Rhew The Nation -- The Trip Home

Welcome to the final post on the Rhew The Nation trip. We went on our adventure nearly 5 months ago, but it has provided great material for blog posts all this time! I hope you enjoyed traveling with me and Deek across the country and back again! We visited some *amazing* places, and I'm so grateful we got the opportunity to do it!

When we left off, Deek and I were headed to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Now, we'd intended to go to Oklahoma all along, but all the way back in Missouri (at the start of the trip), we changed the town we'd stop in Oklahoma. Why? Well, we have fallen in love with the Stoney Creek Hotel chain, and we discovered they'd opened a brand new one in Broken Arrow!

From the Stoney Creek in Missouri

We discovered Stoney Creek by accident when we were moving across the country. I always book through the Expedia app, and this place popped up as inexpensive and pet-friendly. Now we've stayed in some pretty yucky pet-friendly places, but this one smelled good and was *super* clean. They'd just opened when we stayed there last time, but even after being open for a while, it was still super clean and smelled good. So, we redirected our trip a little to end up at the brand spankin' new one in Broken Arrow. It did not disappoint!

The Stoney Creek in Broken Arrow.

Clearly, they have a theme.

Deek and I couldn't stop whispering, "Great white buffalo." LOL!

When we went to check-in, we informed the front desk that we'd stayed at the one in Missouri and rerouted our trip just to come to the one in Broken Arrow. And you know what they did? They comped us a suite to say "thank you!" A suite! And the suite was AMAZING!! 

The giant bell at check-in.

Amazing statues!

The jet tub in the suite's bathroom! Wowsa!!

The shower is behind that door, and it was massive!

Deek in the giant, super cozy bed.

This is one of my most favorite pictures from the trip!

Now, I'm a born and bred Southern girl, but there are a lot of places in the South I haven't been. In fact, despite our numerous cross-country trips, I still haven't been to states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Now that I think about it, other than a few New England states, these are some of the only ones I've not yet been to. But on this trip, we crossed another state off our list--Arkansas.

Um... I'm afraid for what this sign implies about other bathrooms.

The *whole* time we were in the Southwest, it didn't get above 90.

Leave it to the South to show how heat is really done. LOL!

Oh, and it's humid...

On to Tennessee

As a good little Southern girl, of course I've been to Tennessee--many times, in fact. Deek and I have driven through Nashville on cross-country trips but never actually stopped to look around (Deek and I are planning on taking an official trip there soon though). So when we drove through Nashville this time, we decided to stop at one cool thing and eat a one locally recommended restaurant. 

Now, I *love* Percy Jackson. Truth be told, I loathed the movies, but I love the books. And I am fascinated by all things Greek Mythology related. So...Deek took me to the Nashville Parthenon as our one cool place to go!

I love Percy Jackson so much, I brought one of his books as a read aloud on our trip!

Majestic!

Smooching in front of the Parthenon!

Look at that detail!

After Nashville, we drove through the same other states we always drive through to get back home. And then, we were home! <3 

The trip was amazing! I love traveling with Deek, and I love exploring the many facets of this country. If you haven't had a chance to drive across the country, I encourage you to do it. You'll be amazed by the stuff you see! 

For instance, I had no idea so much of our country is unpopulated. I mean like completely without a soul for miles and miles and miles (particularly on the eastern side of the western states and in the southwest). I never would have known that if we hadn't made these trips. There are just some things you can't see from an airplane or train window. Sometimes you have to get out there and experience it firsthand.

No one and nothing for fifty plus miles!

Thanks so much for accompanying me and Deek on this grand adventure! Now it's time for anniversaries, birthdays, and the holidays! WOOT! 

Daydreaming about more adventures with my best friend! :)

Rhew The Nation -- The Pacific Northwest -- Part 3

I am a Southern girl, and right now, the South is and has been battered by Hurricane Florence. If you can find ways to donate money, time, or supplies to the people of North and South Carolina, Deek and I would greatly appreciate it!

Jensen Ackles and his wife Danneel are planning a trip to the Carolinas to help. You can get more information on Danneel's instagram.

With all this destruction and devastation happening in my part of the country, it's nice to travel back to the Pacific Northwest, Deek's part of the country, and remember the fun we had there. If you'll recall, we travelled by car across the nation, nearly coast to coast. We had great adventures along the way and then stopped in the PNW for a week to spend time with family and friends.

Deek's wonderful parents wanted to take us on a cruise tour around the Columbia Gorge. They originally wanted to do a dinner cruise, but since I'm lactose intolerant and Deek and I are on keto, they switched to a brunch cruise because we could eat more!

The boat -- The Sternwheeler

Someone cut Bigfoot's head out of the picture. LOL!

Ready to ride!

Amazing scenery!

I adore Deek's dad. They are so much alike--funny, thoughtful, and so loving!

That evening, we had dinner with Deek's best friends from childhood. He has known these men most of his life, and I love how their friendship has survived and thrived despite the miles and all life can throw at people.

We caught up with them and their lovely wives, laughed, and reminisced. I am truly amazed that Deek and his friends survived childhood with all the stunts they pulled. LOL!

The three amigos!

The next day, our last full day in the Pacific Northwest, Deek took me on a date to our favorite Chinese restaurant again to get the amazing beef schezwan we cannot find anywhere else.

So yummy!

And yes, I'm wearing a huge sweater in July because it's cold in the PNW...

That evening, his parents threw us a big going away party. We had tons of friends and family show up! It was lovely to see everyone and get to hang out with people who have come to mean so much to us. And y'all, let me brag on Deek's parents. They really put out an amazing spread and kindly opened their home to a bunch of people they didn't know. All for us. We are so incredibly grateful! <3

Christine--the officiant at our wedding!

Deek has known these two amazing women for a very long time!

My favorite part of this picture (besides Angie's lovely face) is Deek's mom grinning in the background! I loved how much fun she and Deek's dad had with our friends!! <3

Paula Brotherton, folks. She makes me laugh until my sides hurt.

And she's an amazing real estate agent in the Portland area!

We love these folks. 

We've vacationed with them and always have such a fun time together!

And in the blink of an eye, our time in the Pacific Northwest came to a close. After a tearful goodbye to our friends and family, we headed on back toward the East Coast. But since we'd done the northern route many times, we decided to try our hand at the southern route--Vegas, Tombstone, Area 51, Roswell. Yeah, it ROCKED! Stay tuned for more on the southern portion of our trip across America!

Rhew The Nation -- The Pacific Northwest -- Part 2

So, quick recap, Deek and I traveled clear across the country, nearly from sea to shining sea. We stopped for a week in the gorgeous PNW to visit with family and friends. Deek's thoughtful parents decided to take us to several touristy places we missed while we lived in the PNW.

We made it to Mt. St. Helen when we lived there,

 but Deek had never gone until he took me!

It's funny. When you live somewhere, you think you have all this time to do and see all your local stuff. But then you move, and you realize there's *so* much you didn't do. It's interesting for me to return back to my home in the South and realize there's tons of things I haven't done here. Deek and I are slowly working down that list so we don't get to the vagabond stage of our lives and realize we missed a bunch of stuff right in this general area. ;)

And we've been to DC, which is a short train ride up the East Coast.

We want to take Deek's parents here though 

because they've never been (and his dad is retired military!)

So, even though Deek's parents were on a quest to take us to visit the new and unseen, we did spend a day in touring our old haunts in Portland. You can't go to the PNW without visiting Portland. <3

First, they took us the Pittock Mansion, which I had never been to.

Um, wow.

Although, I do prefer our small townhome...just sayin'. 

Dude! This view!! <3

The ceiling...as regular folk have ceilings... ;) 

The view from the kitchen! Whoa!

Then, we drove down the mountain into the heart of the city.

A must-see in Portland, always.

Especially for two authors!

No trip is complete without Voodoo Donuts!

Coffin of donuts, anyone?

And we took in the sights at Pioneer Place.

This shirt is everything.

LOL!

I loved it when Deek did it, but I SO loved when his mom did!

Such fun! <3

Sellwood Bridge

Deek and I went to the grand opening of the new one several years ago.

And, as with most new bridge openings, someone drove into the bike lane...

https://bikeportland.org/2016/03/01/new-sellwood-bridge-opens-with-a-dang-176542

Me and Deek watching the Willamette. 

That's Will-am-it, not Willa-met-tee, for those who "ain't from around here."

The next day, his parents took us to the Japanese Gardens, a place I've never been to and where Deek hasn't been since the remodel. Parking is a nightmare up there, and some jerk weasel tried to park in a non-space behind us. In his haste, he bumped into our car. I leapt out and gave him the what-for because my *family* was in there!! He stupidly said, "Did I hit your car?" DUH! If you can't tell that, you shouldn't be operating a vehicle. Anyhoo, no damage to our car, but he got back in his and stayed there until we'd walked far, far away. Don't mess with Southern girls and their people. We are very family-centric and fiercely protective of our own! ;) 

And, did I mention he parked in a pedestrian crosswalk (a HUGE no-no in pedestrian loving Portland) and got towed off? Yeah and yeah. Boom-shaka-laka. 

After a stressful start, we throughly needed and 

enjoyed the zen-like nature of the Japanese Gardens.

With more gorgeous views!

Up next, join Deek, his parents, and me as we take a ride down the Columbia on a riverboat brunch cruise!