some of you will follow me!

Just click the follow button in the upper right corner.

I'm getting excited!

Love,

Annie