We’re coming on 4 weeks in our new town and new place. We’ve unpacked all the boxes, made our nest and now it’s time to dazzle you with reflections on our trip.

We couldn’t help but be amazed first and foremost by the distance we have now placed between us and our former home in Houston. 2800 miles is nothing to shake a stick at. While we didn’t take the shortest route, it was still a sizeable trip and makes every visit back all the more precious.

The other point of note is how much of the country there is between here and Houston and how many spectacular things we don’t even know about. And for however briefly, how nice it was to catch a glimpse of some of those things on this trip.

The biggest impressions left by our travels across the southwestern part of the US:

• How much national forest there is to enjoy and appreciate.
• Arizona is much more lush than you would think.
• Death Valley is AMAZING. The scope and awe cannot be accurately conveyed by our pictures or words.
• Tahoe is still one of the most beautiful places we’ve seen.
• Running out of gas, flat tires, and low clearances are no big deals.
• Good friends can make a long trip even better.
• Picking up and moving your entire life across country is eye opening. Everyone should give it a try.