Lake Owen

The final resting place of my grandmother's ashes - Lake Owen.

After visiting the Nordic Lodge on Lake Owen many years ago, my grandmother was enchanted by it's beauty, and upon asking my grandfather where he would like to spread her remains, he remembered her fondness for this place - and I can see why.

It was a beautiful place with a quaint cabin and a lake that was long, but separated into small personable spaces. In the morning, the morning doves sang their song, and then were loudly interrupted by the loons. The family took a pontoon ride on Saturday morning around the lake and spread the ashes just north of some of the small islands along the coast.

We laughed, we drank, we relaxed, and we remembered the person of Joan Sundt. My uncles, my father, and I played on the floating docks by shoving each other off and competing in sumo wrestling matches. In many ways, I think this kind of unadulterated fun was the best way to celebrate her life, and as we leave behind the lodge, I'll remember that magical place.

Green Bay

The S.S. Badger carried us across the tumultuous waters of Lake Michigan. My father and I were completing our pilgrimage to Green Bay, Wisconsin. 

Much Success.

~~~

Update:
Before we left for Northern Wisconsin, we witnessed once of the strangest and cutest traditions in NFL football. On practice days that are open to the public, young kids wait outside the stadium with bikes. The players then come out of the stadium locker room and ride the bikes with the kids alongside to the practice field.
Yes, grown men stealing kids bikes.
It's adorable.

Eastbound Day 5: Louisville to Grand Rapids

I'm Home.

The last leg of the journey was a straight-shot without any stops, though I took a detour to drive by the sprawling Lake Michigan.

Upon arrival home, I feel to my knees reciting the closing line of Planet of the Apes (1968).
"I'm back. I'm home. All the time it was... we finally really did it! You Maniacs! You Blew it Up! Damn you! Damn you all to hell!"
My roommate seemed unphased.

It looked around the see the things that I had changed since I left. The finished roof. The toilet and fridge my father helped replace in my absence as landlord. My roommates cleaned before I arrived, which was a wonderful surprise.

I had a great deal of mail to attend to and I am sitting here, making sense of all these various artifacts of adult life.
Oh! This one is a coupon.
Neat.

___

Bonus: My car during the road trip.

Eastbound Day 4: Kansas City to Louisville

One of the first things I saw out while I was in Kentucky was to finally eat at a Chick-fil-a. Perhaps it was to spite my southern friends who would become deeply offended if you didn't think Chick-fil-a was the greatest chicken in the country, but I had never eaten there.

However, when I was in Detroit for my grandma's funeral, my cousin was working at Chick-fil-a at the time. Because she had taken the time off for the funeral, Chick-fil-a sent a beautiful and extravagant floral display with a hand-written card sending their condolences. I knew Chick-fil-a always had 'family values' in mind, but that was down-right wonderful of them, and wanted to give them patronage.
...and it was pretty good.

I digress.

I made it Louisville and stayed with two of my cousins and their spouses who lived together in a split house and worked for the neighboring church, who owned the property. It was wonderful to discuss the camp and their ministry in the city. We went to the park, played with their kids, and later that night we shared a growler of Santa Fe Brewing Happy Camper IPA and played a long game of 'Ticket to Ride'. We're crazy like that.

Eastbound Day 3: Denver to Kansas City

Before leaving Denver, I was recommended a breakfast place to hit up on my way out called Snooze. I gotta say, when it came to recommendations this week, my buddy David was on point. Pictured here was my breakfast which was a zucchini pancake served with eggs, hashbrowns, and a cranberry mimosa. Not pictured here was the many wonderful faces I ate while eating this... because that would be weird.

After waddling out of the restaurant, I set out for a day of driving and was met with a very surprising number.

My first set of directions that popped up on my phone's GPS was to drive on I-70 for 584 miles, or until I was dead, whichever came first. In total, I would be driving 1088 miles on I-70 during my trip back home. We would become well acquainted. 

I've heard many people complain about the drive, but I had a car full of music, so I was content. The scenery wasn't that bad either. Open plains and I got to see a lot of the wind farms through Kansas, which I think look cool and other-worldly. 

I'm ending my day sitting here in this motel, watching Birdman and using their free Wi-Fi: my only requirement for lodging. Which is good, because there wasn't much else. I overshot Kansas City to get a head start on the drive tomorrow, and found this nice motel here in Bates City. The owner of the Bates City Motel seems nice enough. He said he was just filling in while Mother was away. She must be the original owner. Oh well, maybe I'll see both of them tomorrow morning when I head out.

Goodnight! 

Eastbound Day 2: Santa Fe to Denver

It added two hours to my drive, but driving through the mountains is hard to pass up. Beats highway driving anyday... except not in fuel efficiency. Sorry car... and wallet.

While driving through the San Isabel Forest in the Wet Mountains of Colorado, I saw what was probably one of the most naturally beautiful places I've ever seen. The pictures didn't do it justice, but someday, when me and my supermodel wife (or regular model, I'm not picky) go on our honeymoon, we will go to Lake Isabel. 

"Well find me in the alps, that's beautiful."

And a little past the lake is Bishop Castle, a monument built by a single man to spite the government. Because when the government tells you that you cant break, like, 29 building codes, nothing says "don't tread on me" like building an 160 ft. stone castle and a moat. Visiting the property, it is a sight to behold, but the structure itself is terrifying to climb as it doesn't abide by fascist safety codes. Signs around the property inform of us his freedom from liability of anyone gets hurt, as well as even more that warn us of the governments agenda to take our rights. Presumably rights to build hazardous, though really cool looking, castles.

The night ended with me meeting up with my friend David, whom I was staying with that night in Denver. One the three bars we went to, because party party, was named William and Graham. William and Graham was a prohibition-era speakeasy, so it means that when it is your turn to go inside you have to go through a FRIGGIN HIDDEN DOOR BEHIND A BOOKCASE! It was great, and I ordered a very fancy drink called "Here, there be dragons", and it was great.

Eastbound Day 1: Albuquerque

After dropping off one of my [now former] at the Albuquerque airport, I decided I would spend the day in the city. This means that I finally got to take part in my Breaking Bad sight seeing.

Lunch at Twisters Los Pollos Hermanos

A car-wash which also happens to be a front for Meth! Have an A-1 Day!

Enjoying a 'Walter White Lie IPA' at Marble Brewery, which was a favourite of Bryan Cranston's during filming.

 I also visited Cliff Amusement Park, which isn't as good as Cedar Point. BUT if you drink two beers from Marble Brewery you had in your trunk, suddenly a decent amusement park becomes a more more enjoyable amusement park.

I have a car full of music and a trunk full of beer to give to all the people housing me on the way back.

Lets go home.