Day 6 carried us over the Rocky Mountains and into Utah, adding another chapter to both the journey and the family reunion tour that has quietly become part of this PCS.
The drive itself was beautiful.
As we wound our way through Colorado, we passed through Steamboat Springs, a place both Sam and Zed agree is the prettiest part of the state. Towering mountains, winding rivers, open valleys, and views that seem almost too perfect to be real made it one of those stretches of road where everyone occasionally stopped talking just to look out the window.
Of course, the Davies Herd can’t go too long without a little mechanical suspense.
The van once again decided to express concerns about its well-being and began displaying warning lights. While everyone was relieved that the previous day’s “transmission failure” had turned out to be nothing more than altitude sickness, a second round of warning lights was enough to earn the van an appointment at a Ford dealership in Salt Lake City the following day.
Fortunately, the van continued to cooperate, and we made it safely to Talmage, Utah, where Zed’s paternal grandparents live.
One of the unexpected blessings of this move has been the opportunity to reconnect with family scattered across the country. Between Oregon, Tennessee, Maine, Maryland, Colorado, Utah, and soon Alaska, this PCS has become as much about people as places.
The evening was spent surrounded by Zed’s extended family. The adults caught up on family news while the kids did what kids do best when given open space and cousins.
They disappeared.
For hours.
Games of Infection and Sardines broke out across the property, with kids running, hiding, laughing, and creating the kind of memories that seem to happen naturally when cousins gather together.
In between the games, the kids also spent time looking through old photographs and listening to stories from their great-grandparents. They heard about family members they had never met, places that looked different decades ago, and experiences that helped shape the family they are part of today. In a trip filled with miles, destinations, and checklists, it was a reminder that some of the most important connections aren’t found on a map.
As the sun began to set, it was hard not to appreciate the contrast between the day and the destination.
We had crossed mountain passes, navigated warning lights, and logged another long day on the road.
Yet the highlight wasn’t the scenery or even the miles.
It was ending the day with family.
Tomorrow brings Salt Lake City, a Ford appointment, and whatever adventure comes next.
Herd Stats
Miles Driven: 2,755
States Traveled: 9
Tire Blowouts: 0
Animal Sightings: 1 armadillo, 1 entertaining horse, assorted ranch residents
Running Stats
Hotel/Campgrounds Count: 16
Herd Morale: Fueled by family and fresh mountain air
Sanity Level: Optimistic, pending Ford’s diagnosis
The Davies Herd 
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