Eataly, Chicago

Eataly, a popular establishment on 5th Avenue in NYC, has a flourishing sister in Chicago, near N. Michigan Ave. When the O'Connor family is yearning for a touch of Europe, they go to Eataly, where great cakes of French and Italian cheeses; olives and olive oils; a great selection of wines; pastas in many shapes; crusty French and Italian breads, baked on sight; seafood, meat and sausages and sauces, all from the "Old County" abound. This two-story Italian marketplace not only offers grocery shopping opportunities, but stand-up bars and tables are placed around the preparation areas for the pastas, seafood, meat cuts, wine market, etc. so you can wine and dine, as well. After a wonderful afternoon repast, we selected unique food to take home. As recent transplants from Switzerland, Hannah and David each got to select a favorite cheese. They know their cheeses! Angela commented that it would be less expensive if they picked candy! It was a great new adventure for me, and another special "find" in Chicago. love, Liz

Home!

"Go Home" was the option I punched into my GPS, and home I came! After driving just under 80 MPH for most of the last four days, when I turned off I-15, just 50 miles west of Las Vegas, the 55 MPH speed limit made the last leg of my trip seem like an eternity! During those last two hours of driving, I mentally steeled myself for getting home, and back to reality: The pile of mail, the list of phone messages, etc., that one must face after over two months of escaping it all, and having such a wonderful vacation. much to my surprise and delight, the house and grounds were cleaned and groomed, my "girls, Sheila and Cinda were clean, shining, and gave me a welcome that filled my heart! My three friends I call the "Posse" were the ones responsible for the most pleasant homecoming I could imagine! They were here to keep the household going, and the dogs happy.

Since leaving here the last day of June, I have driven 5,000 miles. I am grateful they were safe ones, and I am home again. It's good to be home! love, Liz

Backroads

It sounded like rocks being thrown with great force at my van! I wanted to put my arms around her to protect her from the violent rain and hail storm, but all I could do was drive slowly and carefully through it to to get on the other side of the storm. About half the traffic, with less guts than I, pulled off the road to wait out what was to be a long and pouring down storm. Eventually the black skies began to lighten, and I watched the cars that passed me for hailstone pock marks. Fortunately we avoided any damage. On the brighter side, I drove along some great rivers today, Rivers famous for their fly fishing - the Madison and West Fork of Henry's Lake. Lots of camping and fishing going on!

I am camped in the best campground of my trip - in Provo Utah. It is beautiful here, with the Provo River on three sides of the campground. It is nice and cool, a wonderful last night on my journey. A long pull tomorrow will get me home. It is difficult to express the freedom and joy I get from these road trips. Home is calling, however, and I must give Thanks for a safe and wonderful journey. Love, Liz




Sent from my iPad carefully road to wait

Squeezing me in

Here I am in Livingston MT. Allowed to part next to the owner's home and use their electricity!

Many Miles!

Tonight brings me to the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park, but I don't plan on entering the Park. I am in Livingston Montana, having completed a 543 mile day! This is the end of day three, and I have travelled 1,435 miles closer to home. I plan on driving down west of Yellowstone, camping in Pocatello ID tomorrow night. The countryside is cool and beautiful here, right at the base of the mountains that encase Yellowstone. The Yellowstone River flows north and east of the Park, so I have crossed it many times this afternoon. It is a beautiful River. Again tonight, I just squeaked into the campground, which was already full, but they can always squeeze me in! :-). Love, Liz

Sent from my iPad

Journey Joys

I could be a Vagabond! If I didn't love my home and community so much, I would just stay on the road! Today was not a noteworthy day, and yet In the 450 miles I covered today, I went from a wet beginning in Wisconsin, ran into thick fog around Duluth, but it cleared so that I saw at least half of the lakes in the "Land of 1,000 Lakes"; Drove across the state of Minnesota, where all the cows in the fields yield our cheeses; and ended in the state of North Dakota, where the air is dryer, but still north enough to be cool. Along the way, a truck threw a rock into my windshield with such force I thought I had been shot! but the windshield saved me from losing some portion of my face, and now I just have to drive home with a smashed "star" right in the middle of my view!

Tomorrow's goal is Billings Montana? Until then, Love, Liz

Heading Home

It was 7:30 when I took this early morning shot from the cook house, just before driving away from this remarkable place, carrying only the great memories of these past weeks, when the island laughed with children, and we three sisters joined together to host all our family members. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, giving us warm, sunny days, rainy days, and cold days, so that we could enjoy them all. It has been a bitter sweet day. Leaving is so sad, but on the other hand, I am "On the Road Again"!! I love the independence and adventure of selecting my routes, planning where I will stay, and seeing America in its most honest form - the lives, homes, churches, history and livelihoods of Americans who don't populate our cities. We live in a great country!

Tonight I am snug and dry in my van, while a thunder, lightening and rain storm pelts Iron River, Wisconsin, where I am camped. Did I mention how I love this van?? I have charted my journey for tomorrow, enjoyed a glass of wine and my "elevator music", as my kids call it, so it is time to sleep for tomorrow's 8 hour trip. Love, Liz