HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

Two years ago today, Craig was anxiously awaiting to start driving school and begin our new adventure on the highways and bi ways of the USA and Canada. We really didn't know what to expect. Sure he made it through the course with flying colors, and I don't mind bragging for him, he was top of his class. But then it was time to take him to the airport and off he flew to Spokane to start his training. The worst was not knowing when he would be back home. The daily phone calls, the text and photo messages from the road, and finally the realization that there was no way I could remain working. The house was put up for sale and my notice was given and we haven't looked back since.

Honestly, the only bump in the road was the injury this past July. In retrospect, we can now look back on it and say we made it through and we found some qualities in each other we hadn't known we had. This past year found us going from coast to coast and border to border. We will never forget our trip to Yellowknife and how we were "Ice Road Truckers" crossing the frozen river twice, trying to ignore the large cracks and the birds sitting calmly by to feast on our frozen carcass had there been a mishap.

We did battle with Customs and border crossings, managing to always make it through. We only had one incident of the wrong boats being loaded, and the 800 miles it took to fix it. We managed over sized loads and then the time where no matter how hard they tried, three large boats would not fit legally on our trailer. We experienced extreme temperatures from minus 40 to 117, and know that we prefer it somewhere in between. We've seen the beauty and the ugliness of the road, from the scenery to the accidents that can happen when you least expect it. It's been a year filled with waking up each day and never knowing exactly how it will end.

So on this first day of the new year, we have no resolutions, because what would we want to change? We found that we love this lifestyle for now. We know it will not last forever, and are already making plans for our next adventure, but until then we do what we love, and love what we do. The fact that we get paid for this makes it even better. There will be changes this year as we move towards putting down roots in Washington State, but in reality, we just don't want to grow up just yet. Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year!