Rufus Returned
The End Of The Road Trip Saga
After seven days, one rental car rear ending, another failed set of injectors, and traveling a nerve shattering 3,000 miles, we finally drove our truck Rufus and travel trailer down our driveway on Thursday afternoon. I can't describe the feeling that flooded my little hobbit carcass as we bounced down our gravel road onto the farm. Each pothole that we rumbled through elicited feelings of relief and contentment that were a longtime coming.
.JPG)
If you would have told me back in February that our epic family road trip was going to turn quite literally into an epic, I would have probably gazed upon said oracle's face with a raised eyebrow of "huh?" It is said that tribulation is good for a person's growth. Well, I haven't grown any taller, but I have expanded a bit in the logistical prowess and faith department a bit throughout the saga.
.JPG)
Things break in life, and Rufus blowing his engine in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico was actually a blessing for our family. I had to step up and do things that I normally would never do. I am one of those people who is content to go without, just hang in my comfy pattern that I have built for myself, and never take a risk. Let me tell you, over the last four months I have taken a lot of risks, and I think I have a few new grey hairs to show for my efforts.
.JPG)
That said, I am going to jot the whole tale down into a story form, because what happened to us was quite a tale! Last week when we got hit on the freeway on our way to pick up the truck my friends and family responded in awe. When the new injector failed as we were driving up the freeway after waiting two months to pick up our truck and trailer, everyone I know and a few strangers reacted in disbelief. By that point I honestly was expecting Life to kick me a little bit. I don't know what is waiting for our family around the timeline corner, but you can darn well bet I am in the right frame of mind to handle whatever it is. People kept commenting about my good attitude, the smile on my face, and how I treated the people who were helping me. Let me tell you guys, on the inside I was absolutely devastated and irritated. I am no different than anyone else. I don't want to be inconvenienced, I don't like it when my toys break, and I hate spending money fixing things that I have taken of. However, during all of this drama, I made a conscious effort to control what I can and not worry about what I can't. It is so hard to follow that mantra. I wanted to worry, fret, and cry about everything. My inner meter was so fouled up by everything that on some days I was shaking as I went to get into the truck to start the day. The nerves be spent I tell ya!
.JPG)
The funny thing is, as we rolled onto the farm, I felt like I had passed some test. And even though everything about the last four months has been a bit of a trial, I would do it all again, because the experiences and personal growth wrought out of the situation were worth every bit of the tribulation.
I might stay home for a couple months though, just saying...
And on a lighter note, all of the pictures in this post were snapped on the strolling trail that is adjacent to the Indian Creek Campground in Deer Lodge, Montana. The campground is close to the freeway for easy access, but the way that it is situated makes you feel like you are lost in the Montana mountains. It is very peaceful there, and the folks that run the place are incredibly friendly.
The only reason we stopped in Deer Lodge was to eat in one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Connected to a Sinclair gas station is a restaurant called the Sesame Wok. Now anybody who has traveled to the lovely little burg of Deer Lodge knows it's not too large of a locale, but the couple from Bangkok who own the Sesame Wok are so, so good at what they do that they could have a restaurant on Mars and I would find a way there. Their Pad Thai and Seven Flavor Beef over steamed jasmine rice made my day. Heck, I would have rolled in a patch of lemon grass and purred had it been around. If you are ever rambling through Deer Lodge and have a hankering for some quality Asian cuisine, do yourself a favor and pull on into the Sesame Wok, you won't regret it! Well, your waistline might.
And now I must bolt, for I have a library to help run!
_LI.jpg)
Such calm, peaceful photos.
It is just the worst to have car troubles on a long trip. Glad you got through it all ok. That has to make you feel good.
Hi! It felt so good to pull into our driveway. It was like a relief-sicle deluxe!
Car troubles are horrible for sure, especially when you are thousands of miles away from home.
And I am so glad you liked the photos, I am so terribly sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Life has been far from serene and slow on my end, haha!
Hope all is well!
I am so glad you made it back home again! I have been through the Deer Lodge area, but have never stopped to look at those lovely scenes you photographed. It seems to me my dad and I spent the night in a quaint old hotel there once after having car troubles on the way home. A snowstorm was involved, as was a trip into the ditch. I'd rather explore Deer Lodge on a summery day!
Thank you so much! I, too, am so glad to be back in the Northlands again.
Your experience in Deer Lodge sounds like a Steemit post that needs to be shared. I mean, I am always up for offering up some sympathy to someone who went through a car "thing", especially when it includes snow and stints in small town hotels. Color me intrigued!
Perhaps I should delve into my diary and write that story up!
Perhaps I should delve
Into my diary and
Write that story up!
- scribblingramma
I'm a bot. I detect haiku.
The girl finds an actual time machine and passes it up. So adult. Man, I'd be in that thing like zonkers. Yay! Rufus is home and cat is back in the books. I wonder if one our local librarians is secretly a super hero too. You did it. Now enjoy some normalcy. Or don't.
BTW how is your daughter?
Don't think I didn't think about going for a time machine joy ride. In fact, if it was the Tardis, I would have definitely had to check to see if it is actually bigger on the inside, lol!
Ah, Pryde, you say the nicest things....My daughter is doing much better, it was like a 24 hour high fever misery thing, but she wasn't down too long. I am just so sorry it took me so long to reply. I have literally been gone and running from my home except to sleep for the last six days. It's weird how much stuff one must catch up on after a week long truck retrieval!
And apparently I do not do "normal" which is fine with me. I would however, enjoy a bit more "slow" Well, just maybe like a day or something! It's been glorious weather-wise here, I sure hope you are getting to do some enjoyable Vancouver things! Hey, do you go salmon berry picking? I miss those.
Yes, depending on the doctor in charge, I would definitely take a ride in the Tardis. David Tennant fan here. Glad to here you daughter is better. I am not "normal" either, lol. Birds of a feather as they say. Yes, W. and I did go berry picking. Just go a small bit and enjoyed with yogurt:)
Congratulations! Your post has been selected as a daily Steemit truffle! It is listed on rank 21 of all contributions awarded today. You can find the TOP DAILY TRUFFLE PICKS HERE.
I upvoted your contribution because to my mind your post is at least 4 SBD worth and should receive 109 votes. It's now up to the lovely Steemit community to make this come true.
I am
TrufflePig, an Artificial Intelligence Bot that helps minnows and content curators using Machine Learning. If you are curious how I select content, you can find an explanation here!Have a nice day and sincerely yours,
TrufflePig@generikat You have received a 100% upvote from @botreporter because this post did not use any bidbots and you have not used bidbots in the last 30 days!
Upvoting this comment will help keep this service running.
Well I hope you dont have "it" pay you any more visits. I would say you had your share and then some!
Ha ha ha! It and I are far too well acquainted at this point. I feel like a permanent separation is in order, lol!
How are things going in your realm? Weren't you on a trip too? I do so hope you had a lovely time, or at least a not like Kat time.
Well just so you know it didnt all happen just to you. :) My vacation had some good and some bad, such is life I suppose. I had a bit of Kat time too. We came upon a head-on and without going into too much detail, the world lost a little 6 year old girl. That cast a pall on the remainder of the trip of course.