2/9/2004
Updated at Dad and Michaelle's, Seattle, WA
Number of States Visited in 2004: 21 (not counting repeats)
Number of Countries Visited in 2004: 4 (Mexico, Canada, U.S., and N.Z.)
Number of Road Miles Travelled: 40,000
Times Across the Int'l Dateline: 2
Times Across the Continental Divide: 6
Times Across the Sacremento River: 110
Number of Ghanaian Meals: 1
Number of Road Runners: 5
Number of Earthquakes: 2
Number of Blizzards: 2
Number of Floods: 3
Number of Tassel-Eared Squirrels ("Sqwabbits"): 3
Fastest Backpacking Trip: 21 miles, 3000 vertical feet, over 2 days
Number of Bottlenose Dolphins: 3 (Bay of Islands, NZ)
Mountain Bike Rides in NZ: 3
Broken Ribs: 1 (maybe 2)
Favorite NZ Expression: "Up at the Sparrow's Fart" (i.e. up early)
Number of NZ Rental Cars: 3
Number of NZ Fur Seals: 20 (Smelly ones!)
Number of Rare Hector's Dolphins: 6
Number of Penguins: 2 (Blue ones!)
Best Cab: Halter Ranch, CA
Best Pinot Gris: Peregrine, Otago NZ
Best Pinor Noir: Mount Difficulty, NZ
Best Sauvignon Blanc: Cloudy Bay, NZ
Number of vineyards visited: 9 (and counting)
Skinnydipping events: 2
Jumps for waterfalls: 3
Number of jet boat rides: 1
Cheapest Rental Car in NZ: $1/day
Number of NZ Wines Tasted: 5 (It's early!)
Number of Kiwi birds: 2
Definition of Kiwi: Squat, flightless bird
Number of Our Friends with Babies Born this Year: 2
Babies Still Pending: 1
Number of Black Widow Spiders: 8
Number of Black Widow Spiders in Our Bed: 1 (Finland, MN)
Size of Its Nasty Little Thorax: 1.75 inches (yuck)
Cat that Identified and Cornered Spider: "Monkey"
Number of Javelina Sited: 30-40 (Big Bend, TX)
Definition of Javelina: Wild Pig-like Creature
BBQ Consumed in TX/NM: 6 servings at least
Regrets about No Longer Being Vegetarian: 0
Number of Quakers in Flagstaff, AZ: 20-30 (Nice ones, too!)
Wal-Marts Camped In: 15-20 (and counting)
Best Wal-Mart So Far: Galveston Island, TX (On the Beach!)
Cheapest campsite: Free
Most expensive campsite: $32 (San Juan Island, WA)
Largest cabbage seen: 80 lb. (Alaska State Fair)
Largest pumpkin seen: 720 lb. (Alaska State Fair)
Total No. of Hikes: 31
Total No. of Grizzly Bears: 1
Total No. of Black Bears: 6
Total No. of Beluga Whales: 12 (Turnagain Arm, AK)
Total No. of Orca Whales: 7 (San Juan Island, WA)
Total No. of Great Grey Owls: 2 (Porcupine Creek, AK)
Total No. of Ruffed Grouse: 12 (AK, Yukon)
Total No. of Great Horned Owls: 1 (Camp Disappointment, MT)
Total No. of Armadillos (Live): 3
Total No. of Armadillos (Dead): 29
Total No. of Beavers: 1 (Camp Disappointment, MT)
Total No. of Bald Eagles: 20
Total No. of Auto Accidents Seen: 4
Trashiest Food: Deep-fried Cheese curds
Most Creative Use of Hot Dog: "Madras Lentil Curry Dogs"
Most Creative Use of Bun: Hot Dog Bun Pizzas
Fairs Visited: 3
Coolest Campground: Pine Lake, Yukon
Worst Campground: Recycling Center, Grand Marais, MN
Number of Yahtzee Games: 24
Highest Yahtzee Score: 545 (Jude)
Number of Trailer Tours Given: 23
Number of Smores Consumed: 15
Greatest Number of Guests: 10
Highest Temperature: 103F (South Dakota)
Lowest Temperature -16F (Prescott, AZ)
Greatest Swimming Hole: Temperance River, MN
Total No. of Caribou: 3
Total No. of Coyotes: 2
Best Hot Springs: Nat Soo Pah, ID
Number of Regrets: 0
Number of Stress-related Injuries: 0
Number of Sea Otters: 7
Number of Southern Rays: 100s
Number of Pufferfish: 12
Number of Magnificent Frigatebirds: 100s
Number of Wild Turkeys: 37
Southernmost Point: Cabo San Lucas, MX
Westernmost Point: Seward, Alaska
Easternmost Point: Grand Marais, MN
Number of Boat Trips: 4
Number of Bighorn Sheep: 14
Number of Mountain Goats: 6
Favorite Book (Jude): Short History of Nearly Everything (Bryson)
Favorite Book (Leslee): Caramello (Sanda Cisneros)
Best Restaurant Meal: Jacques Imo's (New Orleans, LA)
Number of Crawdaddies Consumed: 62
Number of Times Alamo Guide Said "Hallowed Ground": 6
Number of Times Our Guide at Grant's House Mentioned His Alcoholism: 0
....or his many financial scandals: 0
Jude O'Reilley
jude@hush.com
8:07 AM
