Day Nine- The Final Approach

I have never before cried upon arriving at our new home base, but I sure did this time.  Tears of relief and thanksgiving.  What a journey.  What an adventure!

Day Eight- Tackling Siskiyou Summit

This was my most dreaded day.  I had googled and read far too much about the mountain pass ahead of us.  My imagination can tend to run wild, and wild it ran.

Here was the sign, marking my end~ my decent, off the side of the mountain, plunging to my slow, painful, and untimely death...

My husband bought a labyrinth game for me on his iPad, Guys loaned me her mp3 player, Pops lent me his dirty t-shirt to put over the brim of my cowboy hat and I didn't plunge over the side of the mountain!  Thank you my sweet family, for humoring me.  And not taking my picture with a dirty shirt on my head.

We made it safe, and spent the evening relaxing and catching up with friends in Oregon.  It was a wonderful end to a not so bad day.

Day Seven California -The Grapevine

Putting SoCal behind us-

Rain, steep downgrades, four lanes of crazy drivers =

but then there was a reminder for me

He is always in control!

Southern California- Good Times

 Rush hour traffic is no longer my thing...

Times with Great Grandma however, we love that!

Southern California- The Aquarium

Guys' Aquarium Guide proved so useful, though she loves science so much, she had practically every fact memorized.

Southern California- Flying with Grandpa

I always thought I would be nervous in one of those little planes, but I had a wonderful time.  I guess Mr. Pilot is rubbing off on me a little bit!  And the kids all had a blast, they would do it every day if we could.  Well, Bucket slept through her entire flight, but I think that means it was good.

Day Six, California!

Gotta love California!

gas prices rose by a dollar a gallon in a matter of a mile!!!

Palm trees, and mountains!

yup, it is still there!

and we made it, anxious for a few days respite.  The salty air of Seal Beach and the warm grass was refreshing.

So we headed to our favorite West Coast Restaurant

For giant portions of Claim Jumper YUM

and Grandpa met us there.