Back in the Motherland

Free at last, free at last, hallelujah, we're free at last! This picture was taken in Nebraska in the aftermath of an ice storm, but the sentiment remains the same. No more waking up, hopping in the car, and putting in 10 and 12 hour days. No more weird hotel rooms, gas station food, or flat boring states. The journey that began 3 pm on October 6 in Ketchikan, Alaska, has finally culminated on November 28 in Ashland, Oregon.

A brief summary of our accomplishments:

Days on the road: 54

Miles driven: 8,903 (not counting ferry mileage)

States visited: 22

Different plates observed: 49 (all but North Dakota - they got absorbed by Manitoba and no one noticed), plus 6 provinces

National Forests: 15

National Parks: 7

Middle fingers given to Carl: 3

Times the truck was in the shop: 3

Dead deer on the side of the road in Missouri: 33 (mostly west of Columbus)

Warmest temp: 75 degrees in Colorado Springs

Coldest temp: -11 in Kalispell, MT

Lowest elevation: sea level at the Oregon coast

Highest elevation: 14,115 ft atop Pikes Peak

There was sun, snow, wind, rain, and ice; we learned that squeaky cheese is delicious, Arizona doesn't observe daylight savings time but the Navajo Nation does, everyone loves Bubba, and WD40 sprayed on an open flame makes a simple yet effective torch. Somehow, after all that, we're still talking to each other. Miracles do happen.

The next adventure is a stark departure from our nomadic lifestyle. Carl went and got himself a real job in White City, OR working at the VA as a recreation assistant. White City is a flat town full of gun shops and ATV dealerships, so we've found a place further south in the hippie haven of Ashland. There are two breweries within a 15 minute walk, a bike trail that stretches all the way to Medford, and a massage therapy school that I am in the process of applying to. Needless to say we're all really excited to be able to unpack our bags and sleep in the same place every night.

Here it is! It's Oregon, so of course it's raining.
The house is starting to look less like the trailer threw up in the living room and more like an actual home. We couldn't resist the spiral staircase.

Looking back at the front door. To the left is a room we've set up as an office and Carl's closet.

Bubba still isn't sure what's going on.
The kitchen has some pretty awesome orange Formica, and the fridge is about to keel over with Carl's magnet collection.
The upstairs loft has storage running down either side; the trippy murals were already there.
Looking down into the back yard. There are raised garden beds, some surviving strawberry plants, and left over garden tools. The garage to the right has a large walled in storage space as well.
And the back of the house. Yes, the blue picnic table came with.

So there it is, the new homestead. It feels weird to be an official Oregon resident again after 8 years of wandering (not that I've ever bothered to change my ID). Not being able to pump my own gas takes some getting used to. We've got plenty of space so if you're ever in southern Oregon feel free to stop on by!