Hi all – we’re here and safe, but if you don’t know about the extensive damage and flooding in Vermont from Irene, please check it out. It’s heartbreaking to have been home less than 24 hours before my hometown was flooded, major damage done to 100+ year old landmark bridges, the roads we drove in on collapsed and swept away. If we hadn’t rushed to get here (12-17 hour drives each day) we wouldn’t have been able to drive into Vermont at all. I’m a little shell shocked, to say the least, and start my new job tomorrow. I’m pretty physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted, and still cut off from my family because of road closures. Updates soon, but until then, the 5 day Instagram journey across America. I’ll try to get them all in order! It was wonderful to meet Meghan in SLC and to see my best friend Wendy in Chicago – I’d never driven that northern route and some day want to go back to Wyoming & Utah. So gorgeous out there.
That last bridge is probably gone now – the whole road collapsed. & yes, I didn’t take any photos between Chicago & Vermont.
Ugh, I am so sorry about all the destruction in your new/old home (but glad you made it there safely). Was just looking at Emily’s pictures of her studio in the deluge on FB.
Such a beautifully captured journey. Let’s focus on that, and how wonderful it was to meet you.
Buford, population 1? Is that for real? HA! Thank goodness you got there in time, and of course my heart goes out to the flood victims in your hometown and everywhere else. Having just lived through it myself, having seen my heartbroken neighbors house entirely flooded, having seen rescue boats floating up my own freaking street…I can certainly empathize, I promise.
Here’s to getting settled in quickly, an auspicious first day at the new job, and lots of close up love and hugs from family members soon!
so glad you guys made it safe and sound!! so heartbreaking watching all of this happen from afar and be so powerless. keeping you and all vermonters in our thoughts. here’s to new beginnings: new home and job, yay!!!
HUGS.
So sorry to hear this. I thought of you and this blog when I saw the news reports.
So much bad weather this year. The county next to me had tornado destruction this year and it was surreal. My family in Florida has lived though the epic Hurricane Andrew and a bunch of lesser ones.
Did you know the U.S. is the most natural-disaster-prone country on the planet?
what an ordeal that must have been….here’s hoping that the coming weeks, even if they’re insane with unpacking and settling in and resuming workaday life, are restful for you and all the happiness of being back in vermont will sink in! beautiful photos.
Terrifying, horrible. I’m glad you guys are safe and sound. <3
Been thinking about you – glad you’re safe. Sorry life is hard and exhausting in the start of things.
What a strange and sad climate to usher you into your new/old home. I hope the anxiety and sadness of the destruction washes away and leaves you with nothing but excitement and possibilities.
It’s so awful what has happened due to the hurricane. I am so sorry you haven’t been able to reach your family; I have been hearing about so many old bridges that have been lost due to it. I hope everything works out well for you and your family soon!
Oh hey! I recognize that Chicago hotel in the second to last picture, my husband and I have stayed there. Its a Millenium Hotel right? I have similar photos of that AMAZING black and silver wallpaper in the lobby. It still shows up in my dreams, years later… <3
It’s http://www.allegrochicago.com – it was great, they allow cats and gave us an upgrade to a suite!! They also messed up my dinner order and comped meals for 3 people. Crazy good service.