We finally arrived in CT on Monday evening around 7 pm. The last day's drive was stunning. I-80 through PA is incredibly beautiful. Up and down and trees everywhere you look. Long bridges over deep gorges. It didn't seem like there was anyone around for miles. (The blurry picture here is one I took out the window while I was driving...not very safe, but wanted you to see what we were seeing!) We came across a couple of elevation signs that said stuff like, "highest elevation east of the Mississippi --- 1200 ft". I radioed Chip to ask if he had seen the sign -- and I laughed a little. He told me I was an elevation snob. We sailed across the lower tip of New York (I asked Chip if he wanted to top off our 1/2 full tanks in NY and he said we were about there -- I said, but we need to go across ALL of New York! It took all of about an hour...the states are smaller in the east...at least that part of New York). We wound through CT and finally arrived at Chip's mother's home. She was VERY happy to see us. Got up early the next morning for our final walk-through of the house (after all, we'd only seen it for about 20 minutes last May...) then went into New Haven for our closing and rushed back to meet the truck at the house at 10. Glen, our Jamaican driver said, "We have a problem...I cannot back into da driveway -- it's too sharp a turn so we will need to rent a shuttle truck to take your things down. ". (to the tune of $1200 and making us wait a day longer). Now, our driveway is pretty long -- it could be 100 yards, and it is hot and humid here. But really, another truck? I said, guys, work with me. We'll help. I don't think we need a truck. Let's put all the little things in the back of my car and you can walk the big stuff up. They finally agreed and I spent about 8 hours running my car forward and back down the driveway. We finished earlier than they had anticipated and everyone was happy. We've unpacked for two days and it's beginning to look like our house. It needs an entire paint job inside -- I call it the house of many colors. There's gotta be about 10 different paint colors here. Bear went for his first swim today in the pool...accidentally. It was his first time near the pool and he was sniffing -- (the lightweight cover was on) and he put his foot on the cover and SPLASH! If dogs can look surprised, he certainly did. Love you all...thanks for your calls and support.
