Two vans

You know how Jeff and I like to buy vehicles out of state? Well...we did it again. This time, we needed to purchase two new work vans. We recently hired another employee that necessitated another van and one of the current vans needed to be replaced...so off we were to Phoenix and Spokane. I actually really love these little adventures. Yes, they usually aren't planned and not as convenient as an actual vacation, but with the help of family to keep track of Jonas and Danny, we found the time to fit it in. We ended up picking up the vans a week apart. We first flew to AZ on Thursday, August 18th. It was the first weekend we didn't really have anything going on (although Jeff still had to get back for a Saturday evening responsibility and I wanted to stick around to at least be there for the first day of school). It was a quick trip. We flew in on Thursday afternoon. My parents picked us up, we drove to Phoenix, picked up the van, then met up with Nichole, Ryan, Kate, Michael, and Jackie for dinner. We enjoyed the evening with my family. After dinner, we ran over to Michael's and Nichole's houses because Jeff hadn't seen them before ending up at my parents to spend the night (sorry...I didn't think to take any pictures of the group). The next morning (Friday, August 19th), we woke up early and continued our adventure. Now, we could have easily drive home in one day, but I decided (and just told Jeff this was what we were doing) to take a detour to see a few cemeteries on the way home. Yes, I am still on my quest to visit my ancestors' final resting places. I am almost finished. I have a couple to visit in Tucson and a couple in El Paso left. I'm honestly not sure when I'll hit the El Paso ones, but I could do Tucson the next time I take a trip to AZ. There are a few in Mexico, but that region isn't the safest right now so I probably won't be back down there any time soon. In any case, we detoured up through Payson, along the Mogollon rim, to beautiful northeastern Arizona. At one point, we decided to stop and do a little hike. The mountains were calling to us. We pulled off into a campground and just set out. There was a little hiking path, but we deviated into the forest in search of any animals we could find (Jeff always wants to find a bear...I was just praying for an elk...we didn't see anything). It was the perfect, serene, cloudy morning to walk in the woods. 

Yes, I had to stop and smell the trees!

After about a half hour, we decided to get back on the road. By this time, we had made it to the small town of Heber. We were hungry so we started looking for a breakfast place; we found June's. This was the cutest, smallest, packed place. We had gone to another place but were informed that they were out of certain breakfast items so we decided to keep looking. We were headed to another place when we saw the packed parking lot at June's. That's always a good sign! We grabbed the last little table available. All the tables were packed in there so tightly that we basically ate with the groups around us. We struck up a conversation with a couple to our right and the group of construction workers to our left. Our waitress was a little spitfire too! She hooked us up with great food while we enjoyed the great company. To me, this is what I love about our country. I love small, local businesses where everyone immediately becomes a friend. I love talking to complete strangers and finding common ground even if differences arise. The food was good but the whole atmosphere made the breakfast amazing.

Now that we had completed a hike and filled our bellies, we were on to the task at hand. We visited 4 cemeteries. Three of them were relatively close together, but one great-great-great grandpa was buried a little further out. We went to Springerville (Eagar) to see him first. It was literally a two hour detour (an hour out there and back). I'm grateful that Jeff humors me on this quest. We found the little cemetery, I paid my respects, and we were back on the road. More than seeing their final resting place, I have loved learning about these incredible men and women. This grandpa, Elijah Averett, was an early member of the church. He was present during all the mobs at Far West. He helped build the Nauvoo temple and was there when the Saints were once again driven out. He came west with the Pioneers and led one of the wagon groups. All along the way, he showed great fortitude and faith...as did the rest of the men and women we visited. In fact, many of them knew each other. Elijah and my other great-great-great grandfather, Charles Shumway, were with Brigham Young in Nauvoo. Jesse Nathaniel Smith, my great-great grandfather, was there also. 

From Springerville, we headed to Shumway to see my great-great grandparents, Wilson Glen and Jennett Mariah Averett Shumway. Before we visited the cemetery, we ran into "town" (it's a very small farming community) to see the old Shumway Schoolhouse. This school was built by some of my ancestors and some of my ancestors attended school there. It was named after my 3rd great grandfather, Charles. The school was locked up when we arrived. Jeff snapped a couple of pictures of me outside and we peered inside when we heard a female voice from across the street. She had a key and beckoned us to come get it and let ourselves in. I was so excited! I had seen the little school decades before, but I don't ever remember going inside. The town had recreated what the schoolhouse could have looked like. On the walls were pictures and stories of my ancestors (and others) who settled the area. I loved being inside that tiny room. I loved imagining my ancestors learning and celebrating there (it was also used as a gathering place for town meetings, parties, etc.). I really loved that I got to ring the school bell. Jeff laughed at me because of how "giddy" I looked. I loved it all! Before leaving town, we drove up Old Mill road to where the grist mill that Charles built would have been, but there is nothing left of that building. Finally, we made our way to the small Shumway cemetery to see Wilson Glen and Mariah.

Next stop was Taylor, Arizona where Charles and Louisa Minnerly Shumway were buried. According to all the histories I've read, Charles was a force to be reckoned with. He was a no-nonsense, tough man. He joined the church during the Nauvoo era. He served as a body guard to the prophet Joseph and was the first to cross the Mississippi River during the exodus. He was generally called upon to help settle areas along the route the pioneers would cross. He was a part of the group that entered the Salt Lake Valley ahead of Brigham Young. He even helped build the mill here in Payson! He was constantly moving until he finally settled in Arizona. 

The last cemetery we visited was in Snowflake. This is where Jesse Nathaniel Smith (first cousin to the prophet Joseph) was buried alongside his wives, one of which was my great-great grandmother, Janet Mauretta Johnson Smith. Her mother, Janet Fife Johnson, was also buried there. All of these people we visited were from the Shumway line, but there were two more there from Mom's Whetten line, David and Mary Abigail White Savage. It was fun to think that both lines crossed at one point! I am in awe of these incredible people. In some ways, I have found an added measure of strength because of the legacy they left. 

Before we left town, we visited a monument in downtown Snowflake that referenced my grandpa Jesse. We also passed by one of the houses he lived in with his youngest wife (unfortunately, it was closed). Then, it was time to move on. From here, we could have gone home through Moab, but we decided to head back to Flagstaff and up through Kanab. It's a little more scenic. On our way, we made two more small pit stops in Holbrook and Winslow. In Holbrook, we visited a couple places that inspired the fictional animated town of Radiator Springs in Disney's Cars movies, Joe and Aggie's cafe and the Wigwam motel. The Wigwam obviously inspired the Cozy Cone motel and even had a "Mater" replica on sight. In Winslow, we stopped "on the corner" to take a picture with the statue of Jackson Browne, who wrote the Eagles song Take It Easy. Sometimes it's these silly little stops that make the drive fun. We literally only stayed for about 5 minutes in each location - just long enough to snap a picture and savor a memory.

That night, we stayed in Page before making our final push home (Saturday, August 20th)...with another random stop along the way. I have been driving the 89 from Page to Panguitch for decades. I've always driven by the Moqui Cave outside of Kanab but have never stopped...until today. Just another little side adventure. Again, we didn't stay long...just long enough to learn that the cave was originally built to be a bar and dance house for the early movie stars that frequented the Kanab area when filming old Westerns. From there, it evolved into a sort of museum with dinosaur tracks, ancient pottery, and rocks and minerals. Now I can finally say I've been there.

The next Thursday (August 25th) we were off again! This time we flew into Spokane, Washington, picked up the truck, and made our way to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. I had never been to this area of Idaho...and we're already planning a trip back! It was so beautiful. The lake is HUGE and gorgeous. We stopped to have lunch, hike down to the lake, browse a few boutique stores, then we were on our way again.

We made it to Lewiston, Idaho where we met up with Jeff's high school friend, Matt, and his son, Will, for dinner. They were kind enough to treat us to dinner and let us crash at their house in Grangeville before making our final push home the following day. It was fun to listen to Jeff and Matt catch up on life and reminisce about old times. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have given Jeff the time of day in high school. They were rowdy! But I sure am grateful I married the man I did. We love these crazy road trips. I just love being with Jeff. I love laughing at the silly stuff, having the hard conversations, and enjoying the random adventures.

The next day (Friday, August 26th), we pushed home. This time there were no major detours. The drive from Grangeville to just outside of Boise is so pretty. We drove through Hell's Canyon with a wild river and pine trees all around. This part of Idaho is really breathtaking. We couldn't resist the urge to pull of the road at one point to hike around the river for a bit. We also really loved driving through McCall. Wow! Another future weekend getaway for sure.

We passed this just outside of New Meadows, Idaho.

We made it to Boise where we stopped for lunch near the capitol building and browsed some stores before our final few hours (and the most boring) home. People think we're crazy for buying vehicles out of state, but we look forward to our adventures. Jeff is my eternal travel buddy and I wouldn't have it any other way.