(written yesterday but couldn’t get on-line till today.)
Anchorage to Seattle in four days. Well, almost there. As I write we are entering Everett, a city with a familiar name.
Sorry for not writing during the drive-a-thon but between the lack of internet options, bumpy windy roads, Elias entertaining, wildlife viewing, camp set-up and plain ol’ sittin’ and starin’ out the window during the roughly 2,300 mile trip, well, the computer just couldn’t compete.
We saw a mama grizzly with two cubs, a lone black wolf, a wolverine, a red fox and multiple black bear, caribou, bison, stone sheep, and eagles. A country with 1,700 miles between stop lights and not a chain store in sight. Except Fas Gas in the Yukon and their signs came with a sigh of relief.
It only rained in the middle of our first night and otherwise we lucked out with camp friendly weather even if during one 24 hour period we went from chilled with extra layers on to sweating our asses off in the truck. From snow line at Bijoux Falls to wineries at Cache Creek. Pot-holed frost-heaved roads without a building in sight to I-5 into Seattle.
And Elias. Oh, Elias. How do I thank thee? A god-given trooper who woke up this morning, alone in the tent, as we made coffee and packed gear, and said, “Ready for a truck ride.” This from a kid who spent far too many hours trapped by a five point harness and only revolted once, dinner-less and tired, he cried for Mama, for outside, for the freedom we all craved after riding too long in our bug-splattered truck searching for a place to call home for the night.
Otherwise he won every kind of road trip award and deserves a crown. Or at least more time swimming at Laird Hot springs, a highlight of his trip. Hot tub plus outside equals nirvana in Elias’s world. Throw in a couple puddles, outhouses, and garbage cans and the kid may melt with joy. At the falls he just wanted to see the “yittle toyets” as much as I tried to coax him to leave the outhouses behind. And earlier today we pulled out from a rest area by Watson Lake and he said: “Bye bye garbage.” Not bye bye beautiful lake. Bye bye garbage can, the ones he needs to peek at every time we stop.
On the first day he discovered a small bouncy ball in his bucket of toys and threw it towards the front of the truck. We played a version of catch that doesn’t actually involve catching the ball but Elias throwing it as we search for it after it bounces off the dashboard or front headrests. After one wild throw I said, “Uh oh, Elias, it went into the abyss.” Meaning lost somewhere among the bags of snacks, clothes, maps, cameras and toys.
“Abyss!!!” Elias repeated—with his new s sound with a lisp-- as he laughed. And laughed. And laughed. The game carried us down the Alaska highway. Along with harnessed enthusiasm for the unknown around each corner. We created a circle the three of us, passing energy around the truck.
“Look Elias another bridge!!!!”
“Bridge!!!!” He repeats with a smile and a kick.
Which makes us smile. Which carries us to the next bridge or tunnel or bus or RV or semi or outhouse or garbage can or puddle or creek or gas station or campground or mile or day.
Almost there, baby, almost there.
(Thank you all for checking in--I’ll post pictures tomorrow when we get to Grants Pass.)
That is so great that Elias is such a trooper. We have BEAUTIFUL weather in the PNW today...you lucked out.
Posted by: Jodi | May 30, 2007 at 09:07 AM
Hooray! The road trip has begun. We love hearing about your ride -- it sounds so wonderful! xo
Posted by: elizabeth | May 30, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Awwww. You got lucky with that young lad. He's quite the sport.
Posted by: Kyla | May 30, 2007 at 04:40 PM
Yeah!! Glad to read of your progress and Elias' ease in the journey. Keep it up, big guy!
Posted by: Natalie | May 30, 2007 at 05:03 PM
Wish I was along for the ride. . . glad to hear all have found some fun in the journey.
Posted by: jess | May 30, 2007 at 05:24 PM
So happy to hear Elias found the ball :) That was meant to get lost I think. Peas are coming up and tulips in full bloom. Everything looks good, besides the lack of sunshine! Hope your adventures continue to be blissful and fun~we finally made it out to soccer tonight and got kicked off the field. It was quite entertaining! Take care you guys...write more soon and give the boy some loving from us!
Posted by: Audrey | May 30, 2007 at 08:47 PM
Thanks for the comments everyone and Audrey thank you for the garden report. I'm so glad that our home is yours. As for the ball we found it again at every stop so we could continue to play "into the abyss" and Elias never stopped giggling at the game. We sometimes said we couldnt find it when in fact we hid it up front just for a break from playing.
Elias now says "gas" the same way he says bus or preschool, so excited, because it means wiggle time outside...gas, gas!!!! Its pretty darn cute.
Today we do not need to drive, just primp for a rehearsal dinner, with Nick as best man, a far cry from showerless camping days where all my packed clothes seemd silly since I didnt mind wearing the same dirty things day in and out. A little bitt of culture shock but we'll clean up good.
Its great to be with family and to be still for a bit.
When I figure out the computer transfer thing--you know me with technology-- or make myself leave the comfy house for an internet cafe, I'll post pictures from the trip down.
Posted by: Christy | May 31, 2007 at 06:11 AM
can't wait to see the pictures...you've actually made me want to go camping with O, which is probably a sign that i'm light-headed and unwell. :) but yeh, i want to try it.
the switch to wedding mode must indeed be culture shock...enjoy!
looking forward to hearing more about the adventure, all around.
Posted by: Bon | May 31, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Hi Christy and Nick and Elias,
I was so glad to read your "journaling". I love hearing about his language and play. What a good traveling partner he is, and how fortunate for all three of you to have this time together.
Enjoy the moments and the days,
mae ann
Posted by: mae ann | June 02, 2007 at 12:04 PM
You drove right by my exit! (Near Tacoma!) Everett is five miles from my hometown . . .
Wave when you come back by this way!
Posted by: Mel | June 02, 2007 at 07:49 PM