PARTING WAYS TO ROADTRIP(S)

After a spectacular day of unity, great food, laughs and White Sands, it was time for our Dean reunion to part ways.  All good things must come to an end.  New, exciting beginnings were just down the road.

Mark and his kids winged their way back to Ohio, Scott & Amy headed back to their home and jobs in Albuquerque, Mom settled back into her all too quiet nest and Dad, Butch, the kids and I PACKED our rental car and started out on our most excellent road trip.  How I know we all wished we could have done this road trip in a grand, multi vehicle caravan. Reality dictated otherwise.

The first day of our road trip required a fair amount of windshield time to get us to the southwest corner of the gorgeous state of Utah.  Scenery between Zozo and our final Day 1 destination of Monticello, Utah was breathtaking.  From wide-open desert to rugged, snow-capped mountains. Sleepy towns, hundreds of cattle, ravens and squirrels.

The guys (Daddy, Butch and Aaron) were prepared to tent camp most of the nights of our trip for both the adventure AND decreasing the damage to our wallets.  While driving they determined they were missing a rather important item so we had to stop somewhere.  Thankfully (for them) there was a Wally World in Durango.  Not so thankfully for me.  If you know me well, you'll know why.  (I don't do Wally World.  As in, haven't graced the doors of one in YEARS.  I am fiercely loyal to "my" Target.)  Because the opportunity to stretch my legs after a long day of riding in the car was too much to pass up, I went with them.  Madison couldn't pass up an opportunity to photograph this rare moment.  *sigh*

Monticello, Utah was the destination for Day 1.  Butch and Dad had made reservations at a B&B called The Grist Mill Inn.  What a GRAND decision on their part!!!! Such a charming, CLEAN, spacious, friendly place!!

There was no doubt the road trip would find us all LivinLifeJoyfully!!