Monday July 30

Slept in till 9. Set out for home, like a horse heading back to the barn. Arrived in Hawthorne at 8:30. Total mileage for the trip: 10,310.

Sunday July 29

Went with David and Lynnae to his mother’s family reunion in Swannanoa. There were about 90 people there. David’s uncle Frank has a farm on the Swannanoa River, the kids had fun riding tubes while most of the adults mingled. Stayed till almost dark, went back to Lynnae and David’s for the night.

Saturday July 28

Still raining. Drove to Marion NC to see David and Lynnae at their new home. Met them at Ashville for lunch at a nice vegetarian restaurant and walked around downtown for the annual street festival there. Had a nice dinner at the Hensley farm. We had fresh vegetables picked from their garden.

Friday July 27

Stopped in Cashiers NC and visited with Ben and Betty, they were up from Gainesville for a few days at their cabin. Started raining that evening.

Thursday July 26

Spent the day touring the area with Jim and Charlotte. Went to High Falls, not far from their farm. Went into Guntersville Lake SP, where the Tennessee River forms a lake behind a dam. Visited a neighbor’s farm at sunset, enjoyed seeing the black swans and farm animals.

Wednesday July 25

Another 500+ mile day. Arrived in Albertville AL about 7:30 to stay with Chris’ high school classmate, Jim Gibson, and his wife Charlotte. When out for dinner at a local Chinese restaurant.

Tuesday July 24

Drove all day, stopped 80 miles west of St Louis. Spent the night in Graham Caves SP. Finally got out of the heat wave, highs in this area are in the upper 80’s. Didn’t take any pictures today.