the all-true adventures of hiyacynth and 9 French people in the American West

[hiyacynth]

Well. I was going to post pictures tonight, but it turns out to be much more gargantuan a task than I had anticipated. It will have to wait til I get several nights at my home computer. In the meantime, I will spill out narrative details of my trip, with just a few visual aides

Comments

[elendiari22]

First off, I would like to applaud you for making me laugh out loud more times than I have all week with this travelogue.

Zee Franch sound cool, especially the bit about Guillaume excercising the dog with the shopping cart. You know, you're really good at storytelling.

Antonin sounds like an absolute sweetheart, and his reaction to the geyser had me both grinning in both amusement and sympathy. Good for him for getting that Junior Ranger badge (although I'll admit that everytime you said'Ranger' I pictured a grungy man in leather instead of our nice nature boys in green. ^_^) Too bad you didn't get one, too.

The Rodeo sounds fun, even if it was in Crazy Redneck Country. I suppose the whole Bus thing is just something you've got to shake your head at.

Lastly, I admire your patience. If I'd been in your place, heads would have flown within a few days. :) Glad you're back!

[hiyacynth]

Glad to have elicited chuckles! We did laugh a lot. The parking lot scene was impressive. Poor Agile (the dog) couldn't actually go into any of the State or National Parks, so the only exercise he got was in parking lots. I was impressed with how fast and willingly she could run 100 pounds of littleboy around.

You know, it didn't occur to me until you said it why I might be predisposed to crush on any Ranger I saw. Now I understand. Still doesn't explain about the cowboys, though. I blame the exraorinary testosterone levels.

[elendiari22]

Well, if you don't mind me saying so, Cowboys=Men on horses=Men of Rohan.

:)

[hiyacynth]

mmmmmEomer....

[writerj]

I like how Wyoming's all square and straight.

[hiyacynth]

It is both, and no mistake.

[writerj]

And rugged and wild.

[hiyacynth]

And spraddly-bowlegged with chaps. And fringe.

[cunien]

Wow! What an adventure! It sounds like you all had an amazing time. Zee Franch all sound like characters - a great bunch of people to travel with I bet!

I am so jealous: I'd love to travel across a few states like that and just see everything. I'd just love to cross the pond and come visit the US anyway. I'm still working on the old Chicago college thing, but if that falls through I think we'll all be going to visit family in Houston anyway, so I'll at least get to see Texas! (Yay cowboys!)

If you managed to hang in this long, thanks for reading.
This was such a cool little diary to keep - I read it all the way through and it was great! You have a really great way of telling the story.

Anyway, glad you are back in the land of baths and showers, and that you had a great time! Nice to hear from you again. Oh and please post photos - I'd love to see!
x.

P.S. That leather bag sounds heavenly.

[hiyacynth]

The leather bag made me think of you, and if I hadn't been so greedy and covetous... but no, I could not be separated from it. It is my own, my precious.

This was the first real cross-country road trip I've done. I've done lots of north-south Oregon/California travel, and lots of short little car camping trips, but nothing like this. It was incredible, and I want more. I feel Wyoming, Montana, and I have lots more to say to one another.

I've been showering regularly again and am almost over the way I smelled on Sunday afternoon.

Photos will definitely be posted this week, maybe in batches.

[zixi]

Sounds like a lovely trip and you do tell a lovely story.

And if you didn't like Nevada, I don't recommend driving East-West through Nebraska.

Your swimming story kept making me think of Muck crossing the Niagra :) Go you!

Congrats on being awesome and keeping the kids entertained and surviving despite obstacles.
So glad you've had a good trip. After these past few months you definitely earned and deserve it.

[hiyacynth]

We were very Muckish! I have to say, the trip itself wasn't very restful, but it was very distracting. People from work stopped calling me after Tuesday (I keel the person who gave out my cell number to customers!!), and after that I didn't think about work at all. I hardly thought about anything except what we were doing right then. I'm catching up on my sleep this week, so am feeling much more vaction-rested.

Okay. Must find a free shower now. I keep trying to find time to go back and read all the Big Important Posts I wrote down earlier in the week, and I keep not finding it. So I'll just say quick I'm glad the Americorps interview went so well, and I'm sorry you're freaking out about having to talk to Lee, and I'm wishing you luck and courage for that conversation and more luck for final acceptance from Americorps and a big old "don't worry" hug about the "what if it's not just grad school, what if all grownup-life sucks?" angst.

[zixi]

I have to say, the trip itself wasn't very restful, but it was very distracting.

Sometimes a trip can be restful in a way even if it doesn't involve a lot of relaxation and sleep. Instead it's getting a chance to play in a new environment, do new things, not worry about normal worries and just get away and regenerate. Plus it sounds like these last few days have been more relaxful (and showerful) to balance it out.

Thank you for the encouragement and such! It's been a pretty crazy two weeks over here but things seem to be coming together. I'm gathering courage about talking to Lee and figuring out what to say and sorta settling into the idea.
Also, thanks of the "hug"
I really do have high hopes/expectations for the program. I researched it pretty carefully and I really want it and I'm going to go in expecting it to be good. Realistic about the challenges, but good.

*hugs* to you just because.

[liptonrm]

Now that's a vacation. Wide open vistas, family to entertain and exasperate, never a dull or restful moment. Sounds pretty much ideal. =D

Mmmmm, makes me want to visity Wyoming ...

[hiyacynth]

It was good. I want to go again.

You must visit Wyoming. It is beautiful there, and would has many benefits as pertains to post-apocalyptic lifestyles.