Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Maine to Montana

Leaving the house in Maine, all packed up ...


Notice the rubber ducky stuck to the roof?


Four days and several miracles later, we're home!


Big backyard + big porch = happiness


Right side of fence: field, Left side of fence: side yard

Surrounded by mountains!


View from the upper deck


Another view from the upper deck


Cruisin' around the neighborhood


Tricks in the driveway


Doesn't Nigel look happy?


Doesn't JADE look happy?!


Remember that rubber ducky? He made it all 2600 miles just to get covered in snow.


Sorry this posting is a little late, but things have been a little crazy since we left Maine.

Our trip out was long. In four days we covered roughly 2600 miles and passed through 13 states (ME, VT, MA, NY, PA, OH, IN, IL, WI, MN, SD, WY, & MT!). We spent the night in western NY, southern WI, and eastern WY. Saw lots of lakes, windmills, and flat land. Didn't take too many pictures 'cause we didn't do a whole lot of stopping if it wasn't to pee. The car was super loaded down and we didn't get great gas mileage, but gas prices averaged $2.40 the whole way, so we can't complain too much!

On day four, we arrived at our destination in Bozeman, MT. As some of you know, we had found a place to live before we left Maine. We both did our fair share of research on the town and what it had to offer, and it seemed like it was going to be a really good fit. BUT, when we got there, our condo was in the middle of several miles of condos on the commercial side of town. YUCK! Within an hour, we decided to explore other options. Big Sky is only 45 minutes from Bozeman, complete with a ski resort, ski shops, rafting companies, bars, and several other small businesses. The next morning we got up early (it's not like we could have slept in anyway, what with the trucks and cars and people making SO MUCH NOISE) and headed to Big Sky. Within a couple of hours, we had a place to live and job prospects. Two weeks later, we're loving our house, roommates, and extended backyard. We went playing in three feet of snow on Saturday! Things fell into place for us here like it was meant to be or something!

We plan to stay for a while. We want to buy and convert a school bus into our home starting in the spring and don't know how long that will take. This area has a lot to offer both of us and we're both really excited that we came here. Now if only the snow in our yard would quit melting ...

Black Dog says hello and that she's having fun playing with her doggie friend Howie, who is the funniest Boston Terrier you've ever met. She's having a great time in the snow and is happy that we decided not to live in a condo all winter. She's been getting regular hair trimmings to keep the snow from balling up between her toes. It's quite the hilarious process to watch. Jade is staying fit and healthy and we look forward to throwing her into her first snow drift!

I'll mosey on for now ... got an apron I want to work on before I go to work at the Hungry Moose Market and Deli! Zach already left for his first day at his new plowing job. Now we just need to get Black Dog some work and we'll be all set! (Sled dog maybe?)

Kelly

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kelly I love you so much thank you for making this amazing blog i am exited to watch each other grow together threw out our lives and also see the blog come full circle, your Maine man
- Zach

Diane said...

Kelly and Zach,
What a wonderful Blog! We are so proud of you and we aren't even your DAD!!! If we had ever had children we would want them to be just like you!! But since we did not, would you consider letting us be an "aunt and uncle"???

You just remind us so much of ourselves when we were just starting out--so full of wonder & adventuresome spirits. Exploring Maine, working at Grand Lake Matagamon, paddling, hiking Katahdin and camping. We wanted to suck in all the life we could!

The work that you two are putting into your bus is absolutely amazing! We are just entranced with the reconstruction!

We will be passing on your blog address to our friends who will appreciate your journey!!
Lots of love and best wishes to you both :) Diane and Andy Bourke