Last taste of America

This post is going to be a novel, I haven't updated in about a week! And lots can happen in a week when your basically homeless along with unemployed. Last update, I was waiting to get on the ferry, thinking it was going to be a challenge. Well, challenge is an understatement. I was pretty much on the verge of tears multiple times. Chris would say that I'm being dramatic when I tell you about this entire experience, (because okay, let's be honest, I can exaggerate from time to time) but this is the real deal. It was probably the longest 4 nights of my life. Because we didn't want to pay a ridiculous amount of money to get a room on the ferry, we decided to tough it out and pitch a tent on the deck. Keep in mind, our idea of camping involves a big silver van with a surprisingly squishy bed and furnace. We provided a great source of entertainment for everyone sleeping on the deck (under a covered part, where tents aren't allowed) in their sleeping bags as we basically almost blew away that first night. On top of that, along with freezing, it was pouring rain and we set up the tent tarp wrong so we woke up with water everywhere and a wet dog smell. EW. Thankfully, after a night of zero sleep, the next day we met some experienced campers who literally re-pitched our tent for us. I've never been more grateful, because that next night the winds were 75 mph with a rainstorm!!!!! I swear to you I was convinced we weren't gonna make it. I was shakin in my boots. The last two nights were much better in answer to my prayers. No more wet dog smell! So I guess aside from the fact that I literally sat around and did nothing but read and play cards for 3 full days, it wasn't the worst thing in the world. I guess. I did kind of feel like a beast though for surviving the cold and treacherous conditions!!!! 

After 4 longggg nights and 3 even longer days, we arrived in beautiful Bellingham!! I think as God's way of apologizing for the hell on water I had just experienced, it was SO sunny and perfect all 3 days we were there! And I got to RUN. After being stuck on water for that long, there is no better feeling. I was like a kid at Disneyland. Actually, I would definitely still act like that at Disneyland. Anyways, next stop was Spokane! We kept the van at Chris's friends house in Bellingham, and took a 7 hour fancy train ride to Spokane. We stayed with our friend Savannah (who is theee best and let us pretty much move in for 3 days), and I couldn't be more grateful to be in a real house!!!! And have a girl friend to hang out with :) We had so much fun exploring the city with her and her boyfriend. Andddd, the best part was I got to reunite with my good friend Jill (who I met in Alaska this summer) who just moved to Coeur D Alane, Idaho which is super close to Spokane! It was the best. She gave me a serious intervention about what I needed to get rid of in my Thailand backpack. That girl is a gem. Along with a whole suitcase of clothes, I sent home 3 different lotions, big bottles of shampoo and conditioner, facial products, and (get this..) my blowdryer. But I did keep my flower headband and American snack bag. I'm becoming a real backpacker!!!!! Even though my bag is still half my size, it's a lot more organized and a little lighter than it was before! 

Imagine something similar to this...

I'm writing this obnoxiously long book (I warned you!) as we sit at the train station at 2 am waiting for another 7 hour train ride that will take us from Spokane to Seattle to get on our plane that leaves for Thailand tomorrow at 2 pm!!!! I'm having some major anxiety and butterflies are eating my tummy. Our train is also running an hour late, which is only increasing my nerves and I kind of feel like I might toss my cookies. Literally. My mom mailed us AMAZING pumpkin cookies and breads (best.mom.ever.) and I've eaten more fall baked goodies today than I would like to tell you. I also keep rambling because it's making a great distraction. But I guess I'll stop torturing you guys. Next post will be coming straight to you from the land of yummy food and elephants!!!!!! SO.EXCITED. I also realized that after tomorrow, I will have been in a train, boat, bus, taxi, and plane all in one week. This travelers life is exhausting! 

Missing everyone so much, lots and lots of love!! 

Xoxo

Our house on the ferry! 

Sunrise view from the ferry!!!

Galavanting around Bellingham :)

View from my favorite coffee shop in the park in Bellingham! Obsessed. 

Me and Jill in Spokane!

Preparing to head to the train station in Spokane! My bag is bigger than both of his combined :) oops