Short road trip with Mary Martini over to visit her sister and family in Holton, Michigan.  First we visited the Frederick Meijer sculpture gardens and butterfly exhibit in Grand Rapids.  We were greeted by the Michigan marching band (see pic below).  Of course later that evening we also had to endure Michigan getting smoked by Villanova.

Go Blue!

Butterfly

Butterflies

Sculpture1

Sculpture2

Sculpture?

My personal favorite

On Tuesday we visited the White River Light House and museum (not open yet unfortunately) before heading back home through a beautiful cold, rainy and snowy day in April.

White River Light House 1

White River Light House 2

First road trip of the year.  2,426 miles starting with a visit to Oxford, Michigan for Austin’s graduation open house (I have a grandson graduated from high school already?!?). Then on the Lia, Chris and Emma’s for a couple days where we also met up with Stephen and Heidi and Lexi.  So a couple days in and I already have seen 5 of my grandchildren.  Emma is losing her teeth!

Next up was Pennsylvania for a 5 day visit with Brian, Amy and Sammy.  Spent a lot of time at the ball diamond since Brian coaches one team and Sammy is on another team.  Sammy is going in the seventh grade now and he is also doing some cross country training this summer.  Must have some of Uncle Ted’s genes in his system.

Sammy and I had a great hike in the governor Dick trail system, including climbing the ladders to the top of the observation tower.

I also had an encounter with an assassin bug.  I did not know what it was at first, and discovered that if I put my finger near it, it would walk towards my finger instead of away.  Fortunately for me, I did not let it get to my finger.  Whew!  Also saw a butterfly on our hike.  Kind of the beauty and the beast.

Then on to Maryland with a short visit with my cousin Susan McArdell.  Did not stay for long but had a great visit and did a lot of talking about all our relatives.  Got some new information for my genealogy research and also had a long talk via phone with my cousin Tom McArdell who has done much research also.  I see more trips in my future!

Then on to Stephanie and Steven’s in North Carolina (via lunch at Steve and Kathy Clemons in Salem, VA).  Had a great visit there for about 4 days, including a visit to see Dan Warren in Easley, SC with a nice lunch downtown Greenville and a visit to Bob Jones University.

Made it one day to Mount Airy, NC which is the boyhood home of Andy Griffith.  Had lunch at Snappy’s (which blew up Stephanie’s diet) and visited the museum (not so great) and many gift shops.  Saw the huge school she teaches at (9 classes in each grade!) in South Carolina, Harrisburg Elementary school.  Ended the trip coming home through Troy Ohio and overnight stay with Lia, Emma and Grandpa Risheill.

And last but not least, meet my new girlfriend Thelma Lou!

Just a couple day trip to Tennessee to pick up my granddaughter Lexi with her dad Stephen.  A stop along the way there and back in Columbus to see Emma, Lia and Chris of course was in order.  Stopped for lunch on the way back and got this great pic of Lexi and her dad.  Going to do some digging into my old photo archives and find a picture of Faye and see how just how much Lexi resembles Faye. 

My first retirement road trip has concluded after three weeks.  Back to snowy Michigan and my own bed and the company of mom, Jim (and Molly who seemed not to care at all that I was gone).  It will be good to see my church family at South today and enjoy lunch with Mary, Steve and the “girls” as Mary calls them.

Along the way of my first road trip I wrote this little poem at one point.  I will post it here for what it is worth.

Rest Stop

It catches me by surprise
In a random moment
At a rest stop
On a bench

Almost brings tears to my eyes
Tightening of the stomach
No triggering event
Just happens

Starts an urge to think and write
And ponder and pray
The Spirit of God?
I wonder

Then it fades and thoughts take flight
Conditions now interfere
Stopped traffic ahead
Mile marker 309

Nearing the end of the road trip.  Yesterday traveled from Salem, VA after an overnight stay at Steven’s parents house.  Traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a bit to visit Mabry Mills.  Unfortunately the mill was closed along with the restaurant I was planning to eat at.  So I found Crooked Oak along the small highway getting back to highway 77.  My kind of restaurant with a few local people.  Had a Carolina burger with fries, in case you were wondering.  Now at Brian and Amy’s with a cold front moving back in.  Oh well, back to reality soon.