In St. Paul

St. Paul home

The crib I made for Aaron and Amy in 2007

It was made so that it could be converted into a bed just like this!!!

We arrived in St. Paul yesterday, May 29th and look what we saw!!   Got ya, this is our house but the picture was taken in a different season!
When I was making the crib in 2007 I never thought I would sleep in it but sleep we did in Ruby's bedroom. I would say it turned out very nice.
We walked Leo to school in Madison and then headed home yesterday AM.  We arrived home mid afternoon and spent the rest of the day unloading the camper and car.  Today, well there is much to do.
I am thinking we arrived in perfect timing.  As I write it is 64, should get to 82 today and bright sun.  Everything is green here and looking nice. 
We did a stop in Chicago on Wednesday as we were so close to Goose Island Brew Pub.  We had delicious walleye tacos and took  home a growler of great beer.   It was nice to have Amy and Aaron to help with the growler Wednesday night.
Aaron is doing a wonderful job with their new bed and bath in the basement.  He has the window in and things mostly framed out.  He certainly does great work.
My FP is about done.

High School Graduation in PeachTree City GA

HS graduate with his Nana, Terry--also happy birthday Terry, I love you

Sam, really!!

Terry putting together food for the party

Sam with his girl friend Claire-the shirt from us as he is going to Georgia College

We are with John/Mary and family.  Terry's birthday is today!!
We arrived a day early as camp sites are hard to find over Memorial Day.  Will head to Madison tomorrow and then on to St. Paul on Thursday.  It has been an interesting trip so far--no more info on WHY!

On the road again

Terry enjoying a glass of wine in Dunedin

The state park we stayed at for 2 nights near PeachTree City

The oldest brewery in Florida

We are camped on the banks of a creek in NC just outside of Great Smoky Mountain NP.  We arrived at the park after it closed and the campsite we thought would be wide open had already turned away 20 campers.  SO it was turn around and travel back about 15 miles and camp.  It was one of those camping times one would like to forget.  Dark, in a strange place and no place to camp.  As I sit here this morning it is really beautiful.  Will post some pictures later.
We got Sam, Terry's grandson, graduated on Friday, took in the party Saturday and then we were off. Actually we made a bad decision in leaving when we did as we should have stayed around yesterday and left GA this morning but sometimes those things happen.  I battle the "want to get there thing" and need to change so things will be better next time.
As we drove in the dark last night we came close to stopping at a motel but thought better of it.  One motel we passed looked like it had 30-40 cycles at it.  Don't know if there is a cycle thing here this weekend or not but this morning too has been cycle after cycle.  As I write 14 just went past.
For some reason I can not get back to put a title on this posting.
FP (french press coffee) is all gone.  Got to drink it fast when you are sitting outside.

Happy 6th birthday Faustina

I realize I have posted this picture before but it remains one of my all time favorite of any of the grand kids.  Faustina is finishing K and will be a big time 1st grader in the fall.  Happy birthday Faustina, Grandpa Lee and Terry love you.

Merry Christmas and PROOF

I gave Terry a fly fishing lesson gift card for Christmas and we finally got it in.  January was chilly and then about the time we thought we would schedule it that darn wrist of mine decided to break.  Capt. Rainey took us out on the back waters for 4 hours yesterday and it was very fun. 
In case anyone looks at my picture and thinks I lost my teeth--I still have them.  Don't know why I smiled that way but all my teeth are still in my mouth.
We have arrived at "D" day.  I have the garage open, the camper sitting in the middle of the garage and the van waiting to be packed.  I still have no idea if the van will be full full full or if we are OK but we will know by mid afternoon.  We plan to drive to Dunedin FL, 160 miles, tomorrow and enjoy a micro-brewery there and then maybe head north for a while.  Our camp grounds is about 650 miles from Naples so it would be good to get miles in tomorrow.  Of course it is always nice to arrive at a camp grounds late afternoon or at least before sunset.  I think the camper is ready to go.  We put a new set of tires on it last week.  We figured 25,000+ miles was more than enough as most people will say that the Alaska roads tend to not be real kind to tires.  I am thinking that by the time we arrive in FL next fall those new tires will be a bit "tired" as they will have about 20,000 on them.  I need to also pack the wheel bearings which I have not ever tried.  I am not sure that watching a "google of it" on the computer is enough experience to try it myself.  I am sure if my brother Dave were here he would laugh at my lack of experience.  Some how he did many of the things Dad would do such as overhauling engines etc and I sorely lack in that category.  Well when we arrive in St. Paul it will be giving it the old college try and spend about $10 on grease or pay someone $100+ for something that I should be able to do.
Terry's grandson, Sam, graduates Friday with the party Saturday so we will be in PeachTree City GA for that and then it will be on the road again.     
No, the fountain in front is begging to be covered, the kayak is waiting to be deflated, the car is begging for attention, the camper needs its water tank filled and the FP is gone.

The count down

I am not sure I have gone this long without saying something.  Terry and I are into getting ready to drive north.  We will be leaving next Wednesday and arriving in St. Paul May 29th.  As we get ready to leave we are also trying to tie up many loose ends that need to be taken care of.  Some of which are not related to driving north. 
I played tennis Monday and Tuesday and that is it until next fall.  As I look back on the season I am pleased with the way I played and with the fun I had.  Next year, well who knows.  I will take it one season at a time.  I am hoping Terry feels good enough to play next year.
Actually I have been kind of consumed with this Alaska trip.  It seems I figure out one thing and two more things change and I try to figure them out and I may get to one and two more things come up.  All I know is that we will go and it will be fun.
I have tried to make my life more simply and it seems each month or each year it goes in the opposite direction.  Well last fall I was give a Honda motorcycle and I had it rehabbed and as of mid October it was good to go and I drove it home.  I have decided that I will not ride cycle.  There are many reasons but the bottom line is there are too many other things I want to do and I want a more simply life too!
No FP coffee at 11:00 PM at night so time to sign off.

Confirmed!!!!!!!!!

After many many hours of planning, many many hours of seeing if things really could work out it is a done deal, we are headed to Alaska this summer.  We actually found a way to drive only one way which is a BIG deal for us.  With camper in tow, we will head out around mid July, make stops in ND, MT and then head north.  It looks like we will spend all of August and the first week of September in Alaska and then board the Alaska Marine Hwy Ferry (us along with the car and camper) and end up in Bellingham WA on September 12.  From there we hope to re-take in Crater lake in the sun shine (it was rainy last time), head down the coast to Pinnacles NP, Channel Island NP and then east towards MN taking in Rocky Mountain NP on the way.  By the time we arrive in St. Paul our NP count should stand at 50.  We are excited.  We are hopeful of reaching the Arctic Circle, taking in the 8 NP, doing a fishing trip and just seeing Alaska with all it's natural beauty.  We will see where the roads take us.
No, it is 7:00 am, no more FP and tennis is calling at 7:30.