On the road again...

In less than two weeks, I'll be heading back out on the road with the girls.  I know it's time...I get the same feeling every time.  I have a longing to get out and see new things and feel the open road in front of me-full of possibilities.  I'm restless.  Growing up, we didn't travel much, a few trips to Higgins Lake when I was young, some trips to Cedar Point over the years, that was about it.  In high school, I was lucky enough to travel to Florida and Washington DC with band, but that was the extent of my travel opportunities as a child.  When I think about it, it's hard to believe that I hadn't even been to my beloved UP before the age of 18.  Through my 20s, I made several trips to the UP, but still hadn't struck out to see much more of the land around us.  In my early 30s, we made our first major family road trip, heading West to visit Yellowstone.  On that trip we drove through Madison Wisconsin and made a brief stop to walk around town.  I think it was at that point that I realized my love of Capitol Buildings.  We stopped at Mount Rushmore and Devil's Tower and I saw my very first Grizzly Bear in the wild.  It was an amazing trip.  Over the years, we made small trips to other surrounding areas, but still I had so much to see.

Then Nicol was off to college, 6 hours away in Lexington.  The years she was there gave me so much more than I expected of them.  I missed my daughter and the only way to see her was to drive there. Many Friday nights right after work, I would get in the car with Jake and Imke in tow, so that I could make it to Lexington that night and have an entire Saturday to spend with my daughter.  And then I'd turn right around after lunch on Sunday and head home.  There were also lots of round-trip 13 hour days in the car when she would come home for the holidays and I would drive down to get her and turn right around to come home.  Those trips gave me road stamina and taught me I could travel on my own or better yet, how easy it was to travel with the dogs and how much they enjoyed it-how much we all enjoyed it.  

On one of my long weekend trips to visit Nicol, I struck out to see the sites around the area.  We visited a fort and several historic homes and walked the streets of some beautiful small towns.  

I have so many good memories from that trip.  And for me, this is where it all started.  My realization that I wanted to travel and see as many things as I could see.  This picture of Jake and Imke at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort really started it all.  One comment from a friend (thanks Janie!) about this picture started our journey. It's not a great picture, but it captures a moment in time and the personalities of my two four-legged buddies pretty well-Imke always looking for the next fun thing (what's over there any way?) and Jake so very serious and well-mannered.  

Imke and Jake in Frankfort Kentucky

From this day on, I was on a mission.  I was going to get these dogs to as many State Capitols and historic sites as I could.  Unfortunately, the only other State Capitol Jake ever made it to was right here in Lansing, but Imke and I have been a lot of places together since then.  

Jake enjoys the Capitol lawn and 4th of July Parade

Imke and I have now been to 38 State Capitols together and she's been through 40 States and 3 Canadian Provinces. When this started, I don't think I ever really thought we'd do and see so much together.  What a ride it's been so far!  Some of our trips were just the two of us and sometimes we've had Maddie along for the ride. One trip to Ohio and Indiana even included a foster dog.  And we have such amazing memories.  I'm pretty excited to think that in less than a month from now, we will have added 5 more State Capitols and four new States for her, but more importantly, we'll have added some great new memories to the bank.  I can't wait to share them with you!

On the road again

Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again

And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way

And our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again

-On the Road Again Willie Nelson