It has taken me months to finish posting about our trip from last summer. I’ve been inundated with life. My apologies. Without further adieu, here it is, Our Last Leg!
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Day 51
After first learning about Mt. Rushmore and the four most influential presidents of our country, Juniper took a strong interest in Abraham Lincoln. It was crucial to learn more.
We were ecstatic to find out Abe’s boyhood home and birthplace was on our way and part of our National Park System. Most americans don’t know he was born in Kentucky, with Illinois being nicknamed “The Land of Lincoln.” We spent today learning about his family, their struggles on the frontier, and how he acquired some of his many nicknames. We visited the farm he was born at with his actual cabin on display. We learned about his life and death and with all our new knowledge and another badge, we continued through Kentucky.
We made it to the place where Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia meet and tried to acquire some geocaches. While Darryl fed the girls dinner, I went on a mighty hunt but did not succeed until my fourth attempt.
Feeling some time was waisted, we moved on as far as we could with the PA air so close Darryl kept it moving and stopped just before our home state line.
Thursday, October 2 Day 52
This trip has been more amazing than I dreamed it would be. I would do it again in a heartbeat but home is calling our names.
The last leg is bittersweet as Darryl and I are anxious to get home, Ash expresses her want to “see more places.”
“I don’t want to go home,” she pleads.
Ironically she was the first to mention going home way back on day 20, now after this grand adventure she didn’t want it to end. Who could blame her?
That one statement from my three-year-old made these 8,000 miles, 52 days, 22 states, all the trouble, hassle, heartache, pleasure, fun, sweat, tears, laughter, learning, vomit, diarrhea, vet bills, junior ranger badges, pictures, souvenirs, and MEMORIES all worth it, in those sweet three-year-old words.
“I don’t want to go home; I want to see more places.”
Well, the beautiful thing is we will see more places. After we recharge our batteries, fix all the kinks with our rig, and get through the holidays; we will get that eminent itch and we will go on the road again.
Rest area round of duck-duck-goose:
We made it home in record time with little stops and breaking our travel guidelines; Darryl drove over 500 miles today!
We were home in our beds by 8:00pm and it never felt so good to stand in my shower ( I think I was in there for over 45 minutes) and flop into my bed and stretch out; it was heaven!
Life Lessons from the Road
Simple living means more memories.
Family bonds grow stronger when you can’t escape each other.
More space means more clutter.
Experiencing life first hand is nourishing to the soul, more so than reading about it in a book or watching it on TV. Without the space, clutter and TV, our lives were spent exploring, singing, talking, DOing.
Time saved from cleaning a smaller space was spent on more enjoyable adventures.
Go with the flow.
Think positive. If you encounter stormy weather, keep moving. Tomorrow is a new day.
Blog is where the Home is 
I love this – thanks for sharing.
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