Well now which way do I turn?

My wife passed away October 25th while she was working in Colorado. She was the inspiration for this blog, as she was probably the only avid reader of it... The intent was to document our trips and journal them; to share with the world our exploits and adventures, show off what we've learned, warn others of the mishaps we experienced, and most of all, have the time of my life with my wife. Unfortunately, that time was far too short.


I've lost my navigator, and it sucks (even if she would guide me to wrong states, in circles, and nag me to play country music). One of the things I find myself questioning is my desire to drive and travel. I know I still love it, as driving has been one of the things that has kept (and still keeps) me sane throughout everything, but part of the joy of the road trip was having someone to share it with. Someone to see how happy the stupidest things made me, to take the pictures that I would have never thought of, to make that random stop which totally made the day, to be excited for the next day with. Like so many other things, having someone to share an experience with made it that much better. I saw her happiness in things, so I found that happiness. She'd think of things I wouldn't have thought of. Even down to the person to write down the licence plates we'd see or getting my ass kicked playing the alphabet game. Road trips just aren't the same without a navigator in the passenger seat.


But I have a few road trips in the queue. Before she died, we had talked about wanting to be cremated and where our ashes were to be spread. Being the National Park lover that she is, Christine wanted to be spread in a few National Parks. I'll add a few more for sentimental reasons, but here is where she will end up as it stands now:
- Acadia (Maine)
- Glacier (Montana, where we honeymooned)
- Yellowstone (Wyoming, where we honeymooned)
- Yosemite (California)
- Grand Canyon (Arizona)
- Cape Hatteras (North Carolina, where we eloped)

So other than Hatteras, there are a few road trips in the works. And other than Acadia and Hatteras, everything is out west, so I'm sure she wouldn't mind a few other side trips as well; there were so many parks she never got to see. I don't know when I'll get out there to put her in her final resting place, but when I do, I intend to make the trip out there and back the main show. Thats how we traveled... the destination was only a stop. The journey is what mattered. Its just sad that her journey ended while I'm still on mine. I'll keep going though, because you never know when that random stop will be the highlight of the day.