Welcome Home

On day 109, Monday August 26, 2024, we came full circle and arrived back in Waynesville at 7:59 pm EST. Our trip computer read: 11,836.7 miles.

Before arriving home, we made a stop in Indiana, and we were welcomed by our Indianapolis friends and family. One friend who was not there to greet us was John Vanausdall. John had been ill for sometime and we tried so hard to get to Indiana before he passed but we missed him by days. 

As some of you may recall, we started our trip with the loss of a dear friend, and we ended our trip with the loss of a dear friend. May they both rest in peace.

While in Indianapolis, we spent a couple of days at my sister Jill’s beautiful home in Rocky Ripple, then moved to our friends Bill and Susie’s at Indian Lake. Gary and I agreed, these two camp spots were the best. Beautiful surroundings, hot tubs, pontoon boat rides, barbecues, lots and lots of good hugs, conversation and laughter. 

And thanks to Cam winning a raffle prize, we had a table for ten right up front at an Elton John, Billy Joel Tribute concert. We watched the show and the sunset over the Indiana corn fields. 

We drove the last 439 miles home in one day and the excitement for home grew as we started to see the Smoky Mountains. These lush, green mountains are older than the Northern Rockies and vast mountain ranges of Alaska. Compared to the rugged, huge, snow capped mountains we saw on our trip, the Smoky Mountains are curvy, gentle, sensuous mountains and I have often thought how I feel like the Smokies are just waiting to give me a big hug.

So, we are back home. Time to unpack, reestablish our home routines, and plan the next adventure. It was so great to see our house and we were greeted with flowers, wine and even dog treats for Kaizen. Thanks so much for following our adventure and for your support, encouragement and comments. Someone asked me if I would do it again. My answer; “in a nanosecond.”