Back in the U.S.A.! Our latest video covers three months in our home country, as we complete a massive loop from Denver to Florida to California and back to Denver.
We fly to Seattle to celebrate the life of Eric’s mom at her graveside, joined by family and friends. The day after her memorial, my (Brittany’s) Grandpa passed away. So Caspian and I fly to Toronto for his memorial service. The next day, our family spreads his ashes with my Grandma’s. She lost her battle with breast cancer when I was four.
Following the two memorials, we reunite and rest in Orlando. We’d been planning this for years! We drive to Texas to celebrate Caspian’s 7th birthday and sort through storage. Then on to California for Christmas with loved ones. Along the way, we meet with patrons and friends. We even find ourselves in downtown New Orleans on Thanksgiving Day.
Watch now:
It’s hard to process how it feels to go back to the U.S.
It is a joy to see the people we love, combined with the challenge of saying goodbye when we part.
It is a blessing to rest in the extravagant luxuries of the U.S.: long showers, hot water, washing machines, toilet seats, Chick-Fil-A, Heinz ketchup, blue cheese dressing, the interstate system, bantering in English. But there’s also a feeling of not actually being home. Of needing to return home–back to our Jeep in South America.
There’s also the hectic pace to contend with. Despite our intentions, these trips back involve long miles, lots of social settings, and endless logistics. Granted, this trip we had more logistics than typical with two family deaths. But there are always time-sensitive projects associated with going back to the U.S., whether it’s purchasing items to take back with us, tracking down mail, or making passport renewal appointments. There’s always something that lessens the feeling of a relaxed, friendly visit.
This isn’t a complaint. We are grateful. But it’s an accurate description of what we experience when we take a break from driving around the world to visit the states.
What’s new?
We are free! On January 30, we finally got an appointment with SUNAT to reinstate our temporary import permit. There was drama involved, of course, and you’ll see that on YouTube soon. But that’s beside the point. We can legally drive in Peru again!
Heading south from Lima, we’ve explored Paracas National Reserve, the oasis and dunes of Huacachina, and flown over the Nazca Lines. Check out Instagram for photos and video. We’ve been taking our time because Eric has been working to finish the massive U.S. video for YouTube.
After three months in the states and nearly a month of purgatory waiting for our TIP to get reactivated, I think we’re still settling back to life on the road in Peru. But it feels good, so good, to continue this journey. Thanks for being a part of it.
-B
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