We started discussing fall break on July 28th (yes, that is the day we got back from our 10,000 mile trip of the summer), and after much discussion, deliberation, and indecisiveness, we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to spend our fall break on a cruise to the Baja of Mexico. It was cheap, and we got what we paid for.
We left Prescott after church on Sunday, following a very apropo sermon on rest and enjoying the Sabbath. The drive to San Diego went quickly, though we, of course, played with fate again and drove on empty for many miles.
Ark's cousin, Katie, was kind enough to let us crash in her apartment for the night and even buy us pizza for dinner. On Monday, we enjoyed a lovely run in La Jolla. Running at sea level is fun and oh, so much easier that running in Prescott! Katie's roommate Anthea kindly took us to the port in the afternoon. Thank you so much for everything, Katie and Anthea.
The cruise departed right on time, and after putting our bags in our room, we found our way to the top deck to watch the San Diego skyline recede. We explored the ship for a while and then ate dinner. Ark got tricked into buying water, and we were irritated when we found out that the water cost us almost 6 dollars. But we got over that and enjoyed the dinner. We were pretty tired, so we didn't do much that night except eat and go to bed.
Tuesday was our "fun day at sea." And it sure was fun (please note sarcasm). The best word to describe our day would be "boring." Who is bored on a cruise ship? Well, we were, and I would guess that most people who don't drink, get drunk, or enjoy watching other people walk around slobbering drunk would also be bored. We were saddened by the emphasis placed on drinking on this "family friendly" cruise. Unfortunately, the weather was also quite chilly, so sun-bathing was not an option. We slept, ate, watched movies, ate, and slept most of the day.
On Wednesday, we got off the ship on Catalina Island, where we walked around the town of Avalon, and then went snorkeling. Snorkeling was definitely the highlight of the trip. We were thankful for the wetsuits in the 60 degree water. The fish, kelp, and ocean floor were beautiful, and apparently, our snorkeling guide thought we were beautiful as well, since he gave us his e-mail, his phone number, and an open invite for scuba diving lessons and back country camping on Catalina. Too bad he's 60+ years old.
After our chilly swim, we went for a run and warmed up.
Thursday was our day in Mexico. We got off in Ensenada. We walked around the town for a while. We were looking for a beach on which to lie to get a tan (one of our goals for the trip), but after walking 2 miles and not finding one, we decided to turn around and sunbathe on the ship instead. We read, slept, and sat in the sun for several hours, achieving our goal of a tan.
Friday morning found us back in San Diego, and home we drove (after a long stop in Phoenix to try on and buy running shoes...In case you haven't noticed, we're running a lot because we're trainng for a half marathon in January.).
Overall, we were rather disappointed with the cruise itself, but we did rest and have a fun time. I've been told that other cruise lines are better, but for right now, I'm content not cruising again. And now, the world has stopped spinning and rocking (it only took 3 days of being back on land to feel stable again), and we're back in the routine of school and life, praising God for His blessings, His wisdom, and His protection.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Back by Popular Demand!
Ok, so we went to Mexico last week (among other things). After a long and final week at school we were ready for a weeks vacation! Sunday we hopped in the car and drove to San Diego. The whole drive we were thinking, "wow...this isn't far, we should do this more often." We arrived at Ark's cousin's house around 8 pm and had a great time visiting and eating the best pizza ever! Since the next day was the first day of vacation, we slept quite late and then headed for the San Diego coast for a run. It is so different running at sea level. We definitely felt like we could go forever! It was fun to sit on the cliffs and watch the waves shoot up through the rocks. It's been wayyyy too long since we enjoyed the beach!
That evening after showers and a snack we boarded the Carnival Elation ship for the remainder of the week. It was quite exciting, but after watch movies like Titanic or Poseidon I couldn't help but have a doomsday feeling in the pit of my stomach. But, we boarded anyway and quickly got settled into our stateroom. It was not as small as we thought it was going to be...pleasant surprise. It didn't, however, have a window, something we were glad about later when looking outside made us seasick. We enjoyed exploring the ship, an emergency procedure meeting, and then dinner in the dining room. Adrian, from Peru, was our waiter and he cracked us up. My only problem with the first meal on the ship was the sneaky way they made you buy water...it wasn't cheap and I was annoyed, but oh well.
The next day was supposed to be the "Fun Day At Sea"...since we slept with no light in our dungeon it was tough to rouse ourselves at the crack of 10. I definitely see the benefits of waking up to sunlight! But, it was vacation so sleeping was a priority. We walked around the boat, ate a late breakfast, took a nap, ate a late lunch, took a nap, watched a movie, took another nap, and finally got dressed for our elegant evening! It was fun to dress up for dinner...and we looked GREAT! We ate dinner with another couple and enjoyed some laughter over our meal and the singing waiters. They were so cute. After that we went to our first show in the Mikado Lounge. It was ok, but the ladies showed too much skin and the dancing was on the verge of pole-dancing. Oh well, going to watch break dancers later made up for it. We laughed and laughed and oohed and ahhed over that one. The highlight was a little kid from the audience showing off his moves. We both decided we would teach our kids to have cool dance moves one day :)
It was already Wednesday and we were making our first stop at Catalina Island, CA! In order to get to the island we had to dock a bit out and take 'tenders' or small motor boats to shore. It was the first bit of seasickness we experienced, but didn't last long. We explored the little town of Avalon and then went on a snorkel tour of Lover's Cove. Snorkeling is AMAZING!!!! We learned the basics, got suited up and had the rest of the afternoon to explore the cove. The kelp farm 70 feet under us had amazing fish and plants to keep us entertained. We also had a guide who told us so many facts and dove down to bring up fish, lobster, and plants from the farm. It was definitely the highlight of our trip! Our 60 year-old guide began flirting with us and eagerly gave us his phone number and email address in case we wanted to go scuba diving or back country camping in the near future. Yeah, like we'd do that. But, it was flattering nonetheless. We got back to the ship in time to quickly change, get back on the tender and head back to the island for a quick run through the town before we set sail again that night.
So did you know there was a named tropical storm off the coast of Mexico last week? Yup! We felt it that night at dinner! Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth wasn't exactly the most comfortable experience. We were quite dizzy...all night. We attended the second show of the cruise (still racy if you ask us) and then ate a late dinner in the dining room. There wasn't much else to do for the evening so we called it an early (11:00) evening and headed to bed.
The next day we docked early in Ensenada, Mexico. We walked around the city for a few minutes to experience the Mexico thing, but found it dirty, dusty, and not so pleasing. After searching (and walking) for a long time for the beach we called it a day and sat my the pool on the ship. It was the first day of sunshine and we soaked the sun up! I love sunburns! After Mexico, we ate dinner, watched a movie, and went to see the final show on the boat. It was the best! A hypnotist who made people do funny things. This stimulated good conversation about hypnosis and what it really does for someone! Then off to bed.
Our last day was spent packing, eating breakfast (with one last cone of ice cream for the road...man, I'm really going to miss available ice cream 24/7..sigh), then off the ship we went. Then began the journey home. Let's just say, going home was not as easy as it was to get there. It took about 10 hours to get home...not sure how that happened. We missed dance class and ended up getting Chipotle instead...can't complain.
Overall, I would say that a cruise is not something I would do again. If you aren't a drinker, there isn't much to do. And it was such a picture of the world's system! However, being on vacation is always something to look forward to :) I love my suntan and am ready for the next adventure!
That evening after showers and a snack we boarded the Carnival Elation ship for the remainder of the week. It was quite exciting, but after watch movies like Titanic or Poseidon I couldn't help but have a doomsday feeling in the pit of my stomach. But, we boarded anyway and quickly got settled into our stateroom. It was not as small as we thought it was going to be...pleasant surprise. It didn't, however, have a window, something we were glad about later when looking outside made us seasick. We enjoyed exploring the ship, an emergency procedure meeting, and then dinner in the dining room. Adrian, from Peru, was our waiter and he cracked us up. My only problem with the first meal on the ship was the sneaky way they made you buy water...it wasn't cheap and I was annoyed, but oh well.
The next day was supposed to be the "Fun Day At Sea"...since we slept with no light in our dungeon it was tough to rouse ourselves at the crack of 10. I definitely see the benefits of waking up to sunlight! But, it was vacation so sleeping was a priority. We walked around the boat, ate a late breakfast, took a nap, ate a late lunch, took a nap, watched a movie, took another nap, and finally got dressed for our elegant evening! It was fun to dress up for dinner...and we looked GREAT! We ate dinner with another couple and enjoyed some laughter over our meal and the singing waiters. They were so cute. After that we went to our first show in the Mikado Lounge. It was ok, but the ladies showed too much skin and the dancing was on the verge of pole-dancing. Oh well, going to watch break dancers later made up for it. We laughed and laughed and oohed and ahhed over that one. The highlight was a little kid from the audience showing off his moves. We both decided we would teach our kids to have cool dance moves one day :)
It was already Wednesday and we were making our first stop at Catalina Island, CA! In order to get to the island we had to dock a bit out and take 'tenders' or small motor boats to shore. It was the first bit of seasickness we experienced, but didn't last long. We explored the little town of Avalon and then went on a snorkel tour of Lover's Cove. Snorkeling is AMAZING!!!! We learned the basics, got suited up and had the rest of the afternoon to explore the cove. The kelp farm 70 feet under us had amazing fish and plants to keep us entertained. We also had a guide who told us so many facts and dove down to bring up fish, lobster, and plants from the farm. It was definitely the highlight of our trip! Our 60 year-old guide began flirting with us and eagerly gave us his phone number and email address in case we wanted to go scuba diving or back country camping in the near future. Yeah, like we'd do that. But, it was flattering nonetheless. We got back to the ship in time to quickly change, get back on the tender and head back to the island for a quick run through the town before we set sail again that night.
So did you know there was a named tropical storm off the coast of Mexico last week? Yup! We felt it that night at dinner! Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth wasn't exactly the most comfortable experience. We were quite dizzy...all night. We attended the second show of the cruise (still racy if you ask us) and then ate a late dinner in the dining room. There wasn't much else to do for the evening so we called it an early (11:00) evening and headed to bed.
The next day we docked early in Ensenada, Mexico. We walked around the city for a few minutes to experience the Mexico thing, but found it dirty, dusty, and not so pleasing. After searching (and walking) for a long time for the beach we called it a day and sat my the pool on the ship. It was the first day of sunshine and we soaked the sun up! I love sunburns! After Mexico, we ate dinner, watched a movie, and went to see the final show on the boat. It was the best! A hypnotist who made people do funny things. This stimulated good conversation about hypnosis and what it really does for someone! Then off to bed.
Our last day was spent packing, eating breakfast (with one last cone of ice cream for the road...man, I'm really going to miss available ice cream 24/7..sigh), then off the ship we went. Then began the journey home. Let's just say, going home was not as easy as it was to get there. It took about 10 hours to get home...not sure how that happened. We missed dance class and ended up getting Chipotle instead...can't complain.
Overall, I would say that a cruise is not something I would do again. If you aren't a drinker, there isn't much to do. And it was such a picture of the world's system! However, being on vacation is always something to look forward to :) I love my suntan and am ready for the next adventure!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Again? What?
So you may all be saying..."Mexico? How did this come about?" Well, let's just say after traveling our 10,000 miles this summer the thought of going too long without another adventure was more than we could handle. OK OK, we started planning a vacation of some kind the week after we got home in July :) Our first thought was...backpacking across Hawaii...but if you remember our budgeting skills from previous posts you know we are pretty cheap so that wasn't going to work. Next thought was a vacation in the Dominican Republic, which was quite cheap until you factored in the plane ticket to Florida. That wasn't going to work either. Then we thought we'd book a plane ticket the day before departure and go anywhere where we could on $50. But, if you remember we are also big planners and the waiting was too intense. Japan? We both knew Australia was out of the question. Italy? Oregon? California? OK, time was running out and so were our ideas. During a texting match one evening we decided on a cruise and booked it right then and there...before we could change our minds. Ark especially is not a sporadic person and had second thoughts the next day...but what can you do? Right now we are both packing our suitcases (or thinking about getting through a week of school first) and getting ready to cruise along the west coast. No worries...you will be included in all our escapades through our trusty "Nomadic Duos" site! Once again we are excited to see how God will use and bless us as we venture to another country...that's 3 countries this year and more stamps in the passport :) We'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Nomadic Duos Strike Again
The Nomadic Duos are headed to Mexico in a week and a half. Stay tuned for exciting new stories on the way.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Finally, some pictures.
We have 100's more but you'll have to come hang out with us to see the rest...(:
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Around the country in 30 days...
Well, folks, we are home. The nomadic duos accomplished so much in the last 30 days that we figured we had better give you a quick (yeah right, we don't do anything quickly) synopse of our accomplishments:
2 countries
31 states
2 provinces
23 popsicles (each!)
9,970 miles on the car
20 nights in a tent
800 or so pictures (about 1/4th of them are sunset pictures)
12 types of wildlife seen(marmot, squirrels, ducks, black bear, elk, deer, sea gulls, fish, buffalo, chipmunks, leeches, ticks)
3 types of fish eaten (Hake, Haddock, Cod)
7 National Parks and National Forests we were in (Great Smokies, Shenandoah, White Mountains, Badlands, Rocky Mountain, Black Hills, Acadia)
8 houses/apartments that we stayed in with people who blew us away with their hospitality
3 guys that entertained us and humored us by texting us on our long drives (Thanks James, Ross, and Logan...you made 800 miles home from Denver go a lot faster...(:)
25 (at the minimum) Trailmix Burritos that we ate (most of them in gas station parking lots)
0 fights that we had...despite everyone's expectations
3 subways/trains that we rode
6 times that Ark kicked Lew while asleep
1 time that Lew punched Ark in the face while asleep
0 times we had to use our Mace or steel baton
4 times we did laundry (we are so glad to be wearing different clothes today!)
Thank you all for following our blog. We had an unforgetable trip, and we're excited to see how God will use what He taught us as we jump back into regular routines and a new school year. Check us out again at Fall Break, where Lord willing, the Nomadic Duos will strike again.
2 countries
31 states
2 provinces
23 popsicles (each!)
9,970 miles on the car
20 nights in a tent
800 or so pictures (about 1/4th of them are sunset pictures)
12 types of wildlife seen(marmot, squirrels, ducks, black bear, elk, deer, sea gulls, fish, buffalo, chipmunks, leeches, ticks)
3 types of fish eaten (Hake, Haddock, Cod)
7 National Parks and National Forests we were in (Great Smokies, Shenandoah, White Mountains, Badlands, Rocky Mountain, Black Hills, Acadia)
8 houses/apartments that we stayed in with people who blew us away with their hospitality
3 guys that entertained us and humored us by texting us on our long drives (Thanks James, Ross, and Logan...you made 800 miles home from Denver go a lot faster...(:)
25 (at the minimum) Trailmix Burritos that we ate (most of them in gas station parking lots)
0 fights that we had...despite everyone's expectations
3 subways/trains that we rode
6 times that Ark kicked Lew while asleep
1 time that Lew punched Ark in the face while asleep
0 times we had to use our Mace or steel baton
4 times we did laundry (we are so glad to be wearing different clothes today!)
Thank you all for following our blog. We had an unforgetable trip, and we're excited to see how God will use what He taught us as we jump back into regular routines and a new school year. Check us out again at Fall Break, where Lord willing, the Nomadic Duos will strike again.
Home again home again....
Wow, a lot has happened since the last post. First, was the long drive across Minnesota and South Dakota. Not a whole lot to look at across South Dakota. However, Ark found it quite exquisite! Before you ask me about my sanity, let me explain. I grew up in the mountains. The naked eye could see to the next tree and nothing else. If you have any idea of what South Dakota looks like, you can see how I would be so excited to see it. For miles, all you could see was the prairie...rolling, flat, green, and desolate. Not saying I would like to live there, but was entertained for most of the 600 miles to get there.
Our first SD adventure took us to Badlands National Park. The name sounded quite funny to me and according to my sister, it's where retired folks who weren't very nice migrate...I don't think that's correct. But once again, I was captivated by the random beauty all around.
By the time we had finished the scenic drive through the Badlands, it was time to head to Wall Drug. Are there any more people out there that have never heard of Wall Drug? Well, for your sake I'll share. It's the most advertised drug store in the world. Let's just say, it's a tourist trap with no sign of being a drug store as we know it. I was ready to leave Wall, SD. Finally after driving through the Black Hills, we arrived at our campground and begrudgingly forked over $12 for parking at the campground. We've traveled the US and never had to pay to park at the campground. Annoying.
As some of you may understand, driving over 600 miles in one day will take it out of you. We went to sleep quite early and slept quite soundly for just about 11 hours. Then our drive to Mount Rushmore began. The first thing on the list was to hit Wind Cave National Park. We thought we could use our National Parks Pass, but the fine print says "Does not include tours." Therefore, no Wind Cave for us. Next planned was the drive on Needles Highway through the Black Hills. We weren't expecting to pay $6/person just to drive on it. We passed. Finally, we arrived at Mt. Rushmore. Didn't expect to pay $10 for parking there either. The National Park Service is getting a letter...anyway, it was amazing to see something so famous...something you only see on TV or read about it books. At least that was the way in my family. Not a whole lot else in SD besides these three attractions. Definitely a highlight in our book.
Estes Park, CO was the next stop. We met our sisters and went camping in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a great time for us to catch up with our sisters, see the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and hike a bit. Our last night was spent with my sister in Denver. Then it was time to pack up our bags for the last time and head home. The drive to Prescott was almost 800 miles, yet it went by pretty quickly! Heading to bed in our own beds in our own houses after so long of being together was quite strange. An adjustment to say the least!
Our first SD adventure took us to Badlands National Park. The name sounded quite funny to me and according to my sister, it's where retired folks who weren't very nice migrate...I don't think that's correct. But once again, I was captivated by the random beauty all around.
By the time we had finished the scenic drive through the Badlands, it was time to head to Wall Drug. Are there any more people out there that have never heard of Wall Drug? Well, for your sake I'll share. It's the most advertised drug store in the world. Let's just say, it's a tourist trap with no sign of being a drug store as we know it. I was ready to leave Wall, SD. Finally after driving through the Black Hills, we arrived at our campground and begrudgingly forked over $12 for parking at the campground. We've traveled the US and never had to pay to park at the campground. Annoying.
As some of you may understand, driving over 600 miles in one day will take it out of you. We went to sleep quite early and slept quite soundly for just about 11 hours. Then our drive to Mount Rushmore began. The first thing on the list was to hit Wind Cave National Park. We thought we could use our National Parks Pass, but the fine print says "Does not include tours." Therefore, no Wind Cave for us. Next planned was the drive on Needles Highway through the Black Hills. We weren't expecting to pay $6/person just to drive on it. We passed. Finally, we arrived at Mt. Rushmore. Didn't expect to pay $10 for parking there either. The National Park Service is getting a letter...anyway, it was amazing to see something so famous...something you only see on TV or read about it books. At least that was the way in my family. Not a whole lot else in SD besides these three attractions. Definitely a highlight in our book.
Estes Park, CO was the next stop. We met our sisters and went camping in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was a great time for us to catch up with our sisters, see the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, and hike a bit. Our last night was spent with my sister in Denver. Then it was time to pack up our bags for the last time and head home. The drive to Prescott was almost 800 miles, yet it went by pretty quickly! Heading to bed in our own beds in our own houses after so long of being together was quite strange. An adjustment to say the least!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Why is the Minnesota accent so easy to pick up?
So....driving across Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin was long. However, everything seems to go so much faster if you have Popsicles to look forward to. It took quite awhile to find a grocery store off the freeway, but we finally ventured off a little way and found the tasty treat of coconut Popsicles. It made the 71/2 hours much easier (why is it that we make a 6 hour drive into a 7 hour drive...I don't get it).
On the way to Lew's brother's house, we stopped at the Mall of America. How can anyone come to Minneapolis without visiting the Mall of America? Neither of us are shoppers so we enjoyed walking around without purchasing anything. Though it is a culture in itself, I will be very content to visit the little Prescott Gateway Mall....so much more peaceful!
After our mall adventure, we enjoyed a very yummy and pleasant meal with Lew's family (her dad drove all the way down to see her!) It was exciting for her to see her nephew who seems to have grown a whole lot in the last 2 months. He is very strong and we enjoyed watching him try to walk on his little bow legs.
Our Twin Cities outing included visiting the World Mission Prayer League headquarters and visiting old friends of Lew's...and Ark got to meet some new friends. It was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere and we both enjoyed being there. In walked Hannah, another college roommate of Lew's, and the three of us headed out to see the city. We went to the Landmark Center where every floor had a different museum on it. The old piano museum where we could play old harpsichords and forte pianos was our highlight. Some of the instruments were played by Bach or Mozart themselves. Pretty amazing!
The next stop was to the sculpture garden. Some famous statues protruded with pride all around the garden. They were kinda....unique...that's my way of describing them. We enjoyed ice tea and teacher talk the rest of the afternoon. The evening was spent visiting more of Lew's college friends over bubble tea. Ark had never tried anything with tapioca in it so it was another unique experience. A slimy experience! How fun to catch up (and meet) with friends from the past!
Tomorrow it is off to South Dakota and then slowly making our way south...well, I guess it's not so slow since we only have a few days to do it...with stops along the way! The world has so much culture....even our own country. I am definitely loving the experiences of seeing so many of those cultures.
On the way to Lew's brother's house, we stopped at the Mall of America. How can anyone come to Minneapolis without visiting the Mall of America? Neither of us are shoppers so we enjoyed walking around without purchasing anything. Though it is a culture in itself, I will be very content to visit the little Prescott Gateway Mall....so much more peaceful!
After our mall adventure, we enjoyed a very yummy and pleasant meal with Lew's family (her dad drove all the way down to see her!) It was exciting for her to see her nephew who seems to have grown a whole lot in the last 2 months. He is very strong and we enjoyed watching him try to walk on his little bow legs.
Our Twin Cities outing included visiting the World Mission Prayer League headquarters and visiting old friends of Lew's...and Ark got to meet some new friends. It was a quiet and peaceful atmosphere and we both enjoyed being there. In walked Hannah, another college roommate of Lew's, and the three of us headed out to see the city. We went to the Landmark Center where every floor had a different museum on it. The old piano museum where we could play old harpsichords and forte pianos was our highlight. Some of the instruments were played by Bach or Mozart themselves. Pretty amazing!
The next stop was to the sculpture garden. Some famous statues protruded with pride all around the garden. They were kinda....unique...that's my way of describing them. We enjoyed ice tea and teacher talk the rest of the afternoon. The evening was spent visiting more of Lew's college friends over bubble tea. Ark had never tried anything with tapioca in it so it was another unique experience. A slimy experience! How fun to catch up (and meet) with friends from the past!
Tomorrow it is off to South Dakota and then slowly making our way south...well, I guess it's not so slow since we only have a few days to do it...with stops along the way! The world has so much culture....even our own country. I am definitely loving the experiences of seeing so many of those cultures.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
We didn't take anyone's advice in Chicago.
Day 25--Chicago: the windy city.
We took the train into Chicago where we saw the Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower. Then we walked to the Planetarium, which we did not go into, but we could see the whole Chicago skyline from there. Then, we walked all the way around to Navy Pier...very long walk. We didn't understand the point of Navy Pier, but we did sit out there and watch the boats and lighthouses for a while. We walked to Garretts, which is an awesome popcorn place. Ark bought Lew a birthday treat of MacadamiaNutCaramel Popcorn. It was awesome...Thanks, Ark.
We rode the train back and had dinner at the Macaroni Grill with Abby and Josh. We had fun drawing pirates on the table cloth. We also were brought two huge brownies for Abby's and Lew's birthday, but unfortunately, the waiter refused to sing to us. Thanks for dinner, Josh and Abby, and for your wonderful hospitality of letting us stay with you.
Next up: Lew's old stompin' grounds--Minneapolis, MN
We took the train into Chicago where we saw the Sears Tower, now known as the Willis Tower. Then we walked to the Planetarium, which we did not go into, but we could see the whole Chicago skyline from there. Then, we walked all the way around to Navy Pier...very long walk. We didn't understand the point of Navy Pier, but we did sit out there and watch the boats and lighthouses for a while. We walked to Garretts, which is an awesome popcorn place. Ark bought Lew a birthday treat of MacadamiaNutCaramel Popcorn. It was awesome...Thanks, Ark.
We rode the train back and had dinner at the Macaroni Grill with Abby and Josh. We had fun drawing pirates on the table cloth. We also were brought two huge brownies for Abby's and Lew's birthday, but unfortunately, the waiter refused to sing to us. Thanks for dinner, Josh and Abby, and for your wonderful hospitality of letting us stay with you.
Next up: Lew's old stompin' grounds--Minneapolis, MN
Monday, July 20, 2009
A few more states to color!
Day 22-24:
We left Canada on Thursday (let's just say, Ark never quite got used to another culture. She was super anxious about breaking a rule she didn't know existed). The first night back in the states was spent in New Hampshire. We found (off the map with no directions) Blackberry Crossing campground where we spent a wet night, but not before walking under a covered bridge and playing "Pooh-sticks" in the rain. That was exciting.
Since we were staying in a rustic campground with no showers, we took off early the next morning to head to Cooperstown (ish), NY. Did you know that people in NY don't mark their streets? We drove around for an hour looking for a certain street and finally followed our gut feeling and found it. Once we were in the tiny town, we drove around for another half hour looking for another street. Finally, we gave up and sought directions. The only problem was that the only occupied place was a bar. So, in we walked to ask drunk guys how to get there. They were confused(obviously) but finally gave us some sketchy directions that actually turned out to be correct. They went like this: "You'll go past one road, and then another road and another road. You'll turn on the 3rd road. Then, you'll go over a bridge. And now, this road will be clearly marked. And you'll bear right and then bear left and then go up a hill and down a hill. And then, you'll come to another road." Great directions...(:...all in a nice slurred New York accent.
We finally arrived at our planned location. There was quite a story to tell when we got there to the one room school house, but you'll have to ask us about the funniest part which has to do with the mice, which we heard all night long, munching and scurrying.
The next day we got up early and headed to Niagara Falls, NY. I don't think words can accurately describe the beauty of the falls! We were so excited to be there and immediately bought our Cave of the Wind tour tickets. So fun to put on matching yellow ponchos and trek down to the falls. Let's just say, there is a lot of pressure at the bottom! It was fun to be right next to that torrential power. Then, we walked around and saw many different views of the falls. We decided that if we didn't do the Maid of the Mist tour, we would regret it. So, we got on the boat, and all I can say is "wow, wow, wow."
Dinner was with Ark's friend Susan. Thanks for the pizza and wings, Susan. You're right that New York pizza is the best.
We were sorry that we didn't get to stay at Four Mile Creek campsite longer, for it was beautiful, but we had to get up early for our 600+ mile day to Chicago. We went through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, into Michigan (were we bought Popsicles), and then Illinois. Long day. We were happy to arrive at Abby and Josh's apartment and crash.
That's all for now folks.
We left Canada on Thursday (let's just say, Ark never quite got used to another culture. She was super anxious about breaking a rule she didn't know existed). The first night back in the states was spent in New Hampshire. We found (off the map with no directions) Blackberry Crossing campground where we spent a wet night, but not before walking under a covered bridge and playing "Pooh-sticks" in the rain. That was exciting.
Since we were staying in a rustic campground with no showers, we took off early the next morning to head to Cooperstown (ish), NY. Did you know that people in NY don't mark their streets? We drove around for an hour looking for a certain street and finally followed our gut feeling and found it. Once we were in the tiny town, we drove around for another half hour looking for another street. Finally, we gave up and sought directions. The only problem was that the only occupied place was a bar. So, in we walked to ask drunk guys how to get there. They were confused(obviously) but finally gave us some sketchy directions that actually turned out to be correct. They went like this: "You'll go past one road, and then another road and another road. You'll turn on the 3rd road. Then, you'll go over a bridge. And now, this road will be clearly marked. And you'll bear right and then bear left and then go up a hill and down a hill. And then, you'll come to another road." Great directions...(:...all in a nice slurred New York accent.
We finally arrived at our planned location. There was quite a story to tell when we got there to the one room school house, but you'll have to ask us about the funniest part which has to do with the mice, which we heard all night long, munching and scurrying.
The next day we got up early and headed to Niagara Falls, NY. I don't think words can accurately describe the beauty of the falls! We were so excited to be there and immediately bought our Cave of the Wind tour tickets. So fun to put on matching yellow ponchos and trek down to the falls. Let's just say, there is a lot of pressure at the bottom! It was fun to be right next to that torrential power. Then, we walked around and saw many different views of the falls. We decided that if we didn't do the Maid of the Mist tour, we would regret it. So, we got on the boat, and all I can say is "wow, wow, wow."
Dinner was with Ark's friend Susan. Thanks for the pizza and wings, Susan. You're right that New York pizza is the best.
We were sorry that we didn't get to stay at Four Mile Creek campsite longer, for it was beautiful, but we had to get up early for our 600+ mile day to Chicago. We went through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, into Michigan (were we bought Popsicles), and then Illinois. Long day. We were happy to arrive at Abby and Josh's apartment and crash.
That's all for now folks.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Since we can go no further east, we shall turn around.
Day 20-21
It's cold in Canada. But despite that fact, we've done everything that there is to do on this ruby, emerald and sapphire island. Here's what we've done for the past two days:
1. Eaten Hake. It was so delicious that we decided that we needed to buy Cod and eat that, too. And it was equally delicious.
2. Sat on the beach (both North Rustico beach and North Cadot Point beach). There is nothing like sitting on the beach in your jeans and sweatshirts.
3. Driven to Charlottetown, Kensington, and Summerside. Not much to see in any of these towns.
4. Visited Green Gables.
5. Crept through the Haunted Woods.
6. Sauntered through Lover's Lane. Looked very similar to the Haunted Woods...weird.
7. Driven to 6 lighthouses, but we actually only saw 3...either our navigational skills were impaired (never!) or our map was incorrect (more likely).
8. Drawn a lighthouse. How many people go to Prince Edward Island and draw a lighthouse?
9. Slept a lot. We have some very long drives in front of us in the next couple days. Lew is blaming her tiredness on mono (whether or not she actually has it, it's still a good excuse), but Ark hasn't thought of an excuse yet.
10. Enjoyed the accents...(:
11. Checked our e-mail. Does anyone else think that a campground with wi-fi is an oxymoron?
We are currently under budget, well-fed, and happy. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot. Please continue to pray for safety as we drive home.
Next up: Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, Chicago.
It's cold in Canada. But despite that fact, we've done everything that there is to do on this ruby, emerald and sapphire island. Here's what we've done for the past two days:
1. Eaten Hake. It was so delicious that we decided that we needed to buy Cod and eat that, too. And it was equally delicious.
2. Sat on the beach (both North Rustico beach and North Cadot Point beach). There is nothing like sitting on the beach in your jeans and sweatshirts.
3. Driven to Charlottetown, Kensington, and Summerside. Not much to see in any of these towns.
4. Visited Green Gables.
5. Crept through the Haunted Woods.
6. Sauntered through Lover's Lane. Looked very similar to the Haunted Woods...weird.
7. Driven to 6 lighthouses, but we actually only saw 3...either our navigational skills were impaired (never!) or our map was incorrect (more likely).
8. Drawn a lighthouse. How many people go to Prince Edward Island and draw a lighthouse?
9. Slept a lot. We have some very long drives in front of us in the next couple days. Lew is blaming her tiredness on mono (whether or not she actually has it, it's still a good excuse), but Ark hasn't thought of an excuse yet.
10. Enjoyed the accents...(:
11. Checked our e-mail. Does anyone else think that a campground with wi-fi is an oxymoron?
We are currently under budget, well-fed, and happy. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot. Please continue to pray for safety as we drive home.
Next up: Cooperstown, Niagara Falls, Chicago.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
It's just "Maine-ly" beautiful!
I know you are all waiting so anxiously to hear about Prince Edward Island...hold your horses....there are entries before that!
Day 17: Boston, MA
There is so much history in Boston. Cobblestone streets, old buildings, sites of Revolutionary War battles etc etc etc...but, you need to get there first. Something that proved to be impossible for us. We woke up in time to get dressed and drive to service at the Old North Church (you know, where one if by land, two if by sea took place). Arriving downtown, we immediately got lost, drove down tiny streets, and found the church with absolutely NO parking anywhere in site. We continued to drive until we missed church, still hoping to find a cheap parking space to walk the Frontier Trail (basically the route on which Paul Revere rode). Still no luck with parking and at this point we had driven the entire route a few times. Ark was completely finished driving so we laid out on the Quincy Shore instead. It was a very relaxing Sabbath. And we read our Bibles on the bay too...counts for church, right? That evening was spent sitting around the campfire and reading books until late. Oh, what a lazy life we lead.
Day 18: Acadia National Park
Of course, a day just couldn't be a day without a lot more driving than expected. This was one of those days! We finally arrived at the park, had our campsite set up, and were ready to site see...at about 4:30 in the afternoon. That's okay, the sun doesn't set there until 8ish so we had time to see the views of the coast all around the island. Talk about magnificent. Some things just can't be captured with a camera. Deep blues, brilliant sunsets, and gorgeous (but cold) beaches. Who could ever say it's a barren desert...that made no sense. We enjoyed fresh Maine seafood at Colonel's Restaurant including blueberry ice tea...a great splurge to our $1/day budget :) Our evening was topped off with a sunset on the peak of a Cadillac Mountain. Quite amazing.
Day 19: Okay...now you have it...Prince Edward Island, Canada!
Once again, a day is not complete without a longer drive than expected. Today we drove 2 hours longer and didn't have many adventures on the road...oh, except for having to surrender our mace at the border. I think we kinda expected it. So now we are in Canada and unarmed...well, almost. I'll be right back....Sorry, I had to watch my first Canadian sunset over the lake by our tent. It's super amazing! Anyway, we are here now and eaten and almost ready for bed. Quite chilly in New England and Canada (thanks Callan for leaving your gloves in your jacket :)...not sure how much swimming we will get done, but just being here is such a gift from the Lord! Everyday, we remember to thank Him for this amazing adventure!! That is where I will leave you all for today!
Day 17: Boston, MA
There is so much history in Boston. Cobblestone streets, old buildings, sites of Revolutionary War battles etc etc etc...but, you need to get there first. Something that proved to be impossible for us. We woke up in time to get dressed and drive to service at the Old North Church (you know, where one if by land, two if by sea took place). Arriving downtown, we immediately got lost, drove down tiny streets, and found the church with absolutely NO parking anywhere in site. We continued to drive until we missed church, still hoping to find a cheap parking space to walk the Frontier Trail (basically the route on which Paul Revere rode). Still no luck with parking and at this point we had driven the entire route a few times. Ark was completely finished driving so we laid out on the Quincy Shore instead. It was a very relaxing Sabbath. And we read our Bibles on the bay too...counts for church, right? That evening was spent sitting around the campfire and reading books until late. Oh, what a lazy life we lead.
Day 18: Acadia National Park
Of course, a day just couldn't be a day without a lot more driving than expected. This was one of those days! We finally arrived at the park, had our campsite set up, and were ready to site see...at about 4:30 in the afternoon. That's okay, the sun doesn't set there until 8ish so we had time to see the views of the coast all around the island. Talk about magnificent. Some things just can't be captured with a camera. Deep blues, brilliant sunsets, and gorgeous (but cold) beaches. Who could ever say it's a barren desert...that made no sense. We enjoyed fresh Maine seafood at Colonel's Restaurant including blueberry ice tea...a great splurge to our $1/day budget :) Our evening was topped off with a sunset on the peak of a Cadillac Mountain. Quite amazing.
Day 19: Okay...now you have it...Prince Edward Island, Canada!
Once again, a day is not complete without a longer drive than expected. Today we drove 2 hours longer and didn't have many adventures on the road...oh, except for having to surrender our mace at the border. I think we kinda expected it. So now we are in Canada and unarmed...well, almost. I'll be right back....Sorry, I had to watch my first Canadian sunset over the lake by our tent. It's super amazing! Anyway, we are here now and eaten and almost ready for bed. Quite chilly in New England and Canada (thanks Callan for leaving your gloves in your jacket :)...not sure how much swimming we will get done, but just being here is such a gift from the Lord! Everyday, we remember to thank Him for this amazing adventure!! That is where I will leave you all for today!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
People in New Jersey are mean...
Day 12: Washington, DC
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
White House (We saw no snipers on the top of the White House, so we couldn't wave at any...apparently when the President is out of the country the White House doesn't need snipers...How can we have any fun without snipers?)
American History Museum (Dull theatre except for the First Lady Display)
Ford's Theatre (Lincoln was shot here!)
Peterson House (Lincoln died here!)
Korean War Memorial
World War I Memorial
Starbucks (This was more appealing to us at this point than standing in a 40 mile long line for the National Archives...guess we'll be back to see the famous historical documents of our country's history.)
7 plus miles of walking
Free parking!
And topped off with a great dinner with Mike and Hilary at Amphoras. Yup, we were tired but felt very productive.
Day 13: Washington, DC to Cheesequake State Park, NJ (What kind of name is Cheesequake? It matches the park, we'll leave it at that.)
We started the day off by going to Arlington Cemetery via an illegal spin in the Pentagon parking lot. "Um, Officer, we're from Arizona, and we're looking for the Metro." (our words if we had gotten pulled over.) Then we took the Metro to the Capitol, where we were given a tour along with 130000000 other people. After the Capitol, we decided to go to the Library of Congress and use our new cards. We were very intimidated, but we did read some children's books before leaving to go back to our car and drive to New Jersey.
We got to the park at 7ish and read a sign that said open from 8-8. Well, apparently that means something different in New Jersey because they were closed and the gate was closed. So, we finally found a number to call, and a ranger came and promptly yelled at us. Then, we went to the laundromat and got yelled at again.
Question of the day: Why did God create underwear? So that we can go grocery shopping of course....we'll leave it to your imagination....(:
Day 14: New York City
We got yelled at by the train conductor for getting on the train without tickets after he told us to do so...??? Luckily, we scrounged around and found enough cash (two quarters under the seat...j/k) so that we didn't get kicked off on the next stop. Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, Times Square (weird), Empire State Building, Ground Zero (of which we could see zero), and New York Pizza...mmm. AND THEN, drum roll, please, we got tickets (cheap tickets) for Phantom of the Opera. And they weren't standing room only tickets either. IT WAS AWESOME. Then, we took the subway and the train back to NJ and didn't get mugged or yelled at all the way back to our tent.
Day 15: Cheesequake, NJ to Portsmouth, RI
After finding out that we couldn't get into the campsite that we wanted for the night and couldn't get into any campsite that we called, we decided to drive to RI and hopefully get there before all the first-come, first-served spots at Melville Family Campground were taken. So, we drove through New York and encountered almost no traffic. And then we drove through Connecticut and sat through enough traffic to make Lew pound on the steering wheel and Ark kindly took over so that she could be equally as frustrated of sitting in bumper-to-bumper for hours. But, thank God, we still were able to get a site. We went to bed early and were kept awake by our drunk neighbors who had a blazing bonfire and screaming kids most of the night. Not the best day or night of our trip, but we survived it and God was still faithful.
Day 16: Portsmouth, RI to Wompatuck State Park, MA
We spent a pleasant day driving through Newport, RI, seeing the mansions and the Shore Drive; Cape Cod, where we didn't see much of anything because of all the people; and Plymouth, where we barely saw Plymouth Rock since it's very small and where we sketched a Mayflower wannabee because we couldn't find any lighthouses to draw. We got to our campsite and get a couple hours to relax before going to bed tonight.
And that's it...if any of you are still reading this. We know we're wordy, but we know that you all are so interested and intrigued by our travels that you anxiously wait for our updates...(:
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
White House (We saw no snipers on the top of the White House, so we couldn't wave at any...apparently when the President is out of the country the White House doesn't need snipers...How can we have any fun without snipers?)
American History Museum (Dull theatre except for the First Lady Display)
Ford's Theatre (Lincoln was shot here!)
Peterson House (Lincoln died here!)
Korean War Memorial
World War I Memorial
Starbucks (This was more appealing to us at this point than standing in a 40 mile long line for the National Archives...guess we'll be back to see the famous historical documents of our country's history.)
7 plus miles of walking
Free parking!
And topped off with a great dinner with Mike and Hilary at Amphoras. Yup, we were tired but felt very productive.
Day 13: Washington, DC to Cheesequake State Park, NJ (What kind of name is Cheesequake? It matches the park, we'll leave it at that.)
We started the day off by going to Arlington Cemetery via an illegal spin in the Pentagon parking lot. "Um, Officer, we're from Arizona, and we're looking for the Metro." (our words if we had gotten pulled over.) Then we took the Metro to the Capitol, where we were given a tour along with 130000000 other people. After the Capitol, we decided to go to the Library of Congress and use our new cards. We were very intimidated, but we did read some children's books before leaving to go back to our car and drive to New Jersey.
We got to the park at 7ish and read a sign that said open from 8-8. Well, apparently that means something different in New Jersey because they were closed and the gate was closed. So, we finally found a number to call, and a ranger came and promptly yelled at us. Then, we went to the laundromat and got yelled at again.
Question of the day: Why did God create underwear? So that we can go grocery shopping of course....we'll leave it to your imagination....(:
Day 14: New York City
We got yelled at by the train conductor for getting on the train without tickets after he told us to do so...??? Luckily, we scrounged around and found enough cash (two quarters under the seat...j/k) so that we didn't get kicked off on the next stop. Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Central Park, Times Square (weird), Empire State Building, Ground Zero (of which we could see zero), and New York Pizza...mmm. AND THEN, drum roll, please, we got tickets (cheap tickets) for Phantom of the Opera. And they weren't standing room only tickets either. IT WAS AWESOME. Then, we took the subway and the train back to NJ and didn't get mugged or yelled at all the way back to our tent.
Day 15: Cheesequake, NJ to Portsmouth, RI
After finding out that we couldn't get into the campsite that we wanted for the night and couldn't get into any campsite that we called, we decided to drive to RI and hopefully get there before all the first-come, first-served spots at Melville Family Campground were taken. So, we drove through New York and encountered almost no traffic. And then we drove through Connecticut and sat through enough traffic to make Lew pound on the steering wheel and Ark kindly took over so that she could be equally as frustrated of sitting in bumper-to-bumper for hours. But, thank God, we still were able to get a site. We went to bed early and were kept awake by our drunk neighbors who had a blazing bonfire and screaming kids most of the night. Not the best day or night of our trip, but we survived it and God was still faithful.
Day 16: Portsmouth, RI to Wompatuck State Park, MA
We spent a pleasant day driving through Newport, RI, seeing the mansions and the Shore Drive; Cape Cod, where we didn't see much of anything because of all the people; and Plymouth, where we barely saw Plymouth Rock since it's very small and where we sketched a Mayflower wannabee because we couldn't find any lighthouses to draw. We got to our campsite and get a couple hours to relax before going to bed tonight.
And that's it...if any of you are still reading this. We know we're wordy, but we know that you all are so interested and intrigued by our travels that you anxiously wait for our updates...(:
Monday, July 6, 2009
Carolina to DC via Virginia Beach, Shenadoah, and Gettysburg!
Wow...what a whirlwind and wonderful last few days. We have been COMPLETELY blessed this trip to watch everything work out so smoothly. We've hit one bout of traffic and one small injury, but beyond that, everyone seems to be repelled by us on the road and everywhere else. It's been nice. So, where were we?
Day 7: Destination: Virginia Beach, Virginia! Our hope was to drive along the coast and see lighthouses, the Atlantic, and go on a ferry. Reality spoke differently, and we ended up on a side road the whole way up! Didn't really care for the terrain that much, and we were pretty bored! But, we finally arrived in Virginia Beach. Once again, no traffic stopped us from arriving on time. We were greeted by a new friend neither of us had ever met before. A hot meal awaited us, a warm bed greeted us, a sunrise over the ocean and a morning run on the boardwalk were most excellent, and we were so blessed by Daphne, her hospitality and heart for the Lord! If only we could have stayed there a little longer!!!
Day 8: Shenandoah National Park. We weren't really sure what to expect out of Shenandoah. It was July 3rd and there were people everywhere getting ready to celebrate teh 4th of July. Off we took on the long and windy road up to the national park. We were greeting outside by a sign saying the campground of choice was full. After finding out there was only 1 campground that had any possibilities of vacancies, we took off up the mountain. They were right, only about 10 of 170 spots were left. But, once again, we were taken care of and had a place to sleep. There wasn't anything to do at this campground. It was rather chilly and cloudy outside, which made some great photo ops. What a better way to spend the afternoon. About 5:00, we went into the campground store and found a book that listed 2 hikes in the area. So, we took off down the trail to the waterfall. It proved to be a beautiful hike and waterfall at the end. Another great photo op! The moment wasn't destroyed when Ark slipped and dislocated her shoulder. It could have been so much worse if it hadn't popped back in again! Once again, we were very grateful for His care over us and Ark is just fine!
Day 9: Destination: Gettyburg, PA! It was a dream of Ark's to spend the 4th of July in Gettyburg, the anniversary of the bloodiest battle on American soil. Once again, we stayed with people who opened their home to us so graciously! The afternoon was spent at the Gettysburg battle reenactment. We were disappointed to see that no one fell during the battle. Ark commented that it was the battle with the fewest casualties since no one died. We enjoyed a private tour of the battlefield and the town later that night with the Andersons. Thank you Fred and Roberta. We couldn't have felt more welcome at your home.
Day 10: Destination: Ashburn, VA. Our morning worship service was at Covenant Life Church in Gaitherburg, VA. It was awesome to hear Joshua Harris preach, and we were thankful for a late church service. We relaxed in a park in the afternoon, and then joined Mike and Hilary for an evening church service. We are so thankful for another wonderful place to stay.
Day 11: Washington, DC. Our day, though not as productive as we had hoped, was quite fun and random. We spent hours at the Air and Space Museum and saw our fill of airplanes and mock space shuttles for a very long time. Then, we headed to the Library of Congress, where we started a tour. After 20 or so minutes, we decided to ditch the tour to go get library cards and actually use the Reading Rooms instead of just observing them. We are now the proud owners of Library of Congress Reading Cards. Hopefully, we'll get to use them tomorrow. We'll see...since we also want to see the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the American History Museum, the Capitol and the White House tomorrow. Guess we're not going to get to sleep in tomorrow. Stay tuned to find out how much of this list we accomplish.
Day 7: Destination: Virginia Beach, Virginia! Our hope was to drive along the coast and see lighthouses, the Atlantic, and go on a ferry. Reality spoke differently, and we ended up on a side road the whole way up! Didn't really care for the terrain that much, and we were pretty bored! But, we finally arrived in Virginia Beach. Once again, no traffic stopped us from arriving on time. We were greeted by a new friend neither of us had ever met before. A hot meal awaited us, a warm bed greeted us, a sunrise over the ocean and a morning run on the boardwalk were most excellent, and we were so blessed by Daphne, her hospitality and heart for the Lord! If only we could have stayed there a little longer!!!
Day 8: Shenandoah National Park. We weren't really sure what to expect out of Shenandoah. It was July 3rd and there were people everywhere getting ready to celebrate teh 4th of July. Off we took on the long and windy road up to the national park. We were greeting outside by a sign saying the campground of choice was full. After finding out there was only 1 campground that had any possibilities of vacancies, we took off up the mountain. They were right, only about 10 of 170 spots were left. But, once again, we were taken care of and had a place to sleep. There wasn't anything to do at this campground. It was rather chilly and cloudy outside, which made some great photo ops. What a better way to spend the afternoon. About 5:00, we went into the campground store and found a book that listed 2 hikes in the area. So, we took off down the trail to the waterfall. It proved to be a beautiful hike and waterfall at the end. Another great photo op! The moment wasn't destroyed when Ark slipped and dislocated her shoulder. It could have been so much worse if it hadn't popped back in again! Once again, we were very grateful for His care over us and Ark is just fine!
Day 9: Destination: Gettyburg, PA! It was a dream of Ark's to spend the 4th of July in Gettyburg, the anniversary of the bloodiest battle on American soil. Once again, we stayed with people who opened their home to us so graciously! The afternoon was spent at the Gettysburg battle reenactment. We were disappointed to see that no one fell during the battle. Ark commented that it was the battle with the fewest casualties since no one died. We enjoyed a private tour of the battlefield and the town later that night with the Andersons. Thank you Fred and Roberta. We couldn't have felt more welcome at your home.
Day 10: Destination: Ashburn, VA. Our morning worship service was at Covenant Life Church in Gaitherburg, VA. It was awesome to hear Joshua Harris preach, and we were thankful for a late church service. We relaxed in a park in the afternoon, and then joined Mike and Hilary for an evening church service. We are so thankful for another wonderful place to stay.
Day 11: Washington, DC. Our day, though not as productive as we had hoped, was quite fun and random. We spent hours at the Air and Space Museum and saw our fill of airplanes and mock space shuttles for a very long time. Then, we headed to the Library of Congress, where we started a tour. After 20 or so minutes, we decided to ditch the tour to go get library cards and actually use the Reading Rooms instead of just observing them. We are now the proud owners of Library of Congress Reading Cards. Hopefully, we'll get to use them tomorrow. We'll see...since we also want to see the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the American History Museum, the Capitol and the White House tomorrow. Guess we're not going to get to sleep in tomorrow. Stay tuned to find out how much of this list we accomplish.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Why Did God Create Tennessee?
To give us a good dose of green of course! Both of us have decided (minus Memphis), Tennessee is extraordinarily beautiful! Just imagine living in the heart of a jungle. Or forest so lush and thick that you can't see beyond 10 feet! The sun even has a hard time shining through the trees! Simply beautiful! People keep asking about pictures...have no fear, they will appear!
Day 4 con't- Nashville! The last time we spoke, we were heading to a Hustle dance at the Nashville Swing Dance Club. We got pretty good at that particular dance step under the instruction of a very talented dancer. After the lesson, we stayed another hour or so and danced with a few more old men. Oh how dancing is a lost art enjoyed by only the aged...and us of course. After dancing we headed back to our beautiful campsite and slept quite well...despite the critter lurking at the trashcans and the kids that woke up and started shooting air soft guns at 6:30. :)
Day 5: Destination: Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Let's just say, words can't describe the beauty that we saw there. It truly was like walking into a story book. A lazy morning and a late start and a long drive meant that we didn't get to our campsite until the evening. But we enjoyed a meal around the fire and then when walking up the creek (crick if you're from the south) in the dense, jungle-like forest. Our lesson/analogy of the day occurred around the campfire, where we determined that fires are like relationships. They take a lot of work, especially when the wood is rotten. But it's the only way to get something as sweet as a s'more. We went to bed, looking up at the stars and moon, but we both awoke to thunder and lightening at 2:35 and swiftly decided to get up and put the rain fly on. We were very happy we did when less than 5 minutes later, it started to rain and continued to rain the rest of the night.
Day 6: Destination: Columbia, South Carolina. After another late start (since we didn't sleep too well after it started raining and were procrastinating getting up and having to take down a wet tent), we headed up the mountain 5 miles and through the "jungle" to a beautiful waterfall called Hen Wallow. Lew can also now say that she has hiked the Appalachian Trail (a whole 15 feet of it anyway)...(:. We had a nice drive through North Carolina and into South Carolina, where we ended up in Columbia. It's another beautiful community. We got to Alyssa's friend's house and showered and did laundry. We were thankful that we wouldn't have to go to the laundromat, but then, when the washer broke down, Lew ended up taking the clothes to a laundromat to finish them up while Ark made dinner.
And that is where our adventure finds us so far. About every 5 minutes for the past two days, one or the other of us has said, "Wow, this is so beautiful." So, we continue to thank God for the beauty of His creation and to praise Him for His faithfulness to us in so many ways. Hopefully, pictures will be up soon. Until next time...
Day 4 con't- Nashville! The last time we spoke, we were heading to a Hustle dance at the Nashville Swing Dance Club. We got pretty good at that particular dance step under the instruction of a very talented dancer. After the lesson, we stayed another hour or so and danced with a few more old men. Oh how dancing is a lost art enjoyed by only the aged...and us of course. After dancing we headed back to our beautiful campsite and slept quite well...despite the critter lurking at the trashcans and the kids that woke up and started shooting air soft guns at 6:30. :)
Day 5: Destination: Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Let's just say, words can't describe the beauty that we saw there. It truly was like walking into a story book. A lazy morning and a late start and a long drive meant that we didn't get to our campsite until the evening. But we enjoyed a meal around the fire and then when walking up the creek (crick if you're from the south) in the dense, jungle-like forest. Our lesson/analogy of the day occurred around the campfire, where we determined that fires are like relationships. They take a lot of work, especially when the wood is rotten. But it's the only way to get something as sweet as a s'more. We went to bed, looking up at the stars and moon, but we both awoke to thunder and lightening at 2:35 and swiftly decided to get up and put the rain fly on. We were very happy we did when less than 5 minutes later, it started to rain and continued to rain the rest of the night.
Day 6: Destination: Columbia, South Carolina. After another late start (since we didn't sleep too well after it started raining and were procrastinating getting up and having to take down a wet tent), we headed up the mountain 5 miles and through the "jungle" to a beautiful waterfall called Hen Wallow. Lew can also now say that she has hiked the Appalachian Trail (a whole 15 feet of it anyway)...(:. We had a nice drive through North Carolina and into South Carolina, where we ended up in Columbia. It's another beautiful community. We got to Alyssa's friend's house and showered and did laundry. We were thankful that we wouldn't have to go to the laundromat, but then, when the washer broke down, Lew ended up taking the clothes to a laundromat to finish them up while Ark made dinner.
And that is where our adventure finds us so far. About every 5 minutes for the past two days, one or the other of us has said, "Wow, this is so beautiful." So, we continue to thank God for the beauty of His creation and to praise Him for His faithfulness to us in so many ways. Hopefully, pictures will be up soon. Until next time...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Nashville is not nearly as scary as Memphis.
For those of you who have been anxiously waiting for our updates and and have been sitting on the edge of your chairs, wondering where the Nomadic Duo is at the moment, we apologize that we have been having too much fun sight seeing and travelling to sit around blogging. But since we just happen to find ourselves in downtown Nashville at Mike's Ice cream and Coffee Bar with free wifi, we thought we would tell you where we are and what has happened on the trip so far.
Day 1: Left Prescott (yes, Lew was late, but Ark wasn't too upset, yet). Lesson of the day: The human eye can see a long way. Why did God create New Mexico? #1 To give construction workers a job. #2 To make everywhere else look so beautiful. Song of the day: Get your kicks on Route 66 (Thanks James). Destination: Lake Meredith, Texas...one word: AWESOME.
Day 2: Destination: Oklahoma City. Lesson of the day: "Possession is only a misdemeanor not a felony in Oklahoma" (conversation overheard in the downtown library). Why did God create Oklahoma? To make Arizona feel cool. 100 degrees plus humidity is not the ideal way to see the Oklahoma City Memorial. What is the purpose of Historical Markers? To get a cop off your rear. Thank you Andy, Grace, and Ransom for your hospitality.
Day 3: Destination: Memphis (armpit of Tennessee). Have you ever walked through a downtown area with mace in your hand and your thumb on the safety? We have!!! But we were told (in a southern accent): "You ladies are mighty fine." We decided that spending 40 bucks to see Graceland was not worth the money, so we just looked over the wall instead, while talking about how sad entertainment idolism is in the US. Lesson of the day (as seen on a billboard in Memphis): "He's shot. You're sorry. Still dead. Chill, don't kill." Redemption of Memphis: Meeman-Shelby State Park. Absolutely beautiful, nestled in behind mansions and manicured lawns. Fell asleep to a frog symphony and the moon shining through the vines and trees. The Mississippi River at sunset was pretty awesome as well.
Day 4: Destination: Nashville, TN. Toured Bell Meade Plantation and the Parthenon (yes, it's in Nashville not Greece, in case you were wondering). Lesson of the day: Lesson on how to dance the Hustle at the Swing Dance Club this evening.
Overall: We're having fun, praising God for the variety of scenery, people and accents around us. Still waiting for divine and defining moments. Up next: Great Smokies and more lunches at gas stations. Stay tuned.
Day 1: Left Prescott (yes, Lew was late, but Ark wasn't too upset, yet). Lesson of the day: The human eye can see a long way. Why did God create New Mexico? #1 To give construction workers a job. #2 To make everywhere else look so beautiful. Song of the day: Get your kicks on Route 66 (Thanks James). Destination: Lake Meredith, Texas...one word: AWESOME.
Day 2: Destination: Oklahoma City. Lesson of the day: "Possession is only a misdemeanor not a felony in Oklahoma" (conversation overheard in the downtown library). Why did God create Oklahoma? To make Arizona feel cool. 100 degrees plus humidity is not the ideal way to see the Oklahoma City Memorial. What is the purpose of Historical Markers? To get a cop off your rear. Thank you Andy, Grace, and Ransom for your hospitality.
Day 3: Destination: Memphis (armpit of Tennessee). Have you ever walked through a downtown area with mace in your hand and your thumb on the safety? We have!!! But we were told (in a southern accent): "You ladies are mighty fine." We decided that spending 40 bucks to see Graceland was not worth the money, so we just looked over the wall instead, while talking about how sad entertainment idolism is in the US. Lesson of the day (as seen on a billboard in Memphis): "He's shot. You're sorry. Still dead. Chill, don't kill." Redemption of Memphis: Meeman-Shelby State Park. Absolutely beautiful, nestled in behind mansions and manicured lawns. Fell asleep to a frog symphony and the moon shining through the vines and trees. The Mississippi River at sunset was pretty awesome as well.
Day 4: Destination: Nashville, TN. Toured Bell Meade Plantation and the Parthenon (yes, it's in Nashville not Greece, in case you were wondering). Lesson of the day: Lesson on how to dance the Hustle at the Swing Dance Club this evening.
Overall: We're having fun, praising God for the variety of scenery, people and accents around us. Still waiting for divine and defining moments. Up next: Great Smokies and more lunches at gas stations. Stay tuned.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Adventures and Defining Moments!
The last few days I have been thinking...too much! The majority of things going through my head are not too important, such as, don't forget the camp chair and be sure to pack deodorant! However, some other thoughts go a little deeper. I think one reason I wanted to go on this trip was because I long, crave, deeply desire adventure! Not just any Tom Sawyer adventure, but the kind that I'll remember for years to come as a life-changing adventure. One with a defining moment. One that involves a deeper faith and a wow-only-the-Lord could do that experience. Abraham had a defining moment adventure when he was asked to sacrifice his only son on the altar and obeyed. He got to see God provide in a powerful way and was changed through it. Peter experienced that moment after he had denied his Lord three times and then ate with Him after the resurrection. Paul had his moment when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. So I ask, where is my moment? Have I ever come to the point of complete and total trust and dependence on Christ? Have I ever been part of a great adventure that pointed me face-to-face with the Lord Himself? You can count on the fact that I will be looking for that moment and adventure on the road. Will it be in Tennessee? New York? Or Maine? Only He knows!!! But what I know is wherever it is and whatever it looks like, my life will be defined very differently!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Counting Down.
We leave on this adventure one week from today.
Excited: check.
Planned: check.
Reservations made: check (for the most part)
E-Z pass bought: check.
National parks pass bought: check.
Packed: no way (not until Thursday night, for me anyway. Ark may pack before that...(:)
Excited: check.
Planned: check.
Reservations made: check (for the most part)
E-Z pass bought: check.
National parks pass bought: check.
Packed: no way (not until Thursday night, for me anyway. Ark may pack before that...(:)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Other goals the trip...
A few other goals that we have for this trip (besides seeing the country, putting 8000 miles on the car, and enjoying our summer, [since that's what teachers are supposed to do...:)]) are as follows:
1. Distribute as many million dollars bills as we can and get into Kingdom conversations whenever possible (we covet your prayers)
2. Sketch a lighthouse...and even if the final sketch doesn't look all that great, we will look cool doing it...haha
3. Read some good books on the road...we both already have a long list of books, but if you want to recommend another good book that you have read recently, please do
4. Put on our running shoes and explore some news trails and neighborhoods and we pound the pavement
1. Distribute as many million dollars bills as we can and get into Kingdom conversations whenever possible (we covet your prayers)
2. Sketch a lighthouse...and even if the final sketch doesn't look all that great, we will look cool doing it...haha
3. Read some good books on the road...we both already have a long list of books, but if you want to recommend another good book that you have read recently, please do
4. Put on our running shoes and explore some news trails and neighborhoods and we pound the pavement
Saturday, May 30, 2009
A dollar a day diet????
Hmmm....so I visited Trader Joe's today to try and figure out what we would need to buy ahead of time for our road trip. Wow, I thought...it would be easy trying to shop on a dollar-a-day food diet, but it isn't. Oh what to purchase? Trail mix, dried fruit, protein bars, fruit, popcorn...so many snack items, but I'm not sure how to make it a dollar-a-day! Is that even possible? We even thought that maybe we would go on the Hallelujah diet while we were gone and live off of fruit and veggies...is that even possible on a dollar-a-day? We welcome any ideas of cheap and healthy food to purchase for the big trip. I said that it would be completely possible to live off our parameters if I stay stressed the whole trip as I don't eat when I am stressed, but Lynda is the opposite so that won't work either. I'm kinda worried we'll just have to break down and actually buy food...imagine that!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to the Nomadic Duo's Blog. We are headed across the United States for 30+ days, visiting as many states as possible, putting 8000 miles on Ark's Civic, and enjoying the variety and beauty of God's creation. Many other goals exist for this trip, and we will be posting as the departure date gets closer. Stay tuned for new and exciting updates from Ark and Lew.
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