We’ve always loved a good road trip and yet it’s been close to ten
years now since we’ve taken one. The fallout from several major car
accidents hindered any such pursuits for nearly a decade. But after much physical and mental self-care the time has come to again get out on
the open road.
This trip will be around 5,000 miles (8,047 km), from Seattle to Indiana and back with a two day layover in Denver and an impromptu detour through Yellowstone National Park. The purpose of the trip was to help the in-laws move and to transport back some old family furniture. So we decided to turn it into a vacation and visit with family and friends along the way.
This will be the first road trip since having cats in my
life. Being away from the cats is never easy. In this case I’ll be away from
them for nearly two weeks. It helps knowing they are being looked after by our
trusted cat sitter and yet being away is still brutally hard.
The kitty spy cams help me keep and eye on them from afar. I
like being able to see them to see with my eyes that they are ok, and yet
seeing them and not being able to be with them feels a bit like torture!
Don't leave without me!
We ran into a very unexpected snow storm in the mountains of Montana. A winter storm warning was in effect with 12-24 inches (30.5-61 cm) of new snow expected there! We drove into the early morning hours just to get out of the snow, ugh!
The open road of Montana
roadside scenery
Took a break from the car at Theodore Roosevelt National Park scenic overlook.
And scenic it was!
Beautiful country.
The only stop on the trip East was to visit the Leinenkugel Brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
yum! free samples!
Eventually, we arrived at our destination the in-law's home in rural Indiana, which was also Theo's homeland! There were no signs of Theo's family anywhere, and I looked all over town. By now, four days into the trip, I was having significant kitty withdrawals. Finally, I saw my first cat at a great distance.
Neighbor's cat marking the in-law's property
It took a week before I got my first real kitty fix. Dear friends in Colorado have a sweet cat, Marble, who I took every opportunity to love on. Marble is in need of a new home, as he is terrified of the energetic dogs who also occupy the home. I suggested they find new homes for the three dogs and keep the sweet kitty, but they said that wasn't an option. Anyone in the Denver area looking for a sweet affectionate kitty? This guy needs a new home!
Marble - take me home?
Walking with friends on a trail near their home
Sunset as experienced on the walk
Day nine of the trip, I get a nice kitty fix as the friends we are staying with have two wonderful kitties and one dog.
Alice, mischievous and curious
Tigger, sweet and lovey
So far the biggest negative about this road trip is seeing significant quantities of roadkill along the highways. I estimate I have seen over 100 dead deer and countless numbers of other smaller mammals. My heart really broke when I saw a dead ginger kitty laying on the side of the street in front of a house in rural Indiana. Seeing all those dead animals makes me never want to drive again. Thankfully, we have not hit any animals ourselves thus far and I pray that doesn't ever happen.
Soon I'll be back home and reunited with my own kitties, which I am very excited about! Two weeks away from the kitties is just too long. Watching the cats from the two kitty cams has been helpful to ease my worry, although the back porch feral-cam has revealed a great mystery, which I am eager to learn more about when I return. I'll tell you more about that mystery tomorrow.
