Return to 2005 iPusey Home Page 4,500 Mile Road Trip

(hover on image for caption, click on image for larger view) Grandpa & Grandma Pusey in front of their missionary quarters in Nauvoo Nauvoo Temple at sunset Sunset over the Mississippi Pusey clan at the Johnson Farm near Kirtland Newell K. Whitney General Store, Kirtland Pusey kids at the Kirtland Temple Waiting for the pageant at Palmyra, NY to begin Pusey family with Ham Fish and Fran Rotunno at the Sacred Grove, Palmyra, NY On the boat at Lake Skaneateles Ham & Fran Ham & Fran's house at Skaneateles Lake Jenifer experiencing the lake Looking east to Skaneateles Lake in the morning Old Man Scott shows the kids some slalom Zebra Mussel victim - Will Pusey At the historic Whitmer Farm, Fayette, NY Lizzie and Ari at Niagara Falls Jenifer in Lake Huron Teeter Tottering at Lake Huron When we added it all up, yes we were a bit surprised too. 4,500 miles in about 16 days. We planned this trip to take advantage of Scott's parents final months in Nauvoo, Illinois where they served for just over two years as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, nicknamed "Mormons."

Nauvoo is the last major Mormon settlement in the eastern United States prior to the forced exile in the late 1840's of the church members from the State of Illinois, and in effect from the United States. Nauvoo is now somewhat of a holy site for church members but with a bit wider appeal and a more welcoming atmosphere than say, Mecca or Medina.

We spent a great 4th of July in Nauvoo with Scott's parents and then continued east - next stop, Kirtland, Ohio. In 2005, this small town is a suburb of Cleveland. In the 1830's this was a site of many marvelous events that are integral to the faith and history of the Mormons. Our family felt a special spirit in Kirtland which was enhanced with some further research into the lives of some of our pioneer ancestors who were part of the Kirtland period.

From Kirtland we travelled to the Finger Lakes region of New York. We made our base at the home of dear friends, Hamilton Fish and Fran Rotunno, who live on Skaneateles Lake. "Hampa" and "Frannie" treated us to great meals, boat rides and water skiing and lots of laughter and reminiscing. Will introduced himself to the hated foreign invader known as a Zebra Mussel. The resulting cut on his foot enabled the young man to hobble on crutches for the next several days.

Ham and Fran accompanied us to more church historical sites in the Palmyra area. We toured the Grandin Print Shop where the Book of Mormon was printed, the Joseph Smith, Sr. farm and the nearby Sacred Grove. We all attended the famous Pageant that is performed annually at the nearby Hill Cumorah. The Puseys also toured the Whitmer farm in Fayette where the church was organized on April 6, 1830.

From this point, we really tacked on the miles. Our trip style was more of a loose outline that materialized into an actual itinerary as we went along. Saying so long to the Finger Lakes, we travelled to Niagara Falls and the convinced Canadian immigration to let us enter Canada. From there we went to Toronto and up around Lake Huron, across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and down through Wisconsin and back to Nauvoo.

While in Nauvoo for the second time on the trip, we took in a performance of the new Nauvoo Pageant. This production really brought the past alive. No offense to the long-running pageant in Palmyra, but the Nauvoo pageant was our favorite. Our hearts were inspired with its intimate and stirring tribute to the lives of early church members in Nauvoo.

So after 11 states and one foreign country, we arrived back home with 4,500 miles and a lifetime of memories behind us.
Copyright 2005 iPusey LLC All Rights Reserved.