I decided to do a trip out east to help my daughter and Ozzy with their new baby Stella. It was early July and Elliott’s surgery went well so I decided to leave on July 10th. I made my way down hwy 40 and was hoping to stop at the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM. Sadly it was closed down but I had lunch and walked around the place for a bit. Moving on I stopped for the night at Foss State Park. A really pretty place and quiet next to Foss lake. Fabulous sunset too. The next day we had a brief stop in Clinton, OK where they had set up in town for a fair. Billy Goat and I walked around and had some coffee. Next stop, Lake Alma in Arkansas where Billy and I ran in humid weather around the lake. Whew! After lunch and rehydrating we drove till dark and camped outside the city of Memphis, TN. T.O. Fuller State Park. Basically drove in, parked, slept, and left in the morning early. Never got the bathroom key so I didn’t pay. Big drive day, stopped at Parkway Pourhouse in Chattanooga, NC for lunch outside on the deck. Dog friendly. (BIG NEWS< Stella is born, Friday, July 12) made it to Asheville, NC and camped at the KOA outside of town. Good sleep. Up and out in the morning and headed to OBX. Easy driving, one big accident really close, and a bunch of traffic closer to the beach. Once there I spent a nice week with the Martier family.
On Sat. July 20, I left the beach to go north. I parked at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge rest stop and slept over night. Leaving early I got to Rachel and Ozzy’s by mid morning on Sunday. There I spent a wonderful 2 and 1/2 weeks helping with Stella, visiting with friends, and even doing an open mic on Ozzy’s birthday.

After a teary goodbye, Billy and I headed west to Wisconsin. We had an uneventful but quiet stay at an Ohio rest area. In Wisconsin I had some family time at Matt’s lake house. Mom, Carolyn and I also went to a St. Olaf’s Bluegrass festival. Sadly I had no lake swim time but I did do some country runs. I left Tues August 13, stopped in Madison for a haircut, and made it to Smith Creek Rec. Area in Nebraska. A nasty storm hit with a bunch of lightning, thunder, rain and wind. Billy and I felt pretty secure but not the best night sleep. Up early, short walk, and put some miles in until NM. Hiked at Climax Canyon Nature trail and then made it the rest of the way home.