As We Adventure On

Six years ago this week, Imke and I embarked on a trip that would change the course of our lives together.  While we had traveled together her entire life, this trip was the first time that we embarked on a multi-state tour of historic sites and Capitol Buildings together.   All of our previous trips had included Jake and all of our future journeys would include Maddie, but that one adventure was just the two of us on the road.  Just me and my girl.  Jake had died six months earlier, and at that point, Maddie was not ready for a long road trip-she was far too anxious to be a good traveler.  That trip was a whirlwind experience during which we reached 6 State Capitols and several Presidential sites.  That trip prepared us for all of the rest of the trips we took over the next several years, culminating in the two of us visiting 49 State Capitols together. 

Imke in Springfield, Illinois April 13, 2013

As we continued our travels over the years, Maddie joined us for all of the rest of our adventures (and on some occasions we had a foster dog along for the trips too).  As we traveled West, we had the chance to revisit some of the Capitols we had previously visited without Maddie.  Even with all of our travels, there were still three Capitols that Maddie had not had a chance to visit.  We had driven through Iowa on our way home from our trip to the Oregon coast a few years ago, but the weather was so bad with pouring rain that we decided not to stop in Des Moines on that trip. So when we reached Alaska last summer, while Imke had been to 49 Capitols, Maddie had only been to 46 (although she had been to 49 States).  

Today, we embarked on our first multi-state road trip without Imke.  Sadly, it is the first of many that I will now do without her.  But life must go on and she is always with me in spirit.  As we left home this morning, heading to Kansas City, I knew we would be traveling through Iowa, but I didn't realize that we'd have the opportunity for Maddie to add another Capitol to her list.  Although I wasn't sure how I would feel about revisiting a Capitol without Imke, I couldn't pass-up the opportunity to get the girls out for a walk, and we were literally driving right past the Capitol building.  So today, Maddie has officially visited 47 State Capitols.

It was a beautiful, sunny day and she stood so nicely for the picture.  I was pretty proud of her.  

I tried to get a picture with Peaches as well, but she had a sudden onset case of the zoomies.  I think this picture is a perfect representation of my two girls now.  Sweet old Maddie and the crazy youngster, Peaches.  And while I didn't know how I would feel about making this stop, I'm so glad we made it.  These stops are a big part of who we are and it was nice to get out and enjoy a nice walk in the sun with my girls.  

After a nice walk, the girls were happy to snuggle up in the back of the Jeep for the rest of our drive to Kansas City.  

We are now settled in our hotel room in Kansas City for the night after a long day on the road.  Tomorrow we head into Kansas for some fun sight-seeing and hiking over the next few days.  I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with the girls and making some happy memories together because spending time with them and giving them a great life full of adventure, well, that's what life is all about for me.