On the Road Again!

Well, I haven't written anything for a few days. I'm sorry for the silence. We got home and had lots to be done. Let me see if I can go back and catch up with myself.

We did meet my old Murfreesboro friend, Jimmy Sidwell, on Friday in Gatlinburg. He came over from his home and business in Sevierville and we had a delightful lunch at Calhoun's in Gatlinburg. We reminisced about the summer of 1961 when I spent two weeks in Gatlinburg with Jimmy and his family helping out at their business "Jolly Golf" in the morning and having afternoons to play in and see Gatlinburg and the Great Smokies. One of the memorable moments of that trip was a hike up the Alum Cave Bluffs Trail. I think that hike was one of the formative moments for me and made me a lover of hiking ever since then. Jimmy has certainly taken that business his dad started and turned it into a vacation-land empire with multiple sites, cities, and regions. I truly appreciate that he took the time from a very busy schedule to visit with an old friend.

On Friday afternoon, after lunch with Jimmy, we went to an arts and crafts fair at the convention center in G'burg. It was fun touring the many displays and looking at all of the arts and crafts that were on display and for sale (although we did manage to escape without purchasing anything). Especially delightful was walking past a booth where Burton Dye, another high school classmate and friend from Murfreesboro, was showing his art. Burton is a splendid artist (I have four prints of his art work in my home). Mary and I met Burton's wife and had a great visit with her. I did get to say hi to Burton, but he was busy selling a couple of pieces of artwork to a woman. Sure can't blame a fellow for doing what he was there to do!

We left Gatlinburg on Saturday morning, expecting to drive about half way home, stopping somewhere around Indianapolis. We couldn't find a place to stop in that area so we kept going and got just west of Champaign/Urbana to Mahomet, IL, where we stopped at the Champaign Sportsman's Club campground. What a wonderful little campground! We loved it. I'd gladly stop there again. The folks in the office were exceptionally nice and the park was in a beautiful place, across the road from a park where we took a long walk on Sunday morning before hitting the road and getting home in less than five hours of driving time.

Reflections on three weeks on the road -- I thoroughly enjoyed the travels, the places we saw and the people we met. We were too touristy, although I understood that was what we were doing. What I mean is we tried to do too many things. Sometimes it got a little rushed. But it's also hard to sit still and do nothing. We saw interesting and historical places.  The little 27-foot Fleetwood Fiesta 26Q did a good job. We could use a little more space, partly just to have more personal space for those moments when one needs to be alone. Even in a great marriage, some alone time is necessary, particularly for the introvert partner of the pair (that's ME, in case you are wondering or hadn't realized it).  Some day we'll move up to a bigger coach, but for now, this one worked well. It was fun having the cat (Sally the cat) travel with us instead of leaving her at home with daily attention from friends who are willing to look after her.

It was also fun traveling with my best friend, Mary. There is nothing I'd rather do. We are each strong personalities with strong points of view, but it works! LOL. Marriage IS hard work, you know. And it's worth it.

We got home Sunday night and did routine around-the-house things. We installed a new fan in the family room. That was one of the real highlights of the week.

Today (Friday) we drove from Beloit to the Apple Creek Campground near de Pere. Heavy rains last night left the grounds muddy, but we have a decent site and will stay here three nights, visiting Kitty, Mary's younger sister. Kitty may be reaching one of the landmark birthdays of life in a few weeks, but she's still the delightful 17-year-old I first met when Mary and I were dating, at least in my aging eyes. But then, in my mind's eye, dear Mary is still the poised, assured, beautiful 25-year-old I first laid eyes on at a media conference in Illinois.

We'll move on from here after doing family things and go to a campground near Florence, WI, and then on to Eagle River.

Thanks to all who read my words and share our journeys.