Back to the Beginning

The last few days have been a struggle to accept the fact that we are back to the beginning and the trip is over. The other struggle is that since we have ended, this blog will also come to an end.

I've enjoyed writing our daily blogs and have also enjoyed reading your comments along the way. We made new friends along the way like my friend in Dallas who still claims to have heard "The Shot Heard Around the World". Then, there is my friend in Nebraska that followed us closely along our journey. Sorry we never did take you up on the "Home Cooked Meal" offer. There are others that we met in campgrounds, restaurants, bars and parks that have kept in contact with us. The journey took us over 12,000 miles around this great country. We saw places that we had only seen on television or read in books. We ate different foods that we were only told about. We experienced the "dry" heat of the southwest and were witness to the few sunny days of the northwest corner. We dove 60' below the clear blue waters of the Keys and climbed to 8,000' and saw for miles around Mt. Rainer. We saw the mighty Mississippi up close and tasted the powerful Colorado River as we rafted down her rapids. We were in awe of the clear waters in Rainbow River that felt like we were swimming in an aquarium. We experienced moments of fear (when the Pick Up truck we were towing cut loose) to moments that took your breath away (our first glimpes into the Grand Canyon) to moments of happiness (see our friends along the way) to feelings of accomplishments (reaching the top of Angles Landing in Zion National Park). During our trip we saw a variety bands playing Rock N' Roll in Austin, Texas, and Bluegrass in BB Kings Memphis restaurant. We even sat in for a show at the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville and found ourselves clapping and 'he hawing' along. Through out the trip we had a first hand seat of the economy as we paid $3.29 a gallon of diesel all the way up to $4.95 to thankfully see it come back down to $3.39.

Now we sit here in our friends backyard that it all started from last December. What started with us being stuck in the mud turned into a beautiful experience. They say that all good things must come to an end but I'll tell you what, we're going to try and keep this trip alive. If not with more trips it will be through pictures and memories collected along the way.

So, as a last toast to this journey please raise your beverage:

We have seen many beautiful places,

We have experienced wonderful things,

But nothing is better than to see

Your friends smiling faces and warm embrace.

Thanks for the memories.