Day 4, Monday: Billings, MT to Badlands, SD - Part Two, Badlands

Written in the dark.

We are camped out in the Badlands. Oh my word. It is amazing here. Like truly amazing.  So beautiful. We are in love with the terrain.

Day 4, Monday: Billings, MT to Badlands, SD - Part One, Mt Rushmore and Wall Drug

Day 4, Monday: Billings, MT to Badlands, SD - Part One, Mt Rushmore and Wall Drug

KM start: 147,000 km

Trip Meter: 1253 km

Time Driven: 8am -  6pm (9 hours driven)

We got up at 6am but between repacking our stuff, breakfast, posting a blog entry and taking forever to wake up we didn’t leave until 8am…(much to Paul’s dismay). We headed out to Mount Rushmore via Sheridan, WY. Currently it’s 2pm and we’re still in WY on our way to Mount Rushmore…it’s been an interesting morning so far – we have learned that apparently Paul has found a strange new driving stamina and I have lost mine. Every time I get behind the wheel I feel immediately tired…and yet normally that roll is reversed! We’ve had to pull over a few times to rest, refuel and eat and are making slower progress than originally hoped. However we are loving watching the changing topography  - it is arid and dry – I’m in shorts and a tank top…and yesterday we left a rainy Oregon and Idaho.

Day 3, Sunday: Portland, OR to Billings, MT

Day 3, Sunday: Portland, OR to Billings, MT

KM start: 145,747 km

Trip Meter: 581 km

Time Driven: 6am – 11pm (17 hours driven)

Day 2: Saturday, Portland, OR – Jantzen Beach – Louanne and Steve’s Wedding

Day 2: Saturday, Portland, OR – Jantzen Beach – Louanne and Steve’s Wedding

No driving!

After staying up until almost 1am talking with Zach and Sarah we got to “sleep in” until about 9 and then enjoyed a great breakfast together that they prepared for us. We laughed through the entire thing. We really enjoy spending with them – so easy to talk with!

Day 1: Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR

Day 1: Friday, Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR

KM start: 145,166km

Trip Meter: 0 km

Time Driven: 7:30am to 2pm (with just over an hour of breaks) – 6 hours of driving

Yesterday Paul picked me up at work when I finished at noon and we headed out for some BCAA business (with major money saving wins) and a final Vancouver lunch. He had some Japadog and then we had some sushi together. It was a perfect farewell to the city.

Packing, moving and an outfit

So...the packing is in full swing.

Our house is now empty of our "stuff" and it's ready for subletters.

Well, ready for Paul and Katie to clean, and then it will be ready.

I discovered a way to organize my accessories and keep them seperate in my suitcase.

At work we had an old projector case we were throwing out.

So I snagged it and decided to put it to good use.

Food, lifegroup, and life

Life group was awesome.

I cooked up TONS of food.

I have an inability to cook just enough.

So I cooked everything.

Ridiculous.

We did a bunch of prep:

And had a lot of tasty results:

And we were a happy bunch:

We played our new favorite group game, Scattergories and it was a great time.
Paul also took a few minutes to share about the process of truth, repentance and faith he journeyed on while he was away. It was great to have him back and sharing again.

Paul and I stayed up late talking through all the things that needed to be done in the next two days. I think we’re on the same page and I’m glad to have the help!
Then we collapsed into bed, and boy is it nice to have my husband back.

Today is a half day, so I’ll head home to help Paul complete a bunch of tasks and to renew our BCAA membership (expires in July) and extend our travel health care (we currently have the USA shopping weekend trip health care).

Then we move our dear sweet Karen over to the Chibota’s where we will share a feast of leftover food and newly made food and then Paul and I will head over to the Mitchell’s for a last hang out with Debbie and Greg.

Thursday is a half day for me, then joining Paul for final details, a final haircut for me, and then a small going away gathering at my sisters with people that Paul hasn’t gotten to see in the last 2 months. And then we head out to Surrey to stay at Paul’s Dad and Step-mom’s and voila, it’s Friday and it’s Day 1 of our awesome adventure!

I cannot believe this is happening. Eeeeee.

Seriously, I get to do this? Awesome

Though I will admit...

- as I head into an awesome adventure with my husband -

I will miss my Vancouver friends and family.

We are very lucky to be in the community we are, and our loved ones will be very much missed.

And if you're reading this, that means you, for sure.