I think everyone should drive across the country at least once in their life. We have driven all over the western half of the United States, and hit several east coast states via plane. Then one day earlier this year, as we walked through a record 2 feet of snow outside our house, we decided to take a huge leap of faith and move to the east coast. After selling the house we started the drive east with our cat, Jabba. It’s 3300 miles from Bremerton, WA to Alexandria, VA in case you were wondering. We took seven days to drive, so we could visit friends and family along the way.

We have now been to 29 of the 50 states. Every state is amazing in it’s own way. Driving across the country you get to see the beauty of this country and gain a new appreciation for it.

In the past couple years, we have really traveled a lot. We drove to Texas, flew to Alaska, driven the route from Seattle to San Diego so many times we could now do it with our eyes closed. And now we have driven all the way east.

I had no idea that Iowa was so beautifully green or that it had some of the most amazing pizza I have ever eaten. I didn’t expect New Mexico to have some of the most beautiful and colorful scenery I have ever seen (going back is on our bucket list). Of course, Alaska is jaw dropping beautiful and makes Texas seem small. And there is something very special about seeing the Rockies and knowing you’re at the Continetal Divide. Last year we spent a week in Portsmouth, NH and I was amazed at all the green trees and plants and it had amazing food! Texas is BIG… it goes on and on and on when you are driving thru it. Leaving Texas one morning (ok, 3 am – is that morning or night?) we drove along the highway and with no other cars around, all we could see is eyeballs staring at us. They were deer, grazing along the highway for miles and miles and miles, and we waited to see how many of them would jump out in front of our little RAV 4. We got lucky, they were busy eating and never crossed the road in front of us. Nebraska is is big too. Or maybe it just seems that way because the scenery doesn’t really change. But as we drove thru I realized that Nebraska has a peaceful feeling to it. And we saw what was left of massive flooding they had this past spring. We have seen so much of the devastation that has happened in the past couple years. Drove thru San Francisco and Northern California while it was flooding (watching rivers overflowing and raging so fast they swallow trees is not a sight you will ever forget), drove thru areas with flash flood warnings, detoured to avoid the Delta fire that closed I-5, which took us thru the remains of the Carr fire. It is so much worse in person. Seeing what used to be homes, with only the chimney standing and a burned out car where a garage had been. We saw one home with nothing but the BBQ left. Driving home that trip we were on the outside of the Camp fire. Stopping for gas, my eyes burned so bad I could hardly see in the minute it took to run from the car inside the station. On our drive to Texas we were always out-running storms. We missed seeing the Grand Canyon because of a horrible snow storm that closed everything. We also were at Crater Lake when they had all their fires, so many of the roads were closed we had to drive detours.

We have seen so much and more in our recent travels. Made me realize we really need to preserve everything we can, value what we have and not take for granted the gifts and beauty this country offers. Go see as much as you can and enjoy every day!

We were both born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. But love to travel and have done so a lot. When this job opportunity to Washington DC came up, it took about 30 seconds of discussion to decide we couldn’t turn down the experience. Our goal and hope is to still get to Europe, but seeing so much of our own Country’s history is just as exciting. As we drive thru the Cascades on our drive east, I look at our beautiful state with different eyes, and it really makes me realize how lucky we are to have grown up here.

In February 2019, in 2 feet of snow, we took lots of walks and had lots of talks about how we could take advantage of oppurtunities that were out there. That was when we decided it was time to sell the house so we wouldn’t be tied to it if we got the chance to “go”. Not to long after we made that decision a job offer came in…. one thing after another…. everything started to fall into place.

The house sold in 3 days for a full price offer. We downsized, sold most everything and packed Jabba in the car. It wasn’t without a lot of stress, but so far it is all working out. And NO, we don’t have a place to live. Driving across the country and winging it.

It seems any time we head South, it floods or burns. This trip is poving to be no diferent. But, we have never seen lake Shasta full before. At one point it rained so hard that California traffic slowed from 80 to 30 mph. We could hardly see the end of nose of our car. We came across a jack-knifed Amazon Prime truck in the weather, so if you have a late package… we know where it’s at.

We drove thru the remains of the Delta fire that closed I-5 last September when we drove down. Navigating around that fire was a little frightening. Clean up was still going on.

We drove to Burbank, where the boys flew in for a couple days. This was a last minute Disneyland trip before our move. We had a great time with them. We ate at Tortilla Joes, Naples, rode all our favorite rides and got Jack Jack Nom Nom cookies. Love that our kids are so much fun!! After the boys flew home, Lee and I spent a few more days. One day we got a great thunder and lightening storm.

On our drive home, another long section of I-5 was closed. Not exactly sure what was going on. We just assumed the travel Gods said “oh, the Young’s are coming”.

It has been 13 years since we have been to North Pole to see my family. When you put a lot of Irish cousins into a small room, we give new meaning to the term chaos! I forgot how much I love hanging out with them. Lots of catching up, re-living our wood stacking lessons as kids, eating, drinking and sitting by a fire. Because an Austin ALWAYS has a fire. We got to meet all the young Austin cousins and they were all absolutely adorable. Little Miss Jordyn made me a beautiful card. The best part was spending several hours just visiting with my Uncle Gene. He talked about his trucking runs (yes, at 83 he is still trucking across Alaska), he told us lots of stories, and told us of how he met his beautiful bride of almost 60 years. I could listen to all of my uncles tell stories all day long. Also got to sit and talk with my aunt and listen to her laugh.

While we were up there it snowed the first couple of days . We toured the Museum of the North that cousin PJ helped build at U of A and drove around the campus. It’s a beautiful building and campus. And we never take a trip without seeing places unintentionally. This was no different. Siri took us on the very scenic route to the The Trans Alaska Pipeline.But it was Alaska, so it was beautiful. On the way back to the hotel we stopped by Alaskaland, which was open, but nothing inside was open, so a brief walk around at 29 degrees outside, we decided it was time to go warm up.

The Next day we drove up to Chena Hot Springs Resort and saw the Aurora Ice Museum. Touring that made outside seem like tropical weather. It was a nice 20 degrees inside and everything is carved out of ice. They do have 4 small rooms you can rent, to the tune of $600 a night. But the beds and everything are made out of ice. At the end of the tour you get one of their famous apple martini’s served in a hand carved ice martini glass. Once you finish your drink, you are supposed to go outside with your glass, make a wish and throw in on the ground. The resort was a beautiful place, you can sit in the hot springs, view the Northern Lights, take flight tours, ice fishing tours, ATV tours, see the sled dogs and more. And rent rooms that aren’t quite so cold.

We loved our visit and catching up. It’s definately a beautiful state.