2005 Washington

April 14, 2005

To the Caring, the Concerned and the Curious,

I’m here! I am back on US soil. I drove through US Customs last night around 8:30 pm after being interrogated and then, with a smile, welcomed back into the good ole USA.

I am in Blaine, WA visiting friends and at the moment (while writing this letter) I am laying on a sea of green, basking in the sun and listening to a cacophony of bird song. The birds are going crazy here. Everything is green and flowering and the air is warm. I grabbed Crystal’s bike today, since mine is disassembled in the back of my car, and toured Drayton Harbor, the Marina and downtown Blaine. It felt good to move after sitting on my hinder for four days. Blaine is a quiet little town and is a fantastic place to relax for a couple days after a trip down the Alcan Hwy.

For those of you who I did not inform about the change in my plans, I am currently on my way to California. I decided to throw my tent, my bathing suit, some books and my bike in the back of my car, bypass Anchorage for a time and head toward the suntan state. I thought an adventure would do me good before I settle down into routine again.

Saying goodbye to everyone was bittersweet. Your love and hugs and well wishes were touching and my granddaughter’s farewell went straight to my heart. When I pulled up to the house to say goodbye to the grandbabies, Riss ran to the door to meet me. When I picked her up, she grabbed me in a choke hold, pressed her cheek to mine and exclaimed, “I go with you grama.” We had fun playing and laughing during my visit. When I readied to leave, Rissa dove for my ankle, grabbed hold and as I laughed and drug her across the floor a couple steps, she looked up at me with a smile on her cherub face and declared, “I go with you grama.” (I personally think that ankle diving should be a frequent occurrence in everyone’s life. Alright, I confess, it might look a little peculiar if adults start diving for ankles, but it sure feels good when someone you love grabs hold.) Well, I picked Rissa up and gave her a kiss and when I set her back down, she ran to the window and smiled and waved as I drove off. I so wanted to swoop that girl up and say, “Come on Rissa-Roo, let’s go see Mickey Mouse.” If only we’d stay that open and vulnerable as the years progress.

The enthusiasm I was met with by those I’ll visit during my travels down the west coast was also heart warming, especially my daughter’s, who when I told her my intent, screamed with excitement. I too screamed in response - before realizing I was in a restaurant with friends. Oops!

The drive through Alaska and Canada was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the solitary miles. The road was like an old friend whose company I’ve missed and I did not want to leave. Sunday morning was my first official day on the road, I left my sunny spot on the Copper River and drove off into the grey. By days end I’d driven over 650 miles to Teslin, Canada. As I said, it felt good to be on the road. Besides, everything was white and frozen and cold, so conditions were not especially conducive to stopping to smell the roses or campfire smoke.

When I reached Teslin, everything was closed. I stopped at a motel whose sign said, “Open.” But when I knocked, no one answered. I had no alternative but to sleep in the car. I pulled off the road and parked in a quiet area, threw the back seat’s contents into the front and crawled under the covers for a cramped but sound nights sleep. When I peeked my head out from under the covers the next morning, ice cold air bit me in the face. I quickly turned the ignition over, hid back under the covers and waited for a bit of warmth to greet me good morning.

I spent my second night in Fort Nelson and my third in Prince George where I grabbed a room and took a very, very, very long, hot shower. I drove in every imaginable weather condition possible and my Subaru and I did beautifully. My travels have been great thus far and I am looking forward to more of the same.

I will email another letter when I reach my destination in California. I am not exactly sure when this will be. I have a weekend rendezvous in Seattle planned, a hot tub, a bottle of wine and a gab session waiting in Portland where I plan to stay for at least a week or two and I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich awaiting me in Roseburg. I do so hope there is a glass of milk to go with the PB & J, Aunt Jan, And yes, I recall our conversation on the topic of “expectations” lol. I then plan to travel the coastline down to Southern Cali.

For those of you I’ll bypass taking the coastal route, when I reach Lancaster, I’ll pick up my sweetie girl and head back north for a visit. So, I’ll see you soon. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to dip my toe in the Pacific.

I hope all of you are doing wonderfully. I send you my love
Until then,

Nannette