Sunday, August 26, 2012

Road-trip: South Dakota

I left OKC and headed North to see the Knudson 6.


Sioux Falls. 7 Knudsons. 


Breakfast. Buckwheat crepes. Bikes. Bikes. Bikes.
  

Playing. Luke. Laef. Vikings in the basement.

"Ohhhhh, those poor Vikings!
They had to cook for themselves, before the women came!" -Laef


Exploring. Dad. Bella. Storms series. Musuem.


Naps. Books. Playing. Stories. 


Bella makes a wicked naan. Impressive and delicious.


Cooking. Cooking. Dominique. Belly laughing. Roasted beets. Mead.


Fish tacos. Adventure planning. Typical Knudsons.


After dinner. Golden hour. Walks around the block.


Warm wind. Stars. Mint tea. Barefoot. Pipe. Lightning bugs. Hammock.


A thousand snuggles and smooches. 

Family.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

How to roll like a Knudson.



***

July 23rd 2012:

Rachael Knudson drove 11+ hours solo. 
From Colorado, through Wyoming and Utah on her way to Madras, Oregon.

Eric Knudson drove 13+ hours solo. 
Across the East Coast, Midwest and back to South Dakota

Grandma Knudson drove solo, non-stop through the night. 
North from Mt. Shasta, California to Bellingham, WA.

Clearly. These crazies are related.

***

How to roll like a Knudson.


ONE: Knudsons are nomadic.

Aunt C is a Navy nomad.

Dad's the pilot and is always on the road. Or rather, the sky.

Grandma Judy rocks it as like classy gypsy in her Dodge Caravan full of crystals and coconut water.

And Rachael?
She traveled to over ten countries and thirteen states last year. Changing beds an average of every four days. 
She's terrible.


TWO: Home

You may be a Knudson if you have multiple residences. In different states. 
Or you just don't have a residence. Period.



THREE: Move. Lots.

All new Knudson activities require a move. 

New job? Move
New spouse? Move
New baby? Move
New career? Move
New language? Move
New school? Move
New mountains? Move


FOUR: Randomly rendezvous in unlikely places. 

Case? 

While in route to South Dakota, Rachael Knudson caught Papa Knudson on his layover in Kansas. 
Vietnamese. Picnic Lunch. Chatting for hours.


FIVE: Sleep. Anywhere.

You are very Knudson if you consistently drive for more than 12 hours straight, forgo hotels, and sleep in your car.

They also don't mind sleeping in strange places or the homes of strangers.
After all, being an overly-friendly Knudson, you hardly meet a stranger before they become your new BFF.


SIX: Knudsons love gardening.

Extra points if you carry your garden in the backseat or your backpack.


BONUS: You may be turning into Grandma Judy if you have plants growing out the back of your car.
Be sure to name them.


SEVEN: Knudsons are caffeine sensitive.

Actually, they are just sensitive in general.

This does not stop keep them from drinking their beloved coffee.
Knudsons become even more entertaining when caffeinated.


EIGHT: They are obsessed with Trader Joes.

They will cross state lines and re-route for hundreds of miles for such culinary wonders.
Who wouldn't though? Right?

BONUS: Road-trip food of choice? Veggies.



NINE: Friends

When a Knudson travels, they try and visit ALL their friends.
They most likely will go out of their way in order to do so.

Even if it requires an extra ten hours of driving.
 Or taking that extra train or flight or international ferry.


TEN: Nature lovers.

Grandma Judy moved to Washington for the trees.
Rachael moved to Colorado for the mountains.


ELEVEN: Hard to find

Some Knudsons forget to check in while traveling. People worry.


 TWELVE: They miss other each other. 

A lot.

Which, perpetuates the problem of their non-stop nomadic status.
(This Knudson is scheming on how to make it to Maine next month.)


THIRTEEN: Truth is

They are wildly delightful folks.

OKLA-homa!Oklahoma!Oklahoma!

38 flights in 57 weeks. Hope this will be the last one for a while.


I flew out of Bellingham on July 5th bound for Oklahoma.


Said goodbye to my fabulous (supportive) parents. 
Americana. 


OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA! OKLAHOMA!

I can't help but think of this scene.
Love Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.


Airport. Arrival. Aunt. Uncle. Sushi. 


Cozied up with a Norwegian film, family, and air conditioning. 


Dallas. Texas.


Free trolley! Lunch. Getting lost.


Three hour drive. Trader Joes detour. 


Aunt. Sunsets. Dark chocolate. Sharing.


102 degrees. Mountain biking. Red sand. Grazed knees. Endorphins.


OKC. Memorial.


Route 66. Pops. 600 sodas. 
Mine? Sparkling black currant.


Corn soda. Of course. 'merica.


Goodbyes. Hugs. Blessings. North to Kansas.
On to South Dakota for the Knudson 6.