Dear Friends, Apologies for the long lapse in communications. Of course, I have no way of knowing if there is anyone out there who has persevered in spite of the dearth, but just in case, thank you for being a part of this remarkable year.
The last chapter reported on the two intrepid travelers in Idaho and Montana, and since then there have been adventures aplenty. However, since I have completed the circle, returned to Maryland, but have fallen so far behind in my writing, this post will be the last one, a dizzying and abbreviated tour of the second half of the year. During the coming year I hope to write up the whole trip, with photos, and if you might be interested in finding out about this, feel free to contact me at pennyspeachydrive2@hotmail.com.
Penny and Peachy On The Road, Washington to Maryland:
> The Yakima, Hood River, and Imperial Valleys, growing everything from fruit to nuts - and rice, olives, and vegetables in between
>A week with Park Ranger Son John in the Olympic Peninsula, surrounded by trees, incredible scenery, moss, and more trees
>Christmas with lots of family but not much snow at Lake Tahoe (Peachy's tire chains are still untried)
> A magical drive along the Pacific Coast with photo ops at every turn. California missions, Hearst Castle, seals sunbathing on the sand
> Border Patrol vehicles and checkpoints all along the border with Mexico, blue jeans among the sagebrush discarded by folks swimming across rather than walking over a bridge
> Hot springs, petroglyphs, tumble weeds, cliff dwellings, hostels, snakes, egrets, turtles, pelicans, dolphins, a jack rabbit, 13 javelins, and two bald eagles
> Thousands of daffodils planted by the roadsides, wild azaleas perfuming the air, curtains of wisteria draping 70 foot tree tops, and cypress knees wading in dark water
> Old forts, adobe ruins, earth-sheltered houses, and dwellings on stilts
> Warm welcomes at churches of many denominations, fellowship at church suppers, and helping to rebuild in Biloxi
>Beaches, deserts, cliffs, canyons, snow, jungles, mountains, lakes, rivers,
> Avocados, cherries, honey, walnuts strawberries, corn meal, eggs, dates, pine nuts and smoked salmon purchased from markets, roadside stands, and trucks by the side of the road
> Nice people who gave me directions, repaired Peachy, sold me propane and toothpaste, chatted around campfires, shared meals, and welcomed me into their church families
I sincerely hope that because of our trip more people are aware of Church World Service's "Water for Life, Water for All" program and that an extra well or two will be dug in an area of great need.
On a personal note, this trip was, in the words of my son-in-law, "Penny's Excellent Adventure". I reveled in the space and quiet, delighted in the new itinerary each day, and relearned appreciation for things as every-day and exceptional as sunrises, sunsets, stars, clouds, geology, and the generations who have blazed trails for us. My profound thanks to everyone who helped make this journey happen!
Shalom, Penny and Peachy
