Round and round she goes

  

I was in Apple Valley, California when I last wrote. Headed to Cedar City in Utah. We were only there for two nights as we helped load up a moving truck for someone in our family. It hailed the second night, which was crazy. The weather was perfect during the day, and then some minor hail. Then we drove with family to Chino Valley in Arizona. It was about a seven hour drive, with a pretty desert sunset. It was my turn to drive and it was fun, with the girls in one car and all the testosterone in the moving truck.

  It’s kind of a strange thing, to be driving 75 miles per hour and sitting still. No wind in my hair, just sitting in my seat and it looks like the mountains are moving as I pass by them. Put it on cruise control and traveling all those miles with just a few arm movements. Am I the only one who thinks these things? When we more officially retire we will probably be those people who have an RV instead of a house. Who knows. There is so much to see! I would like to take one more trip to Zion National Park before we leave. It’s so close, and so amazing.

  We went over the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. What kind of a name is that? Wikipedia says the bridge was the first concrete-steel composite arch bridge built in the United States, and incorporates the widest concrete arch in the Western Hemisphere. At 900 feet (270 m) above the Colorado River, it is the second highest bridge in the United States, and is the world's highest concrete arch bridge. When it first opened I went for a walk across it, it’s very cool. But driving across it all the view is blocked. If you get a chance to drive across it, be sure to stop and walk it. Unless you’re afraid of heights.

  Chino Valley is an okay place. Horse country. Big yards, rabbits all around. Goats next door. We stayed two nights and drove back to Cedar City. Ron and I will be here for probably four nights, helping other family clean the old apartment and move in. It’s good to visit friends and get more things squared away, because in two days we are leaving for Apple Valley again. Another seven hour drive. After a few more nights with family over there we will finally start the west coast drive to Seattle. I will finally see some things I’ve never seen before. There were a few parts of Arizona that I hadn’t seen before, but that was only about an hour of the seven hour drive. I will be very excited to get on the road after California. I’ve been waiting to get to Seattle since July. I’ve been waiting so long to sleep in my own bed, instead of someone else’s. In the last month we spent four days in hotels, and the rest with family.

  And no, I are not certain what option we will take when we leave Seattle in December. Wish me luck! Not that I’m worried about it, I’m in it for the adventure.

My joy is full.