Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, life becomes a roller coaster. You're buckled in and can't figure out how to get off or even see an end to the ups and downs. Our roller coaster has had both emotional and physical ups and downs lately.
After leaving Grand Junction, again, we stopped to say goodbye to our families. Seeing the love we were leaving behind was both reassuring and heart breaking for all of us. I know my Mom will be okay, but it's always hard to hug her goodbye.
James was given a tear filled, loving farewell from his entire family.
That was hard for all of us.
Thank you all for your prayers.
With or loved ones behind us, we started out, heads high and hearts full, to discover what the world would show us. Our first stop was the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. We arrived too late to spend time in the dunes but we were able to see them as we drove away in the morning.
On to New Mexico
and a life we hoped was awaiting us in Taos.
Well, Taos didn't work out. We met some incredible people and learned a lot about ourselves but found it just wasn't home. So, we did some soul searching, some talking, and a lot of crying, and decided we needed to go to the beach. (It doesn't sound like it should be a hard decision. I mean, it's the beach! But we had a lot of heartache over it.) It took almost all day, the day we decided to leave, to get our Molly running again. We should have known it would be the beginning of a series of troublesome days.
We made it to Gallup, NM the first night. We had hoped to stay at a rest stop for the night but the only one we passed was closed. We, instead, stayed at a Love's truck stop, in the parking lot. Thank goodness! The next morning, Molly wouldn't start. Not just not start, no sound when we turned the key. It took a while but we finally found someone to give us a jump. That didn't work. Still no sound... now what? A tow truck driver came to our aid! A Classy Towing, (I wish he had a web site. We would love to bring him more business!) helped us out! We needed a new starter. They brought James to the local auto store to get the part. He got it back in and we took off!
Yay! We're off to the beach! We drove from Gallup, NM to Flagstaff, AZ and it was HOT!!! I think most people, not from Arizona, think of this state as desert and it definitely has plenty of it. I just didn't realize how hot, dull, and dry it would be! Although, the bill boards made up for it. I never thought, "We have clean bathrooms!" would be such an advertising angle! LOL! Almost every sign for every business boasts about how CLEAN their bathrooms are, from gas stations to Indian jewelry stands! Don't get me wrong, there is something to be said for a "sparkling clean" bathroom, I just never knew it was such a big deal! I must admit, we did not have an opportunity to test the accuracy of those signs. :)
We, also, didn't realize how many hills are in Arizona! Somehow, in my mind, desert means flat. That is not the case, at all.
Poor Molly did not appreciate them though and she began to have some timing troubles, forcing us to stop early in Flagstaff. What an adorable town!!! Again, I was surprised by Arizona! There are forests there! Maybe I've just lived in Colorado to long, but I really never knew there was anything close to mountains and forests and massive RAIN storms. For some reason, I was under the impression everything was hot desert. (I must be babbling on about it, my husband is chuckling while reading over my shoulder...) Any who...
We stayed in a lovely RV park called Black Bart's. They didn't have wifi but they did have showers and a restaurant with a musical revue! We highly recommend them!!! Everyone was nice and helpful and the bathrooms... Sparkling Clean!!! LOL!
Molly was still having some troubles so, after stopping by another BK to eat and use wifi for a few minutes, we went to an auto parts store, hoping they would rent us a tool to check the timing. They didn't have one. James was able to replace a vacuum hose (?) though. By this time it was raining so hard we could hardly see out the window, (and we discovered Molly has a few leaks). The raindrops were so large the splash from each drop was at least 2 inches high!
On our way out of town and back to the highway, we passed a terrible wreck on the side of the road. A FedEx semi had come across from the other side and crashed into the hill on our side. The truck was completely totalled and the cargo trailer was on its side, spilling its parcels and mail all over the road.
We all said a silent prayer
everyone involved was doing okay.
There were many more accidents along our way through the mountains. Not surprising though with how much rain was coming down. The roads were slick, puddles were everywhere, and the wind was pushing against us hard. It was scary but better than the heat of the desert...
Sunsets, coming into California on the I-40, are gorgeous. That is the only acceptable word for them. They are even more gorgeous when your heart is happy and you know you'll see the coast soon... suddenly, they aren't so gorgeous.
Molly blew a tire. Ouch. Thank goodness for Officer Adair with the California State Police! He stopped to help us and even got us a deal with a road assistance company! Rueben, the driver, came to change the tire and got us going... again. :)
Roller coaster. Ups and downs. There have been lots and there will be more... James will finish our latest story so look for his post soon!
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