13-Sea to Sea (Honeymoon revisited)

Week 13

Days 85 to 91 of a 100 day 

mega road trip across Canada 

…and then some!

Day 85 ~ Oct 20th

North Carolina

The Cherokee Ward.  

Where you know which are Primary classrooms...

Sunday dinner with kind Brother & Sister Cooper 

(Hotel/Restaurant owners).  Real southern food & hospitality.

Our lodging tonight is a quaint isolated cabin in the woods 

of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Two obvious problems.  

Ants & hornets adorn the walls.  Crazy adorable!

This quote (and other quotes) from today's 

Sunday School lesson spoke to me.

"Let every man (woman) be faithful and very diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and cultivate the desire to do good to those around  him; and if, in reflecting on the past, we find we have not acted strictly in accordance with the dictates of our consciences and duty, let us make ourselves right before God and man, that we may be prepared for every event that may transpire."    ~Lorenzo Snow

Find joy in your journey.

P.S.  Happy birthday to Kim!!!

Day 86 ~ Oct 21st

Scenes from Sweet Carolina

Good times never seemed so good.

P.S.  Happy 12th birthday dear Samantha!!!

Day 87 ~ Oct 22nd

One Christmas I received a 2,000 piece puzzle and I thought, 

"when will I ever have time to build this ridiculous thing?!"

Well, 25 years later, today was such a day.   

And we hiked to 3 NC waterfalls...

Rainbow Falls

Turtleback Falls

Whitewater Falls - the tallest in the Eastern U.S. (404 feet)

We revisited the BBQ restaurant where we ate our first lunch 

together in Cashiers, NC as newlyweds 17 years ago.

Still just as finger lickin' outrageous. 

Such a delicious day!!!

P.S.  Happy, happy birthday to Tom!

Day 88 ~ Oct 23rd

Today was a long driving day from Cashiers, NC to Hilton Head Island, SC.  

We protected our necks as we drove through Transylvania County.

View from Chimney Rock, NC (500 steps up from the parking lot).

We've seen gas even lower, at 3.059.  What's not to love?  Our fill ups in Canada were $80.  

P.S.  We can't think of anyone's birthday today.  But it is our anniversary eve!

P.P.S.  Four of you noticed or commented that Lane's beard has disappeared.  He's been clean shaven since October 4th.

Day 89 ~ Oct 24th

The big 17!!!

Oh, to be young again...

For your support we will forever be grateful!

Marking 17 memorable years!

Day 90 ~ Oct 25th

Four nights in one place…it feels wonderful.  

We must be getting ready to settle down.

We'll be home in 2 weeks…love, Momma C & Dad L

PS  Happy birthday to our g'son Josh!!!  

Day 91 ~ Oct 26th

 Today was our last full day in South Carolina.

 

Here is our favorite alligator, as seen from our kitchen window.

Ooooh…spanish moss draping over the sprawling oak trees.  

Romantic by day and spooky by night.

This is the iconic lighthouse in Harbor Town, Hilton Head Island.

Now...

 …and then.

Hilton Head is famous for it's pristine golf courses and renown 

for it's exclusive Golf Clubs. We located the very one we played 

on in 1996 where Lane says I whomped him. Today he 

massacred me by 9 stokes.

Somethings never change. Lane keeps getting better and better.

May the same be true for each of us.  

Tomorrow we drive to Orlando in anticipation 

of the arrival of Cam, Callie and their 

families for our Florida fantastical adventure!

P.S. No birthdays today…but Ava's is getting 

so close I can almost taste those cupcakes!

Next week:  DISNEYWORLD

12-Sea to Sea (back the road)

Week 12

Days 78 to 84 of a 100 day 

mega road trip across Canada 

…and then some!

Day 78 ~ Oct 13th

Happy Sunday everyone!

A kind man turned to me after an unusually long church meeting went into 'overtime' while supervising 5 children and asked, "So, how are you doing?"  I quickly answered, "Meetings should end on time!"  I think he merely wanted to know if Lane and I were enjoying our few days watching these adorable g'kids.  To that, I would have answered a resounding "It's great!" 

Day 79 ~ Oct 13th

Eating with kids is more fun!

Top:  real corn cob holders

Bottom:  the corn cob holders that Maggie proudly found.

 Hot dog mummies

FHE treat.  Ice cream eaten with mystery utensils.

These kids have been good sports.  But they are ready and 

excited to welcome their parents home tomorrow (Tuesday).

Day 80 ~ Oct 13th

Indiana airport.  

Anxiously waiting...

Touchdown!  

Lincoln and Carrie returned 

this afternoon from a trip to the Bahamas.

 We were able to join them for dinner at the airport.

3 hours later Lincoln boarded another plane 

bound for a 5 day business trip in the UK.

The next photo is of Matthew's completed haunted house

…dripping with green monster brains (and chocolate frosting).

Don't look if you want to avoid nightmares.

We warned you.  Good night.  

Day 81 ~ Oct 13th

 Last day in Carmel, Indiana...

Watching my most unfavorite show with 

my favorite "Maggie Margaret".

Handsome Isaac merrily chomps on Carrie's cookie.

One last cuddle...

We will surely miss this incredible family, early morning scripture reading, a great internet and Autumn in Indiana.

Two kids cried when we left…one was sad, the other cried tears of joy.  THANK YOU Lincoln & Carrie!

Does this bring back happy memories for the Howells?  (4969 Westfield, Carmel, Indiana)

We 'camped' for the night in Louisville right next to a Waffle House.  No need for a campfire. 

We love you!!!

Day 82 ~ Oct 13th

Kentucky

 - home to Abraham Lincoln from birth to age 7.  

Today we visited the sites of his birthplace and boyhood home.

Perfect timing.  This visitors center reopened after 17 days 

(for an historic government shutdown by Pres Obama).

Another great quote from a timeless hero.

Birthplace memorial

56 steps = 56 short years Abraham Lincoln walked the earth.  

I am in my 56th year.

Property of Lincoln's boyhood home…10 miles from his birthplace.

Moving on to Tennessee…

Tah!

Day 83 ~ Oct 13th

Tennessee

The day begins with a crochet session.  

And ends with a Nashville Concert.

This ain't no gangham style…it's more like gingham style. 

Give me a Yee-Haw...

12 performers tonight.  

Including Danny Gokey, Riders in the Sky and Restless Heart.  

Happy Trails to You!

P.S. Congratulations to the Tom & Shalaun family!!!  

Happy Birthday Adelaide Bea Howell, October 16th, 2013.

(Details 1:31 p.m. 6 lbs 15 oz)

Day 84 ~ Oct 13th

Tonight we plan to stay in

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee ~ Home of Dollywood,

...dinner shows galore...

...oddball attractions,

family fun houses…waterparks...

go-kart tracks, mini-golf...

None of which we stopped to enjoy.  With rain on the 

horizon and bumper to bumper traffic, we drove 

for over 75 miles searching for an available hotel.  

Reasons for no vacancies:  

Christian retreat in Dollywood, 

Two Craft fairs in Pigeon Forge,

Football games,

It's October, duh!

The mountains just reopened.  

(What?!, the government shutdown the 

Great Smoky Mountains?…yep.)

The search for a hotel continues on the 

other side of the Smoky Mountains.

Tonight we sleep indoors.  Hours from Pigeon Forge.  

North Carolina.  We are pleased.  Good-night.

Next week: Our 17th anniversary!