Homeward Bound: Clear Skies, Long Roads & Happy Reunions

I was awake at 6:15 for absolutely no reason other than it was home day, and apparently my brain knew it was time to start the lists. What not to forget packing, the route home, things that needed doing once we got back—the usual home-day checklist started rolling before I even got out of bed.

When I opened the blinds, I discovered the clearest day we had seen the entire vacation. Of course! After all the smoke, it was almost comical that we finally got to see the actual views of this beautiful place on the morning we were leaving.

Matt took this video from the upper deck

A shower, packing up the last of our things, unloading the dishwashers and setting out all the remaining food for everyone to eat, and we were almost ready to go. Renn, meanwhile, slept until almost 10!

By 10:40, we were loaded up with Renn riding with us and officially on our way home. K and N drove S and M to the airport and then followed us. We made a stop a Tim's for morning iced coffee and breakfast for S and Tim Bits for Renn.

Is there a lake prettier than Kalamalka? It is the minerals int he water that warm in summer to make this gorgeous turquoise color.

Another fuel stop had us paying $1.699 a litre, which seemed downright cheap compared to home! Renn was missing her parents and wanted to see them just before Sicamous, so they met us there and we did the kid swap after about two hours on the road.

An accident on the #1 had closed the highway earlier, and although it was open again, traffic was being let through one way at a time. That slowed us down considerably and resulted in about a 45-minute wait. Boo.

We stopped for supper in Golden around 5, where the time moved ahead an hour again. By then, I was digging through my suitcase for a sweatshirt. It occurred to me that none of us had worn sweatshirts or pants for the entire last week, but with the rain threatening as we headed east, summer vacation was definitely coming to an end.

Renn wanted ice cream after supper, so we stopped at DQ. In hindsight, that probably should have been skipped. Both S and I were stuffed for the rest of the drive home, while poor Renn’s family—who are dairy reactive—ended up with tummy troubles. Sometimes vacation food decisions sound much better in the moment!

We finally pulled back into the ranch at 10:10, about 10½ hours after we had climbed into the car this morning. Harley was very excited to see us, although the reunion was short-lived because we were exhausted. Before long, Lights were out by 11.

Home. Tired. And very ready for a good night’s sleep.

After a week away filled with family, swimming, hiking, cards, smoke, sunshine and plenty of memories, there really is something wonderful about pulling back into your own driveway and seeing the ranch again. Vacation is always nice, but home has its own kind of welcome.