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Sunday, October 21, 2012

Nick's and Cassidy's Big Move to St. Paul

Nick and Cassidy moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, this month.  I was pleased they accepted my offer to help them move.  I packed Blue with a van load of their possessions and we began the adventurous drive to their future home.  After arriving in St. Paul, Gail joined us for some Minnesota fun before she and I drove back across the country on our own.  This is Chapter One of the big adventure.

In Cassidy's family driveway, getting ready to push off.  Her family's country home in Atascadero is surrounded by oaks and pastures.

Almost in her neighborhood is a house I used to live in in 1970-'71 when I was a psych tech at Atascadero State Hospital.

One of our first road breaks was at a "farm" before Tehachapi at the southern end of the Central Valley.  I believe this is the area where the Jodes of "Grapes of Wrath" were so elated as they looked down into The Valley and saw endless orchards and the promise of work.

This is the view I would see for the next 5 days (and even in my sleep) - the back of their  '87 Honda. This is I 15, heading towards Vegas.

Pulling alongside for a different view.

Looking at the sunset, heading east on I 15.

We were terrified when this wrong way semi came hurtling at us in our lanes. Just kidding - it was being towed backwards.

On the second day, we reached Salt Lake City late in the afternoon.

We stopped for the most delicious Nepalese food at The Kathmandu Restaurant.

In Wyoming, we started running into snow from the night before.  We also began seeing numerous prong horn antelope and deer.

I loved the wide open Wyoming "Big Sky" country.

Nick and I can NEVER resist a chance to throw snowballs at each other.  I scored first with this shot.

However, I lost big on the next snowball.

When Cassidy heard about Jackalopes, and the world's second largest, we made a special detour for her to Douglas Wyoming.  He was magnificent - even with snow on his nose!

Love at first sight!

We all loved the big fella, and especially enjoyed the time out of the cars.

Nick makes friends wherever he goes.  Here he fakes playing cards with his cell phone.

On the 3rd night, we stayed in Custer City, South Dakota.  We had a better than average dinner at the Buglin' Bull.  This area is close to Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Wind Caves National Park.  The rock spires, cliffs, and forests were an abrupt change from Wyoming.

The next morning, it was 20 degrees outside our motel.

Across the street was this Flintstones Theme Park. 

We headed out of Custer and soon came to the entrance of Chief Crazy Horse.

Since the private enterprise was charging $10 per person to have a closer look, we made a u-turn out.  It doesn't look like much progress has been made since I last saw this in 1986.

Mount Rushmore was glorious, with white granite against clear blue sky.

Nick Clifford, who is now 91, worked on the heads from 1938 to 1941.  We chatted a little, and I bought his book.

At a roadside stop we had fun watching these prarie dogs.
 
Another attempt to catch the sunset in a rearview mirror - with unintended results.
 
We rolled into St. Paul after 5 days of travel.  Nick's and Cassidy's apartment is the upper left of this building.  It seems to be in the best spot for the building, and in a very friendly, clean neighborhood.
 
Relieved and pleased with the new apartment!
 
Two days later Cassidy picked up her "new" bike - a '70's Raleigh 10 speed in super condition with original paint and decals.
 
The next chapter will feature some highlights of the few days spent in St. Paul.  Stay tuned!
 

 
 


1 comment:

Andria said...

It's so great to see Nick and Cassidy in their new place. That sure brings back memories of when Dave and I lived there. I'm pretty jealous actually. Great pictures, and it was fun to see the snow!