8000 miles of Summer

This week marks the last week of our epic 6-week road trip.

5500 miles “there,” 2300 miles home (+around town each place…) basically over 8000 miles.

8000 miles!

That’s crazy.

Here’s where we went:

South Jersey–left June 3
Wheeling, WV
Rolla, MO
Derby, KS
Norman, OK
Flagstaff, AZ
Queen Creek/Phoenix, AZ
Irvine, CA
Rocklin, CA
Hillsboro, CA
Vancouver, WA
Sequim, WA
Cle Ellum, WA
Meridian, ID
South Jordan/Provo, UT
Laramie, WY
Lansing, KS
Wheeling, WV
July 12– HOME!

Because google only lets me have 1o steps, here’s the bulk of the trip…

and then home!

I stayed with friends and family along the way, only once stayed in a hotel.
We’ve slept on floors, beds, sleeping bags and blankets.

• 4 urgent care visits
• 72+ new playmates
• 18 states
• Baby turned 3
• Ate way too much chocolate
• Stayed chill and relaxed
• Attended crazy parades
• Didn’t lose any children over the Grand Canyon

I was nervous how it would go.
But honestly it was the best thing ever.
I got to visit with so many dear old friends.

Sitting one-on-one on the couch with my friends late into the night kids-free?
Best. Thing. Ever.
I adore connection with dear friends, old and new.
It makes me feel alive and REAL.

And I had ice cream. Lots of ice cream.
Norman, OK – Rusty’s Union Boss chocolate frozen custard– chocolate with reese’s pieces, reese’s cups, and hot fudge sauce in a well in the middle.
Provo, UT – Earnestly Chocolate– caramel centered chocolates in chocolate creamy ice cream, with ribbons of caramel and marshmallow.

See a trend?
I like chocolate just a little bit.

Some friends I hadn’t seen in 7 years, some in 10, some in 20.
I loved picking up like no time had passed.
New friends are fun, but when you have history and shared memories? It’s so sweet to reconnect again.

I had aspirations to sketch and draw while on this trip.
Did that happen?
Nope.

But creating memories and renewing friendships IS still creating, even if there isn’t something physical to show for it.

Oh wait! I did!!
I made a stack of rocks along a stream in eastern Washington!
Well, I re-made one I accidentally tipped over, pretending I’d made them myself.
But I DID remake it, so it counts, right?

Create.
In whatever form.
It will light you up.

What are YOU creating this week?

🙂 amber

ps. besides eating copious amounts of chocolate ice cream, one of my main goals was to photograph my daughter with Aspen trees, her name origin.

p.p.s. Uploading photos is hard during this home trek, so I’ll have to share next time!!