8368 miles... Diverge from the path & final note

I am home now, safe and road tired but home.
On my way down Highway 84 toward Portland I stopped in Biggs and drove across the bridge to visit the replica of Stonehenge, it holds significance because I would take Margie there and write our names on the stone wall then go back years later and look for them, it became a tradition.
I wanted to see if they were still there after all these years but with weather and time I did not find them, that is alright because the memory will never die.
With this journey I wrote our names, everywhere across the country maybe not in pen but our names are there none the less.

I am asked if this was healing for me if I am at peace I'm not sure what to say, I know I did this for both of us but that does not change the fact that she wasn't here to enjoy it but I know she watched and smiled so where ever she is my love is with her.

I did not see all I wanted to see nor go where I wanted to go but I did what I said I would and that was important, so now that I am home and the wheels are no longer turning, tears are dried and a new future calls me forward I will close this chapter and put away the book but not the memory.
I hope that maybe anyone who reads this finds some peace as well or just realizes that each good moment you have with those you love is more important than the bad ones, it's your choice what you want to remember.
Margie would often say, "Love is all around you, real love can not be tainted, cannot be used cannot be faked real love is eternal, fight for it and it will fight for you".
I hope all of you fight for love...

7512 miles... my last hotel

Because I did not get much sleep last night I decided to stop for the night to be safe.
I am at the Yellowstone Best Western in Livingston Montana, I will rest up here and be on my way home tomorrow.

Here are few tidbits about my travels you may not have known.

I drove the entire way in sandals, my feet get very uncomfortable in shoes while driving so I stayed in my sandals the whole way.

I drove nearly 300 to 400 miles a day to stay on schedule.

I drove the speed limit the entire time, had no reason to exceed it and when people pushed me I moved over and let them get the ticket.

I stayed in 14 motels between Pismo beach and Livingston Montana.

I won't go into how much coffee I drank. :)

7159 miles...this is not the beginning of the end, it is the end of the beginning...

Staying at Best Western this time in Gillette Wyoming.
A shout out to Best Western Hotels for making my stays easier.

I left Sturgis SD this morning after having a nice breakfast at the Mexican restaurant next door to the hotel, my intention was to travel to Devils Tower Wyoming but I wanted to be there at sunset to take pictures so I decided to play tourist for the rest of the day until I left.

The day before I had bought a couple of shirts at Walmart in Rapid City and having not tried them on I discovered when I got to my room that even though they said large they were junior large and it was a joke watching me try to put them on. (sorry no video of that)
I took them back and decided while I was in town I would go see a movie.

When Margie and I traveled we would go see a movie in different cities so that we could see what the theater was like, we both liked movies and had similar taste also since I had been a projectionist for 15 years I always enjoyed seeing how other theaters operated.
I decided on The Planet of the Apes movie because I have heard great reviews so carrying the jar that I have carried across the country I bought a ticket and we sat down to watch the show together.

I really recommend this movie to everyone the performances of the CG character were amazing and his ability to convey the emotions really touched you, I have to say there was a point in the movie where I could not believe I was watching a CG character and really felt for Caesar, I gave this movie 4 stars and I would see it again, I know Margie loved it.

After leaving the theater I decided to have some lunch before heading out so I chose a Denny's in town, once again a shout out to Denny's for having wireless and great menu items.

I have told many people about my journey and the response is the same they all think what I am doing is a great honor to my wife and some of them have chosen to follow my blog so while sitting there updating information on my Facebook page I talked to a waitress about my journey, she wished me well and bowed in I assume a Buddha fashion I thanked her and left a nice tip.

After leaving I got some gas and washed the car because driving 75 miles an hour through SD you get allot of bugs, once I was clean and had a new bag of ice to keep my tea and water cold I set out toward Devil's Tower Wyoming.

I still remember sitting at the drive inn theater in Madras Oregon opening night 1977 when Close Encounters of the Third Kind first premiered, I was transfixed by the movie but what struck me the most was seeing Devil's Tower for the first time, it wasn't because of the movie it was something about the mountain and I said then I would go there one day, and now I did.

It took a couple of hours to get there and I enjoyed the scenery. I feel close to the land here I don't know why but the massive rock structures and flat top hills are home to me.
When I came over the first rise after leaving the highway I stopped and took my first picture, when I got out of the car and saw it for the first time the feeling I had all those years ago came back and I was once again struck by the awe of it.

I arrived at the entrance and paid my 10.00 fee, I asked if the park closed and the ranger said no only the visitor center closed and you could stay up there for as long as you want, this is true because allot of people stay up there over night and campers are everywhere, I am glad I came on a weekday.
I drove up the 3 mile road and parked below the massive monument, my intention was to take Margie's ashes up to the base and find a place for them so I grabbed my camera, water bottle and her container then started up the path.
There were people from many countries and I heard many dialects.
I wanted to find a place where I felt she needed to be and away from the crowd so I walked up the path and around a corner where I found this spot that over looked the valley, she would have the mountain at her back and a beautiful view in front I knew this was meant to be her home.

The area is sacred ground and you can find prayer signs and offerings tied to limbs of tree's she will love it here, so after I poured her ashes between rocks facing the valley I sat down and said my final goodbye. I know I could not leave with out putting something in the jar from this place so I walked around and asked her what she wanted and she pointed me to the pine cones so I picked two of them off the forest floor and placed them in the jar for the journey home.

I decided to stay and take pictures at night I wanted to see the stars and being away from the city they would look like diamonds so I drove down the mountain to a view point and setup my camera, I also discovered if you go up there after the visitor center is closed the ranger is gone and there is no fee.
When the stars came out I was truly at home, they shined like diamonds the moon came out blanketing the land in a soft glow I stayed up there until 10 pm, I would have stayed longer but I was getting tired and needed to find a place for the night, I ended up in Gillette because the rates at hotels around the mountain were very high.
I had a rough night last night, it could be because of feeling the ending of the journey and did not get to sleep until 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, fits of dreams and confusing images made for an uncomfortable stay but thanks to the last tenant who set the alarm clock for 7 am I got up in enough time to finish this and get some breakfast before checkout.

This entire journey has been most rewarding even with the little quirks and setbacks, I did not get to see all the places I wanted to or visit with all my friends but I have done what I came to do, I have kept my promise and she is resting now so it is time for me to go home.

Thank you to everyone who took this journey with me, I will have some final notes and upload all the rest of the videos I made on my trip when I get home...

6904 miles...

I'm a Sturgis South Dakota at the Best Western.

I toured Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument today, it's humbling to be in front of such impressive structures and to hear the story about how they came into being.

While at Mount Rushmore I walked the path to to view different parts of the mountain and take plenty of pictures of which I uploaded to photobucket last night.
It's impressive to think about what it took to build such a world renowned effigy to the great figures in our history.

I spread some of Margie's ashes in a place on the way out in a place that seemed appropriate because the rock structures.

After leaving Mount Rushmore I drove to the Crazy Horse monument and I have to say after hearing the story of the artist and seeing his work it is incredible and much more impressive than Mount Rushmore, I think of Rushmore as any less both of these incredible monuments have stories to tell but Crazy horse is stronger emotionally because of it's meaning and the fact that the artist is now gone and his family is continuing the work which is a testament in itself the spirit of commitment.

Before I left I spread some of Margie's ashes in the forest below the parking lot in the view of Crazy Horse.

Margie loved rocks one time in our travels we were up by Detroit dam and on an old back road we found we were enjoying the beautiful rock walls around us so I stopped to get better look, she got out of the car and while were standing there she noticed this rock on the side of the road and said it would look good in our yard so being the gentleman I am I went to pick it up of course all I saw was the top of it and when I tried to pull it out it was bigger than she thought it was, she was about to tell me don't worry about it but I was determined so I muscled it and was able to drag it out of the ground then I put it in the back of the Subaru I owned at the time and we drove out with our find, as we were cruising down the road she had a large smile on her face.
I got her many rocks on our travels but that one holds a fond memory and it still sits in front of our house today.

I am on my way to Devils Tower Wyoming, I am thinking of taking my time because I want to be there at sunset so I might do some tourist stops along the way.

My song for the end of this journey is by the Foo Fighters " Learning to Walk Again"

Now if you click on the link for pictures it will take you to the album.

Pictures here: http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a312/dark4une/Follow%20the%20Rose/

6650 miles and now some pictures

Ok here is a link to the pictures on my photo bucket, enjoy...
Copy and paste it into a browser window.

http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a312/dark4une/Follow%20the%20Rose/

Let me know if it does not work.

6650 miles...

Because of the tragedy in Muncie Indiana I did not add what had happened in my previous update so let me fill you in.

I am booked into the Super 8 Motel in Murdo SD.

While I was in Ohio I visited a friend Carman Johnson, we have been friends online for sometime now and I have helped her in many situations but she has an amazing spirit and a story to tell of which I have constantly bugged her to write. It is a story people need to hear about how faith can really work and belief in yourself no matter what the odds can bring you out of the darkest place in your life, I wish Carman nothing but the best and I will be the fly in her ear until she until she writes her book I want to see her succeed. :)

After I left Ohio I drove to New Castle Indiana to visit my friend Dana but she worked until 6:30 am the next morning so we planned on meeting for breakfast with her boyfriend Pete.
I drove to Muncie so that I could get a room. (I should have stayed in New Castle)
As I entered the city I saw the storm on the horizon and the lightning was very intense when I found the motel I the winds were blowing so hard I thought it would roll my car, I pulled into the Best Western and they were booked but she called another hotel for me and found a room so I landed there for the night and so did a local model helicopter team because they got rained out at the fair grounds, so short of them flying the things in the motel they built all their equipment in the lobby, this was a group of people from all over the world and they were noisy. :)

The next morning I went to meet Dana & Pete but because of her schedule and how late she worked she slept in and we did not get to catch up. I told her don't worry about it I don't think this will be the only time I am in this area.
Dana is a very good friend and her expertise in the field of dialysis was invaluable to me when my wife was diagnosed with kidney failure, I respect her very much.

After I left there I drove through Illinois and stayed in Williamsburg Iowa.
I have become kind of an expert on motels, not a qualification that gets me any real credit but it helps to understand the workings if there are travels in my future.

A final note, because of the unreliable internet I have had difficulty uploading picture to this blog so I created a photo bucket page to upload all my pictures and videos to and I will provide that link later tonight.

5590 miles... be careful what you wish for

Remember when I said I loved storms well I drove into one trying to find a room for the night in Muncie Indiana, if anyone watched the news it hit the Muncie State Fair when Sugar Land was going on stage and in a few minutes the winds blew the stage over with all the lights and everything on to the crowd, now they are saying we will have 60 mile an hour winds and 1/4 inch hail so I am locked in for the night here.

5333 miles...

Stayed the night at Super 8 motel outside of Mansfield Ohio sitting in a Denny's. (Denny's is my friend:)

Yesterday I went to Hershey Pennsylvania a beautiful town with a wonderful history and the home of Hershey chocolate, my intention to spread some of Margie's ashes in a place very close to her heart.
The factory is in the middle of town and so the town smelled like chocolate when I drove through it the night before.
There is Hershey park a very large amusement park with 12 roller coasters of all shapes and sizes, plenty of rides and rather expensive for the day. I was not into rides so it wasn't on my agenda.

Chocolate World gives you hands on approach to making your own chocolate bar and has a free tour of the chocolate process.

The Hershey Hotel, a beautiful and I bet expensive place to stay.

The Hershey gardens very beautiful botanical garden up by the hotel and home to many roses.

The entire town has something to see from the Hershey shaped street lights to friendly people, it's very much a community atmosphere that survives on the tourist element.

The Hershey Museum, a complete history of the Hershey family and the amazing things they did for the community, I did not take the tour of the museum but here are a couple of history facts I learned.

Milton Hershey and his wife could not have children of their own so they adopted 2 kids and because of their love for children they started a school for kids who could not afford it and all the children had to do was keep a certain grade point average and they would be able to afford grants or have their school all payed for by the Milton foundation.
There is a cancelled check in the museum for a ticket aboard the Titanic, they were supposed to travel on it's maiden voyage but his wife became ill so he cancelled their trip, if they had been on board the Hershey legacy might not exist today.

After walking around awhile I needed to find a place for Margie.

I had shared my story with a few people so far everyone I have met is surprised about what I am doing and really thinks it is a great way to honor her, some even made suggestions of places for her ashes to be poured.
I was on my way back to my car but decided to get some pictures of the hotel before I left, so I took a bus up there and on my way met up with a bus driver who suggested a great place, he said all the suggestions given to me were good but they were outside of town and he said I should keep her in town with the chocolate he said there was no reason I could not pour her ashes here. He told me about this hedge cut in the words of Hershey Coco by the factory so I went there and it was perfect so Margie is in the home of chocolate and roses.
What better place to climax this story, I still have a few places to to go and nights to sleep before I am home but I did what I intended, I honored her and me...

4654...miles Best laid plans

So I hit slight snag on my time line that forced me to eliminate some stops.
I am sitting in the Best Western in Newport News Virginia and after realizing how long it took me to get over here from the West Coast I have had reevaluate my schedule so that I can make it back, my main focus is Hershey Pennsylvania that is the all for her.

I did not get to New Orleans or DC this go around maybe another day.

Outside of Alabama a truck threw a rock into my windshield that left a really nasty chip so I am trying to get safe lite to fill it before I travel on tomorrow

What have I learned so far.

I needed more time for this,

I am insignificant in the scheme of things, my journey is my own cause and unless people know me they just pass me without even a look, I drove the speed limit the whole way and did not tempt the idiots that passed me, I had no reason to be on anyone's schedule but my own.

Sacramento California has an incredible variety of tree's, every breed of tree imaginable is dispayed all over the city some I have never seen before.

If you have never traveled the coastal route of California I recommend it, when your driving along the cliff side with the ocean on your right it's amazing.

Chandler Arizona is like a huge shopping mall for miles, it seems to be prosperous but at what price to the ones I saw on the street.

When you drive through Texas and stop at an inspection point don't have anything black sitting on the passenger seat.

Some Texas drivers are bad in any state.

I love storms but not the humidity, I saw amazing lightning storms that lit the sky for miles all around me.

If you want to visit New Orleans go with someone who knows there way around and don't trust a GPS that tells you to turn into on coming traffic, just trying to find a place to park that was safe took more time than I had and this was a weekday, so I decided it was better to push on.

If you want to learn about the history of music come to the East Coast if I had time to stop I would have visited all the museums and even caught a concert.

Advertisements on the radio are the same everywhere except for the dialects used.

Everything is green when you get out of Texas all the way to the East Coast.

I said I have respect for truck drivers but I ran into some that would just as soon swatted me off the road than share it, a few times it was scary.

I am not the greatest picture taker when I'm on a deadline.

On the East Coast it's called Hardee's and on the West Coast it's called Carl's Jr, but Hardee's has the best chicken sandwich ever.

If you want to learn about a culture don't be a tourist, spend time in it because you can't see it from the freeways.

I saw a great disconnect in people because of technology and yet the ugly truth is that it builds bridges across culture lines that were never there before, it's all a dance.

I did this journey for us so I discovered an interesting thing, when Margie and I traveled it was very much the same way I am traveling, I don't see what everyone else see's and I tend to arrive late or leave before the exciting stuff happens, sounds like a normal vacation honey...

Slight Change...

I have had a slight change of plans I will fill you in when I get to my motel...

3138 miles...

Stayed the night at Days Inn in Vinnie Texas, got my 8 hours of sleep and the humidity has to be 100% here.

After my stop at the Denny's on 8/6 I decided I would drive at night for awhile and make up some miles. During the night trucks own the road, big rigs hauling goods across the state and even though the regular speed limit is 80 during the night it is posted at 65 even though none of them drive that speed.
I saw some beautiful lightning storms all around me (be careful what you wish for) they lit up the night sky like a giant switch being turned off and on, there were far enough away I did not have to worry about them bu they were quite impressive. As I passed through El Paso I saw the big Texas star on the side of the hill, everything in Texas is big.

About an hour later after the storms passed I saw this red glow in the clouds on the left side of the road and as I got closer I saw there was a fire in the hills that had been started by the lightning, it was quite a blaze and shows you how potent a bolt of lightning can be.

I drove until 2 am but had to stop for the night, most places were booked up due to an oil company and stock car races on the same day but I finally found a Holiday Inn Express with one room available and crashed for the night.

8/7 After getting a few hours sleep I started off again, some things you should know about that.
The regular speed limit is 80 except at night when it drops down to 65 (no one drove 65 at night). If you own a muscle machine or stock ride come drive in Texas, everyone drives big gas guzzling machines, I saw more Escalades, trucks and monster rigs than I have seen in any other state, no one here seems to worry about high gas prices.

Texas is a contradiction at least in it's drivers, there are signs all over that state that say, "Drive Friendly", so I drove the speed limit and I was courteous but pretty much everyone on the road was not. Don't get me wrong the people I met on my stops were fine but when they get behind the wheel a switch turns on and it's everyone for themselves, I equated it to an episode of the old Star Trek series called, "Lazarus", that was for Ken.

Everyone drives there own way, I was stopped in traffic due to an accident further up and to my right about 5 trucks took off over the embankment to hit a lower road and get ahead of the traffic, and I saw more collisions and off road accidents than I did in any other state, at one point an officer was off the road working with one rear end collision while about about 200 feet ahead another group was waiting for the same officer for the one they just got in.
I had no desire to end up a statistic in Texas so I just crawled along in my own time and my own space.

I had no problem driving in California, Arizona or New Mexico but Texas was a challenge.
Leaving here soon to make my way toward New Orleans...

2221 miles...

Sitting in a Denny's on the border of New Mexico and Texas with Margie at the table.

Drive through Arizona was uneventful as was the drive through New Mexico, I did not really stop to sight see mostly because of how hot it was and my time frame to make it to the East Coast before I have to return home, so I stopped for gas, ice and a drink when needed.

The one thing I did find amusing was the signs in the dust bowl areas they said, "Caution Dust storms may exist", I found that very existential as in they may or may not exist, and unless your watching do they exist at all, sorry just a twisted sense of humor.

I will say one thing for this area the cloud formations are really amazing, I have seen many weather channels shows depicting this type of weather but seeing it up close is quite a treat, I am hoping for a storm I have always wanted to see a storm on the desert.

I decided I want to do some night driving having not seen a sunset or the stars since this started so I will rest up here for awhile then set out again until I settle for the night.

When Margie and I traveled we loved to go at night it was peaceful and we liked to travel under the stars.

Talking to a waitress about her situation of losing her mom recently, she went through a similar thing and had to be an advocate like Margie was about her medications, it is sad when a country so well off can treat people like numbers and statistics instead of human beings so we have been consoling each other and sharing stories, it helps to talk about it and so far people I have met are very kind...

1878 miles...are you still with me

I am staying at the Best Western in Chandler Arizona and the outside temperature is 114 degrees inside temp, nice...

Where I left off I came out of Mount Shasta on 8/1 and drove down to Sacramento to stay with friends since I arrived so late I decided to stay an extra night so I could rest up for my long journey down the coast.

I left early 8/3 and started my journey to the California coast, I did see California cows on my way but they did not look like they were that happy to be there.
Once I got off I-5 and headed over the hills (they are not mountains) to the coast the temperature dropped to about 68, I stopped at Seaside to get gas and a coffee then continued down the coast line, for anyone who has not been there it's beautiful, the further down you go from Seaside the more amazing it is.

I stopped at a Greek restaurant called Nepenthe and the pictures included are my view.
When I left the restaurant I walked into a gift shop called Phoenix and in the back on their patio were 2 gongs and I rang them for Margie.

As I traveled further down the coast line I took some more pictures, it's very expensive to live there but enticing.
I drove on down through several small towns and decided to stay in Pismo Beach, I ended up at the Quality Inn around 8:30 pm exhausted so I rested up for the next leg of my journey.

Left Pismo Beach at 7:30 am continued down to Malibu. I have seen most of the places I traveled through in movies but driving there was a different experience, there were no actors to be seen which is fine so I proceeded to get lost instead.

After getting my bearings I headed to my next destination Huntington Beach to stay with my friend Shane, I arrived on the day of the US Open Surfing Competition so while waiting for Shane to get off work I wandered down to the pier to check out the activities.

I only had one night there and I was not able to stay for the competition the next day but I told Shane I would come next year for the whole week.

I left a comfortable 71 degrees to land here with 114, I stopped at a nice Italian restaurant and had a wonderful pizza called Norma's special.

Of all the places in California I loved Huntington Beach the most and I plan on moving there to be a surfer dude when I retire.
I have met many people on my journey who are curious why I carry a glass jar with me, when I tell them they are kind and respectful, some relate stories of personal loss and it helps them to see what I am doing.
Well that is all for now tomorrow I am headed to Texas.

794 Miles... Part 3 & the GPS

This part will be quick, I left Klamath planning on heading to the interior of California so loading the GPS with my next address I started out, now word of warning on a GPS if it ask you what route do you want to take and whether you want to use best use of roads or freeways and your on the coast say roads.
I said freeways thinking it would get me there after I got out of the area unbeknownst to me before I knew it I was headed back to Grants Pass in Oregon to catch the freeway, the only advantage that came out of it was I went past Mount Shasta where I took her before I proposed a year later.


For those of you wondering where I have been posting this from I stayed with some friends in Sacramento.

I'm leaving tomorrow to head down the coast of California to my next destination see you on the road...

794 Miles... Part 2

After leaving Crescent City I rose up into the hills and was greeted by a beautiful fog that moved around like a ballet dancer drifting across the road in a symphony of nature.



On my way to the tree that you can drive through I stopped off to witness Paul Bunyon talking to kids that were abusing his boots.








As I drove n my way to Klamath I saw a highway sign saying slow down that there was congestion of traffic from people on the bridge, when I got there I discovered the bridge packed with people that appeared to be shifting from one side of the bridge to the other and being curious I pulled off on the other side thinking everyone was looking at the view so while standing there taking pictures I happened to look down, what had drawn all these people together was a baby whale that had swam up the mouth and was stuck in the area, it made the national news.






I left there to go find the tree you can drive through and asked the person at the window if I could pour some of my wife's ashes up there, she said that is fine she had done that with her late husband and she loved what I was doing so while I was there I poured a little more of Margie in the forest around it, as for the the tree buy a postcard for 25 cents you get the same effect I payed $5.00 and was kind of unimpressed after seeing the giant redwoods.
When I came out I stopped at a little cafe across the street to eat lunch, they had Emus so I took a picture.

794 Miles... Part 1

Time is a fascinating one minute you have enough and the next your wondering where did it go, that is kind of how things worked out this last couple of days.
The most difficult thing I have had is to upload videos, still trying to get the hang of that so I will post pictures and get some software to make posting videos easier, speaking of post if mine look funky bear with me I'm learning. :)

When I left off I was in Cave Junction being hosted by Carol and Jack, I recorded a video of me spreading some of Margie's ashes under Carols old rose bush which I will post later.

The next day I packed up the car and headed down the coast to the Redwood National Forest.
When I entered the forest I was struck by the size of these trees, redwoods as high as the eye could see, giants who's age could only be imagined wearing bark cloaks weathered and scarred, time forever captured in rings of their existence, I pulled off the road to examine them and take pictures as metal boxes rushed by me oblivious to the canopy above them, unaware of the ancient voices that floated through the air...
After leaving the forest I headed into Crescent city to get some gas my intention was to go see the drive through tree which was in in Klamath.
When I got to Crescent City I saw the California coast line with surfers I knew I was not in Oregon anymore.

Still in Cave Junction...

Forgot to mention to my followers I am being hosted here by a very dear friend of my wife Carol Hobbs and her husband Jack.
When you come to Carols house be ready to eat she used to be a cook for the workers on the Alaska pipeline, she is also a professional cook and it shows, when I come here I can expect to have the best food imaginable, she is gracious and kind and I respect her greatly.
Carol Is standing next to an old rose where I poured some more of Margie's ashes last night. I have a video but I have to upload it later.

When I was younger she used to come over to our house and kidnap us kids then feed us at her house so my mom could sleep.
My wife and Carol knew each other for a very long time, they were the best of friends in good times and bad and though she was not a blood sister she was a sister none the less...
I will be leaving here in an hour on my way to the Redwood National Park.