To recap our adventure out west, and remember the highlights, I thought I would do a Top 5 Moments. So here it goes! (In chronological order, not in the order of favouritism)
1. Mount Rushmore
This had to make the list! It was something Dane was so excited for, and the excitement it brought him was great. The bikers definitely added to the humour of it. This was also on the Top 5 because it is a major American monument. I think the way I actually learned of Mount Rushmore was from the Game of Life! The details were amazing. Although there was a small rain shower, it was a nice day and we got there right before a massive storm hit! Good timing!
2. Getting lost between South Dakota and Wyoming (and finding our way out to civilization)
When I asked Dane what his favourite memory of the trip, this was his answer. Although we were very anxious and frustrated at the time, it's one of those memories you look back and laugh about. It will definitely be something that we won't forget anytime soon! The cows on the road, the 20-something deer we saw, the darkening sky, and the lack of gas and food is really quite a hilarious situation when you think about it. I still don't know why we didn't decide to just turn around? Finally making it out to pavement and seeing the lights of a town in the distance was the hugest relief. I definitely felt my survival adrenaline kicking in when we were lost. Thinking of how much food/water we had left in the car!
3. Roof Rack Incident
Again, another seemingly not-so-happy memory. This was extremely stressful, uncomfortable and frustrating. The reason it makes the Top 5 is because it showed me how well Dane and I can work together in a somewhat crisis situation. This made me realize how well we work as a team, and how we divvy up tasks immediately and get the job done. This was a huge relief, as we were about to move in together!! Since then, during stressful times, we have worked great together, each doing what needs to be done. Good news!
4. Judith Gap, Montana
Small, random memory. When we were driving through the endless, s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t, flat highways of Montana, starting to get a little stir crazy and just wanting to reach the Canadian border, we drove through a town (or hamlet?) called Judith Gap. It was just such a hilarious name, and Dane kept saying it in a Montana accent and telling stories that originated from Judith Gap (made up ones). This had me in stitches, and sometimes "JUDITH GAP, MONTANA" (said in a Montana accent) still gets said! I think you had to be there to really understand why this made Top 5.
5. The beautiful turquoise waters of Lake Louise (and Banff in general)
The beautiful Lake Louise and Moraine Lake were absolutely stunning. Of course I had seen it in pictures, but to actually see it in person was an amazing experience. I loved the beauty of Banff, and cannot wait to go back. The stunning scenery is breathtaking. I would love to spend more time in Banff, and venture into more areas of the park that we didn't have the time to do. I think this was Lucy's highlight too and gets her vote! She got to do everything with us and wasn't left in the car all day.
There are obviously tons more, but I had to limit it to just a few! Overall, the trip went very smoothly considering the amount of stuff we had in the car, and the length of the trip.
