Here is an update on the Stutz Tour Of the Country:

Stage 3 was a mixed bag of driving, swimming, and eating out in Salt Lake City. We had a good short drive which took us around the Great Salt Lake and into the capital of Mormonism. We took a quick look at the temple, but of course, we weren’t allowed to enter. Anyone else glad the veil is torn?

We broke up the day with a dip in a warm pool while the dog ran around us trying to get in. The rest of the day was spent chilling and watching Storage Wars, which has become a new addiction. And the highlight of the night was dinner at The Olive Garden when Chewbacca, Spiderman, and other space and superhero characters walk through and visit. It was strange, but I guess they are a club of people that go out to eat and do local appearances. It was funny cause Chewy was on stilts and a guy dressed as the grim reaper accidentally knocked him over. It was hilarious!

Stage 4 was a ton of driving. We literally drove to Colorado Springs most of the day, probably 10 hours on the road. We ended the day with a trip to the Garden Of The Gods Park. It’s a great place to hike, climb, sit, and just take in God’s beautiful handiwork. That was a great respite from the car for sure.

Stage 5 was fun! My birthday was Monday and everyone took off for it, which was nice. We took a day off from driving to hang out in Colorado. I got up early and road my bike around the area and through the Garden of the Gods. It was so much fun, best ride I’ve done in quite awhile. Then we went to the Royal Gorge Park and suspension bridge. There we traversed the 1100 ft gorge via zipline. It was a bit nerve-wracking but thrilling too. Of course we indulged in some funnel cake followed by a tram to the bottom of the gorge, a cheesy cowboy gun shoot out, and a mild magic show. All in all it was fun.

During the evening we celebrated my birthday with a great meal at Ted’s Montana Grill. We enjoyed bison burgers and tons of great food, maybe too much. Stage 5 was one special and fun day!

Stage 6 could best be described by one word: driving. We got up at 5 AM and drove, and drove, and drove some more. We left Colorado, drove through Kansas, and half of Missouri. The 14 hours on the road was broken up with a visit and dinner with my Aunt and Uncle in Kansas City. Uncle Bill is a card and Val’s spaghetti was great (she is such a host). It was fun chatting basketball and life with my cousin Logan, and his wife. Champ got to run around and got owned by a little feisty dog, pretty sad. He’s got to get used to other dogs, ha.

Later, about an hour down the road, I drove my family through my childhood home of Concordia. I showed my kiddos the old house I lived in, a two story colonial with 10 foot ceilings– amazing house. I took them down the streets where my passion for bike riding started, and where I delivered newspapers. We stopped at the local soft serve ice cream joint for a trip down memory lane with some old school and church friends. Wow, times have changed, but people are much the same– we just have kids now. That was good for my heart.

Stage 6 ended with 2 more hours on the road and a late night arrival at the hotel. Even Champ was exhausted.

Stage 7 started with a quick drive to St. Louis where we ate a blah pizza at an over-celebrated location, but got to go up in the Arch. That was fun. It’s such a trip to ride in those pods and see the wonder of architecture that it is. We then proceeded through Illinois, past the town I graduated High School, later to find out that they are demolishing it. It’s been condemned. Guess the building is older than I am, ha.

The day rounded out with a trip to Metropolis, the home is superman, and a bolt through Kentucky into north central Tennessee. Eli and I attempted a pool swim, but chickened out due to cold water. Dinner was the great Chick-fil-A. And the night was capped off with a Miami Heat win!

Stage 8, today’s final leg of this journey, will lead us through Nashville and into Knoxville mid-afternoon. Then its truck unloading time. Tomorrow I start work and Michelle starts work. There’s a lot to do. We have to get a second car, open a bank account, figure out what Internet and TV look like, visit a new church this weekend– oh and unpack a bunch of boxes.

So the STOC ends today, but the real adventure begins tomorrow; life, work, church, in Tennessee. Here goes…

Well stages 1 & 2 of the Stutz Tour of the Country (STOC for short, ha) are complete. We started off leaving Modesto at around noon on Thursday after we had a bunch of help packing our 16-foot Penske truck like a sardine can. Of course we reserved one nice location for my bike though.

Ei had placed a posterboard sign on the side of the truck that read, “Tennessee or Bust.” Unfortunately since it was on the side of the truck it only made it to Stockton. It proceeded to blow off and onto the grill of the truck following us! Seriously! It was hilarious. I could see that guy getting out of the car and wondering, “How did that got there and why Tennessee?

We stayed in Lake Tahoe that night, where we found some killer pizza for dinner. That is such a beautiful place. What a blue, picturesque location. Too bad the wind was raging and it was near freezing, brrr! By the morning, Stage 2, there were snow flurries.

It proceeded to rain and snow on us all the way to Carson City, NV where we gassed up the truck and headed to Elko, NV for the night. There were a few wonderful stops along the way (chuckle, chuckle). The first was at the Wilbur May Museum. This guy was any early 1900s rich adventurer and collector of rarities. It was a fun stop. The second stop was the largest sporting goods store I’ve seen, everything from Cervelo to Remington. Eli picked up a BB gun for the farm this summer and the family road the indoor ferris wheel (yes, indoor). These places may not be Disney, but they make the trip tons of fun and break up the driving.

We arrived at Elko safe and sound, had dinner, did a bit of laundry, and crashed. Oh, and Champ has been doing great in the truck, sniffing every state significantly and relieving himself all along the way.

The Lord has been good to give us rest, show us beauty, keep us safe, and let us get along (mostly, ha). Thanks for the prayers! Stages 3 begins today, Salt Lake City. Yep, should be interesting …

The good-bye parties are over. All the awards chapels for school are complete. The leftover items have been Craigs-listed or hauled to the curb for special pick-up. Even Champ seems ready to go.

One more thing left to do. Tonight will be special as Kaitlyn graduates from the eighth grade. Then we sleep one last night in Modesto before the journey begins.

The plan is to head to Tahoe the first night and depending on the weather, Park City, Utah the next night. My birthday (the 28th) will be spent in Colorado Springs (actually spending two nights there). We hope to visit Garden of the Gods and maybe eat a big burger or tour something fun.

After the enjoying the Rockies, the mid-west will bring us through Kansas, with a stop to see the world’s largest ball of twine (not much in Kansas). We are planning on staying with my uncle in Kansas City, Missouri before visiting Concordia, Missouri and the Arch in Saint Louis.  I grew up in Concordia, from fifth grade to tenth.

The final leg will bring us through Kentucky, Nashville, and then on to Knoxville/Seymour, TN. This should be quite the adventure with the dog, moving van, and the kiddos with Michelle in the car. Pray for our safety.

I plan on posting every other day of the trip. I will also be changing my facebook profile to a picture of the “you are entering _state_” signs, a simple track the Stutz’s app.

God bless, and thank you for your prayers.

Here is a copy of the my notes… Synergy12.