Day 18

 As has been suggested, no, this is not my house, just a really cool shack and thought good picture, i even had to turn around and go back to get it..

We are back, Rylie is back with her parents and really happy to be away from aunt Loree i think, but we did have a good time, saw lots. drove alot, spent more than a person should, but things are really expensive... saw gas at $3.15 in Pleasant Hill, Iowa WalMart. (no, i had just gotten gas !!) no homeless people the whole way until i got back to oregon and saw a tent on the median of I-84 in Ontario and more trash than any other place alongside the roads of Oregon that any other state we went thru.  Don't rely solely on GPS or maps, whatever- on the phone, a good old paper  atlas is always good to have. and at times essential.. the phone is a good device, does alot but has no common sense.  But the phone was very handy in a 10 yr olds hand to find the nearest Starbucks and directions to hotels...

I saw my Iowa family and love them dearly, so sorry that we aren't nearer, or in the same place.. It would be the neatest thing ever if they were to relocate to Oregon... becuz i certainly can't move!!! It is too hot and sticky in Iowa.... it is the most awful thing to know they are growing and i can't see and be a part of or help with everyday 'things' that come up, my family is here and here i will stay and hopefully be able to stay in contact and visit now and then,  which seems lame and not enough. life does throw mud up and down the road traveled for sure... we can just scrape it off and carry on as best we can. wow, that does sound maudlin 

Got this picture near Twin Falls this morning.  We did NOT get to see the Falls as they don't open until 8am and we were well on the road by then.. AND no pioneer ruts either as i never saw any sign this time of Oregon Trail Ruts... so what we did is get Starbucks for the morning and drive, drive, drive.  When you are doing 80-90 on the freeway and then have to go back to 55-65 on the rural roads, it does seen to go alot slower,,, BUT there are curves and turns... AND there was some EVENT at the Clyde Holiday State Park out of John Day and we had to "hold it" until Dayville.. and that is the down side to not being on the interstate is there are not regular rest areas and you have to inventive.  Gas stations, grocery stores, behind old barns or houses :) city playgrounds/parks sometimes have rest rooms too. That rest room in Dayville, is really nice, clean, and everytime i have stopped there, someone has taken the time to put little vases of fresh flowers, they even have decorations and wallpaper, it is like your bathroom at home... almost....

Tons and bunches of THANKS and love to the people in Iowa, who took time to escort us about, entertain us and plan things that we could do each and every day, fix us meals and generally make us feel at home and welcome.  We both so much appreciate it and feel the welcome and love..

Take Care All and God Bless