Tag Archives: Travel

60 Years Ago Today

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Europe 1952 Cover

60 years ago today my mom left on a three-month trip to tour Europe with a group from Brigham Young University. I recently finished a 440 page book incorporating her journals from the trip, 100’s of photos and lots of brochures and other memorabilia. It is the biggest project of that kind that I’ve tackled so far and I’m really happy with the results. I’ll post the finished pages over the next 3 months as she progresses through her journey.

The cover was inspired by a suit case that my mom used on the trip. It had an alligator texture and she add stickers from the hotels they stayed in. I printed this book using Blurb.com in their large landscape size.

Transportation by special Burlington Bus. The bus is scheduled to leave Knight Hall in Provo at 3:30 p.m., Friday, May 30. It will pick up students from Ogden and Salt Lake in front of the Salt Lake City and County Building at approximately 4:30 p.m.

We leave Salt Lake City by way of Parley’s Canyon and travel via Cheyenne, Omaha, and Chicago to Washington D.C.

After doing some sightseeing in Washington during the morning and early afternoon of Monday, June 2, we continue on our way to New York arriving there at approximately 8 p.m.

Friday, 30 May 1952:

Can you believe it? It was 3:30 p.m. and I was still disorganized for the trip. However, I had plenty of help with Aunt Mary, Lynette, Marion Allen, Doris Hermansen, and Maria Zamora assisting me. As time grew short, we just tossed the remaining equipment in the suitcase and gently closed the lid. I was given 3½ months ahead to get things organized. You would think I could’ve been better prepared!

By the time we arrived in front of Knight Hall, there was a big crowd that had already congregated. There were goodbyes and more goodbyes. Then Dr. Harold Glen Clark called us all into Knight Hall for prayer. President Wilkinson bid us God speed, and Dr. Harold W. Lee led us in prayer. With our heads hanging out the bus windows for last glimpses and final waves our big beautiful greyhound bus pulled out about an hour late.

Then the Give Us Some Money Committee hurried into quick action collecting money for the anticipated performance of Rigoletto in Paris. Our first stop at the Salt Lake City bus depot brought more excitement and new friends: Eloise Wilcox, Margaret Brown, Dick Myers (one of the sadly outnumbered boys on this tour), and Alene (my old friend).

Spirits were high in anticipation of the wonderful experiences ahead of us. I made an attempt to pick up some travelers cheques at American Express, but it was closed. Dr. Rogers called Paul Childs, who took us down to the Union Pacific Depot where I exchanged most of my money for 39 ten dollar cheques. Then we were ready to go when Herr Rogers discovered that he still had to sign his cheques. He had lots of money in large denominations though, so it didn’t take long.

At approximately 7 p.m., we went back to the bus depot where all goodbyers and well-wishers had departed. As we boarded the bus and headed east, things quieted down a little. All of us ate sandwiches and napped. Alicia and I had a huge box full of goodies that her family had fixed for us. We came to Evanston and went into the restaurant for a drink. Then we traveled on to Rock Springs and Laramie. The bus driver woke us up every two hours.

Two Wonderful Yet Event Filled Years

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Sue and Apex from our trip to Florida – January 2011

Today marks two years since Apex met his handler at Guide Dogs for the Blind in Boring, Oregon. Sue sent out the following email about her life so far with Apex.

Today marks a wonderful milestone in my lifethat I wanted to share with you all.  2 years ago last week I received acall giving me the flight information to go to a cold and wet Portland toget my guide dog.  As I finished the final preparations and packing, I wasnervous and worried how this would all play out.  Amanda, mydaughter, was only months from graduating high school and I needed to finda new way to get around.  How would he fit into my office life? Would Istill be working? What and where life would take me in these last 2 years hasbeen remarkable and totally unthought of at that time. I took a plane flightacross the US changing planes several times – it would be the last time I wouldbe so scared to travel alone.  It was 2 years ago today that I metApex for the very 1st time.  His birth date is the same as my kitten’s, andhe was the tall, dark and handsome man I prayed for since I was in high school(so… he came on 4 legs instead of 2 – I had to compromise somewhere – haha).He and I hit it off within minutes and we have been unstoppable ever since. He does not mind shopping as long as lunch is included and he loves to traveland see many new faces and places. As I type this, he lays next to me sleeping(and snoring) in the warm Florida afternoon sun.
I have traveled all over (Eastern Caribbean/Bahamas/Virgin Islands/ Massachusetts/Connecticut/Vermont/Florida/Texas/Georgia just to name afew) with my tall, dark and handsome guiding my footsteps, we watched asAmanda graduated high school and we partied the night away (I had earned it !),we worked several full military honor funerals with out a flinch from my guideduring the honor gun salutes, we tackled and attended a movie premier (Lettersto God– it was filmed at my office just before I got Apex), we survived 2long endless months with dad in CCU/ICU/PCU and then his death and funeral, wegot caught in the October snow/ice storm in the northeast, and we stillcontinue to work, travel and shop on our own.  We have found anew church home and attend every chance we can.  I still remainindependent although my brother refuses to let me mow the yard, fix theplumbing, or hang pictures (things blind folks don’t do so well at anyway).
We (Apex and I) are currentlyplanning more trips: to the Caribbean in early 2013, another to go skiingin Utah in the fall of 2012, and then I am starting the process ofplanning my dream trip to Alaska to see the Arura Borelis and Hawaiito see the volcano and black beaches (both states are on my bucketlist and I can not believe they will actually become reality in the summer/fallof 2013) as well as a trip, or two, to see family and friends all acrossthis land.  Laying down my drivers license was very hard as I thought itwould be the end of my working and traveling days but instead God traded me -my driving a car for my wonderful guide dog. 
Apex has truly lived up to the meaning of hisname and been the pinnacle of my life even thru the health scares we haveboth endured.  Two and a half years ago it took me nearly an hour to go 1block with my white cane finding every crack in the sidewalk and more oftenthan not, I sat at home totally frustrated and exhausted by trying to travel orwalk. Yesterday, Apex and I did 2 miles in 30 minutes without thinking aboutit – what a joy to be able to walk like a sighted person again.  Heloves children and so I am getting back into working with them more andmore.  He also loves to entertain the crowd while I (attempt to) sing, soI am once again beginning to sing on stage ( I always hated being taken and ledlike a small child so I stopped singing when I started loosing myvision.).  I also have begun pursuing things that interest Sue as I beginto enjoy the “empty nest” now that Amanda has moved out.  It isamazing how much less house cleaning there is to do when there are no childrenaround…humm  (I had forgotten that part of being single…)
Thank you all for your prayers and emotionalsupport over these last 2 wonderful and event filled years and continue to prayfor us as I have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon. Who knows- you maysee me at your door or even hear me as I go by.  God truly does give usriches beyond measure and often more than we can think of.
Celebrate today – it is all we know we have -tomorrow is simply hoped for and yesterday was.  
on our Happy “Puppy Day” 
Sue and Guide Apex

Kennedy Space Center

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Today we drove out to Kennedy Space Center. Sue’s parents drove because we could all fit in their van. It was good to get out of the city and see some of the Florida countryside. The space shuttle wasn’t out today. They had moved it inside to fix some problems with the fuel tank. The KSC doesn’t use any tax money in the operation of the visitor center. It runs off the ticket prices which aren’t cheap but I like the idea that it pays for itself.

Apex guiding Sue at Kennedy Space Center

Sue and Apex with an Astronaut

We saw two 3-D movies on the IMAX screens. One on the Hubble Telescope and the other on the Space Station. On the first one we got to go in first (guide dog privileges). Sue didn’t go to the second one because the first one effected her limited vision and was threaten to give her a migraine.

Alligator at Kennedy Space Center

I got to see my first alligator in the “wild” by the lake behind the movie theater. They have an retire shuttle there that you can get into part of it. I imagined the cargo bay to be much bigger. Bill and I and Amanda stood in line for awhile to go on the shuttle simulator. It was really cool and not at all scary like roller coasters.

Raelyn and Bill with Apex under the Space Shuttle

After the Space Center we drove to Dixie Crossroads, a seafood restaurant that is her families favorite. I think that was one of the main reasons her parents wanted to come today. They are famous for their rock shrimp so I ordered that and Bill ordered crab legs and then we split them so we got to eat both. It was very, very good. The also serve little cornbread doughnut holes with powdered sugar on them that were so tasty. I had to restrain myself so I’d have room for the rest of my dinner.

Sue and her family at Dixie Crossroads

Another wonderful day in Florida. I hated to see it end because who knows when we will get to see Apex again. We stopped Sue’s house before we went back to the hotel so we could see Apex in his spiffy red sunglasses. It was hard to leave but we know that Apex is in good hands, that he loves is life and that he is well loved in return. We couldn’t be happier about his partnership with Sue and she seems to be very satisfied with his work as a guide dog.

Apex in his red sunglasses

Quiet Sunday Afternoon

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We were going to go to church with Sue and Apex but it turned out to not be a great Sunday for visitors so I looked up on the internet the closest LDS ward to her house and we went to church their. It was a big ward with quiet a few Portuguese speaking members.

Apex hanging out in his back yard

After church we went to Sue’s house for a relaxed meal with her daughter and brother. We had steak and pasta with a fruit crisp and ice cream for dessert. Apex got to have one of his special doggy ice creams too. After lunch we went out in the yard to watch Apex run around. Sue has a kumquat tree in her back yard so we got to see what they taste like. They are rather sour, like a lemon, but have more of an orangy flavor. I like them.

birds at the lake

Then we drove a couple of miles to a lake to feed the ducks. Bill did all the feeding but the egrets ate the most. The ducks didn’t seem too hungry and the geese were rather slow coming a quick to leave if anything startled them. There were also some sea gull, (they are different than the California gulls we have around here) and a squirrel kept watch over everything up in a tree.

egrets at the lake

It was a such a nice, peaceful day, perfect for a Sunday. 

Holy Land Experience

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On Saturday we went with Sue and her daughter (and Apex of course) to the Holy Land Experience. We got to see how Apex worked with lots of people around. They have a replica of the Tabernacle that the children of Israel used when they were wandering in the wilderness. It was interesting to see the reenactment of what the priests did in the temple. The other part I really liked was the Scriptorium where they presented a history of the Bible with lots of old scriptures including some pages of a Gutenberg Bible.

Apex in harness

Apex is such a lucky dog. Sue takes such good care of him. She brings snacks for him of fresh fruit and/or veggies everyday. He eats a dog food with no preservatives so she can only get 20 lbs at a time. Every time she goes to get more dog food the vet checks Apex over to makes sure that he is doing well and monitors his weight. Sue hopes that Apex will be able to be her guide for ten years. He just might make it with how well she takes care of him.

Apex getting pea pods for a snack

We had committed to go to the Top Dog banquet that evening so we headed back to the hotel late in the afternoon and just before we were going to turn left and Sue and her daughter were going to turn right, a car from a side street pulled out to make a left hand turn right in front of both of our cars. Amanda was able to miss the other car and Bill almost got stopped but we still hit the other car.

Our rental car with the bumper hanging off after the acident

After all the police reports etc. were done (the driver of the other car got a ticket), Sue called her dad to bring us something to tie the bumper back on the car so we could drive it back to the rental company and get a different car. They are such kind and generous people. We feel so lucky that Apex is part of such a great family. It was nice to have some moral and physical support with local knowledge when things went wrong. Because of that what could have been a very stressful experience was just an inconvenience.

We ended up being only a few minutes late for the banquet. They had a really good speaker, Kathy Nimmer, the author of the book “Two Plus Four Equals One”. She shared stories from her book about the partnership between service dogs and their handlers. She had us all laughing and crying. At one point one of the dogs their even spoke up to put in their opinion. It was great.

One more day until we see Apex

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We made it to Florida really late yesterday. Our flight got in just before midnight so we slept in this morning. After all we are on vacation. We don’t get to see Apex until tomorrow so we decided to go to Universal Studios and see the new Harry Potter experience. The rest of Islands of Adventures was not too crowded but Hogwarts had lots of people. It is really cool. They have it set up so it is like a winter trip to Hogsmead including snow on the roofs of the shops. They have all the stores etc.t that they talk about in the books.

Hogsmead

The lines just a week ago were really long, something like 5 hours but today it was less than an hour. The last part of the line you are inside Hogwarts and it is amazing. They have portraits that talk and move and the effect is very realistic.

Inside Hogwarts

 
The concept of the ride is you are riding a broom and boy was it ever intense. You transition back and forth between a virtual environment and a physical one. It was exciting but I was glad it didn’t last much longer or I might have thrown-up. I wasn’t up to any more roller coaster today.

Hogwarts

 
I can’t wait until tomorrow afternoon when we get to see Apex. It has been almost a year since he graduated!

Florida Bound

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We are off to Florida for a fun adventure. We will be attending the Top Dog Conference on Friday and Saturday. We have a couple of days to do whatever we decide to do and one day to visit my Aunt & Uncle who are on a mission at the Deseret Citrus and Cattle Ranch. The rest of the trip we will be hanging out with our first pup, Apex and his handler. He has been a working guide dog for almost a year so it will be fun see how he has matured. We are keeping flexible on the schedule so we can adapt to whatever opportunities comes our way. I’m sure there will be more to do than we have time to do it in.
Casey gets to have an adventure of her own by spending the week we are gone with our friend Lisa. It will be good for her and she will get lots of love and kisses. If Bill can get things to work properly by using his phone to get access to the internet, I hope to do daily reports on this blog as to our fun. If not I’ll have to do it when we get back.

Update from Apex

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Yesterday I sent this photo to Apex’s handler and gave her an update on Banta and introduced her to Casey. It was one year since we put Apex on the truck to go back to GDB. It is so much fun to hear how Apex is doing. Here are some excerpt of what she wrote:

Apex is doing wonderful and we are about to leave the country again bound for Haiti this time.  I am planning on traveling with the team from my office/church as we go to work with our sister churches in Haiti. I will be at the school, teaching during the days and working the revival services at night. Soon after we get back from there – I will be traveling to our cabin in GA for a few days of R&R.  This will be his 1st time at the cabin and I can not wait to see what he does with the ducks and the pond…
Apex is also having a wonderful time visiting the 3 local nursing homes.  The Alzheimer’s patients love seeing him come in.  The children finally are back at school and Apex loves recess time and lunch time more than ever.  Our 1 child that is autistic loves to read and pet him so Apex is learning to love story time as well.
He is up to 70 lbs and his chest is broader than ever.  He runs like a freight train out of control and then all of a sudden it at eye level.  My boss loves watching us play here at the office while I am waiting for the bus to go home.  He calls him “Tigger” -quite appropriate since I work just minutes from Disney.
I have been blessed with Apex and regaining my freedom to travel and go where I want to again.  I have been able to travel again with out fear of falling or of getting lost – both of which I did on a regular basis with the white cane. I have been able to shop for my own groceries again because he navigates the aisles and people for me. I no longer feel like a blundering idot while trying to find my way – Apex is wonderful and once we have been there – he can find it again and again – traveling with him is a great joy and long layovers are not so long now with him at my side.