A Journey Cross Country.......a journey through the senses

I want to apologize for the delay in updates on this wonderful journey, due to internet connections through the United States I was unable to continue with the blog. The journey has just brought me home, I will share the rest of the trip with you now.

Since the journey was about delivering goods across country for my friend the next few days involved unloading and reloading the truck, we had some down time, time to relax knowing that we didn't have to be on the road for 10 hours. Like I have said I have acquired a great deal of respect for truck drivers, I have seen the impossible places that companies expect them to get this huge rig into. In Seattle we arrived at a drop off spot that was on a dead end very narrow street with cars parked on one side. I said to myself, this just isn't going to work, but it did. I saw this time and time again, and was amazed each time, mind you I did need to breath through the tense and foul language........all part of the job I suppose.

After picking up a load in Seattle destined for Hamilton Ontario, we headed back into the mountains of Washington State. We were supposed to have 36 hours off, but time just didn't allow for this. We drove half a day into Post Falls and spent a relaxing evening reading. While the Canadian Side of the Rockies are rugged and majestic, the American side is more gentle and beautiful. I was glad to be back out in the nature and out of the cities, Since we were off the road earlier I took to taking walks as often as possible. I was also glad to see the West Coast rains behind us.

I have mentioned that I was going through some emotions, which seemed to subside after taking these walks and being back in nature. Getting more rest was likely a big part of the release as well. As each day passed I would use my walk time to let it all out, or spend time journalling for release. It's not easy spending that much time in cramped quarters even if the scenery is amazing.

I had never been to Montana, and Mike chose this route home, I thank my angels for this. It is hard to imagine the way the landscapes change throughout the days as you drive. Once in Montana I could smell the scent of evergreens permeating the truck. I couldn't stop taking long slow breaths. Because we didn't get the 36 hour break we were able to take our time for the first day, which was a blessing. We had started off a little later than usual on this particular day, and stopped after a few hours at a rest stop. I had about 20 minutes to go off and do some discovering while Mike freshened up inside. I headed straight for the woods. I found a small mountain creek and felt like a kid playing in the water and listening to the sound of the water rushing. When I went back to the truck I asked Mike if he would take a picture of me on the rocks by the river. I lead him back into the woods, he pointed to a rock just off the bank of the river, but I pointed to one in the middle, he agreed, so in I went, it was invigoratingly cold, but only ankle deep. With the pictures taken, and laughs shared about me almost falling from the slippery rocks we were back on the road. I don't think I felt those emotions after that come to think of it. Montana is so beautiful with rolling hills and winding rivers and streams, acres of horse farms, interesting little towns, and the sweet smell of evergreens.

When we were approaching Butte Montana I could see something white on top of the mountain miles off in the distance. As we got closer I realized it was a statue. As it turns out it is a 90 foot statue of Mother Mary, a man had made a promise to build a statue of her if his wife recovered from an illness. When she recovered he started to build the statue, it turned out to become a community project, involving the national guard airlifting the 3 separate parts into place. This statue is second in height only to the Statue of Liberty. She is a beautiful site, and you can find information on it, Our Lady of the Rockies....google it. I was able to enjoy the sun setting behind the mountains again that evening, such a beautiful site.

The following day was back to business, long hours and many miles to travel. The mountains of Montana changed into what you would see in an old western movie with John Wayne, which again gave us lots to talk about, bringing back memories of childhood days. I was sad to see Montana slip away into the rear mirrors as we entered into North Dakoda.

The terrain changed again into what is called the bad lands, miles and miles of rock, uninhabitated land. This is actually the beginning of the end of the mountain ranges. There were still many beautiful sites to see, but a new sense that the trip was soon to be over. We travelled over 1000 kms that day, we still had over 2500 to go and 3 days to do it. That meant if the truck stopped it was either to eat sleep, or relieve the bladder. There was one other time when I had a few moments to explore, when Mike needed a nap, I made the most of these times along the way. Even if it simply meant sitting on a rock in the sun.

I was exhausted that night and fell quickly off to sleep, we would have another early start in the morning. Minnesota was the next state, which again has it's own beauty of 1000's of inland lakes. Next up, Wisconsin, with rolling hills and beautiful fall colors every where you looked. We had a pit stop in Black Water Falls for lunch. I found a bin of tumbled stones I could purchase by the bag full............oh the small treasures of life, of course I was in my glory, and Mike was laughing at me. Onward into Illinois, which is really rather boring in the upper part, not much to see. We took the toll road around Chicago, for obvious reason. The sky was starting to get dark and nasty looking, but with it came bits and pieces of rainbows, that eventually turned into a beautiful double rainbow over Chicago. Who could ask for anything better.

The pressure was on and we had to keep rolling, still 2 more states to get through that day, Indiana was next, but not for long, a short hour through here and we were into Michigan. By this time the rain was coming down hard and Mike still wanted to get another couple of hours in. This part of the drive was not only anti climatic, it was long and tiring for both of us. After reading for a while it was bed time, only to start off early again the next morning. This was the night it happened, yes, I woke up and really had to go, what a pain, to get dressed, go out in the cold and run across the parking lot to go, oh the joys of being a woman.

Next morning was not quit as rushed and allowed for an early morning shower, only had to put in 500 kms today, which was a relief. Mike likes to stay ahead of the game in case anything happens to slow him down. We crossed the boarder in Sarnia Ontario, which ironically is only an hour from home, but we were still hours from our delivery site which was the next morning. We spend the night in London, deciding to have an early night, a half decent meal, and drive the other hour and a half in the morning. I could start to feel it, the end was near, to near for my liking, I didn't want it to end, this had been a dream trip for me, and I was waking up. You know the feeling when you are in a good dream and you wake up, you keep trying to go back to sleep so you can go back to the dream. That's how I felt.

This morning we drove into Hamilton,dropped off the load, drove to the trucking company, cleaned out the truck, and headed back home. We spent the hour talking about the trip, the adventures of getting to know someone on a different level, and laughing at the bumps in the road. I kept telling myself, all good things end so that more good can come into our lives. I truly believe this. My email was going crazy with all the Happy Birthday wished coming in from all my friends on facebook. I was so grateful for this and completely humbled, with all the messages. The present had already been opened it had been being unfolding before my eyes for the past two weeks. Although the trip is over, I have over 250 pictures and 100's of memories to remind me of the journey.

I can't thank my friend Mike enough for this opportunity to see the country, for being such an awesome tour guide, a good friend, a gentlemen, and a kid at heart. I will always remember the joys we shared. A favorite quote of mine comes to mind right now, some people come into your life for a reason, some for a season, and others for a life time. We literally watched the seasons change in so many ways.

It has been a pleasure sharing this journey with you here on Soul's Journey, thank you for all the comments, thank you for being here to share. Now I can enjoy the comforts of home once again.