Miles & Mountains
Join Nick, a social worker and coach by day, as he unravels the inspiring stories of athletes and the public, uncovering the motivations behind their actions, from conquering mountains to participating in ultra-endurance races and competing in rodeos. Get ready for heartwarming tales of community support, acts of kindness, and the revelation that everyone has a deeper story to tell. Whether it's running, climbing, or participating in rodeos, these stories will inspire and uplift. #Running, #Climbing, #EverydayAthletes, #Rodeo
Miles & Mountains
Indiana or Bust: Father-Daughter Road Trip
Some journeys are measured not in miles but in memories created along the way. When I invited my middle daughter Zoe Jane to accompany me on a cross-country drive to Indiana, neither of us fully understood the adventure that awaited. What began as a practical mission to collect my late father's belongings from storage transformed into a 4,500-mile expedition through America's heartland – one that would test my driving endurance while strengthening our father-daughter bond.
The road stretched endlessly before us as we traversed Montana (surprisingly vast), South Dakota (unexpectedly beautiful), Iowa, Illinois, and finally Indiana. Though we spent barely twelve hours at our destination, the journey itself became the story. Zoe Jane, my resident foodie, selected our brewery stops along the way, including an unforgettable converted church in Peoria with what might be the most beautiful bathrooms I've ever encountered. Between her phone time in the back seat and our shared meals at carefully chosen eateries, we found moments of connection that make parenting worthwhile.
Among the journey's treasures were the albums/records among other things we collected from storage – physical artifacts connecting generations as Zoe surprised me by selecting John Lennon and Yoko Ono recordings. Our pilgrimage to the Field of Dreams in Iowa carried special significance, representing both my father and my wife's father's love for baseball and the deeper father-son relationships the site symbolizes. As Zoe prepares for her high school swimming career and I ready myself to return to coaching this fall, this road trip stands as a milestone in our relationship – proof that sometimes the longest journeys yield the most meaningful connections. Join us for more adventures as the Miles and Mountains podcast continues exploring both the physical landscapes we traverse and the emotional terrain we navigate together.
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Zoe Jane Grace. How are you?
Speaker 2:Good, how are you?
Speaker 1:Zoe Jane is my daughter. She's the middle daughter and thankfully, and I'm glad. I was able to have her do a trip with me pretty much halfway across the country to indiana. Indiana, okay, it was indiana or bust, correct yes do you understand what that means? No, bus means Indiana. We make it to Indiana. Well, we don't so?
Speaker 2:did we make it to Indiana? Yes, we did.
Speaker 1:How was that trip?
Speaker 2:It was very long yeah.
Speaker 1:Do you know or understand how many miles we had?
Speaker 2:More than 7,000, I think 7,000.
Speaker 1:I don't know, 7,000. I'm glad it wasn't 7,000. I believe it was only 4,300 plus but with the time to go see Uncle Jay and the stops it was probably 45, 5 000 miles. Can you believe that?
Speaker 2:that's still a very, very long way so was it indiana or bus?
Speaker 1:did we make it to indiana? Yes and how long did we stay in indiana? Um, I think you were still sweeping, yeah, even when I was loading the car, even when I was loading the vehicle I think like an hour.
Speaker 1:No, sorry, I mean a day no, we spent probably less than 12 hours in indiana, but we spent most of the time in illinois, right, and then you were uh very helpful when it came to picking the eateries, yeah, yeah. So so we went to indiana to pick up some things from my dad. My dad passed away a year and a half ago and, uh, had to pick up some things from a storage unit. Um, that's another story, but this year was the year that I picked it up, so I can be just be done with it. And zoe jane was happy or happy, yeah, I would say happy to make the trip.
Speaker 1:The 43, 4500 mile trip with me to indiana to pick it up and, uh, be, I wouldn't say the navigator, but the person who didn't want to stay home and be on her phone and her room. But during the trip I found out that she was on her phone and the sprinter, the backseat of the sprinter until we had to pick up the stuff in indiana. So was it worthwhile?
Speaker 2:I feel like it was because it was a new experience for me to go to all those places, but like it was very long and Not what I was thinking.
Speaker 1:I'd say what do you mean? Explain?
Speaker 2:Because we stayed the other night. We were going to do all those things and we didn't.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all the things because you stayed the other night at Uncle Jesse's. My brother, yeah, the middle brother, the middle brother. I have two brothers, younger brothers, and Uncle Jesse is the guy who lives in Illinois, mm-hmm. So left it up to you, as I went there to share some of the stuff of my dad, who passed away the albums, and you were happy to help yourself in the albums. Wow, what a collection, correct.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I picked up quite a few.
Speaker 1:Quite a few. Yeah, I can't believe you picked up John Lennon and Yoko Ono of all Like, how do you know of John Lennon and Yoko Ono?
Speaker 2:I love that type of music. I listened to all the 80s romance, all that stuff, 90s, all that.
Speaker 1:John Lennon was in the 70s, though. Doesn't matter Okay okay, so anyways, but you know, it seemed like you had a blast there. I mean, you got out of your shell, you were on your phone. You hung out with Uncle Jesse and Dad, but when you weren't, you were on your phone.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I told you I would be.
Speaker 1:I don't understand this phone situation. But the coolest thing, I think, out of all this, besides the driving guys, I tell you what this was. Hell. I've done this trip plenty of times via Greyhound when I was younger, driving to and from grad school, and you know, meeting my now wife back and forth Oregon to Indiana. I've done Virginia to Oregon. I mean, I've, I've, I've done a lot of traveling, but this one, I think, because of all the driving that I had to do, this was tough. This was tough on my back, this was tough on the body mentally, because you know how to go through some stuff with. You know just the thoughts of oh, this is the last time I'll ever be here. Because I started in grad school in Indiana. I ended up getting a. Well, I got into Ball State for political science. I didn't finish it because I didn't get a job at the house of representatives, representatives in indianapolis, indiana, the capital. So I ended up dropping out and joining the army. So that's where we go, the trip alone.
Speaker 1:Besides the traveling, besides the miles, the sightseeing was beautiful, right, hanging out with uncle jesse and his already daddy kids, correct, right. What a beautiful family they have he has. He's expecting one. Hopefully that changes his world. I know for a fact it will change his world because I told him my three daughters. Well, once faith was born changed my life to this day. Having kids changes your life for the better. I don't care what you say or how you say it, or what you think or whatever. If you don't feel that way, then there's something wrong with you. But the albums, the food, right, mm-hmm. Somebody messaged me and said, man, this is all about mountains and beer. Now you would think that, but I'm traveling, so of course, of course there's gonna be brews right, obviously so who picked the breweries?
Speaker 2:Me.
Speaker 1:Why did you pick those breweries?
Speaker 2:Because they looked cool and they had great food options.
Speaker 1:While you are a foodie. Everybody knows that. I don't think the listeners know that, but people who know of Zoe Jane Grace Coleman know that you are a foodie.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Right. So we stopped at a few breweries of your choice. Mm-hmm Right. Do you think of all the hours that we spent and all the miles that we spent in that Sprinter van? That was the main.
Speaker 2:Yes, okay, yes, especially that one. I don't know where it was, but it was that church one.
Speaker 1:Church one in.
Speaker 2:Peoria Illinois.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, it was the most beautiful brewery I've ever been to, and I've been to a lot of breweries in Europe, in and out of the States. It's just, it was unbelievable. So shout them out. I'm not going to say their name, but Peoria, illinois they have two of those breweries in Illinois and, yeah, it was an old Episcopal right or Presbyterian church.
Speaker 2:I have no clue. Well, anyways, the bathroom.
Speaker 1:The bathroom was the nice and most beautiful bathroom I've ever Took a number one in.
Speaker 2:There was, like in the women's restroom, there was this big statue of these like I don't know if they were like priests or whatever or like I don't know, but it was so pretty.
Speaker 1:I think they do pastures. I think they're pastures.
Speaker 2:I have no clue.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, but it was fun. Yeah Okay, how were the pickles at St sturge's brewing? Because you picked that, because they had what fried pickles? Yeah, the pickles were amazing, amazing okay yeah, then you scolded the, the roof and your tongue correct yeah, it like melted away yeah, it well, it didn't. No, it's golden I don't know what that means basically it just rubbed you the whole yeah, inner lining of your mouth I underestimated the heat.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah the heat of the pickles, not because they were spicy hot, they were just hot hot, yeah, it was like, it was like a lot.
Speaker 2:It was like lava inside of there.
Speaker 1:Okay, Of all the states that we went through which we've been through a lot of states, right which one surprised you the most? Montana, South Dakota, Iowa, because we did stop at Field of Dreams. That was fun, it was a short trip, but I mean it's not much to talk about unless you know the movie and you didn't watch the movie. Have you watched the movies yet?
Speaker 2:okay, no, I haven't got to it, but it was pretty cool right yeah.
Speaker 1:so when you see the movie you'll know why dad stopped because granddad, my dad and pop pop mom's dad would have loved to go see fill the Dreams, because it means so much when you see that, holla at your boy, holla at dad, he's not a big baseball movie fan. But there's more to it. It's not just baseball. I mean, it is baseball, but there's more meaning to it.
Speaker 1:True, it's a father-son kind of thing, and that's why I had to go, because of my dad and because of Pop Pop. Pop Pop was a huge fan of that, and Sheila's Joe Jackson. When you see it it's lots of tears, but it was cool to see, right? Yeah, have you wore the shirt that you got yet?
Speaker 2:no, because it was in the wash and is it out? Of the wash. No, I haven't washed in that bag that I bought.
Speaker 1:Who took that bag? Do you take? Oh, did you take the bag? No who took the bag?
Speaker 1:I don't know okay, but that was fun though. Right, that was a good stop. That was a beautiful farmhouse, small but beautiful. Yeah, okay, when you see that movie you have to make another episode. Okay, I know this is going to be a short one, but I appreciate you being on this episode because a lot of people are like where's Nick? Where's Nick? Where's the podcast? Where's the podcast? You've been traveling a lot. Yes, I've been traveling a lot. It's summer vacation for me and my work, and for you, zoe Jane that is, and I've been busy ever since the day I got done with work. I took the summer off from coaching. I'll be back in the fall. Yes, I'll be back in the fall. But Indiana, california, went up to Shasta, scouted some miles, scouted some elevation. That was fun. Did a few more breweries so people can be like hey, hey, man, is this a brewery or is this a mountain podcast? No, it's a miles and mountain podcast.
Speaker 1:I just travel a lot, fortunately I wouldn't say unfortunately the miles is unfortunate because god lee the miles. The on the scout, the. The sprinter van was just too much on the back. I hurt my butt it hurt my back and my butt. It took me like a couple days to just unwind and, uh, stretch it out. But as I'm messing with this pen whose pen is this? Or Mark, I have no clue Lillian's the youngest one.
Speaker 2:I think so yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, now that we're done, would you do it again?
Speaker 2:When I do it again. That's a crazy question.
Speaker 1:Um crazy question.
Speaker 2:Cause I don't know, it's just out there.
Speaker 1:It's out there.
Speaker 2:Um favorite, favorite state, though Traveling mine yeah, um California, cause we go there a lot.
Speaker 1:We go there a lot, but out of the Indiana trip though, oh, out of the oh yeah what? Surprised you. Sightseeing that, though, oh out of the Indiana.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what surprised you. Sightseeing, that is Sightseeing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when you weren't on your phone and you.
Speaker 2:I don't know where it was, but it was like all those mountains and it had the rocks all over.
Speaker 1:South Dakota. Yeah, that place, south Dakota, and I would say, South Dakota is what surprised me the most too.
Speaker 2:Also for Montana, how long it was through going through that state. That was probably surprising to me.
Speaker 1:If you think that was long, wait until you go to Texas. Wait until you go through Texas. Mom and Dad went through Texas before we had Faith and I went through Texas way before I even met mom. It takes a day and a half a day.
Speaker 2:Good thing we're flying Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're going to Houston in September. Oh my gosh, a lot, it's a lot, it's a lot of traveling. Well, that's that's what I do and that's how I do it. But all right, zoe jane, what's next with you? You're swimming and you're swimming yes you're doing the city and you're doing this. The high school yes. Are you excited for high school?
Speaker 2:for yes, yes, I am yeah.
Speaker 1:Swimming or just high school in general.
Speaker 2:Swimming yeah For the swimming and the swimming.
Speaker 1:How's it even thinking about going to public school for once?
Speaker 2:It's kind of scary, but at the same time I'm excited to meet all these new people and to do all these new things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm excited to meet all these new people and to do all these new things. Yeah, you know, if you don't are up, if you're not up to par on dress code, dad will dress code you.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm aware of that.
Speaker 1:So no booty butt, cheek shorts.
Speaker 2:No, booty butt cheek shorts. I don't have any of those.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know, they might be your sleepwear, but you and Fafi, fafi, the oldest. She does her best to try to show her booty cheeks, sometimes even though she says, oh, I'm not trying to do that, yes, she does. So you ready for high school.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Are you going to be back on soon? Yes, you promise.
Speaker 2:You promise, I promise. When are you going to be back on?
Speaker 1:soon. Yes, you promise.
Speaker 2:I promise, when are?
Speaker 1:you going to be back on?
Speaker 2:Whenever I get invited next.
Speaker 1:Let's see, let's try, let's think about After your first season of swim.
Speaker 2:Sounds good. Yeah, because I I have my first swim meet tomorrow.
Speaker 1:Tomorrow which I'm going to go, and not be there. Oh, you're not have to go to Pendleton Whiskey Fest, which I don't want to go, but I bought tickets, but I am going to shout out Outlaw Echoes. I'm going to interview them tomorrow and pretty much that's it. That's the real reason why I'm going. Am I going to enjoy the music? Probably not. Nelly's going to be there and Cody Johnson Faith will.
Speaker 1:Faith will definitely enjoy it, but I won't. Faith will. Faith will definitely enjoy it, but I won't. Ian Munsick or Munsick, however you pronounce his name, it's his voice. I'm all about the voice and the meaning behind the music. It's not my type, but seeing Nelly in the past 25 years is pretty crazy to even know that I'm going to go see him. But Cody Johnson kills it, I heard. But I'm just looking more forward to this episode with Outlaw Echoes. Okay, anything you want to add. No, I'm sorry to put this as a surprise episode for you, zoe, jane and the listeners, but Zoe, you're a natural. That's why I just say, hey, come upstairs to the teacup studio, which doesn't really look like the teacup studio because it's been vacant lately, but with you in here doing your thing, right, yeah, yeah, but we won't say anything more about that. But until next time, zoe.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:All right, I will be back. I will be telling you my story, more of my story, because everybody's been asking when we gonna hear about you, the the reason why you do what you do, and so about to do it, just taking my time, my sweet little time, after 200 something, I think, 50 something, episodes, 53, 54 episodes, I'm going to tell you guys it's going to be a bit it's been so long.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's been a bit. So the podcast is still going strong, still going on. Just a lot of things Death, cancer, more death, a lot of traveling and just trying to put two and two together traveling, and uh, just trying to put two and two together. But yeah, tomorrow outlaw echoes will be, uh will be on and uh, we'll go from there. So until next time, guys, zoe jane, what you want to end it?
Speaker 1:oh yeah, bye okay, until next time, guys. I'll see you on the flip side. I'm gonna go hit the enchantments after this. Oh yeah, there's a lot of traveling, a lot of doing. I'm still out there tackling miles and mountains and, oh man, I love brewery food, especially when it's a good brewery food so the pickles yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. But bye, guys, bye, we'll see you next time.