Road Trip 2025: Day 34

We broke camp for the final time. Getting up this morning was difficult. It is easy to get up early when you have new places to explore and things to look forward to. Waking up today means going home. Maybe if I had a home I loved I would feel differently. But I’ve never been happy in New Jersey, and living next door to someone who always blasts their music makes home an unpleasant place to live.

I wanted one last hike, one last outdoor activity before we committed ourselves to the final long drive home. I also wanted to go swimming, which is why we took a slight detour to Audra State Park. The website listed both hiking and swimming as activities. As we neared the park it started to rain and it rained up until about five minutes before we parked. There weren’t options for a hike, just a short 2.7 mile loop—enough to stretch my legs, get a bit of exercise, and outdoor time. After all the amazing places we have been and all the incredible things we’ve seen, the hike was bland. It was a typical walk in the woods, mostly flat with no cool views or interesting places to explore. Still, it was better than sitting in the car and preferable to being home. G3 joined me. He did so reluctantly, but I was happy for the company, when he wasn’t rushing ahead and shouting for me to walk faster.

Our intention had been to hike first and then swim, but the moment we returned to the car it started to pour. As we were debating whether or not to swim it the rain, thunder cracked overhead making the decision for us. Both G3 and I were disappointed.

The drive today was awful. We’ve had some long days in the car on this trip, but we

we’re usually heading somewhere new, or anticipating something fun. Today, the drive was bringing us home. After the downpour when we wanted to go swimming, we only had a few bouts of heavy drizzle. Somehow we managed to weave our way through the storms that were strewn across the radar. Our intention was to break up the drive with a stop or two at wineries, but they all closed early—until we reached Kutztown, which is only an hour and a half from home. Folino Winery is open until eight, which is far more accommodating for vagabonds, so we were able to do a tasting. Surprisingly, we liked most of the wines and even bought a bottle since we are going home and don’t have to worry about it spoiling in the car.

Ugh! We are home. We put more than 10,000 miles on the car.

My fur babies are well. At first they were spooked and ran away from us. Then Dante bit me. But now they are all hanging out in the living room with me. Dante likes that automatic feeder a little too much. He is now a plump rolly-polly. Beanie is sprawled out and happy we are here. Even Kramer didn’t wait long to emerge from wherever he hides.