The Irvine Trail - Day 4

We started our day in Goodyear, Arizona. Luggage packed - check. Cats accounted for and loaded - check. Kids accounted for and loaded - check. (Is that backward?) Starbucks stop for Steph - check. Steph's phone - oops. After a short drive back to the hotel, we resolved that issue and set out for Irvine.

The Drive

Today's drive was notable in two ways. For one, we found out Californians like to name their ditches (much as the rest of the universe names rivers and creeks). Then there was the sandstorm. So, it wasn't nearly as bad as anything I'd experienced in Iraq, but it still made driving fun. The worst of it lasted about 30 minutes or so, so not too bad. Still, it brought out the psycho drivers the same way a little rain does in Texas, so it slowed us down a little. Otherwise, the drive was smooth sailing and through some beautiful parts of the country (if you're into deserts, mountains, and the like).

Irvine!

Blizzard Way!

I admit that picture is kind of hard to make out, but this is why we braved The Irvine Trail. We faced sandstorms, boredom, whiny cats (they actually weren't that bad), and a host of other trials, and still we arrived safely. We never even had to change a wagon wheel..

Our temporary housing is a short 20 minute walk from my new job, and I'm really looking forward to taking advantage of that fact as often as possible. We've already sort of scoped out what that will involve, but we're going to make the walk as a family tomorrow to see how it is firsthand.

The apartment itself is pretty cool, too. It has lots of amenities onsite - Starbucks, various restaurants, a market, swimming pools, hot tubs, parking garages, and so on. It feels a little bit like living in a commune, but we'll see how it goes over the next few days. Steph and I plan to go exploring in a bit to see what there is to see; should be fun.

What's Next?

Well, we have until Monday to explore the area. We'll probably spend a fair amount of that time looking for a more permanent place to live. Of course, let's not forget the beaches, or the mountains, or...pretty much all of the new stuff that surrounds us. ;)