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<p>Last night we ate sandwiches for dinner at the campsite. The ducks came back to visit. They were very chatty, quacking away, and demanding food. When we neglected to give them some, they left and went for a swim. The women at the campsite next to us made us laugh. We don’t know how many [&hellip;]</p>

<p>It was dark by the time we reached the campground in Fort Yargo State Park. Setting up in the dark is never fun. Our site is again by the water. This campground is not empty and going to bed I was reminded of why I don’t like people. The campers at the site next to [&hellip;]</p>

<p>We camped in Georgia—near the Georgia and Alabama border. Our site, beside the Walter F. George Lake is idyllic, the setting is pretty. Cotton Hill Campground is so much nicer than where we were last night. It’s just as empty, but it doesn’t feel desolate. It doesn’t look like a place a horror movie could [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Last night, thunder rumbled and lightning flashed in the distance. Clouds covered the stars. We expected rain, but it never came. It’s so much easier to break camp when things are dry. The rash on my foot and ankle is gone. The swelling has gone done. And I only feel a slight bit of pain [&hellip;]</p>

<p>It rained last night. Our new tents did not leak. However, packing up this morning was a muddy mess. I am glad we were able to shower before getting on the road. This is our turn around point. Today, we point the car toward home. We stopped in Slidell for breakfast and ate at La [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Last night, I was reading in the tent when I noticed the material above me was moving. There wasn’t a lick of breeze—it was hot and humid and gross—so I sat up to see what was going on. I noticed tiny legs walking over the mesh and when I looked closer, I saw that they [&hellip;]</p>

<p>We are camping at Fontainebleau State Park in Louisiana. We got to our campsite site around 6:30 last night. It was still light out. The sun had not yet set. By the time we finally got our tents set up, it was dark. It took us nearly two hours because Kati meticulously made sure every [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Brian and I were friends in high school. His father was a Civil War historian. He was the first person I knew who had an interest in that chapter of American history. Now, whenever I take G3 to visit a Civil War battlefield I think of Mr. Walter. This morning we went to Vicksburg Battlefield [&hellip;]</p>

<p>When Libby was a junior in high school she had to read Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner in English class. She loved the book. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she loved Mr. Paccioni’s (spelling?) conversations about the novel. He was, after all, one of her favorite teachers. Regardless of the reason she [&hellip;]</p>

<p>My brother lives on what was once the Nashville Battlefield. If you never heard of the Battle of Nashville, you’re not alone. I didn’t know it was a battle in the Civil War until last night. The National Park, for whatever reason, did not feel the need to preserve this battlefield, as it’s preserved others. [&hellip;]</p>

<p>REI was our first stop in Nashville. Why? Because we had to return our leaky tent. Returning was easy. Finding something new was disappointing due to the very limited stock which the salesman blamed on supply chain issues. Also, G3 wants to flee the nest. At twelve years-old, he no longer wants to share a [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Last night, after seeing Lincoln’s home, we drove to our campsite at Houchin Ferry Campground which is in Mammoth Cave National Park. It’s not nearly as nice Abram’s Creek, the last place we stayed. It’s a bit bigger (which means more crowded when full), RVs can stay here (they can be loud), and there was [&hellip;]</p>

<p>A storm blew through last night just after Kati and I went into the tent. G3 was already asleep. He must have been exhausted to sleep though it. The crack of thunder was insanely loud and the rumbling persistent. The rain beat down on the tent as if trying to flatten it. But I love [&hellip;]</p>

<p>I got back from my short hike to find G3 sitting contentedly in his hammock. I think that was one of the best Christmas presents he’s ever gotten. It makes hanging out at the campsite more enjoyable for him. I also think hanging out in his hammock is a highlight of this trip thus far. [&hellip;]</p>

<p>I woke up early again this morning and set out on another hike while the family slept. It’s so peaceful hiking at such an early hour before anyone else gets on the trail. It was just me and the humming insects and the tweeting birds. It’s wonderful to disconnect entirely from the world even for [&hellip;]</p>

<p>I woke up early. The cicadas had quieted down, although I could still faintly hear them. G3 got up shortly after me. I made coffee and hot chocolate. G3 sipped his in his hammock. I sat by the creek enjoying the quiet while I drank my coffee and read. Kati was exhausted from the long [&hellip;]</p>

<p>And we are off… I am more apprehensive about this trip than excited. We all wanted to go out west again, but the high gas prices coupled with our shoestring budget forced us south instead. The fewer miles we drive the less gas we’ll need. But Kati really didn’t want to go south. It’s too [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Today is Dad’s birthday. If he had lived, he would have been 74. Today is also the first tournament of the 2023 tournament season. At first we weren’t going to stay in Arizona for it since G3 was supposed to leave for summer camp today. However, once we realized it was Dad’s birthday we were [&hellip;]</p>

<p>This morning we woke up at 5:30 in order to get back to the Phoenix Convention Center by 8. Maybe one of the hardest things to do after a loss is get up early to show up and cheer for friends and classmates but that’s what G3 did. It makes for a good lesson in [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Four years ago, G3 was a red belt, but the Taekwondo school he was attending was no longer challenging enough for him. He wanted more. To be exact, he wanted to compete and he wanted to learn weapons. We had no idea where to go, so we started looking online. When the online search failed [&hellip;]</p>