Let's Wrap This Up!

Mock Rocket, Almagordo, NM
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Well, finally, here it is-- the much threatened trip summary. We've been home a month, survived X-mas and New Year's and somewhere in there found some time to think about the miles and the things we saw.

The stats--There were  7126 miles

Max Vending, Ed the Alien, Izzard the Lizard, FYI and Dan the Driver say Hey

under FYI's serpentine belt after 30 days of travel. States and parts of states traveled included WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, CO, AZ, NM, and CA. One big regret is that

Hardware Store, Mountainaire, NM
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we did not drop into Texas for some Bar-B-Cue.

We crashed 4 nights with family, one night in a motel and the rest in the back of

FYI or under the stars.

Approximately eight pounds of Teriyaki beef jerky was consumed with an

Mt Borah panorarma, ID
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equal weight of nuts and dried fruit. Gas ranged from $2.75 a gallon to $4.78. Temperature ranged from 0 degrees to 81 degrees F. We didn't see nearly

the support for Bush and the Republican agenda that we expected. The

troops were supported, the war not so much. Conversations I had or

overheard were about gas prices and the worry and need for more rain.

Pelican Tragedy, Salton Sea, CA
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We found that 90% of the stuff loaded into FYI at the beginning of the trip was not only never used but needed to be repacked constantly. Regret #2 is that we didn't pull over, make a nice stack of stuff at the side of the road, and drive away.

People are nice and interesting more than not. People like to have their pictures taken.

For the next trip-- We will be mentally flexible, we will get more sleep and take the time to enjoy the regional cuisine. We will bring good maps. We will take the bare minimum of gear and trust the road tell us what we need.

Road Memorial, Craters of the Moon, ID
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In short, we will put ourselves into the world as earnest travelers of the human

kind and put our trust  behind that decision. We're hoping this happens sooner than later and that the wife can go with. Until next trip, Max Vending, Ed the Alien, Izzard the Lizard, FYI and Dan the Driver say Hey.

PS-- Here are some more pics from all over the place for your visual enjoyment.

PPS-- Those sounds FYI started making? The clutch plate and bearing, the catalytic converter, the pulley bearing and the serpentine belt. FYI feels better now.