home!

Carmen made us blueberry protein pancakes and coffee to get our day started right. After breakfast we were anxious to get on the road. Just as we were pulling out both our phones started ringing. Our neighbor, John was calling Bruce and our neighbor, Natasha was calling me. Turns out the city of Wichita didn’t like one of the trees in our front yard. So they cut it down. This feels all kinds of wrong. They said that it was on city property, although it was about 8 feet into our front yard. If that’s city property, why have we been mowing and watering it? They also said that they left a notice about it, but we did not ever see one. And why are tax payers paying to cut down a tree in someone’s yard that is not affecting anything in the city? The good news is that the tree was sick or had bugs because it was half dead. I have been planning to at least cut the dead parts out for some time. Now I don’t have to.

A huge shout out to our neighbors who have been keeping an eye on our house. They have made sure our flag was flying and not down in the garden. They mowed our lawn. They let us know if there was a strange car in the driveway (this was a big job since Josh and Caroline came by multiple times to move things out). John even watered our plants many times. We appreciate them so much!! This is probably also a good time to thank Bruce’s mom, Harriett and our daughter, Annie. They got our mail and came by many times to check on the house. I was worried about ants invading, so Harriett even cleaned the kitchen counter several different times. And I’m happy to report – no ants!

We could tell we were on the home stretch when we started seeing the Kansas farmland. Even the brown wheat fields partially covered in snow looked beautiful (I don’t think “stunning” or “amazing” would actually work here. “pretty” maybe. But why change a good thing?)

Also the interstate was immediately smoother when we crossed the state line. Do I sound biased? Guess Colorado is using all that maryjane money on other things.

As we were about to turn onto K96, about 5 miles from our house, Bruce said to me, “Would you be ok, if we stopped by some place and did a quick wash of the RV?” Are you serious? How did that thought even cross your mind? We have not been home in 7 weeks and you are going to make me wait, so you can WASH THE RV? NO! NO WAY! NADA! NO, NO, NO!! We did not stop. I think he heard me. Annie and Kinsley were waiting on the porch when we drove up. Annie had brought over dinner for us and Harriett. We used paper plates to ease back in to normal life. And to ease the clean up. What a wonderful welcome home!

Nana and Kinsley

Some stats:

Beginning Odometer = 19,670

Ending Odometer = 26,583.

Harvey miles driven = 6,913;

Miles biked by Bruce = 2,470; Average miles biked/day = 67

Feet ascended = 73,136;

Days away from home = 48;

Days biking across the US from Atlantic to Pacific = 40; (which includes 3 rest days & 2 days that were supposed to be rest days)

Total hours of actual biking from Atlantic to Pacific = tbd;

Peanut butter sandwiches prepared by me and eaten by Bruce = 27;

Bags of Stacey’s chips consumed during the trip = 14;

Bags of ice to keep the biker hydrated and cool=19

Gallons of gas consumed by Harvey = 835; $1,703.67 (8.3 mpg yikes!)

Total spent on RV parks/lodging for 48 nights = $874

Dollars spent by me at little shops across the country = haha, not gonna tell!