And we're off again...finally!

It's September 1st and we are ready to roll. Tomorrow we begin our journey, heading east from Washington State on our way to our first stop, Glacier National Park in Montana. My boy scout and map maker hubby has an exciting itinerary planned that takes us to several national parks en route to Albuquerque's Annual Balloon Fiesta in October.

We have been in the Puget Sound area for the past two and a half months, most of which we spent working hard to empty our home that my in-laws have lived in for the past 24 years.  We tossed, donated, and packed, moving the items of furniture and belongings that mother-in-law wants in her retirement apartment in Bend, and getting rid of as much as we could to prepare the house for sale next spring. We also spent a week in Bend, hauling as many of Mom's personal and precious items as we could fit into the car, and spending time with our Bend family. 
The house clearing was a Herculean task (and there is a lot to be said about early downsizing and living a simpler lifestyle with less stuff) but we are now one step closer to closing that chapter and once the house sells, we can truly say we will be "home-less" and free to vagabond as we please.

wheeeeee.... that was fun!

While in the neighborhood, between working on the house we also made time to visit friends and old neighbors. 
And the final two weeks of our stay were the ones we looked forward to the most because our daughter, son-in-law, and  22-month-old grandson visited from Sri Lanka. We had a wonderful time with them and the little fellow especially enjoyed several tours of parks and jungle gyms.

Poppa taking Aidan for a wheelbarrow ride like he did with our girls when they were toddlers

with daughter Kathleen on porch steps at the house where she spent her first 4 years

helping Poppa move Alpine to a different site at Lake Pleasant RV

There was an unexpected last-minute surprise visit from my cousin and wife who were in Seattle from the UK to take a cruise to Alaska and timed it well to literally catch us before we headed out of town.

enjoying the Kirkland waterfront with my cuz and his wife from England

a hike to the base of Snoqualmie Falls and stop at the cedar grove

Our summer of hard work is now over and we are preparing Alpine for travel mode after two months parked once again at Lake Pleasant. 
We are more than ready to hit the road and begin a new series of adventures.