The Sweet Martha: 2017

I regretted not writing about my trip with Jane, Katie and Daniel to Europe last year so I took the time on my flight home to write about the cross country trip Daniel and I just completed. It's long because I will forget some things and want to have a record so feel free to just scroll through the pictures :)

Leaving the house felt like I was going to Cle Elum as I was confident we would have a great time despite the 3,700 miles that lie ahead of us. We had help to make it a great trip.

MaryKate packed a bag full of snacks which lasted the entire trip. We kept that bag in arms reach for convenient snacking. She also bought Daniel Al Franken's book, "Al Franken, Giant of the Senate." Daniel and I have a shared love of politics and we enjoy agreeing and disagreeing with each other. While still in Seattle we discussed the mayor's race and concluded that Durkan had it locked down.

Our first stop was Cle Elum. We gained several key possessions at this stop (a new computer briefcase for Daniel, a notebook for me to keep track of my lectures on US History, and pens and pencils). But our favorite item was a stuffed bear grandma sent with us. After consulting Natalie for a name (Natalie has a talent for this), we named him Walter.

Walter heading to Idaho

The first leg of our journey seemed to fly by. We even made it further than we originally planned and stayed the night in Billings. Billings is unremarkable and Sarah's choice of least favorite town in which to live given the choice.

First night in Billings

The next day we drove through eastern Montana and stopped in Gillette, Wyoming for lunch. At the Subway, I commented to the teenaged chatty sandwich artist that Gillette was a delightful little town to which he replied, "Yeah it's a cool little town, but there is nothing to do! Too many cops to have any fun." He eventually said there was good hiking and fishing but we could tell he was itching to break free of his little hometown.

Gillette, Wyoming

Next we headed for the Black Hills of South Dakota. I told Daniel that I wanted to see the progress made on a developing monument close to Mount Rushmore called Crazy Horse. We paid the $11/person entrance fee mainly because the parking attendant was from Bothell and she said the money went to good causes. Apparently little of the money went to carving the likeness of Crazy Horse as it didn't look like much had changed since the first time I visited 10 years ago. But they did have a huge visitor center so we got to use nice bathrooms. Despite the size of the museum, we didn't see much history of Crazy Horse. All I can remember is that he had two wives and got shot in the face for it. I'm sure there is more to his legacy.

Crazy Horse Monument

On to Mount Rushmore where we got great views of Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln, and FDR. Daniel and I debated about who should be added to the monument if there was room for one modern president. We both agreed on Hillary Clinton.

Walter and the Presidents

Driving into Rapid City, we were constantly buzzed by motorcycles. I figured out that the famous Sturgis biker rally was held that week so we saw hundreds of bikers during that part of the trip. We also got to visit a presidential museum (one of many historical sites I drug Daniel to so I could gather info for my new history class). During several of these visits to museums, we encountered tour guides who relished the opportunity to talk to us. Daniel was a champ as I snapped pictures and video of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Walter on the Wild Side in Rapid City, South Dakota

These are wax figures; not the actual people

Since we spent so much time at monuments, our next day we just made it to Mitchell, South Dakota which was Daniel's choice for least favorite town to live. We did see the Corn Palace and stumbled upon a prehistoric Indian museum where resident archaeologist, and possible video game player, Noah toured us through an ancient unearthed city.

Mitchell, South Dakota

Primitive Indian Archaeological Site. And Noah.

We left the next day hoping to make it to Columbia, Missouri. As luck would have it, we passed by Kansas City right at the time a baseball game was starting. We looked up the game and since Royal stadium is right off the freeway, we decided to stop and see the game. I'd never been to a stadium or sporting event outside of Washington and Oregon so it was pretty exciting especially since the Royals were playing their cross state rivals the St. Louis Cardinals. We purchased standing room only tickets and Daniel deftly led me to a section he felt comfortable that we could sit in without raising attention. It was a beautiful night with a full moon on the background. Chants of Go Cardinals! competed equally with Let's Go Royals. The Cardinals won handily 11-2, and we even got to see a grand slam. We happened to be surrounded by young people who primarily were at the game to drink. In back of us, Daniel overheard five young women say, "Let's do shots" and to our right, three clearly inebriated young men say next to Daniel. They asked how old he was for some odd reason. After Daniel said he was from Seattle, the guy closest to him said, "Where are you from?" They lasted 3 innings.

Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals: Kansas City, Missouri

We left during the ninth hoping to beat the crowds so we could make it to Columbia. Daniel, as he did throughout the trip, did a great job of getting us safely to our next destination. My only concern with Daniel is his penchant for running the car to the fumes level. It was in South Dakota, I believe where we had to backtrack because we didn't have enough gas to make it to the next gas station. Luckily we still had 7 miles left in the tank!

Daniel living on the edge.

Our next big stop was St. Louis. The park around Gateway Arch is lovely with grassy paths and fountains. In order to get up to the top of the arch, you need to enter a tiny car compartment which holds about 4 adults. They work like a chain necklace to pull everyone to the top. There you can look out on the entire city. I wasn't a fan of the height especially since you could feel it swaying at times. Daniel, loved looking out. So did Walter.

Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO

Portal to the car which takes you to the top

Daniel chats with two newlyweds from Nebraska

630 feet up!

In Columbia, Mississippi, we visited the state Capitol. A nice elderly tour guide was reading Bill O'Reilly's latest book told us that Robin Williams's grandfather was a congressman there. We then wandered the mostly empty Capitol and happened to catch a member of the house talking with two Floridians. He eagerly waved us in and spent 20 minutes talking about his accomplishments and philosophy of government. Despite being a conservative Republican, I admired his approach of looking at issues rather than subscribing to party dogma which he told us got him out in the doghouse when he didn't vote his caucus. I asked him if moderates were on the rise or fringe elements, and he sadly admitted fringe candidates were gaining. But Daniel is going to change all that when he works for the Florida government.

Columbia, Missouri - State Capitol

Our next stop was one we both anticipated more than any other because neither one of us had visited: New Orleans or Nawlins as they call it. We arrived at night and walked around the city (still incredibly warm, maybe 80 degrees?) and enjoyed a delicious dinner on a balcony overlooking Bourbon street. We saw street performers and musicians and the most bars per block that I've ever seen. The streets had an odor of urine and mustiness but overall, it was a charming setting which we both would visit again.

Bourbon Street

Walking in the French Quarter - New Orleans, Lousiana

Walter getting in the spirit and enjoying some crawfish sauce on crab cakes.

Fans of America's Got Talent might recognize this street performer we saw. Apparently he did this trick on that show.

On the road the next day we started listening to Devil in the White City, a non-fiction book about the Chicago's World Fair and a serial killer who was on the loose at the time. That book lasted almost to Tallahassee. We had a nice mixture of talk, music, us history lectures and books on tape. Daniel is so fun and easy to be around that the time just flew by. I guess it also flew by because I took multiple day naps.

Arriving in Tallahassee was equally exciting as New Orleans. Daniel had been hired for this job in may and was finally able to see what the town and his possible new home would look like.

View of Tallahassee from the hotel

I made Daniel stay in a hotel after seeing the cabin, and I think it was the right choice. Just behind the hotel was a nondescript little restaurant which had some fun live music I think grandpa would have loved to hear. Food was delicious and plentiful. Music at Bird's Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack:

We spent the next day cleaning the bathroom and getting the loft to a habitable state. The setting for this crew team is pretty idyllic with a wooden entry leading to a peaceful lake. When Daniel asked one of his rowers he met with how close do alligators get to shore, she looked at him with disbelief and said, "Really? No! They're out in the middle of the lake!" He then asked what happens if a team flips a boat. She replied, "Well, we've done that but we just don't stay in the water that long." At which point I'm sure Daniel nervously laughed. Daniel braved cockroaches, large spiders, geckos, alligators and snakes sleeping his first night by himself in the cabin.

Rowing "Cabin"

Team meeting area

Rowing machines on the deck of the "cabin"

The "Kitchen"

The "Bathroom"

The loft "Bedroom"

Short tour of the land around the cabin. Both Daniel and I fixated on the ground in order to check for snakes.

View from the dock.

Our last leg was making it all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. We managed to get to the beach just before a torrential downpour. We still got soaked, but since it was 86 degrees, it was actually a pleasant break.

Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville, Florida

The task ahead of him is great (getting equipment ready, organizing a team, getting a place to live situated all while learning a new culture and part of the county) but he is up for the task. As he told me, "failure is not an option." I am so proud of him for embracing a new challenge and striking out on his own.