Tag: road trip

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Nebraska

Kearney, NE and a bike mechanic

“Keep going until you feel like you are headed out of town. Then keep going. Our house is out there.”

Kearney Nebraska was much bigger than I was expecting. Located mid-state I was thinking it’d be some po-dunk, in the middle of nowhere town and WHY would anyone want to live there? Ever?

Pleasantly surprised to find that its a fairly good sized town with quite the collection of big box stores, parks, and restaurant chains. Not so big that you get lost though. Just right. And there’s trees. For some reason, I had this perception that everything in the middle of the country would look like, well, Nevada. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.

When my friend Jared offered to put us up for the night I was nervous it would be a little awkward. The “we haven’t seen each other or really talked in forever and now we’re staying at your house” kind of awkward. My nervousness was completely unfounded. Their kids immediately took ours under their wing and introduced them to their favorite toys and us adults settled into pleasant conversation that lasted almost until midnight.

I met Jared and his wife in college. While attending BYU I worked for Outdoors Unlimited; the on-campus all things outdoor equipment related rental shop and bike repair. For a Recreation Management major it was heaven. Great people that were interested in fun things, free equipment rental, on campus location, and a great boss. Jared showed up to get a Master’s Degree about my junior year. He immediately took over running the bike shop, whipped it into shape and became my mentor for all things bike mechanic. He is a whiz and I loved it. He taught me how to true wheels, overhaul hubs, tune derailleurs, you name it. He was also my go-to guy for a truck to haul bikes around on Saturdays for the Bike Rides for Girl’s Program I started as part of an internship for my degree.

Seeing them again was seriously a flashback to all the fun memories of college. It was great. I could almost smell the bike de-greaser again. Plus, my kids got to see first hand what an amazing bike mechanic Jared is, as he whipped out a new brake cable metal thing-y to fix Rachel’s bike.

We had so much we almost stayed a few extra days. We’ll be back.

Categories
Colorado State Parks

The Art of Naming Objects While on a Road Trip

“You know – that thing. The flash bag, “ I said to Sam as we hike up the trail to Rife Falls.

“When you say ‘flash bag’ I think of strobes & speedlights,” Sam says.

“Right…I guess I do have one of those. I meant the REI backpack. What are we going to call it? It needs a name.”

Turns out when you have a car full of stuff and very little space, having names for things really helps. Especially when you are trying to find something in a hurry or figure out what in the world the other person is talking about. We could always play 20 questions but that would take longer than I’d like since I’m not very good at it.

“Let’s just call it the diaper bag. That’s what I’m using it for anyway,” I say.

Perfect.

 

Hiking Rifle Falls & Camping at Rifle Gap

 

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Faith Most Popular Posts

Take a Deep Breath, then Leap

I rolled over in bed this morning, and lay there quietly watching the sun filter through our curtains. The kids were still asleep in their beds and for the moment, all was still. “This is it,” I thought to myself. “This is the day we finally leave.”

 We have been planning and scheming since last March. So many late nights, dreams, aspirations, and excitement all rolled into one adventure. Sam mentioned to me that this is really our chance to start over – even though our travels are not permanent, even though we will eventually come home, for now, we can be whomever we want to be. Our family can be whatever we want it to be. I don’t know what to expect. I feel like we are standing on the edge of the light looking into the darkness, the unknown. I think it takes a lot of faith to do what we’re doing – and I hope the faith I have is enough.

Sam and I linger slightly in bed, but soon its time to get up and get going. My calm before the storm moment is over. Sam is up first and he dashes down the stairs to figure out a DVD burning problem for one of my clients. I hop in the shower, getting that over with so that I can put the last load of towels in the washing machine. As I’m drying my hair and putting my make up, Rachel wanders into our room, still heavy-eyed with sleepy.

 “Mom?” she says, “will you cuddle me? I’m scared.” This is a first for her. Up until now its been excitement and anticipation, but I think the reality of what we are doing is finally starting to sink in. We cuddle in the bed for just a few moments before I need to get up and get going again. Hopefully it was enough to reassure her that everything will be okay.

Pandemonium ensues.

There’s something about the last 2 days before a big vacation. No matter how much you prepare, how much you clean, there’s still enough to do that it is almost overhwelming. Pack up the bathroom. Wipe down the sinks. Get the kids breakfast. Burn photo CD’s for clients. Don’t forget to put everyone’s PJ’s in their suitcase. Too much bathroom stuff – not going to fit in the duffel. Cara has an accident – have to clean her up. Shove shoes in corners and under seats in the car. Pack the cooler for lunch on the road.

Everything is finally loaded, the sheets have been cleaned and put back on the beds ready for those who will sleep in them over the next 6 months, and the rooms have been double-checked for anything we might have left. Walking through our house is almost surreal. Its so…. empty. Nothing in the closets, all the toys put away, the floors swept. It’s time. We say a family prayer of thanksgiving and ask for protection before streaming out the door and climbing into the car.

We take a deep breath, and then its time to leap.