Home at Last

From Tucson, we made pretty much a bee-line for home, stopping overnight only in northern San Diego and in southern Los Angeles, homes of our daughter Laurie and son Tanner, respectively.

We camped for 2 nights at San Elijo State Beach (San Diego County), a favorite location on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  From the rear window of the Casita, we could watch the western sky and listen to rhythmic ocean waves all night long.  One evening Laurie, Scott, 8-year-old Landon, and 5-year-old Owen joined us just before sunset to explore tide pools during an exceptionally low tide.  That adventure was followed by a picnic cook-out and toasted marshmallows.

The next evening was shared with Tanner, 6-year-old Grace, her mother, grandfather, and other family friends.  We all enjoyed home-made chicken pot pies, pumpkin pies, abundant wine, and good conversation.  Our drive home the next day was long but uneventful.

We finally arrived home in Royal Oaks about 6pm on Tuesday, November 29, exactly 5 months after our departure.  We were warmly greeted by daughter Cheryl, her husband Jason, and our 4-year-old granddaughter Ava, all of whom have been living in our house during our absence.  Without their expert management of our home affairs, including care and feeding of 3 cats, our extended absence would not have been practical.  We are grateful for their service, and look forward to living together under one roof for the foreseeable future.

Our camping odyssey took us through 36 states, as well as 3 provinces of Canada and several regions of England and Scotland.  We drove a total of 16,245 miles (not counting our car rental in the UK).  Fulfilling the original purpose of this trip, we were able to visit 25 of our 32 first cousins, as well as our brothers, sister, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and a large number of other relatives by blood or marriage.  We also saw well over 100 other friends along the way, sharing memories and renewing relationships.

Straight lines connect overnight stops; dashed lines are airline flights

People often asked us "What was your favorite aspect of the trip?" or "your favorite destination?" or "most memorable event?"  All of these well-meaning questions are impossible to answer in a simple way.  So many vistas and event-stones and encounters occurred along the way that they now rest together in interconnected layers within our memories.  Our lives have been enriched in many ways, our eyes opened, our minds challenged, our bodies still strong, our spirits renewed.  And yes, after 5 months of togetherness, Dave and Jane are more in love than ever before.