WHAT A DRIVE!!!!

Dear FFF

Well, I have driven over 2400 miles, BUT I am almost there!  I am spending the night in Ellensburg, WA and think I will only have a few hours tomorrow to get to the Puget Sound.  It has been the most phenominal drive!!! 

Glacier National Park in northwest Montana is by far, the most beautiful place I have ever been!!  The Rocky Mountains are breathtaking...every curve in the road is a sight more beautiful than the last.  I spent a full day there, but that certainly wasn't enough.  I will have to go back.  For one thing, I had a reservation to take a helicopter ride over the park, but it rained and the fog rolled in.  I did however hike and saw mt. goats, deer, fox, prarie dogs, and even a young black bear. Driving on a main road, a horse walked out of the woods, very slowly, and came towards my van.  Turns out I was in the middle of the Blackfoot reservation and apparently the indian ponies have free reign! 

The Columbia River in Washington is also an awesome sight.  Hard to believe Lewis and Clark made the same trek I just made, and they did it without a car or McDonalds coffee. Can't imagine it!

I am looking forward to finding a furnished place to rent and getting a job.  I miss working.  I am going to look into working for a cruise line.....that way I might get to go to Alaska FREE!!  Who knows?  After I get settled, I will let evryone know where I am and what I am doing.  Look forward to getting emails from all of you!

Luv, GJ

Go West Young Woman............

Dear FFF

I am offically on my way to the Seattle area!  I left Ludington, Mi Saturday, 9:00 and took the SS Badger car ferry over to Manitowoc, WI.  (played bingo on the way over and won a deck of cards!) It was a four hour ride, then in my van and off to Minneapolis to meet up with my old friends, Al and Linda.  They invited me to stay and have dinner with them then as their overnight guest.  It was like staying in House Beautiful!  And so nice to catch up with some great friends.

I left this morning and drove to Minot, ND and proceeded to find a charming bed and breakfast in town.  Those accomodations are always my first choice and glad I could find one.

I will make it into Montana tomorrow, but it will take me 2 days to get through that state.  If I have a place with WIFI I will give everyone a quick update.  So far, an easy drive across route 2.

Gypsy Joyce

WRAPPING UP ALBUQUERQUE

Dear FFF
It has been a great adventure, but time to move on!  I leave the 16th for Columbus to get ready for Haley, and Abbey's graduations.  I have had a wonderful time helping my friends and seeing all the sights at the same time.  Last Wednesday I took my first hot air balloon ride...............absolutely fabulous!  Another thing to check off my bucket list.  Tomorrow Gina and I are headed for Santa Fe for some more history.  More later...................GJ

SUNNY SOUTHWEST

Dear FFF:

Arrived in Albuquerque Saturday, April 21.  Flew from Columbus to Houston in the smallest jet........held 50 people!  One of those that parks at the gate and passengers walk down the ladder and across the tarmac.  Haven't done that in a long time.  Two seats on one side of the aisle and one on the other.  Then boarded the same type plane from Houston to Albuquerque.

Let me tell you, New Mexico is not like the Midwest!  Everything here is BROWN!  However, the sky is the bluest blue I have ever seen, so I just keep looking up!  Joanne's house is quite close to the Sandia Mt. (brown) but it is still fun to look at.  The elevation is just enough higher than I am used to so I am getting nose bleeds every day.  Dry, dry dry...........they average 10 inches of rain a year.

Anyhow, I am busy helping my friend move, organize, and clean her house.  Like all of us, she has accumulated way to much STUFF!  We are finding all kinds of goodies she has forgotten about.  We have been having a good time!  We have found time to do some fun things; get pedicures, go out for lunch, take a trolley ride through "Old Town" (the original settlement) and have lots of laughs.  Next week I am going on a balloon ride over the Rio Grande and another day, Gina (Joanne's daughter) and I are going to take a tram up to the top of the mountain.  Then before I leave we are going to take the train to Sante Fe to check that out.  Notice from pics that we drove on the famous Route 66.

Will send more pictures after next week......................love, Gypsy Joyce

VACATION OVER

Dear FFF

Have had a ball the last three weeks but now I have to move on.  My friend Jo Ann, who lives in Albuqurque is in the process of moving and could use some help.  Now, who has any more experience in packing than yours truly?

I am going to drive back to Columbus this Thursday (about a 10 - 11 hour trip) watch Abbey in her play Friday night (Singing in The Rain) then fly out of Columbus for NM on Saturday morning.  Another adventure!

I did get a chance to go to a couple of blue grass jams with my friend Mary Walter.  She is the one playing the guitar................what fun!

Will let everyone know what is happening when I get "out west".

Love, GJ