Wyoming...

Ohmygosh it’s gorgeous up here!!!

So this afternoon didn’t start off so well (I have 2 videos to post, but it wont work=P ). The car pretty much broke down and we didn’t get on the road until 1:30pm, which was a bit of a setback.

From the time we actually got going until about 3:30, the scenery was pretty bland. It was 98-101 degrees out, and the sun was beating down hard through our windows. The Wyoming desert stretched out for miles, with nothing but some pale green shubbery (looking dead but apparently alive and well) to add some variety to the washed-out tans of the dust and dirt.

I pulled out my book and read, praying the car would make it to our next stop before it decided to throw a fit and break down again.

Which of course didn’t happen, and the van began to overheat.

We inevidably had to pull over at a rest stop to cool off the engine and do some work. I watched from inside the car as my Grampa suited up into his new Walmart-Brand zoot suite and set to work.

Then I got out and watched him from the curb.

Then I got down on my hands and knees and watched him work underneath the car.

Finally, I got tired of watching, and I kicked off my flip-flops and climbed a nearby tree until it was time to go.

“On the road again…”

Have I ever mentioned how there is almost always a song in my head? I wonder if my grandparents have gotten annoyed with my incessant humming and singing in the back seat… My songs have ranged from Disney to Blues to Camp Fire songs to Le Meserables and back again.

Sorry. That was random.

Man, it’s hot outside!!!

Okay. Back to what I was saying earlier.
Around 3:30, I looked up from my book and happened to notice that we were no longer in the desert. Random rock formations began to be scattered about, and here and there a few trees dotted the roadside.
And then BOOM!
                We were in the mountains.

Litterally, just like that, we went from flat desert to mountainous terrain. Cliffs and rocks and wood and trees and more rocks and more cliffs and even more trees.

Everywhere.

And within 10 minutes, the temperature dropped almost 10 degrees.
             And pretty soon we were seeing snow =)

Sadly, we got through those moutains in about an hour (during which I was staring out the window absorbing every droplet of wonder I was feeling), and we are now back in the deserty areas.

WHERE IT IS STILL HOT!!!!

Ugh!

Our destination is still 2 hours away, and I just found out that I will have no internet tonight (or cell service, for that matter). I don’t really care all that much, but for all you people who are reading this and waiting for my next post(which is only like, 2) …. Sucks to be you!!

Kidding of course ;)


5:33pm,  Saturday, June 23, 2012

A snippet of car trouble...

South Dakota.
 We’ve been driving nonstop for the past 8 hours now. I, of course, was asleep for about 5 of those hours. While it was a bit cold and rainy when we set off this morning, it has quickly turned into a bright, sunny, and very warm day.

–We just pulled into a teeny tiny little gas station because we were low on coolant and our engine was overheating. I think I’m gonna get out and stretch my legs a bit (and perhaps use the restroom) ;)

*** Ahh, 20 minutes later and we’re on our way again. I didn’t want to get back in the car, so I decided to take some pictures to help “share my experience” with you. Have a look-see:

A huge dandelion seed - as big as my fist!

I am not doing a duck face. The sun was in my eyes.

My grampa. Don't worry folks - he's not in despair, he's just trying to fix something under the steering wheel ;)

The source of our troubles.

"Everyone put on a happy face!!"  Haha, I love this picture =)

A while back, when we were driving down a highway, we passed by these amazing hills. The hills were literally rolling. As we sped by in our van it actually seemed like the landscape was an ocean, with waves tossing and turning in hues of light greens, faded yellows, and tawny reds.

Sadly, I didn’t get any pictures of this beautiful scenery, but I think I’ll remember it for a good long while. I keep thinking, “Gol, God must have had loads of fun designing these hills.”  I imagine Him tossing down clumps of red dirt onto the Earth, then flicking His paintbrush all over the place to create the concoction of color that I saw before me. I see Him laughing and humming while He enjoyed His work.

The mental image brings a smile to my face.

11:35am – Friday, June 22, 2012

Something happens at night...

It's 2:20 am, and we will soon all be piling into our car and heading off for our grand adventure. My grandparents both went to sleep around 7-8ish, so I've had the house to myself for a few wonderful hours.

There is something different about being alone at night rather than alone in the daytime. There is something exciting, yet calming, at having to be quiet - no music playing, no talking to myself, no excess noise.

I actually like it.
           The silent solitude.



I've been putting the final touches to my packing list, and am now satisfied and content with the amount of things I've brought (which is very little for an over-packer like me. I'm gonna be gone for 3 weeks, but I only packed 5 books! That's a remarkable feat, let me tell ya...)

Whoop! We gotta go! I'm being summoned!

Let the adventures begin!!

... And it starts ;)

Yep. This is me. I'm a last-second-staying-up-late-procrastinator-type girl.

Remember how I was being made to pack 5 days before we left for our trip (see below post for "details")??? Well, I did. In true honesty I had my little duffel bag packed and sitting in the corner of my room 4 days ago...

It just so happens that during then and now I needed a few of those things that were in that bag, and somehow everything just sort of....
                                                             ..... escaped.

And now here I am, repacking and running around the house grabbing everything that I've written down on my list at 12:30am the night (morning?) before I leave, trying to wash my laundry and clean my room and find my toothbrush and figure out which sketchbook I want to take with me and which movies I want to bring and what jewelry I should stuff in my bag and what snacks I need to buy in the morning.

                 And yes, I am aware that is a run-on sentence, Anna. ;)    Phew, I feel like I need to take a deep breath after writing that....

It's gonna be a long night.

The begining... if it ever starts

Packing Day. Day of Packing. Readying of Materials to Prepare for Transport During a Diurnal Course.

Call it whatever you want, it still stays the same in my book.

            Annoying.

See, if it were up to me, I would be packing the night before, staying up late to unpack and re-pack and unpack and re-pack again until there was a place for everything and everything was in its place.

But this time, it's not up to me. It's up to my grandparents.

So here I am, in my room, getting absolutely nowhere because I am so easily distracted and - I mean, come on! - our leave date is still 5 days away.

------ my Gramma just came in and told me to get off the computer and finish packing (ironic... especially because I haven't actually started packing yet...)

Well, I guess I had better tackle that menacing looking duffel bag sitting over there in the corner before it decides to get up and attack me...

Wish me luck! XP