To-Do List #17 - Drive Across Country - Part Seven **the final chapter!**

So first we wake up 2 hours late... So much for alarm clocks! Or at least so much for setting them when you are sleepy! But to make matters worse - LJ's Jeep was really tired from so much driving and really didn't want to sit in traffic (which was really bad that morning) So Frankie (the Jeep) starts overheating. Crap. One more day of driving and it starts overheating. But I know my way around Vegas enough and had my handy-dandy GPS in hand, so we avoided traffic and was able to continue on. I drove the first half while LJ slept - but it was a really easy drive. We stopped and switched off after about 4 hours and LJ continued on through California. The butterflies in our tummy kept getting worse and worse until we were at the last town outside of Yosemite and I just wanted to drive back to Vegas! We were both so nervous sitting at McDonald's that I know people must have thought we looked ridiculous! But we managed to pull ourselves together and keep trekking on! LJ did great through the mountains where I closed my eyes and tried really hard not to pay attention to the cliffs. We drove through Yosemite completely and came out the other side. About 3 miles outside of Yosemite we turned onto Evergreen Rd. We thought we were there. No. About 10 minutes later we were finally seeing signs of the Lodge. We are really out in the middle of nowhere!

Alex was there to meet us and gave us the tour of the property. We met many people that first day - most of whom I do not remember - but I know they will become family very soon. The next day Alex, the maintenance guy- GW, LJ and I drove to Yosemite Valley. We saw Bridalveil falls, Lower Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Lodge and of course the Yosemite Camp Store where I can remember the first boy who ever flirted with me. I think he still works there! :) ha ha.

Afterwards we came back to the lodge and LJ and I set up house. The room is small but we have bunk beds so it gives us more space. We are looking forward to a paycheck so we can get a few things to help out.

So there you have it - my drive across the country with my end result being in the middle of no where. The closest Target is like 3 hours from here.

Did I mention they laugh and call me the city girl out here?

To-Do List #61 - Move to Yosemite National Park!

On April 20th, I will be leaving Raleigh to drive across the country. Destination: Groveland, CA, my new home. Call my a gypsy, a wanderer, a free-spirit, I suppose I am all of those. I will be working at the Evergreen Lodge directly outside Yosemite National Park. With the bears... and the mountain lions... and the bobcats... and the apparently psychotic squirrels. It should be an interesting experience!

It all started with a friend from my ship days, Alex. Alex was my trainer at NCLA's training center in Piney Point, MD. We were great friends there and even though we hadn't seen each other for about 2 years we still talked constantly. Alex informed me a few months ago that he would begin working at the Evergreen Lodge at the beginning of 2008. I instantly knew I wanted to take the opportunity to work in one of America's most beautiful areas, so I called another friend, Lana. Lana was Alex's friend as well and mine, from our time on the M/V Pride of America. I asked if she would be interested in moving out there and working for a while in Yosemite. Within a day we had it all planned, we would road trip out there and begin a new life (again!)

So, on April 20th I will begin the first half of my trip with my Mother. Mom and I will drive from our home in Raleigh, NC to her sister's home in New Concord, OH. We will stay with her a couple of days and on the 23rd of April they will drive me to Lana's home in Decatur, IN. The next day we begin our journey, stopping at every cheesy road side attraction and tourist trap, and complete with a three day stay in Fabulous Las Vegas! We will arrive in Groveland, CA on April 30th and begin our new job on May 1st.