Remember the Big Event I mentioned last week? Well, that Big Event was flying to California last Friday night to help The Man pack up his apartment and then hopping in the truck on Saturday morning and driving cross country to the East Coast, where I am happy to announce he is relocating. We are long distance no more!
But as it turns out, there was another Big Event that I didn’t see coming – The Man proposed!
Naturally I said yes! And for the record when I say I didn’t see it coming – of course I knew he was going to propose as we’ve already discussed marriage, I just didn’t know when. And I had NO idea it would be on Saturday, the day we left our beloved California, although it turned out to be the perfect reminder of the day.
Our plan was to wake up early and go to our favorite coffee shop one last time, after which we’d take our to go cups of java up to this gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the city on one side, the beach on the other, and the harbor on another. It’s 360 degrees of beauty. It’s also the same place where we watched the sunrise on New Years Day this year. Gorgeous. Saturday however was gray and cloudy, and I actually didn’t want to go up to the lookout! Good thing The Man talked me in to it!
To tell you the truth, I can’t even remember what he said. We were talking about our relationship and then he got on one knee and I burse into tears and that was that. He could have told me he wanted us to move into an igloo in Alaska and raise reindeer, and I wouldn’t have had any idea. And I still would have said yes!
Bottom line, it was perfect, and I couldn’t be happier to be the future Mrs. S!
Anyway, after the second Big Event, we went to breakfast at another of our favorite places one last time before hitting the road. I had to be back at work on Thursday so we had five days to drive the 2700 miles that used to separate us. We had already planned out our overnights – Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Indiana – but everything else was a free for all. I did a little research on things to see on Route 66, but since we were on a time limit we just decided to play it by ear.
Just a few highlights of the trip:
The Grand Canyon – obviously. I wasn’t about to drive through Arizona and not see visit! And can I just say that I can’t understand how anyone can go to the Grand Canyon and not believe in God. Seriously.
It rained right before we got to the Canyon so the pictures don’t do it justice. Suffice to say it was breathtaking.
Sunset in Arizona
The view in New Mexico
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, NM – a popular hotel for Old West stars like John Wayne
The famous Cadillacs on Route 66 in Texas…watering these will not make them grow!
Seeing this cross (and the below replica of the tomb) in Texas. Absolutely stunning tribute of the crucifixion of Christ that literally gave me goosebumps. (And you can see how huge the cross is, because the building next to it is a full sized church.)
Replica of the Tomb where Jesus was buried…you can’t see it in the pic but they even have the stone that was rolled away.
One thing I do have to say is that if you ever want to test your relationship strength, drive cross country with that person. Five days crammed in a car will make anyone a little batty! Although I am happy to announce that aside from one little incident where I was suffering from starvation (read: I was hangry), The Man and I came out unscathed!
And let’s face it: there’s nobody else in the world I’d rather be crammed in a car with for five days straight.
Just a few other pics to leave you with:
Miami, Oklahoma, that is.
Missouri!
I was checking it out for spiders and snakes before I climbed in to get a picture. I had no idea he took this picture!
The St. Louis arch – completely unplanned, we just happened to be on I-70 which took us right past it!
Our saving grace: stopping at various rest stops for a quick run. Even if it was only 5-10 minutes, getting out of the truck and moving around was definitely the way to go!
Stopped at a produce stand to pick up fresh fruits and veggies on our way through Pennsylvania
Have a fabulous weekend!
Bear Family Strong 
Congratulations!! I am excited about your engagement AND your adventure together!! What a great trip! I am so happy for you!!
Congratulations!!! I am so excited for you!! And what a great adventure!! I have always wanted to take a road trip like that!!
Thank you so much! I recommend the road trip!
Love your pics! 🙂 I would have loved to have seen all that, and that hotel in NM was so cute!! And by the way. You were lying when you said there’s no one else you’d rather be crammed in a car with for 5 days straight- there’s me too! I I say the same for you 🙂 Love you, so happy for you! Can’t wait to have a new brother! 🙂
You’re right – I’d spend five days in a car with you, too! 🙂
Beautiful photos and a huge congratulations to you! All so very exciting! 🙂
Thanks so much! 🙂
Congratulations! Love the pics, too! You can run a 3 state marathon along old Rt 66 ( http://www.runmrm.com/ ). It is a good race that Joplin, MO is working hard to make big. It starts in Commerce, OK and finishes in Joplin, MO.
Thank you! And the marathon sounds pretty cool, I’ll have to check it out!