There is something comforting and familiar about routine. I’ve spent the last few weeks establishing a pretty good rhythm of learning spanish, working out, knocking out puzzle after puzzle, doing a little bit of work, and of course…. stalking seal pups. But just like rules, routines are meant to be broken. And it was definitely time to shake up the grey, drizzly weather of Seattle.
So off to Vegas I go, for sunshine and Vitamin D, and some much needed quality time with Nathan. As I landed in Vegas, seeing the sun glinting off the Mandalay Bay, I thought, ‘finally. Some sunshine. I can’t wait to feel that warmth on my face!’. But as we’re used to in the Pacific NW – sunshine does not mean warm! It was still cold with the wind whipping my hair around me. And, I took a look at the weather forecast in Seattle, and wouldn’t you know – sunshine….every day and 60+ degrees, which in Seattle terms = heat wave.
Well nothing knocks out the routine like landing in Vegas and seeing a car hauler driving down the road, and knowing that that’s your ride. A strange thing to see a big truck and know that that type of vehicle is your most familiar mode of transportation criss crossing around the country.
Nothing normal about the week that we just had. We spent the weekend hanging out with some of the feistiest, sassiest women I have ever met. Yes, they were in their 70’s but you would think you were watching the antics of the best of friends in the early years of university (before that last year when you start panicking that you need to figure out what you’re doing with your life). It was so great to see all that energy and craziness.
We started the week drinking Landshark and soaking up some rays puttering around Lake Havasu.
Landshark Spokesman
But once we hit the road it was a blur of saguaro cacti reaching out their arms in strange angles in the desert as we passed through Arizona. On a side note: I just started reading ‘The Host’ by Stephanie Meyers and we drove past Picacho Peak – what a coincidence!
Wednesday morning was a 2am wake up call in Deming, New Mexico and watching the sun come up over the hillside early in the long drive through Texas.
Texas Sunrise in ‘the middle of nowhere TX’
It seems crazy that you can drive all day and still be in the same state. Aside from the sparse sightings of Texas Blue Bonnets, the highlight of my day – I swear I saw a zebra eating hay in the Texas hill country. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
And just when you think that you’ll never, ever, get out of Texas, we hit the bayous in Louisiana, crossed over the 16 mile bridge over Lake Pontchartrain and made our way into Alabama.
Finally…finally, we found ourselves driving through the dark outskirts of Jacksonville, FL and wound our way to the oceanside at Jacksonville (Jax) Beach. Three days and 2200 miles later, we finally found our landing spot for some much needed R&R.
Such a different week than the ones I’ve spent the last few months, but strangely enough, I can’t say that it’s a week that I haven’t had before, or one that I’m sure to have again. Funny to see what becomes ‘normal’ over the years.
Adventures On the Road 
