Scott's Spot

November 28 (Day 39 and beyond) As we turn back to South Texas on Sunday morning, I have to say my expectations for this trip have been met and exceeded in so many ways.  It has been a lifelong dream to ” see the USA in my Chevrolet… ” (you have to be of a certain age to know what that’s about!), and the places we have visited have been remarkable each in their own way.  The destinations, however, have not been entirely what this trip was about.  Indeed, it was the in-between spaces…the journey…that made this trip so special. And so it is with life.  Life is lived in the spaces between the big events.  The highs and lows—just like the desert valleys and mountain tops we’ve seen driving over 5000 miles in these past 7 weeks—are what make a life.   MB and I marked wanted to mark our retirements with this sort of once-in-a-lifetime cross country trip, and we feel fortunate to have seen that dream come true.  We feel blessed and ready f...

Thanksgiving--Thursday, November 27 (Day 38) Although we are supposed to count our blessings everyday, I'm even more mindful of the many blessings I have in my life on Thanksgiving every year.  I'm sure many others feel that way, too. My heart is especially gratitude-filled this year...for family ( Adam--I am missing you greatly today! ), for health ( yowza! ), for dear friends, for a wonderful career, and for this trip. The turkey and dressing are ready to go in the oven...the green bean casserole will be soon...and MB will be making his famous mashed potatoes, as requested by the grandkids.  Life is good, God is great, and bellies will soon be full.  Happy Thanksgiving to all! The colors of Fall in Napa Valley, CA...November 2014 Tomorrow:   Headed Home

Sunday and Monday, November 23-24 (Days 34 and 35) The drive from Grand Junction to Vail came with the possibility of some extreme driving conditions (well, extreme for South Texans), and the forecasts were right.  Snow had fallen along the route, enough to dust the red-rock mesas with snow to look like huge slices of red velvet cake covered with confectioner’s sugar.  The fallen snow became much deeper as we drove east, and began falling heavily just west of Eagle County and Vail.  By the time we arrived at Vail late on Sunday, a thick blanket covered the entire Streamside property, and we were happy to have arrived safely.  Our home for the next several days provided just what we needed:  a beautiful view of the landscape outside, and a fireplace to keep us warm since the temperatures outside hovered near 10 degrees! Monday was a driving day to pick up Natalie and the girls in Denver.  The drive over was intense, to say the least....

Wednesday, November 19 (Day 30) Drive Day—Columbia Gorge, Western Oregon, and on to Boise Leaving Portland to travel east, we learned what winter is all about!  Icy rain pelted us along our drive through the Columbia River Gorge.  I was not familiar with this area at all, and was surprised at how wide the river is…and how strongly the winds howled through the gorge!  Temperatures dipped into the 20s as the gale-force winds created whitecaps on the river. Columbia River Gorge from I-84... Brrrr! Despite being a little white-knuckled as I drove, I was in awe of what we were seeing.  The scenery was dramatic, with mountains, then cliffs, then the other-worldly look of the windswept hills near The Dalles, Oregon.  It was there we captured this photo of what cold can look like in the Northwest! The Dalles, Oregon Idaho's version of Oz After the long drive through the Eastern Oregon plains, we arrived again at the mountains at Pendle...

Sunday, November 16 – Tuesday, November 18 (Days 27-29) Sunday was "Seattle Day" for us.  After a quick trip back on the ferry and a check-in at our hotel, we made our way to the Pike’s Place Market on the waterfront via the light rail system.  Crowds took advantage of the sunny skies to enjoy an afternoon in the market and adjoining shops… ...we saw interesting examples of self-expression... ...along with examples of those who just cannot follow the rules! Our day ended with an amazing dinner at Palisade , overlooking Elliot Bay Marina and downtown Seattle on a cloudless night…thanks, Stephanie, for the perfect ending to a truly perfect weekend! After taking Stephanie to the SeaTac airport, we left Monday morning for two days in Portland.  The weather had greatly improved upon our return, and after resting at the hotel for a while, we took a ride into the Pearl District for dinner at ¡Oba!   What a meal!  I usual...

Wednesday, November 12 – Saturday, November 15 (Days 23-26) MB’s daughter, Stephanie, joined us in Napa Valley.  The drive from Northern California across Oregon was beautiful, but long and exhausting.  By the time we arrived in Portland on Wednesday night, winds were howling at nearly 40 mph through the Columbia Gorge and forecasters predicted ice and snow for the next morning.  We were not looking forward to our drive to Seattle in those conditions the following day! When we rose on Thursday morning, the temperatures were hovering at freezing, but not quite cold enough for the expected ice to form.  We watched early morning television as all the school closings were announced and I thought back to those tough decisions when I was superintendent.  Do we open?  Do we close for the day?   You have to make those calls very early in the morning on bad weather days in order to set all the operational changes in motion.  You rely on the best g...