Gail and I worked in Florida for almost all of June. In July we took a trip to see family in New York, Virginia and North Carolina. That road trip is described in a previous post (July Travelogue). After spending almost another month in Florida we hit the road again, with an ultimate goal of seeing our daughter Ruth and her family at their new home in Michigan. We traveled for a full month and covered more than four thousand miles. We saw people, did a little ministry, and enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. Here’s a little travelogue.
Note: To spice up the pictures I’ve described many of them with highly sophisticated poetry (couplets, limericks and haiku’s).
I heard a voice: “Go North old man!
Don’t run the AC in that van!”
Leaving Fort Myers and off like a lark
We arrived at this south Georgia State Park
What is this great big hole fer?
We spotted a tortoise called “Gopher”
From the bottom of Georgia to the tippity top,
The state’s highest park was our journey’s next stop.
The view from Black Rock shifted. It was never the same.
We could see the Smokies and knew how they got their name.
Our campsite hugged the Doe River’s banks.
Katrina came to join us, for which we gave thanks.
I love the sound and sight of flowing water
Bob’s twin sisters joined us at Roan Mountain.
To the left (to the left, to the left, to the left) Jeanie and Bob.
To the right (to the right, to the right, to the right) Judi and Tim.
(Is this line dancing?)
We hiked the Appalachian Trail with nary a slip.
Not the whole thing, of course, but enough for this trip.
The views from the Appalachian Trail were beautiful.
One of us wore out well before the end.
Eppie sought shade like it was her best friend.
At the end of the trail many ponies roam.
To keep down the growth they have made it their home.
Another hike wound through forest and stream.
Waterfalls and cascades made it like a dream.
(Haiku) Alum Creek sunrise—
road to Ruth in Muskegon,
light before the miles.
Joseph, Mark, Newton, Phoebe, Ruth.
It’s them we came to see, to tell you the truth.
Small hands build sandcastles—
Lake Michigan waves roll in,
laughter fills the shore.
There once was a seagull named Pete,
Who considered Lake Michigan neat.
He’d sprint down the shore,
Give a squawk, maybe more,
Then soar off the sand, off his feet.
In Rumson-Fair Haven of old
A friendship began, made of gold
Though decades have passed
We met them at last
And many fine stories were told
(Gail knew Stuart and Peggy in high school. They have been missionaries for nearly fifty years.)
I’m a sucker for a sunset, to this I must confess.
This sunset in Grand Haven was arguably the best.
Back window water—
Lake Michigan stretching wide,
camping at its best.
(Wilderness State Park, Michigan)
Swim, Eppie, Swim!
Our next stop was in Wisconsin, Green Bay,
where we served a couple of days with Crisis Café.
(See this post)
At Lake Wissota State Park we met up with Alex, who had been our foster son more than twenty years ago. We had a blast camping together and catching up on his life.
Stories told over a thousand pieces
Learning about Alex’s nephews and nieces
Telling about our family so large
Recognizing that God is in charge
Headed back to Houston.
Didn’t have a place to stop.
Serendipity
At Thomson Causeway we spied,
A beaver house right by our side.
Mr. and Mrs. swam through,
Doing what all beavers do,
On Ole Miss’s green riverside
Two more stops on the way to Houston.
Sam A. Baker State Park in Patterson, MO and Jefferson Ridge Recreation Area in Dierks, AR. ($13 a night)
Jefferson Ridge, Dierks AR. It’s actually a sunrise but it’s here to say “Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!”
Great road trip, but we did do a little Crisis Response work as we traveled, and there’s more to come!
There once was a poet named Bob
Who did a most terrible job
With the help of AI
Though he couldn’t say why
Even his limericks came out all wonky.