I only got a few weeks of rest before we were off again. C was feeling guilty about not visiting her mom over the summer, so off we went. Two weeks in Burlington, Iowa, with J’s family, then two weeks in Columbus, Nebraska. A weekend in Kansas City area, some time in the Ozarks/Branson, a nice soak at Hot Springs, Arkansas then a stop in Nashville. Scroll down for C’s highlight of the trip … fall colors between Chattanooga, Tennessee, then Asheville, North Carolina, and on up the Blue Ridge Parkway as far as we could to Roanoke, Virginia.
Iowa and Nebraska highlights:
- C participated in the Great River Bridge Race … ok, it was just the Bridge Walk but she really should work on the 5k run!
- J worked hard on a number of projects at his sister’s house
- J founds some Halloween window clings for me … I need a bath!
- C&J shopped and created a Christmas wreath for C’s mom
- American White Pelican on Lake Babcock?!?!?! Who knew pelicans migrate through land-locked Nebraska!
Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and the Mountains of North Carolina highlights:
- Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri
- Visited friends from their 1991 wedding party that C&J hadn’t seen for YEARS
- Visited C’s niece and husband
- Lake of the Ozarks and Branson, Missouri
- Hung out at a campground owned by an acquaintance of C’s brother, would have stayed longer except C needed better internet for work
- Stopped in Branson so C could see DUNE opening weekend in IMAX, she was very excited and re-watched it a couple of times on HBOMAX afterwards
- Hot Springs, Arkansas
- C enjoyed a little hiking and soaking
- Nashville and southeast Tennessee
- Visited C’s niece
- valley drive
- Western North Carolina to Virginia
- Drove the Blue Ride Parkway from Asheville, North Carolina to as far as possible just south of Roanoke (road construction prevented completing the entire parkway)
- Visited friends in Roanoke
C got a bunch of tattoos for me on this trip, but I still need a bath so I’m still waiting for them to be put on.