As we wrap up our trip, you might have noticed that the itinerary I outlined in my first entry for this trip isn’t what we’ve been doing ever since we headed east. As it turned out, Route 120 leaving the San Francisco area was still snowed in and closed to traffic, which forced us to take a more northern route home. While this negated our seeing some exciting national parks, we saw some other beautiful landscapes, especially following I-70 through Utah.

And it was exciting to go over Monarch Pass again, although that was the beginning of our wet weather.

Since that time rain has been a force to be reckoned with, starting with a nagging presence that spattered the windshield when cars and trucks passed to flooded rivers…

…to flooded rivers that forced us to detour…

… to dodging major wind and downpours in Kentucky for an entire day, only to find ourselves hovering in the basement of our campground office building that evening as a tornado warning was in effect. The picture below doesn’t capture the heavy winds, driving rain we all watched, hoping the house wouldn’t be blown away—or us!

Nevertheless it’s been a wonderful trip. We’ll be home tomorrow and we’re ready to return to our normal routines, to our family and friends and to our music. Thanks for all your comments along the way. It’s been great fun sharing it all with you.