It's been a busy couple of days since we arrived in Seattle on Sunday night. We spent Monday and Tuesday visiting a whole bunch (~15??) of apartments and arranging appointments to see more. Yesterday we took a bit of a break-- we went to the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum at the Seattle Center (Dad's Father's Day gift from me) and then had lunch at Ivar's on the waterfront (my choice for a birthday lunch). We also visited the spectacular Central Library downtown and stopped by the Pike Place Market to pick up some fresh flowers. Then we headed to a birthday party hosted by friends. It was nice to have a day off from the hectic apartment hunting!
I found out today that I got the apartment I had applied for, and was very excited to sign the lease and officially have a place to live. Tomorrow morning we'll finish a bit more paperwork and pick up the keys, and I can move in! I am pleased with the place-- it is actually a 2-story townhouse, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, with a large deck and a bit of backyard. It's the Crown Hill neighborhood, so the location's great for any of the jobs I've applied to, and the surrounding area is very nice. It's a huge relief to have that part done!
Now to buy a bed and dining table and a couch and a desk... the list could go on forever!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
in Seattle
We made it! Actually, we arrived on Sunday at about 3:30 and have been here for awhile. The extended stay Studio 6 apartment is fine, and we have unpacked some of the car. Alison's friend Ingrid invited us over for soup last night, although I think we were not great dinner companions. Then we loaded up on a few supplies from the nearby grocery and turned in. Both of us slept better last night. The total mileage for the trip was just a bit under 3000 miles, but overall it went very smoothly.
Yesterday's route was pretty familiar to both of us, since we made the trip from Seattle to Missoula several times while living here. We drove across in a fairly steady rain, not hard, but consistent. And it was cold-- we were in our summer clothes and were not ready for temperatures in the 60s. At one rest stop, we saw woman walking around wrapped in her bath robe, so we were not the only ones unprepared.
We have a list of apartments to check out today, so it is time to get moving. It is great to be back in Mariners country, especially when they are in the middle of the pennant race.
Yesterday's route was pretty familiar to both of us, since we made the trip from Seattle to Missoula several times while living here. We drove across in a fairly steady rain, not hard, but consistent. And it was cold-- we were in our summer clothes and were not ready for temperatures in the 60s. At one rest stop, we saw woman walking around wrapped in her bath robe, so we were not the only ones unprepared.
We have a list of apartments to check out today, so it is time to get moving. It is great to be back in Mariners country, especially when they are in the middle of the pennant race.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
last day!
It is early morning in Missoula and we are getting prepared for the final day. From here to Seattle is about 500 miles, which should take us a bit more than 8 hours. It has been a very smooth, if very long, trip. Ask Alison to plan your next journey-- she did a remarkably thorough job of organizing this so far. Other than the lack of internet access at a couple of places-- the Motel 6 in Rapid City SD says they have internet access because you can get a signal from the hotel across the street-- we have had very few setbacks. Smokey has been great, the weather has been good, road construction has been minimal.
Yesterday was our longest day, more than 700 miles. Wyoming has a bleak beauty, with wide open spaces covered with sage and stony bluffs along the horizon. Montana has suprised me everytime I have traveled it because it is huge. There are a few more small rivers in southern Montana and a bit more water. The battle site along the Little Big Horn was a good stop. You could see how an army could come over the hill and see an encampment, only to be deceived about its size if it were behind another hill. We hit bands of thunderstorms along the road. The first one, on the long open space between Little Big Horn and Bozeman, had very high cross winds with things blowing across the road and limited visibility. That was a little scary but there was not much traffic so it was not too bad. The burnt out areas and the wildfire surronding Missoula were unexpected. Missoula is a beautiful western college town but right now, it is a fire zone. The large M landmark on the side of the hill over the town marking the University of Montana is barely visible through the haze.
Time to pack up and head out for the last leg. We have gotten really good at packing the car so we can move out quickly. After the stop at the Starbucks across the street.
Yesterday was our longest day, more than 700 miles. Wyoming has a bleak beauty, with wide open spaces covered with sage and stony bluffs along the horizon. Montana has suprised me everytime I have traveled it because it is huge. There are a few more small rivers in southern Montana and a bit more water. The battle site along the Little Big Horn was a good stop. You could see how an army could come over the hill and see an encampment, only to be deceived about its size if it were behind another hill. We hit bands of thunderstorms along the road. The first one, on the long open space between Little Big Horn and Bozeman, had very high cross winds with things blowing across the road and limited visibility. That was a little scary but there was not much traffic so it was not too bad. The burnt out areas and the wildfire surronding Missoula were unexpected. Missoula is a beautiful western college town but right now, it is a fire zone. The large M landmark on the side of the hill over the town marking the University of Montana is barely visible through the haze.
Time to pack up and head out for the last leg. We have gotten really good at packing the car so we can move out quickly. After the stop at the Starbucks across the street.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Greetings from Missoula, MT!
This evening we arrived in Missoula, after spending the day driving through Montana, Wyoming, and the rest of South Dakota. No new time zones today, although we did cross the Continental Divide. Some highlights from today's drive included more of the Black Hills; seeing antelope, prairie chickens, and a bald eagle; visiting the site of the Battle at Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand); a wild thunderstorm (in which the high winds pitched a tumbleweed against the van-- we felt like we were in a Roadrunner cartoon!); and roadside brush fires. In addition to seeing some small smoldering wildfires near the road, we were amazed to see how smoky Missoula is from all the wildfires in the hills. The haze hangs in the air in the valley, limiting the view of the mountains, and then when you get out of the car, you can actually smell the wildfires. According to the hotel staff, we should see more fires as we head west towards the MT/ID border.
Unfortunately, we missed a day of blogging yesterday, but we had a good excuse. As we were pulling into Rapid City, SD we could see a thunderstorm on the horizon. By the time we left the restaurant after dinner, the storm had blown in full force, with high winds and flash flooding in addition to the lightning. And then we heard the tornado sirens. Yikes! It was an adventure getting back to the motel, and we were glad to arrive safely. Although we lost cable and had no internet access, the power stayed on and our first-floor room did not flood. We were lucky in that I-90 was actually closed beginning at 2 exits west of where we were, due to baseball-sized hail. This morning, we saw abandoned cars with smashed windshields and all sorts of storm debris. We were glad we hadn't tried to go farther west last night!
Tomorrow is the last day of driving, as we are headed from Missoula to Seattle! It should be another pretty drive, as we cross Idaho, eastern WA, and then over the Cascade Mountains. Smokey will get to add another 2 states to her list, and I'll get to drive in Idaho for the first time!
Thanks for all the great comments. We appreciate everyone thinking of us and praying for us along the way. I received a wonderful piece of news yesterday-- my Washington State RN license FINALLY came through. That saga is a whole other story that I'll save for another day, but let's just say that in order to get through the bureaucratic red tape, we needed to get the office of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Minority Leader involved. Sometimes it pays to have friends in high places... or in this case, a highly connected aunt who saved the day. :)
Unfortunately, we missed a day of blogging yesterday, but we had a good excuse. As we were pulling into Rapid City, SD we could see a thunderstorm on the horizon. By the time we left the restaurant after dinner, the storm had blown in full force, with high winds and flash flooding in addition to the lightning. And then we heard the tornado sirens. Yikes! It was an adventure getting back to the motel, and we were glad to arrive safely. Although we lost cable and had no internet access, the power stayed on and our first-floor room did not flood. We were lucky in that I-90 was actually closed beginning at 2 exits west of where we were, due to baseball-sized hail. This morning, we saw abandoned cars with smashed windshields and all sorts of storm debris. We were glad we hadn't tried to go farther west last night!
Tomorrow is the last day of driving, as we are headed from Missoula to Seattle! It should be another pretty drive, as we cross Idaho, eastern WA, and then over the Cascade Mountains. Smokey will get to add another 2 states to her list, and I'll get to drive in Idaho for the first time!
Thanks for all the great comments. We appreciate everyone thinking of us and praying for us along the way. I received a wonderful piece of news yesterday-- my Washington State RN license FINALLY came through. That saga is a whole other story that I'll save for another day, but let's just say that in order to get through the bureaucratic red tape, we needed to get the office of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Minority Leader involved. Sometimes it pays to have friends in high places... or in this case, a highly connected aunt who saved the day. :)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
more on Albert Lea
Thanks to Wikipedia, we now know who Albert Lea was. He was the map maker who charted this region in 1835. Among the semi-famous people from Albert Lea are 1950s rock'n'roller Eddie Cochran (and there ain't no cure for the summertime blues), Marian Ross who played Mrs Cunningham on Happy Days, and a former Playboy model. So there you are.
lost in Albert Lea
We don't know who Albert Lea was but the town in Minnesota named for him is pretty nice. We got in here very early, a combination of leaving early this morning and picking up an hour because of the time zone. Since we had to wait until our room was ready, we took a tour of the town. And, for the only time on this trip, we got lost, made a wrong turn and ended up driving five miles the wrong direction on the interstate before we could exit and return. If that becomes our biggest travel misadventure, we will be doing well. We liked the town, and we found that the corn fields are just as big not matter what direction you drive.
Two of our earlier concerns have amounted to nothing. The van is a easily big enough to hold Alison's stuff, and it drives well. And Smokey has been an ace traveler. She was noisy for the first hour or so in Pennsylvania but has been fine since then. We have driven nearly 1200 miles in two days, with four days (and three nights) to go. So far, so good.
Two of our earlier concerns have amounted to nothing. The van is a easily big enough to hold Alison's stuff, and it drives well. And Smokey has been an ace traveler. She was noisy for the first hour or so in Pennsylvania but has been fine since then. We have driven nearly 1200 miles in two days, with four days (and three nights) to go. So far, so good.
Day 2: Albert Lea, MN
We've made it to Minnesota! After an early start this morning from South Bend, IN, we crossed into Central Time and automatically our start became extra early!! Despite some concerns about getting through Chicagoland (home to frequent tolls and road construction) we had no problems at all. It was a real blessing since the last time we drove cross country with a cat (our move to PA in July 1995), we got stuck in construction traffic during a heat wave... in a van with no air conditioning! Compared to that, today was a breeze. :)
After Chicago, we sailed through the rest of Illinois, Wisconsin, and over the Mississippi into Minnesota. We've had great weather, sunny with temperatures in the high 70s. It made for a beautiful drive! I was amazed by the size of some of the farms-- corn fields as far as the eye could see, with the farmhouse just barely visible on the horizon.
Last night we saw a spectacular thunderstorm in South Bend. Although the lights flickered, luckily we did not lose power. This morning we found out that there was a small tornado only about 30 miles away! I am definitely not used to being in "tornado alley"!!
Smokey is doing very well, and hasn't been a problem at all. Today she spent much of the afternoon sleeping on my lap, and seems to have adapted to riding in the car without any issues. Sometimes she is so quiet in her carrier that we have to look back and check on her since we are not used to her being silent! As I type this, she is sprawled smack dab in the middle of the bed... apparently she has claimed it for herself. :)
Tomorrow we head out on I-90 to Rapid City, SD. We're planning to stop at Wall Drug, and I am hoping to convince Dad to stop in Blue Earth, MN so I can get my picture taken at the 50 foot Jolly Green Giant statue!!
After Chicago, we sailed through the rest of Illinois, Wisconsin, and over the Mississippi into Minnesota. We've had great weather, sunny with temperatures in the high 70s. It made for a beautiful drive! I was amazed by the size of some of the farms-- corn fields as far as the eye could see, with the farmhouse just barely visible on the horizon.
Last night we saw a spectacular thunderstorm in South Bend. Although the lights flickered, luckily we did not lose power. This morning we found out that there was a small tornado only about 30 miles away! I am definitely not used to being in "tornado alley"!!
Smokey is doing very well, and hasn't been a problem at all. Today she spent much of the afternoon sleeping on my lap, and seems to have adapted to riding in the car without any issues. Sometimes she is so quiet in her carrier that we have to look back and check on her since we are not used to her being silent! As I type this, she is sprawled smack dab in the middle of the bed... apparently she has claimed it for herself. :)
Tomorrow we head out on I-90 to Rapid City, SD. We're planning to stop at Wall Drug, and I am hoping to convince Dad to stop in Blue Earth, MN so I can get my picture taken at the 50 foot Jolly Green Giant statue!!
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Here we go...
Tomorrow's the big day! This afternoon we're picking up the rental van and packing it up for the move to Seattle. The plan is for us to leave Wednesday morning on the cross-country road trip. My dad and I are driving the 3000 miles over 5 days since I'm also bringing my cat, Smokey, to Seattle. It should be pretty interesting to spend 5 days in a car with a cat! :)
I hope to be able to update the blog as we go, thanks to the magic of laptops and hotels with wireless access. I've been told there are even rest areas with free WiFi!! Hopefully, we'll be able to post pictures along the way, too.
I hope to be able to update the blog as we go, thanks to the magic of laptops and hotels with wireless access. I've been told there are even rest areas with free WiFi!! Hopefully, we'll be able to post pictures along the way, too.
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