It's good to be home.

Matt and I flew to Phoenix on Friday, finding that it was the cheapest way home. After hearing about the recent decapitation that occurred on a greyhound bus, perhaps it was for the best. The most unusual thing that happened during the flight was that halfway home, Matt changed into his bananna suit. The stewardess loved it.

Yesterday we drove up to Flagstaff and thus have completed our summer road trip, so this will be the last written post in here.

I posted photos below, although these are only from my camera. I'll post the photos from Matt's camera later this week. Also, I don't know how to make some of the pictures vertical, so do it yourself or enjoy them with your head tilted sideways. You can click on them and make them larger.

Photos

Matt plays in the "snow." This white fluffy stuff was all over the place and even though it made me feel as though I was going to sneeze out my insides, it was very beautiful.


Matt and Harriet.

Trying to pick blackberries in Oregon.

Getting ready to make breakfast. Matt did all of the cookning over the summer while I provided witty conversation.

We stuck this guy to the inside of our windshield for the remainder of the trip. He was a warning to other mosquitoes not to mess with us.

The only thing that the town of Blue Earth, SD is known for is the Green Giant. And horrible bugs.

Two of our hitchhikers, Nikki and Stash, had a wet awakening in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

Matt and Gonzo, on of the hitchhikers, in the Wal-Mart parking lot after a night of sleeping on the pavement.

The car problems start. Matt tried to repair a leaky tube by inserting a cut up pop can.


Corn Palace. Need I say more?

The only photo that I took in Chicago because my camera died. I found a blow dryer that was so strong, it blew my skin around. I don't know about you, but I was impressed.

Matt in the Badlands

Good-bye

Today was bittersweet.

We finally sold the car, which means that now we can greyhound it home, but we also had to watch the tow truck load the Benz that took us so many places this summer. Matt had to sell the car separately from the vegetable oil system so as I write this, someone’s helping him gut the grease lightening. Sadness.

The conversations, ideas and awareness that it sparked made it worthwhile, no matter how much work went into it. Not to mention all of the weird yet generous people that we met and the adventures we had because of them. Still, Matt has had enough of cars for now so next time you see him, he’ll be on a bicycle.

The world is changing and being environmentally conscious is no longer just for “hippies” or health nuts. It’s just smart. We’re approaching a time when resources are running out and the rest of the planet is catching up with us Westerners. There won’t be enough to go around so when the rest of the world wants what we take for granted, there are going to be problems. I just found out yesterday that the United States makes up about 4% of the world’s population but uses about 25% of the planet’s electricity. Wow.

Anyway, I’m sure with the fad of being “green” catching on, everyone has had enough statistics shoved in their face. Still, next time you go to the store, bring reusable bags or recycle your old ones. Take your own mug to coffee shops after thinking about the space that carryout cups take in landfills. Turn off lights when you’re not using them. All I’m saying is that by starting small and making changes in your life you can make a big difference.

And on a non-lecturing note, there’s one night from this summer that keeps popping into my head. It was at the very beginning before we had even made it to my sister’s house in Texas and we stopped in the middle of the night. The wind was too strong and we were too tired to fight it, so we found an abandoned road to sleep on the side of. Our sleeping bags almost blew away before we passed out in exhaustion on top of them. I’m not sure what woke me up but I opened my eyes in the middle of the night, put on my glasses and looked up. It was one of the clearest, most vivid evening skies that I’ve ever seen. Above my head was a darkness that went on forever and the stars that interrupted the blackness contrasted even more because of the complete absence of light. That view really surprised me for some reason but in the middle of the night it made me excited for the rest of the summer and everything that Matt and I were about to experience.