(Michael and Holly walking Chester at the side of the road in Utah)
I met Michael in 1997 while working for The Bridge, Inc. In Gadsden, Alabama. Since then, Michael and I have moved several times. I moved from Glencoe to Attalla, from Attalla to Mobile, and once again within the mobile area. Michael helped me move every time. Michael moved within Gadsden area, from Gadsden to Mobile, and once within Mobile area. We should have never opened the investigation business but instead a moving company. Michael and I have shared our amount of adventure; camping, backpacking trips with and without delinquents, 70 miles overnight mountain bike ride (which I end up with a bloody elbows and a crack rib and Michael with a good laugh), and Kayaking trips with and without wives. On March 24th, 2006, Michael and Holly, once again, gave of themselves to help us move. We attached Judi's Toyota to the 16' truck, loaded the Dogs in the back of the Frontier, and left town.
We left Mobile at about 1800 hrs heading west toward Oregon. We drove during the night through small roads until we reached I-20 in Mississippi and then into Richmond, LA. At about 0045 hrs, We stopped for the night in Richmond. Then as tired as we were, Michael and Holly helped us walk the neurotic and confused dogs. Did I mention that we were transporting 5 dogs in two small cages?
In the morning of day two, Michael jumped in the big truck and we drove away toward Dallas, TX and to reach Santa Fe, NM. We did not make it to Santa Fe as planned. We made it as far as Amarillo, TX. After arrival and another long session walking the even more frustrated puppy dogs, well, not so puppies, We went to a steak house to load up on bloody protein. Here is were all my digestive system problems began.
On day three, we got up ate b'fast and did our ritual of loading the dogs, quite a job may I add. Holly and Judi were looking forward to shop in Santa Fe, NM. I have to add that until this point there was no road features to take from the irritating, boring, and long drive. Leaving Amarillo heading west, we entered the desert, and encountered hurricane force head winds making our progress slow. The speed limit posted was 70 mph but we were barely making 40 mph. We stopped to pump gas and was almost impossible to stand still due to the wind. Once we changed direction and headed north, we were rolling at our top speed of 70 mph. Now the adobe houses were visible and the desert did not seemed like a bad place to live after all. I could see why the Pueblo people choose to live there. We reached Santa Fe in time for lunch. Michael and I enjoyed a typical southwestern dish. Like, my digestive system need it the extra spice. Michael and I sweated through our lunch and headed toward Colorado. Judi and Holly were not able to find a shopping place. We drove through the mountains until we reached a little town called Durango, CO at about 2200 hrs. We stopped for the night. The town is as colorful as those on post cards surrounded by snow topped mountains and little shops. We did our dog duties and I thought about killing one or two of the dogs and lighten the load. Their frustration level had reached new levels. Well, after being caged all day and with just few minutes to do their thing, they were restless. We talked about meeting at the pub and get dinner and a beer. I don't remember much after my shower except a dog trying to jump in bed several times and me looking for my gun to fix the problem. Lucky dog, Michael had my gun during the trip. Did I mentioned that our 5 guard dogs barked at every unfamiliar noise they heard during the night, and all sounds were unfamiliar.
In the morning of the fourth day and after a little sleep. I took the lovely canines for a walk thinking on which one to kill. I was feeling tired, sore (in several places), and frustrated with the dogs; but mostly I was thinking on Michael and Holly who should felt the same as me. I had to move to Salem and bare the burden. Michael and Holly were baring it out of loyalty and friendship. I was rejoiced to see the sun rising from behind the mountains as I felt the freezing cold hitting my face. Then I see Holly walking toward her room, after exchanging placenteries she informed me that she went for a morning run. A morning run??? Is'nt she as tired as us? were did she get that energy? what was in the beer? Then I remembered, Holly is just 26 years of age. So, now I had to add
old age to my pains. We went to Drink coffee at Starbucks; and hopefully the shops be open and Judi and Holly do some shopping. No, not such luck. We drove off toward salt Lake City. enjoying a wonderful view of the mountains, elks, and deer. We stopped at an native american authentic craft shop. The genious of me locked the keys in the vehicle and had to call a locksmith to unsecure the truck. After some shopping we continued our ordeal. We stopped in Moab, UT to load on carbs and shop. Regardless of when, We shall return to Moab to do some mountain biking and leave some skin. We continued our journey with a new aspiration: to reach Boise, ID by the end of the day. I guess we miscalculated the distance since at 0100 hrs we were crashing in Twin Falls, ID.
On day five, We headed toward Salem, OR. Tired, sore, and beaten by the road and long hours behind the wheel. I was impressed with the potatoe state since all I was expecting was a bunch of farms and little else. Instead, the view was quite pleasant, nice land conture and fixtures. I - 84 broughht us home. The trip ended at about 2100 hrs on the fith day and 2,785 miles from our starting point.
Thank You guys for all your help, We could have not done it without your help. We love you both. We will never forget everything you two did for us.
Luis & Judi
