Journey to Ecuador, Phase One

For those of you keeping close tabs on us and our ridiculous journeys, you will be happy to know that yesterday morning we successfully checked out of the house we were renting. 24 hours later than we had originally scheduled, but thanks to a kind landlord we made it work. Immediately following checkout we loaded into Aaron’s truck with the remainder of our belongings we are storing and left to Aaron’s mom’s in Montana. 10 hours later we arrived, all in pretty good spirits considering. We were blessed with almost entirely bare and dry roads, no traffic, and exceptionally well behaved children. We are happy to be here, most of the pre-Ecuador stress now gone, we are just relaxing and having fun with family.

I suppose this isn’t really part of the Journey to Ecuador, but since we had to come to Montana before going to Ecuador, I am counting it. On Monday night at 11pm we will board the train here going back to Seattle, where we arrive at 10 in the morning. If that doesn’t sound like a good time to you (not in a sleeper car keep in mind) then we are alike. Following that fun journey (which everyone keeps pointing out could take longer if the weather is bad, thanks a lot!) we will be returning to our Ecuador bound belongings to re-sort them and make them all fit into the suitcases. Or throw them away. Or whatever. The next morning we leave my dad’s house at 4am for our 6am flight. Are we having fun yet? We fly from Seattle to Dallas to Miami to Quito.

After arriving in Quito at 11pm, we will be greeted by the best taxi driver in the world, and another friend he brings along to cart our 8 suitcases plus carry-ons to the place we are staying. The following day we will either relax, or if we are feeling crazy return to the airport for one more 45 minute flight to our final destination.

I am tired just writing all that. I will keep you all abreast of the situation as it unfolds…