Monday, October 26, 2015

A Cross Country Adventure Continues!



Welcome back to my Cross Country Adventure event. I'm loving living our trek across the USA a second time. I remember how excited I was and how I fell in love with our amazing country. 

If you didn't read yesterday's post make sure to have a look at the beginning of our journey and leave a comment for a chance at winning yesterday's prize. 


And so ... on with the adventure - Entry Two.


Wednesday, October 04, 2006


"I'd hoped to write sooner, but the motels/hotels are set up for wireless computers. I'm definitely behind the times and in need of an upgrade. When we stop for the night I have to find a place to plug in.

We're making our way across Kansas and I'm writing like mad. There's so much I need to get from my brain to the computer - story ideas, notes on the terrain, interesting locations, and of course I've got to stay in touch with my readers.


I'm only four days out and already I'm in awe. Creation is amazing!


When I left home I thought I knew pretty much what I'd find. Wrong! So Wrong! I knew nothing about the uniqueness and beauty waiting for me to discover it. And it's clear to me that none of it happened by evolution or whatever reason "reasonable" people want to use. This country was hand-made by God.


I wish I could take all of you along so you could see firsthand what I've seen. There are no words that can appropriately describe it, but I'll do my best.


In Eastern Oregon, my husband and I wandered off the highway to have a look at the Painted Hills. It's hard to believe I've lived in Oregon a quarter of a century and have never heard of the Painted Hills. They are impressive to say the least. In the midst of the desert, at the John Day Fossil Beds, are hills that look as if a master artist painted them. There are broad vistas and striped hills of white, red, and green. It was a place of serenity - God's handiwork. (If you've read the book, To Dance With Dolphins, you know the adventure really begins here - no spoilers please).

Idaho offered interesting landscapes and historical locations. We spent a few hours at Three Island Crossing State Park, a place where pioneers once made their way down steep bluffs to the Snake River and then crossed the river by ferry. Those early settlers were truly courageous.

Utah had breathtaking vistas, and the fall colors were at their zenith. More than once I found myself close t tears as I thought about the day God created this earth and how He knew I'd be making this journey and that I would see what He had created. Wow!




Nothing could prepare me for the San Rafael Swell and San Rafael Valley in Eastern Utah. The panoramas took my breath away. I couldn't contain my joy. I kept exclaiming, 'Oh my gosh! Look at that! Look at that!' My camera came out and I filled an entire card.





A man we met at the vista point said the valleys and canyons are called "'The Baby Grand Canyon."' Baby my foot! It was an amazing place - deep canyons, rocks of all shapes and sizes and colors, and rock formations that looked like castles, giant stove pipes, swirling rivers, and one reminded me of the Parthenon and ... well there isn't enough room to describe them all. What an amazing God we have.


When we wound our way down out of these mountains I must admit to being a little frightened. The highway was steep - and winding and the canyons deep. Heights have always been a challenge for me and I think that might be where my character Taylor might have inherited her fear of heights. *Shiver*  


Taylor
(One of my travelers.)



Yesterday, we had a picnic in the Western Rocky Mountains and today we continued our climb over the mountains. At 12,000 feet we got out and played in the snow. Not for long, however. The air is thin at 12,000 feet.  




After our frolic, we made our way down to the prairies that lie to the east, and again, it was more than I expected - lovely rolling grasslands, and huge ranches and farms. 

All in all it's been great so far. We've met interesting people, seen extraordinary places and story ideas are flowing. I've had a few bad moments - I'm sleep deprived and my body is complaining, but I'm excited about what is to come. There is still so much country to see and people to meet.

Thanks to all of you who are praying for my husband and me. I hope to be back online soon with more of our adventure.

God bless.


That's the end of my second journal entry. I want to go back and see all of these gorgeous places again.

I have a second prize. And a second question. My character Taylor was afraid of heights and a lot of other things. What gives you the willies? Answer the question and leave your email address and you will be eligible for today's prize which is ... 

A one pound bag of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses
all dressed up for Christmas.



Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie





16 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:30 PM

    I'm with you re heights. Even if I'm perfectly safe--my throat constricts, my stomach rolls 'n drops down into my wobbly legs---it's quite awful as I know I miss some of the awesome wonder of wherever I am. But it's truly a physiological thing--I'm not just making it up! But through the years I've been up "there"--be it on a log, a mountain ledge, a tree, a roof top---quivering all the way but trying to be a good sport. Not trying to conquer any fear---those days are gone! But I do hope I still just attempt it, anyway... while moaning and kvetching all the way... wha wha... :(

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  2. Heights have always bothered me. I even have trouble watching a cliff-side scene on television. My legs get this real weird feeling and I just can't watch until the scene is over. And driving cliff roads is awful ... except for the one I drive everyday back and forth to my house. So thankful I can drive that one. I think it's the trees along the edge of the road that help, not so open that way.

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  3. Definitely with you on the heights. Took two people to the Space Needle while they were here and hugged the inside wall for a long time. Trying very hard to get over this one. Last time I went up there I went to the outer circle and worked hard to get over my fears. Working on it! Claustrophobia gets me, too. Strange how these things have come later in life. I think the number of times I've had c-sections with the drape right in my face and being tied down has made it worse. Oh, and I'm with you on the commercials, etc. There's one where the woman's on top of this formation that's maybe 2X3 feet and very, very far off the ground. I cover my eyes every time it's on!
    lworley416@yahoo.com

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  4. Heights, and Roller Coasters and snakes give me the Willies!
    God bless you
    Have a great trip
    Chris Granville
    granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet
    Bonnie You will be missing a very wet week

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  5. Sue Bakken9:38 AM

    I can't stand the feeling that comes over me when I swim in a deep lake. As if something is going to touch my feet. Gives me shivers just thinking about it!

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  6. Lynn, I've gotten worse with age too. What's with that? When I was young I remember thinking "oldsters" stressed less. But that's not what I'm hearing from senior citizens.

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  7. Hah Chris! I love your list.

    I used to love roller coasters, but I'm sure they'd make me sick now. And never minded snakes much, but spiders - ewww.

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  8. Sue, I can remember feeling like that when we used to swim in the lakes. Do you remember the time you and I and Debbie took a boat out on Lake Meridian in the middle of the night? And then jumped in. That was fun!

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  9. I have a few fears: hubby's cancer returning, public speaking, snakes, hauntings or evil things, dentists. Those are the biggies. Spiders and bugs don't bother me though I'm not thrilled if one is ON me and I'm not expecting it... some less fears, but still there, are fear of losing my mom (she's 83...and her mom lived to be a 100, so I'm hoping I don't have to worry about it for a while, but I still do), fear of loud noises (maybe that's a sensitivity, not a fear, but I get twitchy around balloons and things that can produce those noises...), fear of getting Alzheimer's like my dad who got it when he was 62, fear of not having enough money to live on, think that's all that pop into my brain at the moment. donnamorkreed@gmail.com

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  10. Donna, thank you for being so transparent.

    It's true, life is full of pitfalls. It can be a scary place. I honestly don't know how I'd make it without knowing God has things under control.

    Bless you.

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  11. Heights but I do go hiking I just have learned not to look down I look straight.

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  12. don't like snakes! ! or heights, both give me the heebee jeebies :)
    dkstevensneAToutlookD otCOM Branson is on my bucket list!

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  13. Spiders or strange fast moving bugs and I'm scared to death of the dentist. I'd rather birth a baby! For real.

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  14. Heights!..choking..slugs!

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  15. Fainting when I'm up high on something like a ladder. Its never happened but sometimes I get dizzy.... oooh and unidentified creepy looking spiders :( nmountainspringatgmail

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  16. That is some scary stuff, for sure. So much fun to hear about your fears and to know I'm not alone.

    I'll be drawing the winners tonight.

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