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| Parker & Tate, 7/23/11 |
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| Warming up by the fire |
After breakfast on Saturday morning we began the process of packing up & heading out. We had a great time together. Everyone helped out with the work & we collected more memories. We look forward to more family reunions, Fredrickson - style.
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| Leave me to my meal! |
After leaving Wallowa Lake State Park we stopped at the memorial to Chief Joseph. Paul remembered doing a report on him many years ago in school. It was interesting to see that many treasures had been left for the Chief on this memorial, things like feathers & bright colorful rocks. Are these treasures a cache or maybe a show of remembering the sacrifice of someone who came before?
After this brief stop we continued on our way west to La Grande & south toward home.
For the first several miles the kids reminisced about their experiences over the past few days. Soon the voices quieted.
A funny thing to remember about the drive into the hotel in Nampa was the fuel story. We had considered stopping for fuel in La Grande but after calculating the miles to Ontario & the great fuel economy the truck gets we decided not to. Over the next several hours as we slept, played games & gazed out the window, Paul occasionally checked the computerized fuel monitor (you know, the one that tells you the number of "miles to empty").
So far so good.
Coming into Baker we decided we'd still have enough to get us to Ontario so we kept on the road.
Soon the hills began.
And the miles to empty began dropping by 10 - 30 or 40 at a time.
Our hearts started beating faster.
We silently prayed.
I silently prepared contingencies for being stuck on the side of the road or walking to the nearesttown site of human existence together.
Still the hills rolled on.
And the "miles to empty" dropped even faster.
The phrase "sweating bullets" comes to mind.
Over the next crest we could see Ontario in the distance.
Out came the GPS: "fuel stations"
Which one will be cheaper?
What, really?
Won't matter if we can't get there.
As we take the exit to the fuel station, our dear, sweet Parker looks at the computerized monitor and very sincerely states, "There's only 6 miles to empty, does that concern anyone?"
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| 7/23/11 |
After this brief stop we continued on our way west to La Grande & south toward home.
For the first several miles the kids reminisced about their experiences over the past few days. Soon the voices quieted.
A funny thing to remember about the drive into the hotel in Nampa was the fuel story. We had considered stopping for fuel in La Grande but after calculating the miles to Ontario & the great fuel economy the truck gets we decided not to. Over the next several hours as we slept, played games & gazed out the window, Paul occasionally checked the computerized fuel monitor (you know, the one that tells you the number of "miles to empty").
So far so good.
Coming into Baker we decided we'd still have enough to get us to Ontario so we kept on the road.
Soon the hills began.
And the miles to empty began dropping by 10 - 30 or 40 at a time.
Our hearts started beating faster.
We silently prayed.
I silently prepared contingencies for being stuck on the side of the road or walking to the nearest
Still the hills rolled on.
And the "miles to empty" dropped even faster.
The phrase "sweating bullets" comes to mind.
Over the next crest we could see Ontario in the distance.
Out came the GPS: "fuel stations"
Which one will be cheaper?
What, really?
Won't matter if we can't get there.
As we take the exit to the fuel station, our dear, sweet Parker looks at the computerized monitor and very sincerely states, "There's only 6 miles to empty, does that concern anyone?"
Overcome with relief I couldn't contain myself...
I laughed a good deep & cleansing laugh.
Ahhhhhhhhhh.
So with 6 miles to empty, we pulled into the fuel station.
The nozzle went into the tank & the truck drank.
And drank.
And drank.
And drank.
We spent that night in Nampa. The kids of course loved playing in the pool. I took a great nap in the lounge chair. We had Panda Express for dinner & watched the Discovery Channel. We had two separate hotel rooms & the boys were living up this experience. Kyralyn stayed close to Mom & Dad. Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel & drove home. We love family vacations!
(P.S. We didn't have to fuel up again)
So with 6 miles to empty, we pulled into the fuel station.
The nozzle went into the tank & the truck drank.
And drank.
And drank.
And drank.
We spent that night in Nampa. The kids of course loved playing in the pool. I took a great nap in the lounge chair. We had Panda Express for dinner & watched the Discovery Channel. We had two separate hotel rooms & the boys were living up this experience. Kyralyn stayed close to Mom & Dad. Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel & drove home. We love family vacations!
(P.S. We didn't have to fuel up again)
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