Seattle, Washington – HOME

Our journey is over. We’re back “full-time” in Seattle and enjoying (for this week at least) a relaxed and leisurely pace as we re-settle ourselves into our home. We returned from Hawaii late on Tuesday night (7/14) after a wonderful 10 days with family and friends. The trip was marked by the funeral of Denise’s mom, Helen, and a celebration of her extraordinary life that included seven children (and their families) who all gathered in Honolulu for the event. It was Helen’s wish for her children to gather for her interment – the placing of her ashes alongside her husband’s at Punchbowl National Cemetery. We had received news of Helen’s passing in April while we were camped at Grand Canyon National Park. Plans for the Honolulu gathering began to take shape immediately. The date of July 10th was finally settled upon. Our US road trip was originally planned to end on July 30 but we curtailed the west coast section so we could get home to Seattle in time to head to Hawaii from there. Hawaii offered some unique experiences for the girls that included:

• a horse-back trail ride with Nanna Rose
• snorkeling in the ocean and bobbing in the waves
• learning to boogie board at Bellows Beach
• traditional Hawaiian canoe paddling with Uncle Jimmy
• a 10th birthday party for Rose
• living out loud with the Bevacqua clan at meal times (not so unique except that all seven Bevacqua siblings added to the total volume)
• helping Denise build their first flower lei
• swimming with their cousins Bobbi and Helen
• watching trainers with dolphins at the nearby hotel

It was also a time to think about their grandparents: a sad but fulfilling farewell to Grandma Helen and some important hang-out time with Nanna Rose – who had traveled from Australia for the event. Symbolically, the Hawaii visit was a capstone event for our own year long journey. Helen’s farewell re-connected us with many folks who we’d visited on our travels. Returning from the Hawaii trip marked the end of our own journey. Since leaving Seattle on August 25, 2008 we spent 323 nights on our journey. We visited 35 states (including Ontario and Quebec) and stayed at 131 different locations – ranging from campgrounds to hotels, Wal-Mart parking lots to the streets of Chicago, inside people’s homes and on their driveways. We’ve camped at sea level and at over 8,000 feet, in deserts where the sand blows at night and next to forested streams that begged to be fished. Our driving has taken us along 20,368 miles of roads – from fast highways to slow, meandering back roads, and everything in between. The girls have been “home schooled” while traveling along many of those roads. We could arrive at a place and they’d be ready to enjoy and experience. Sometimes, like in the National Parks and big cities, the destination would provide even more learning opportunities for them. We’ve lived on approximately $100/day for food, accommodation, fuel, van maintenance, and activities, but the memories and experiences of our journey have been priceless. We’ve learned more about our country, our culture and ourselves. And our family is closer and more loving than ever. It truly has been… one great journey!