The Traveling Kiwi

A delightful evening with Diane and I met her friend Arenae. Armed with home made cookies for the journey and I hit the road again.

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I have decided to head to Wichita and visit with my friend Diane. I left early and to avoid the Denver traffic I chose to avoid the I25 and take the 85. Just near Platteville I am taking off from the lights in an outside lane and I hear a scraping that sounds like my whole exhaust system just started dragging along the ground. I have trucks behind me, trucks beside me and a fence that gives me just inches to pull over to the left. I put the flashers on and with my heart racing I pull over and get out – trucks are sitting on their horns objecting to the move but I felt if I kept going and tried to get over to the right I could damage something worse. I crawled under the car hoping a truck would hit it while I was underneath and spotted something jammed between the car and road. It took some maneuvering but I eventually pulled out a pair of pliers….where they came from I dont know and what damage they did I still dont know but I got back in the car and hightailed it out of there. My heart didnt stop racing for at least 100 miles. Hours later on the long flat I70 I am getting into the zone, listening to music and eating up the miles… when “bing” suddenly a warning comes up that I have 27 miles to empty – OMG I can see the road ahead for 20 miles and there is nothing!!! I turn off the air conditioner and slow down and start panicking – next exit “no services” I keep going… next exit “no services” I am down to 15 miles… next exit well… it doesnt say no services, it just doesnt say anything is there… I take a chance – I go to the right – nothing … turn around and go left …. a tiny one pump convenience store int he middle of nowhere – how did I get so lucky … it is showing 5 miles left. Once again I am filled with gratitude.

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Coming home, thats what it feels like every time I come back to stay with my friends Ken and Ori. Its been a year yet it feels like I was here last week. The garden is a Zen sanctuary, wonderful peaceful energy and full of birds and squirrels and butterflys – the perfect place to sit outside and enjoy one of Kens famous steaks – what more could a weary traveler want.  I am truly grateful for such wonderful generous welcoming framliy ( friends that have become my family)

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Today is an easy drive, I chose to come south and go through the I70 as I love the Rockies and at this time of year the Aspens are just starting to turn. It was a spectacular day, sunshine and cool, the light bounced off the rocks and trees and the colors were majestic. I stopped in Glenwood Springs again to try and find breakfast but the one place that was open had a 40 minute wait – where do all these people come from!! So i walked back to the car and noticed I was outside a rock shop – I wandered in and started chatting with the owner thinking there must have been a reason for me to have stopped there since it wasn’t for breakfast. She offered me a “Gratitude Rock” and was very happy when I knew what one was. Unfortunately it is dangerous to stop on the I70 and the traffic was heavy so I grabbed a couple of shots where I could and just marveled in the sights and the wonderful twists and turns. I love driving a real road. By the timeI got to Idaho Springs I had been in nose to tail traffic for more than 20 miles. I grabbed the chance to get off the highway and headed up to Central City. They have done such a wonderful job of retaining its character it feels like a real old west town. The bar was original and those are dollar bills in the ceiling. I started playing with the gratitude rock in my pocket and decided since I couldn’t find any food I would play my $20 on the slot machines. I won $400!!! – And I was very very grateful – I cashed out and hit the road again for Fort Collins and my very good friends who had dinner waiting for me – again so much to be grateful for. \ 

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Today I started out a little slow, full of the flu and tired from yesterdays drive and no sleep, this adventure is already not what I expected. I stopped in Twin Falls looking for breakfast but nothing inspired me, so I hit the road intending to stop in Salt Lake. The first thing I really noticed was the big big sky and the wide open spaces, beautiful easy drive and Fini was in fine form. As I got into Utah the traffic got heavier and heavier and by the time I hit Salt Lake I just wanted to get out of it, so I continued on to Grand Junction. Grand Junction appeared to be hosting a convention and there was little accommodation on offer. The hotel I  finally found was two stories with no elevator and I had to try and lug everything upstairs. On everyones advice I was trying to make sure I left nothing in the car overnight. I have probably not mentioned I have a 40″ flat screen TV and a Memory Foam topper pad in the back seat and there was no way I was going to be able to carry them down the long corridors and upstairs on my own. So what I considered a brilliant solution, I lay them flat and covered them in black trash bags, it was dark by then and along with the tint you couldn’t see them at all…. the only problem would be when the sun came up – hoping that by then the baddies would be asleep. I suspect this will not be the only occasion that I will have to leave them behind and maybe its best it happened this early in the trip and I can stop worrying about doing it.

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When I drove into Bliss this was not quite what I expected to see… but then again what does one expect to see in a town called Bliss!

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I have searched for bliss in many different places…. but who knew it was in Idaho.. … apparently only a few people have actually found it.

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Rain, snow, snarled traffic and detours didn’t dampen the first day spirits. I didn’t get as far as I had hoped and no photos but I am on the way! Even in the rain the Colombia Gorge is spectacular, wild rock formations and twists and turns along the river its a fascinating place that deserves more exploration.

… did I mention Fini handles wonderfully… and…kills bugs FAST!!!!

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The Journey begins in Seattle and will end some 3500 miles later in Cape Coral Florida. “Anything is possible if you have got enough nerve” J K Rowling – my inspiration for this journey. Fini and I, ( Fini is my car) will hit the road this morning with coffee from my favorite Cafe Vita and a car full of excitement and anticipation. This is a blow out the cobwebs and have an adventure journey with no thoughts other than to see how it unfolds………………………………………………………

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The sky, endlessly fascinating, especially over water. I have taken so many shots of the sky I am starting to look at them again and show some of my favorites – I took these over Lake Washington in May. The mood of the lake is always changing, from one moment to the next a new sky dresses the lake in fluffy white against the perfect blue sky, solid mist blanketing the shore, sparkling sunshine reflecting on the water or pink and orange of the sunset. Each side of the lake or time of day it will be different and just as fascinating as the first day you see it. I have been so lucky to spend time near this amazing lake and it will always pull me back. I wonder what stories it could tell.

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