7 States, 2 Provinces and 2,321 Miles

“Road trippin’ with my two favorite allies, fully loaded, we’ve got snacks and supplies…” (Sing in the appropriate Red Hot Chili Peppers tune)  No doubt everyone reading this can relate to the lyrics, and remembers a road trip of epically fun proportions…

Starting out on this journey I wasn’t so sure…I was about to cover nearly 2,500 miles in a week, to attend a completely unexpected and tragic Celebration of Life.  Not only this, I was about to do so with my parents and backseat partner Charlie, a 63 lb. dog.

Charlie & I 

We don’t always choose our travel situations or route.  As is the case here, sometimes the most negatively purposed, unforeseen trips yield incredible memories we will cherish forever.

Leaving my parent’s condo in a lush Palm Desert golf community, we were quickly surrounded by the Mojave Desert and entering Joshua Tree National Park.  What a spectacular sight with rugged mountains resembling stacked boulders rising hundreds of feet into the air.  These interesting geologic displays were created over 100 million years ago from the cooling of magma under the earth’s surface.  Groundwater erosion is responsible for the unique structures you can see against the clear blue sky today.  A rock climbers paradise, Joshua Tree provides habitat for 712 higher plant species, 40 reptile species, 41 mammal species, and 240 bird species.

Joshua Tree National Park

After Joshua Tree the Mojave went on for miles, as we drove through southeastern California spotting a red fox, a couple rattlers slithering across the highway, and a road runner – mbeep mbeep!  Passing through the corner of Arizona and then into Nevada, stunning red and copper plateau mountains surfaced.  It wasn’t long before the vehicle was driving itself along the flat, straight stretches of Utah into Salt Lake City for the night.

Palm Desert to Salt Lake City = 713 miles/1,147 km.

Up bright and early with a dog staring us awake, on the road again it was.  Rolling along, surrounded almost 360 degrees by magnificent mountains we were soon crossing into Idaho, and then Montana.  Charlie committed a new phrase to his repertoire of doggy data, ‘rest stop’.  He was motivated to learn this as it meant he could play in the snow patches, tire himself out, then cuddle up to me with muddy paws for the next leg of the journey.  Night fell and we hit the hay in Great Falls, Montana. 

Salt Lake City to Great Falls = 571 miles/919 km.

As the sun rose, my mom and I saluted to the northeast and the Ross Family Ranch (my great, great grandfather founded the ranch in 1886 in Chinook, Montana).  As its calving season, we reckoned the ranch folk would be wide awake and hard at work.  Down yonder a ways, Charlie, an American Dog of Australian decent, was waived through the border into Canada at Sweetgrass, along with his handlers.  From here it was all down hill to Calgary, Alberta, the final destination for now. 

Great Falls to Calgary = 324 miles/ 521 km.

Spending 4 days in Calgary came with mixed emotions.  The chance to see my aunties and my cousins, and to share precious memories was the start to a tough healing process after the loss of my beloved Uncle Tim.  A man full of love and light, and inspiration to an uncountable number, my Uncle Tim was one of a kind.  May your soul rest in peace.

Cousins - Peter, Blair, Heather & Parker

Charlie was also thrilled to meet his dog cousins, Rio and Enzo.  Two equally mischievous pups, all three were perfect playmates.  Tearing Charlie away, with a few new tricks in his inventory, we hit the road again amid a snow storm moving in and even gloomier emotions.  We wound our way through Crows Nest Pass, and said goodbye to the homeland of British Columbia as we headed back south to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Calgary to Coeur d’Alene = 401 miles/645 km.

Coeur d’Alene is a charming little town, and was a chance for my parents to reminisce on the days of their youth and their first date over 38 years ago!  A day in Idaho and a tour of Gonzaga University in Spokane completed the trip down memory lane, and then finally it was across Washington State back to Seattle. I think we were all ready to be home, except possibly Charlie, who is only granted bed privileges in hotels.

Charlie & Rio

Coeur d’Alene to Seattle = 312 miles/502 km.

It was a long haul filled with dog kisses and parental opinions, but it was one of the most special road trips I have ever taken.  I wouldn’t call it epically fun, but I will cherish this time with my family.  We have all learned in the most unfortunate of circumstance, that everything can change in a split second as you could never imagine.  Tell those you love, that you love them and be kind to everyone around you.  You never know how much this could mean.  Namaste.