We has ARRIVED!

"Back home in Indiana"......not on a bet!

Turn, baby, turn!

We left Illinois on Saturday, following delightful visits with the McLaughlan and Mc Kernan clans.  Heading south toward Indianapolis, we encountered our least favorite state of the trip, Indiana.  Bad roads, bad traffic, bad construction delays, dirty rest stops, dirty gas stations.  The only redeeming (?) characteristics we found were a commitment to renewable energy and a widespread disregard for posted speed limits.  Limit of 70?  Push 85 just to keep up with traffic.  Construction zone posted at 55?  Dial it back to 75 and keep rolling.  Right up to the place where we sat completely still for 30 minutes on I-70 for a reason yet to be revealed.   Screw this, we're heading for.......

...Ohio!  Where we enjoyed the hospitality of Wade's nephew Ashley, his wife (and fellow Ohio State Associate Professor!👍🎉) Liz, and their daughters, Helen and Campsie.  Their home and Upper Arlington neighborhood are both delightful.  We westerners could learn a thing or two about city planning there.

Peaceful Ohio

Sunday morning saw us rolling thru the bucolic hills of southern

Curvy West (BG!) VA

Ohio headed for West (BY GOD!) Virginia.  Where the forest thickened and the hills increased until we were lucky to find 100 yards of straight level road.   One wonders how the Union and Confederate forces even found each other,  much less fought battles here.  Passed some "hollers" so dark and deep that they must truly have to pipe in daylight.  Sheesh.

Entered Virginia via I-64 with Commadore Kathleen at the helm.  This our second experience with

Faster! Faster!

this fabled byway and its cadre of truckers who enjoy "pushing" traffic along at a frenetic pace.  Nothing motivates the ol' right foot like looking in your mirror and reading  "FREIGHTLINER"  in reverse large type.  Lead, follow, or get outa the freaking way! We spent our last night on the road at Chancellorsville, VA.

And at last, on Monday we arrived at Virginia Beach, where Admiral Maggie met the Atlantic! Fernando led us safely 2,959.8 miles from home (@ 21.4 mpg).  Gracias, Fernando!

Go East, Young Dog!

Now the fun (and work) begin!   Stand by for more news.