Family, Friends, & A Few Strangers (by Sunshine)

As we enter the final week of our journey, I find myself sorting through a mixture of feelings. One that rises to the top is gratitude. This adventure would not have been as enjoyable and functional without the support of so many family and friends. 

Walden enjoyed getting packages sent from home

Unlike some travelers we’ve met, we didn’t sell everything we own, quit our jobs, and leave behind everything that was familiar. That meant we had to make arrangements for upkeep of the life we will return to. Mail was forwarded to Jim’s parents who sorted it, paid necessary bills, and mailed us important items when we had an address to ship to. Our neighbors watched over our home, emptied the dehumidifier, and filled the bird feeders. Jim’s coworkers mowed the yard and made sure our other vehicle will still run when we get back. Jim’s coworkers also took on extra responsibilities at Schmeeckle while he’s been away; teaching, managing the reserve, and mentoring students. For all of this we are so appreciative. It is comforting to know everything at home will be okay when we return.

As we’ve traveled we’ve made stops at the homes of so many family and friends. Before leaving on our trip we thought of these stops as brief layovers from the “real” journey through national parks and other outdoor sites we wanted to visit. We were surprised from the very beginning of the trip with how much more rewarding and beneficial these stops were for us. Staying with family and friends at their homes became some of the favorite and most memorable parts of our journey. For Walden, they were places to spread out, play, use a bathtub, and visit with pets. He really enjoyed all of our home stays. For Jim and I, they were places to cook in a real kitchen, do laundry, use the Internet, fix and clean the Burro, and take care of an assortment of other necessary day-to-day activities that were more challenging to do on the road. More important than any of those things, they were time to visit with people we don’t often get to see. We really enjoyed seeing people’s homes, they towns they live in, the places they enjoy visiting. There is something very different about visiting with people when they come to Wisconsin for a brief vacation or holiday. When we visited people at their homes we were fortunate to get a glimpse into their “real” lives. So for everyone we stayed with - We feel fortunate to have become part of your lives, even if it was for a short time. It has made us feel closer to you. We learned to ask for help when we needed it and always received more than we expected. It was so fulfilling to be part of all of your lives and we are so grateful for all you provided. These visits have become an important part of our story.

So much to be thankful for

Then there are the strangers we crossed paths with on the trip. Random people we camped near who were kind enough to let Walden visit with their dogs and then allow him to tour their campers when he asked. People who offered advice on where to camp or what sites to see in an area they were more familiar with than we were. Jim once left his camera bag (containing camera, extra lens, video camera, and flash drive containing our financial information) in a play area at a roadside fruit stand in California. When we discovered it was missing 45 minutes later and called the place in a panic, we learned someone had found it and turned it in. On another occasion, Jim discovered he had lost his cell phone. We turned around and drove 20 minutes back to the last place we had been. Jim used my phone to call his phone and the woman who found it walked it up from the lake where she was spending the afternoon with her family. We were fortunate on both occasions that kind, honest people had found the lost items. Before we left on our journey, we talked about all kinds of unfortunate things that could have occurred on the trip. We tried to minimize potential theft by locking our battery, propane, spare tire, and storage box on the Burro. We were conscious to never leave important items (computer, purse, etc.) in view in the car. What we found in most places we visited is that we felt safe and had to worry little about our possessions. Generally people are good, kind, honest, and helpful. For that we are thankful and feel blessed. 

Now that we are headed home, we’d love to have visitors. If you are traveling and find yourself near Stevens Point, please drop us a line. We’ll show you some of our favorite places, make you a meal, and share our home.