Day 100

Saturday, September 7

100 days on the road.  Wow!  What an adventure!

This will be the final blog post.  We are on I-75, south of Tampa.  On the home stretch.

Thinking back over the last few months, I honestly can't come up with any one thing that stands out as "the best" or "most favorite" event.  Going through the National Parks was an incredible journey, each with their own unique, spectacular natural wonder.  And just driving across country seeing all the different landscapes and terrains.  And then there was the cruise through the inside passage of Alaska.  Just beautiful!  Or, how about Sturgis during bike week?  Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse.  Even the 4-Corners.  And who could forget Wall Drug and the Corn Palace?  Or the Aliens of Roswell?

And how about Green Bay Packers football practice?  Another one of those "not-to-be-missed" opportunities!  :-)

Visiting friends (Roger & Kathy in Alabama, Karen & Travis in California, Susan & Bob and Marlene & Mike and Taryn, Lori,Cathy, Kathy in Houghton, and Denny & Teresa in South Carolina) can't be beat.  So much fun with everyone and good to catch up with those we haven't seen in awhile.  My only regret was not making it to Joann & Paul's in Arizona.

And then, of course, there were all the visits with family.  Starting with my wonderful nephew Chase's highschool graduation and getting to spend time with Chase and my other wonderful nephew Zack along with my brother John and sister-in-law Tami (and Buzz and Trudy too!).  And granddaughter Taylor (along with her mother, and even grandma Jodi!) in Hancock who is growing up so quickly!  And son Bill with Lyndsi and the kids - Camden and Gabby.  Such fun camping with them for a weekend.  Got to see Tom's brother Lee and sister-in-law Nancy in Green Bay and stepmother Evelyn in Sheboygan.  The final family stop was a last-minute addition to the travel schedule since daughter Mikki and Bruce and kids - Cydney, Adysen, and Dylani - moved to Tennessee while we were gone.  Glad we were able to be there to help out through Dylani's medical emergency.

So, family, friends, and adventures...  There's just no way to single out any one thing as "the best".  Every stop was a remarkable adventure in its own right.  We are so glad we had the opportunity to do this trip.

11,500 miles (13,500 if we count cruise ship miles)
29 states
100 days

A trip of a lifetime!  Awesome!

Day 99

Friday, September 6

After a full breakfast at the Huddle House with Denny & Teresa this morning, we hit the road and headed south.

Now parked at the Eagle's Roost right off I-75 in Valdosta, GA.  Exit 5.  We're 5 miles from the Florida line.  Barring any unforeseen complications...  we will be HOME tomorrow night!

Yeah!

Day 98

Thursday, September 5

The baby is home.  She has lots of follow-up appointments in her future, but was OK when we left.  There are still no answers as to "why" she had the stroke; and now they are thinking that she has has several mini-strokes which may be why she's delayed in her development.

We extended our time in Crossville by one day so the baby could get home and everyone could get settled before we left.

Tom and I are both suffering with Adysen's allergies.  Head colds, sore throats, coughs...  And we're sharing it all with Denny & Teresa in South Carolina!  :)

Heading further southward tomorrow.  Expect to be home by Sunday...

Day 94

Sunday, September 1

Welcome to September!

We've had a little drama here.  Dylani apparently has suffered a stroke and is hospitalized at Knoxville's Children's Hospital.  Tom and I have Adysen and Cydney with us.  Now that made for an interesting night last night.  We've never slept four of us in the trailer before.  Based on that experience, we'll sleep at Mikki's and Bruce's tonight.

Latest word from the hospital is that the baby has been moved out of ICU, so maybe they'll be able to come home tomorrow.

Today we took the girls to the Cumberland Mountain State Park and went for a 3-mile hike around the lake.  The girls did really well.  Apparently we successfully wiped out Adysen as she is totally out and it's only 7:30.  :-)

Day 93

Saturday, August 31

Can you believe it?  3 months!  We left on May 31 and here it is August 31.  Who woulda thunk it!?!

We finished our Nashville tour with a stop at the Country Music Hall of  Fame, a walk through the music stars park, more strolling along the honky Tonkin strip (found the Wildhorse Saloon!), and then we drove out to the Bluebird Cafe (a must see for us based on the TV show "Nashville"!).

Yesterday we made our way to the Beanpot Campground in Crossville, TN.  Went to Mikki's, and the kids wanted to go to the Cumberland County Fair so that's where we spent our evening.

Don't know what today will bring - but I, for one, think swimming should definitely be a part of the plan!

Day 90

Wednesday, August 28

3 months on the road!  Wow!  Can't believe it's been that long!

So, here we are outside of Nashville.  Went into the city this afternoon to find out what kinds of things there are to see and do in Music City.  Spent some time walking up and down "Music Row", poking our heads into several honky tonks to listen to music.  How fun!

And can you believe it?  I FORGOT THE STEPS TO PONTOON!  I've been away from dance much too long!!

Day 88

Monday, August 26

Kids headed home yesterday afternoon - really enjoyed our camping visit with them!

We left Iron Mountain this morning - and made it as far as Milton, Wisconsin.  Really nice campground here - went to the pool and hot tub for awhile as soon as we pulled in.  Very nice.  Took a walk around the park after dinner - pretty big place.  1/2 the park is more "permanent" and then the other half is for travelers or seasonals.  Nice sites.

So we're on our final leg - headed south....

Day 86

Saturday, August 24

Camping with the kids since Thursday.  We're at the Summer Breeze campground just outside Iron Mountain.

Today was "kids" day.  We started with birthday presents right after breakfast, then it was go-karts and mini-golf, and next is cake and ice cream.  We've had fabulous weather for camping out and we're hoping the 50% chance of rain tonight doesn't come and soak everyone!

Days 81-83

Monday, August 19

Arrived in Oconto, Wisconsin.  Cute little town - took the bikes for a ride around town to o some exploring.  Campground is right on the Oconto river - if we walk our our trailer door and walk 50 feet, we'd land right in the river!  Nice!




Tuesday, August 20

Packer practice!  How fun is that?!!?

And visited with Tom's brother/sister-in-law.  Went out to eat for dinner.  Nice visit.





Wednesday, August 21

Visited with Tom's stepmom in Sheboygan today.  And then back to Lee & Nancy's for the evening.

Heading north again tomorrow to camp with Bill and his family for a long weekend.

Day 80

Sunday, August 18

Final day in Marquette County.  Tom and Bill golfed in the morning, then the kids came and swam for a bit.  We went back to their house and took a walk along the recreation trails and then to Red Lobster for dinner (yum!).

Nice day and now we have next weekend to look forward to where we'll all go camping for a few days.

Tomorrow we'll head into Wisconsin for a few days...

Day 78 & 79

Friday, August 16

Said goodbye to Houghton for another year and headed to Marquette.  Got set up in our campsite and waited for the boy to get off of work.  Went to Bill's house for the evening and was greeted in the front yard by Gabby.  So excited to see my girl!  Bill and Lyndsi, too.  Have to wait until next weekend for Camden; he's at his dad's.

So we visited, got to show off some of our trip pics, and then called it a night...

Saturday, August 17

It was our pleasure to have Gabby with us all day today.  We ran some errands in the morning and then spent the rest of the day at the pool.  I know one little girl who is going to sleep really, really well tonight!  Bill joined us for dinner and it'll be a campfire with s'mores in a little bit...

Day 77

Thursday, August 15

Final day in the Copper Country.  Moved from Hancock to Houghton today.  Took Taylor to the beach (she finally did make it in the water today!); ran some errands; visited with friends I haven't seen in quite some time (Lori & Cathy!); and had dinner with Susan and Bob (great dinner!).

Tomorrow...  onward to Marquette...

Day 75 & 76

Tuesday, August 13

Spent the day running errands around town, connecting with friends, and then Taylor came over and spent the night with us.

Wednesday, August 14

Today, took Taylor and went up to the Estivant Pines.  Figured if we'd seen every other big tree in this country, we ought to cap it off with the big White Pines of the UP.  They're pretty small by comparison to the sequoias and the redwoods, but hey - we saw them anyway.  Went to the cemetery to see my mom, took Taylor to the beach (too cold to swim) and capped off our afternoon adventure with ice cream (yum!).

Went to Mike & Marlene's for dinner tonight - really nice to catch up with them...

Day 74

Monday, August 12

Arrived in the Copper Country this afternoon.  Watched the temperature gradually decrease with every mile closer to Houghton.  Actually have a heater going tonight.  Only in the UP!

Visited with #2 granddaughter, Taylor, this evening.  Hoping to get to spend some good, quality time with her over the next few days.  Also connected with a few friends and made our visiting plans.

Tomorrow - laundry, errands, a little sight-seeing to see what changes there are around town since last year.

Very pleasantly surprised with our campsite - have both wifi and cable TV - totally unexpected.  Nice!

Day 73

Sunday, August 11

Went for a cruise around the Apostle Islands this morning.  Gotta love being our on Lake Superior!  Had smoked fish for lunch - Yum!  Walked around town and poked around the little shops, stopped in the Maritime Museum, and then came home.

What a peaceful day!