Jll's sabbatical recap

We returned home on Saturday to mixed emotions. Sad the summer of fun was over and overwhelmingly grateful for our time away and to be safely home without any real challenges. We reflected on the people and places we were able to visit. The friends and family are always a huge part of these trips. We are so grateful to have claimed time with my sister Julie, Mike Patron, and the Inman family in Montana, The Jarrett, Alley, and Moore families in Seattle, the Dirkers in Hood River, my in-laws in San Fran, and the DiBenedettos in Huntington Beach. Special thanks to the Jarretts for babysitting the Honda and allowing us to use their home as our launch to and return from Alaska. Jules, for absorbing us always and without effort, and the DiBenedettos for babysitting the RV and essentially housing my crew for a week. You all made our time away so much better. Thank you all for joining the McLains on the Road.

We had such a wonderful time being together. Some of our favorite things to do all summer have been playing games; Rook, Palace, Yahtzee, and Monopoly. We like to sing together and have lots of inside jokes. We have eaten some very yummy ice cream, done a lot of swimming, eating out, playing groundies, watching movies, playing with slime, and holding hands.

It wasn't pure bliss all of the time. Real life challenges travel on the road with you as well. We always try to remind the children that our brains capture the top 10% of the good memories and the bottom 10% of the not so good memories. It is true, most of what we do in life gets forgotten in the middle 80%. That is ok. And it is ok to have some not so great experiences as long as lessons are learned and you are resilient and bounce back quickly from them. Those things can turn out to be good memories too, as many of them did for us. Here are a few of the things we might categorize in the bottom 10%; rain, heat, mosquitoes, flat tires, bike stealing, missed flights, minor injuries and colds, cracked windshields, dented car dollys, cracked bumpers, broken bike brakes, and wrong ways on scenic bypasses. These experiences made our time away just as rich as all the glorious things we saw and did together.

We were on the road for 75 days, made 44 stops along the way, visited 11 states, had at least 10 visits with friends and family, toured 9 National Parks, had 7 opportunities to worship in a new place and way, and took 5 flights. Here are the high points!

Rock Springs, WY-Claim to fame is the way-point to Jackson Hole.
Jackson Hole, WY-Revisited the many places and memories of when we visited Julie here in 2006-2008.
Grand Teton National Park, WY-So much rain and a really good bike ride with the girls.
Yellowstone National Park, MT-Great animal sightings, geysers and mud pots, bears, buffalo and waterfalls.
Bozeman, MT-Family time, fish hatchery, hiking and Rigby.
Glacier National Park, MT-Going to the Sun bike ride, boat ride, hiking, and Magnolia and Dagny's fairy village creation.
Whitefish, MT-Christ Lutheran Church
Coeur d'Alene, ID-Splashing in the lake, Hudson's, and hours on the playground.
Seattle, WA-Underground tour, Museum of Flight, ferry ride, Brewer's Fest, Mariners game, Pikes, Dick's, bike ride, Jarrett pool day and dinner, MoPop.
Sitka, AK-Tide pools, Science Center, ocean raft adventure, Russian dancers, raptor center, and fair.
Anchorage, AK-Saint Mary's Episcopal Church. Most McLains surprised by communion wine instead of grape juice.
Whittier, AK-Glacier cruise through Prince William Sound
Homer, AK-The Spit, Salty Dog Saloon, beach time, and lots of moose.
Wasilla, AK-Claim to fame is way-point to Denali.
Denali National Park, AK-12 hour bus ride, great animal sightings, sled dogs, off trail hike and raft trip.
Healy, AK-Valley Chapel Assembly of God church. McLains were half the congregation.
Talkeetna, AK-quirky little stop on the way back to Anchorage.
Cascade Locks, OR-PC Trail bridge between OR and WA, bike ride to ice cream and salmon/cherry vendor.
Hood River, OR-4th of July celebrations with the Dirkers to include the slip n slide party and parade.
Bandon Dunes, OR-Golf, punch bowl putting green, beach day with Magnolia.
Petaluma, CA-biggest KOA, magic show, giant playground and pool, petting zoo, and climbing wall.  Replaced our wrecked tire.
San Francisco, CA-Visit from Papa and Nana, Musee Mecanique, sour dough, cable cars, Chinatown, fortune cookie factory, Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Sausalito.
Pacifica, CA-Stayed right on the ocean, whale watching, bike ride with D to watch the para-gliders.
South Lake Tahoe, CA-Girls and boys day bike rides, goofy flea market, KOA church.
Yosemite National Park, CA-Ebbetts Pass scenic byway, so much smoke from forest fires led to our early exit.
Santa Cruz, CA-Biking through our KOA, surfing lessons, walking the pier and checking out sea lions.
Montery Bay, CA-The aquarium.
Pebble Beach, CA-Our night at the Inn at Spanish Bay and the bag piper.
Carmel, CA-Fancy shops and my yummy chocolate macaroon.
San Simeon, CA-Very cool tour of the Hearst Castle.
Huntington Beach, CA-Swimming in the DiBenedetto's pool, wiffle ball, meals together, Knott's Berry Farm, beach time and bonfire, bridge jumping in the harbor and Saint Bonaventure Catholic Church.
Hollywood, CA-Pinks, the wax museum, Hollywood sign, Ripleys and Guiness.
Denver, CO-Rockies game and time with Grands and friends.
Allenspark, CO-All things Scates.
Las Vegas, NV-Hoover Dam, crazy heat, Blue Man Group and walking the Strip.
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ-South Rim hiking and bike ride. Viewing sunrise and sunset.
Page, AZ-Antelope Canyon slot canyon tour.
Kanabe, AZ-Cliffview Chapel Baptist Church. Most welcoming church all summer.
Panguitch, UT-Horseback ride and meeting the Nelsons from Ithica.
Zion National Park, UT-Hiking the Narrows. Our most favorite hike all summer.
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT-Hoodoos and hiking the Navajo loop and Queens Garden trails, celebrating Dagny's 12th birthday!
Moab, UT-great pool, UTV ride, and more hanging out with our new friends from NY.
Arches National Park, UT-Delicate Arch hike.
Glenwood Springs, CO-Hot springs and Palisade peaches.

Our favorite stops were where we could spend time with our friends and family, but my favorite stops were we didn't have friends or family to visit were Yellowstone, Coeur d'Alene, Sitka, South Lake Tahoe, Santa Cruz, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Moab.

I keep telling my crew, I will show you the whole world and Colorado is still the very best place to live in the entire world. Colorado you have my loyalty forever. So grateful for travel and for home. My favorite place I have ever been is the next place I am visiting!

Jll