What a WEEK! I wish I knew how to snag the photos off of my cell phone... I'll figure it out soon so I can share them with you all.

We started the voyage by driving back down to our beloved St George, Utah. We climbed, of course and then spent the next couple days visiting Sean and the bus, getting things set up so we could leave and return in time for Nathan's appointment on Friday morning.

It's Thursday morning and we're planning on leaving later that night, but we still don't know if the parking break is working... eek! We managed to drag one of the dusty couches and a few other garbage items out so we have room to move around the junk in the bus - and WOAH do we have a lot of junk or what?! After we clean the driver's windows a couple times, the Clarks stopped by to check out the rig and saw their first desert lizard! We then ate lunch (and cupcakes!!) and decided we should look into rock climbing with Bodile and Electa for their first real-rock experience.

Prophecy Wall is breathtaking and massive, the hike alone was a ton of fun and then getting everyone on the wall to face their fears and feel overwhelming pride was awesome - it's what I live for! Electa was so courageous, making it seven feet on her first try and then doubling that on her second time around! Bodile was really psyched and made it a smidge farther every time and the moment her toes touched the ground, was rearing to go again. Even though the weather in SLC is getting a bit chilly, I'm sure I'll get them climbing again before life takes me to another new city.

We then grabbed burritos and made our way over to Sean's. It was my first time actually firing up the bus all by myself and the butterflies started tickling my tummy! After we got it turned around, we filled up 75 gallongs of Diesel at a commercial station and were on our way - well, almost...

I was so nervous I forgot to take a turn on to the main road and thank heavens I did because breaking down on a side road was a lot more pleasant! Just before turning to get back on track, the bus died. This was actually the second time in the short quarter mile to the main road - I found out later the first time it turned off in the middle of the street was because, instead of putting it on "Lights" (running with lights), I put it on "C.L. & I.D. L.P.S." (which is apparently an engine kill with lights on...) but this time, it seemed really dead. The engine light and over-heating light came on, I hadn't pressed any new buttons, it was just not having it. Nathan went back in the Subaru and grabbed Sean who quickly realized he forgot to remind us about turning on the cooling system!

Now actually on the road, navigating traffic, and turning on the highway, we started counting down the hours. I think it was 1:30am when we pulled in to Scipio to begin our side journey to the storage unit in Loa. The deer were everywhere and just as oblivious as always, but we made it just fine and crammed nearly everything in to the back. At 4:30 we tossed everything into the bus and continued on our way, each only sleeping for about an hour when we swapped on our way to or from Loa. All of a sudden, I'm in terrible construction with the uneven highway throwing my bus around like a rag doll in 7:30 rush hour traffic and my engine light and overheating sign are coming on again; time just flies, doesn't it?! With the bus threatening to auto-quit, I can't drive over 40 or the engine will overheat. This is when I get pulled over for the first time in my life - for going too /slow/. I didn't think that would happen till I was at least 80!

Ten miles shy of our goal of reaching Ikea to park it for the day, we pulled it in to a huge dirt lot by the In and Out on the highway. Nathan and I zipped up to Salt Lake for his appointment and I took a nap in the car for half an hour. We then picked up a new Queen mattress from Ikea on the way back, ate a quick burger from In and Out and promptly passed out in the bus.

I woke up with Nathan yelling at me to wake up and realized I had slept through my alarm, a phone call, and a text message... I was OUT. I was also guilty of making us late to meet up with friends for a Warren Miller movie in Park City. The movie was awesome and once again made me realize that I need to summon up the courage to try skiing again. Comfortably at midnight with the streets a bit quiter, I drove the rest of the way to our new locale at 854 E 700 S, SLC, UT. The next day (now our third), I manuevard the bus around and backed it a bit nicer into the driveway. Settled. Hopefully I don't have to move it again soon.