The Road Home...

We left Iowa Thursday morning anticipating many hours on the road, hoping to make it to Lyn's sister Esther's house in time to enjoy July 4th with their family.

We traveled all the way through Iowa.... yup, there's still corn and beans there.

We crossed the Mississippi River.... yup, it still had water in it.

We traveled through Illinois.... yup, there's still corn and beans there too.

What a delight to arrive at Esther's just in time for supper, a good one at that.  To the rest of the family, it was not for you that they pulled out the pork ribs and perfectly prepared them as a feast!  And to top it off, homemade "frosty" - coffee flavored at that.  It's no wonder that our kids wanted to eat lunch early that day so they would be hungry for Esther's meal, past experience has taught them well.  We greatly enjoyed the evening with their family, traveling to see the fireworks in the back of a pick up (as we used to be able to do in Delaware), parking along the roads to enjoy the show, as small town quality as it was, it was the presence of family that made the night...  One thing that puzzles me.... was that smell really something dead in the cornfield?  How well do I really know my family?

Friday morning we enjoyed a "farmers brunch" at Matt and Lacry's house before heading east toward Ohio.

Thanks Lacry and family for a great brunch!!!

We traveled the rest of the way through Illinios.... yup, there's still corn and beans.

We traveled through Indiana... yup, there's still corn and beans.

We traveled through Ohio... yup, there's still corn and beans with the added attraction of traffic and construction.

Arriving at Jolene's sister Joy's house, we enjoyed a relaxing evening with their family, sitting outside, tossing the ball toward a hoop, watching the kids enjoy goofing around...  Darryn using a hoola hoop is quite entertaining.

We slept fast, woke up Saturday morning ready to conquer our last phase of the journey.  With smooth travels to Delaware, despite a jam up at the Bay bridge, we pulled into Bushy Tail Lane at 6:05 PM.  The Trip Odometer said 7300 miles had been traveled since we pulled out of this lane.

The trip, 3 weeks and a day, many states, many sites, much enjoyment, very little relaxation, was over.  Only time will tell the memories it made, but one thing is for sure, it's over....