CHANGING TIMES & NOT FOR THE GOOD

As we say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024, it’s time to start planning my next adventures.  I have a few ideas and have begun some initial planning. I am looking at several options and, in the weeks, ahead, some of them, for various reasons will fall by the wayside. Usually, I narrow my plans down to two or three viable adventures. Then it’s time to go about creating a timetable and locking them in.  

One thing that I have realized is just how much times have changed in recent years. Everything from where I stay to how I travel has changed. Hotel, Restaurants and most any aspect of the Service Industry has changed tremendously in recent years. When you get right down to it every aspect of how, when, and where I travel has changed.

It is the popular belief that COVID caused all these changes, but in reality, the reason for these changes is that more and more people have not work ethic and basically just don’t take any pride in themselves, so how can we expect them to take any kind of pride in a job.

As I look back on previous adventures, I came to the conclusion that many of these changes have been caused by the Political Climate in this Country. It is my opinion that Politics are responsible for most of the negative things that we are seeing throughout the country. You are either perceived to be far left or far right. The is no Middle Ground.

One other thing is people do not know how to mind their own business and then get offended when they see something they don’t like or agree with.

Back during my 2021, Dakota Adventure, I was having breakfast in a Hotel in Indiana.  I was sitting at a table alone, Minding my own business. Suddenly, a lady approached me to tell me that she found the shirt I was wearing insensitive and offensive. Wow, Really

My reply was a curt and dismissive, “I don’t care, trying looking somewhere else and Leave me alone.”

She continued to push it by telling me that “I was “Triggering her Anxiety.”

I again replied that “I could care less about her, or her anxiety so please leave me alone.”

Just for the record, the t-shirt I was wearing simply said, “You are so ugly, when you sit in the sand the cats try to cover you up.” 

I have never been or worried about being politically correct and I am too old to start now.

Another thing that has changed due to the political climate is where I stay when traveling.

Back in 2018, I retired from my job that I had held for 43 years. When I retired one of the thing that I wanted to do was Travel. I kicked off my retirement with a month-long adventure exploring Texas.  During that trip I visited all the Major Cities in Texas, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Amarillo and El Paso. I never thought twice about visiting or staying in these cities.

I spent several days staying in and exploring these cities. While I am always aware of my surroundings, I was never concerned about my safety when walking about or traveling in these larger cities. Then, the Political climate changed dramatically, and crime surged in cities across the nation.

To make matters worse, inner-city politicians have handcuffed the police which allows criminals to remain free to prey on their citizens and visitor who visit their city. People who live in or visit any of the major U. S, Cities these days must be concerned for their safety.

For safety reasons, I have chosen to forgo visiting most large cities during my travels. If I do visit, I limit my time to daytime visits and I am certainly well clear of the inner city by the time it gets dark. I no longer book hotels in the city.

Back in 2018 and before, I often looked for hotels in the city where I could easily drive to or take public transportation to the attraction.  During My 2018 Texas Adventure, I stayed in Downtown Dallas and San Antonio. This allowed me easy access to several attraction. In San Antonio, I could walk to The Alamo, and enjoy all the Riverwalk has to offer.

Nowadays I do not even consider staying in the city, rather I look for hotels well removed from the downtown area.  Last year when I took a weeklong trip through Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, I made it a point to book rooms in well outside of the large Cities.

Rather Than stay in Chattanooga, I booked a room in Cleveland, Tennessee, about 30 miles north of the city. Rather than staying in Birmingham, I stayed about 40 miles away in Jasper, Alabama. The last time I went to Nashville, I chose to stay in White House, Tennessee about 20-miles north of the city.

In addition to staying outside of larger cities, there are just some cities that are so crime ridden and nasty that I won’t visit at all. I used to enjoy riding Amtrak into Washington, D. C. and spending a couple of days visiting the monuments and museums. Not Anymore.

Washington is a cesspool of crime and criminal. It is not safe to walk the streets in broad daylight, and you sure don’t want to get caught on the street after day. Once in D.C. I could ride the Metro to just about any place I wanted to go. Not anymore. Crime on the Metro is rampant, and it is NOT a safe means of Transportation.

Places like, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New Yor City and Memphis are just a few cities that Have been added to a fast-growing list of Cities to stay clear of. The politicians that govern these cities are aiding and assisting the criminals and are basically just as guilty as those committing the crimes.

Another thing that has changed over the years is where I stay when Traveling. For years I was loyal to the Choice Hotel Brand. Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites and Sleep Inn’s were all under the Choice banner.  For the most part they offered clean, comfortable accommodation at a very reasonable price.

They also had a very generous rewards program for members and for more than 20-years I was a Choice Privileges Member. I racked up points that allow me to book free nights. During my 2018 Texas Adventure, I was on the road more than 30-nights. Of those 30+ nights, I enjoyed 14-free nights at Choice Properties.

However back about 2014, I noticed a change in the quality of customer service at some of the Choice Properties. This caused me to look at other options. So, while Choice was still my go to accommodation, I also joined the Holiday Inn reward program and began staying at Holiday Inn a few nights each year.

I didn’t travel much during COVID, and when I returned to the road, I discovered that Choice Properties had suffered a further decline in not only customer service but the cleanliness and overall condition of the property was by and large unacceptable.

So, Holiday Inn became my go to accommodation, and I stayed only with Choice enough times as to ensure that I wouldn’t lose my Choice Privileges Points. In 2023, after back-to-back bad stays at Choice Properties near Huntsville, Alabama, and Cookeville, Tennessee I pretty much said goodbye to Choice and Now Stay almost exclusively at Holiday Inn and at Hilton Properties. I am a rewards member of both brands and plan to use them exclusively in my future travels.

Finally, there have been tremendous changes in the restaurant industry.  Again, this is due to the political climate and the aftereffects of COVID.

During COVID, many restaurants closed their dining room, offering only take-out and delivery. When the Country Re-Opened after COVID many restaurants found it difficult or impossible to hire enough employees to all them to return to full service.

These staffing difficulties along with government mandates concerning minimum wage made if difficult for restaurants to function normally or even survive. Some small hometowns and fast-food restaurants have chosen to reduce staffing and service. Because of minimum wage mandates, many fast-food restaurants have discontinued inside counter ordering. Instead, they offer only self-service kiosks where customers place and pay for their order. This allows the restaurant to drastically reduce labor costs by hiring less people.

Several time during my travels in 2023, I made my way to a restaurant only to find a sign posted at the door saying, “Closed today due to Staffing Shortage.” And on my 2023 Canyonlands Adventure many of the McDonalds and Taco Bell, had no counter service, only self-ordering kiosks.

In addition, the full-service restaurants like Cracker Barrel, Applebee’s and Ruby Tuesday, service is often slow due to staffing shortages.  Several Times last year, I found that even though these full-service restaurants were open they were able to operate at reduced capacity due to staffing issues.

 As I look forward to my 2024 Travel Adventures, I have no reason to expect that anything will change for the better. If anything, the political climate where the Republicans will further demonstrate they are not capable of governing, and the democrats demonstrate that they want to turn this country into a socialist state.

The good old day where a person could travel free and without fear are long gone. But I plan on continuing to travel and my 2024 adventures are taking shape. So, stay tuned.

LOOKING BACK AT 2023 AND AHEAD TO 2024.

Tonight the ball will drop and the curtain will fall on 2023 and we will welcome 2024. As I look back on this past year it was filled with some personal challenges that I won’t bore you with, but I also some wonderful adventures. Anytime that I am on the road exploring America is a great time. 

I hit the road for the first time back in March with a short three-day Tombstone Adventure to North Carolina. Most of you know that I like visiting cemeteries and finding historic and famous graves. Some people call this morbid and weird, but I have always found cemeteries and the people who are resting there interesting. Everyone has a story and just because they died doesn’t mean their story dies with them.

On this trip, I visited the graves of NASCAR personalities T. Wayne Robinson, Ralph Seagraves and Buck Baker. In addition to NASCAR, North Carolina was home to one of the Most Successful Professional Wresting Promotions in the Country. Jim Crockett Promotions, and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. They brough us such stars as Blackjack Mulligan, The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Gen and Ole Anderson and The Nature Boy Rick Flair.  During this trip I visited the graves of two stars of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Sylvester Ritter who is better known as “The Junkyard Dog,” and “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff, whose real name was Oreal Perras.

I managed to record a lot of content that will eventually end up on my Tombstone and Travels YouTube Channel. There are over 150 short videos on the Channel and I invite you to take a look. If you like what you see I hope you will leave a comment and subscribe while giving the videos that you watch a Thumbs up.  Here is the link to the channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Il-isbz2iBFtmNE_VnP9Q

In April I took a short trip to Richmond and Visited Hollywood Cemetery where famous Civil War Generals George Pickett and J. E. B. Stuart are resting along with the Only President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis.  Two United States Presidents are also buried here, James Monroe and John Tyler.

While in Richmond I managed to take a Little Side Trip up to Maryland where I toured the home of Doctor Samuel Mudd.  For those that don’t remember their history, Dr. Mudd was the Doctor that Treated John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg in the early morning hours following Booths Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

I had attempted to tour the house on a couple of Previous occasions, but it only opens seasonably during the spring, summer, and fall. The tour was excellent and lasted just a little over an hour. Most of the furniture in the house belonged to the Doctor and his family, including the Sofa and Bed where Booth rested while he was treated by Dr. Mudd.

The easiest way to check for tour information is to visit the Doctor Mudd Home website. Here is a link:

https://drmudd.org/

After leaving the Mudd Home, I managed to visit several of the site that were on John Wilkes Booth Escape route including the site of the Garrett Farm where Booth was killed in a tobacco barn. There is nothing left of the Garrett Farm, as it was destroyed years ago. Today the actual site of the Garrett house and barn is in overgrown median of Highway 301 south of Port Royal, Virginia.

In May, I took off on another Tombstone Adventure through Dixie.  My first stop on this adventure was in Lynchburg, Tennessee where I toured the Jack Daniels Distillery and visited the grave of Gentleman Jack in the Lynchburg Cemetery.

In Alabama I made a quick stop at the U. S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. I have been here before and always found it very interesting, but this time I caught them changing out exhibits and only the Rocket Garden was available.  Even though most of the indoor exhibits were closed, they didn’t lower their price which kind of ticked me off.

 From Huntsville I was off to Birmingham where I visited the Graves of several Notable People, including two of the all-time winningest college football coaches, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Bobby Bowden.

 While in the Birmingham area I also visited the graves of NASCAR Personalities, Davey Allison, and Neil Bonnet along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr.

 In this day and age, I don’t like spending the night in large cities so, I headed about 40-miles north of Birmingham and spent the night in Jasper, Alabama. It was here that what little plan I had changed. After talking to the breakfast attendant at the Hotel. I discovered the Jasper was the final resting place of George “Goober” Lindsey.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to “Say Hey to Goober.”  After leaving the cemetery I stopped for some coffee and was talking to a local to was kind enough to tell me that the Man who Played Mr. Haney on the TV Series ‘Green Acres” was buried in a small church cemetery just a few miles away. Off I went and spent a few minutes with Pat Butram.

With my original plan out the window, I decided to make my way over toward Tupelo, Mississippi. Along the way, I visited the Graves of Country Music Star Sonny James and an early star of the Grand Ole Opry, Rod Brassfield.

In Tupelo, I visited the birthplace of Elvis Presley.  I never was an Elvis Fan and the birthplace while Interesting just wasn’t my cup of tea. Like Graceland, the Birthplace is basically an overpriced tourist trap.

From Tupelo, I made my way to Corinth, Mississippi where I spent the Night. The next morning, I started the day by visiting the site where Sheriff Buford Pusser died in a car crash (photo left) on August 21, 1974.  Then it was a stop at the Adamsville Cemetery to pay my respects to Sheriff Pusser and His family.

My final Stop was at the Pusser Home and Museum in Adamsville.  The Home and Museum are closed on Monday’s and guess what, I was there on a Monday. So, From Adamsville, I made my way over to the Shiloh National Military Park.

The permanent visitor’s center at Shiloh was closed for renovations, and I had to find one of the Rangers to get a driving tour Map.  I spent the rest of the morning driving around the Battlefield, ending my tour on the Banks of the Tennessee River at Pittsburgh Landing.

After leaving Shiloh, I decided to head toward home, and scooted around Nashville a few hours later. In the pouring rain I decided to spend the Night in Cookeville, Tennessee. From there it was an easy drive home the next day.

 I stayed home in June, in preparation for my Canyonlands Adventure with Sunshine Bus Tours.  It was an amazing trip that I enjoyed the tip very much.  If you haven’t already done so, be sure to go back and read the daily Canyonland blogs.

 After returning from the Canyonlands Adventure, I stayed close to home and only took a few short-day trips and a couple of overnight trips just to get more footage for some future YouTube videos.

 So, with the curtain falling on 2023, what are my plans for 2024. While Nothing is etched in stone, I am looking at several different options, including taking another long-distance Amtrak Trip. I absolutely loved my 2018 Amtrak Trip and have started exploring my Amtrak options.

 I am also Look at several long driving trips.  One would take me up through New England in the early summer.  Another driving Option would be a tour of the Presidential sites in Ohio and then up to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. I would also like to head over to Grand Rapids and visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum.

 Another option would be returning to Texas and visiting some of the sites I missed during the 2018 Texas Adventures and then returning to and spending more time in Colorado.

 
One thing for sure is, I am not getting any younger and I want to continue traveling as long as I can. So, in the weeks to come the 2024 Travel Season will begin to fall into place. I will keep you posted here. Until then I hope each of you have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN

 

I was very lucky to be born and raised in a small town. Tazewell is a place where your neighbors were also your friends. A place that is rich in History and Tradition. A place where that history is embraced and appreciated, and those traditions are cherished. A place where even today those traditions, some of which have been passed down from generation to generation are still practiced.

Traditions, Like on Friday nights in the fall, most of the community would gather at the High School Football Field, to eat hot dogs and drink hot chocolate that you bought from the Lion Club Concession Stand while cheering on the Bulldogs.  

Traditions like coming to town on Saturday, and shopping on Main Street. Buying shoes from Hughes, or just stopping in to visit Sheffey Massie, Miss Flora Jones and Mr. Herbert Ward at Jeff Wards store.  Or drinking a cold Cherry Smash from the Soda Fountain at Jackson’s. 

Then on the way back home as the sun was setting over the banks of Ole Plum Creek, a stop at Frog Level was in order. The kids would busy themselves chasing lightning bugs while the grown-ups would just sit and talk, until someone would show up with fiddle, or a guitar or a banjo. And before you knew it, music was echoing throughout the hill on the bank of Plum Creek.

Then on Sunday’s, no matter what, you went to church, where the people of the community would gather to give thanks for the blessing of the past week and to pray for guidance and protection in the week ahead

A place where the community would gather at Christmas time to watch the children of the community perform their Christmas Program. To those of us in our small town, those little church Christmas Programs were better than any Broadway Play. A place where after the play, a simple brown paper bag filled with an apple, an orange, a candy cane, and a small toy would bring a smile to young and old alike. 

Yes, I was blessed to come from a place where we said and still say “Bless Your Heart,” “Merry Christmas”, and “God Bless You.” Today, I returned to that small town for just a couple of hours, and as I walked about looking at those same Christmas Decoration on Main Street that I remembered as a child, I realized just how blessed I am to have come from such a special place. 

No matter where I go or how far I travel, this place called Tazewell, will always be the Place I call Home.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF - MENDING FENCES IN TEXAS.

 

History has a way of repeating itself. The Republican Party of today is in total disarray just as the democrats were some 6-decades ago. Let’s look back 60 years ago when First Term President John F. Kennedy was faced was a total split in the Democrat Party much like the Republicans are facing today.

 It was a well-known fact that the Kennedy Clan detested Lyndon Johnson and those loyal to the Vice President. The only reason Johnson was on the ticket was because he was a powerful member of the party and Kennedy needed him on the ticket to deliver Texas in both the 1960 and the upcoming 1964 elections.

The democrat party in Texas was in bad shape as Governor John Connally and Senator Ralph Yarborough were engaged in a long running and bitter Feud that was threatening to split the state. Connally was perceived to be the leader of the conservative wing of the party and Yarborough was the head of the party’s liberal wing.

Even with Johnson on the Ticket, if the Texas Democrat Party continued the infighting, Kennedy stood little chance of being reelected. The conflict was further enhanced by the mutual dislike between President Kennedy and Johnson. As the saying goes, “Politics make strange be fellows.”

 But, as much as President Kennedy disliked his own Vice President, it could not hold a light to the pure mutual hatred that existed between the President’s Brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and Johnson. If Kennedy was to be reelected, he would have to carry Texas and in order to do that President Kennedy would have to find a way to unify the party and settle the Texas Feud. 

It was because of the turmoil in the Lone Star State that a plan was conceived for President Kennedy,
Vice President Johnson, and Governor John Connally and other prominent democrats to make a grand tour around state. In Connally’s own words, “This trip was a political fence mending trip.” 

During the tour, party unity and fund raising would be the name of the game. The tour would take place in Late November 1963. 

No one in the administration thought the trip was a good Idea and warned the President Not to Go. But the Party leadership convinced the President that it was the only way he would stand a chance of carrying the state in 1964. Without Texas there was no path for reelection.

The Texas Unity tour was a rocky road and didn’t go as Planned. With stops in Houston, San Antonio and Fort Worth the infighting escalated. Johnson, who nobody would call a conservative, was accused by Yarborough of selling out and kissing Connally and Kennedy’s Ass. Senator Yarborough and Governor Connally refused to appear in the same room at the same time much less be seated on the same stage. When Vice President Johnson interceded it only made things worse, and Yarborough told Johnson to basically “go to Hell.”

By the time the tour reached Fort Worth, the Party was even more fractured and in danger of imploding. The plans for a motorcade through Dallas were finalized while the principals were in Fort Worth. It was decided that Governor and Mrs. Connally would ride in the Presidential Limousine with the President on Mrs. Kennedy. The Presidential Limousine would be followed by the Secret Service and behind the Secret Service Car would be the car carrying Vice President and Mrs. Johnson.

It was decided that Senator Yarborough would ride in the Car with the Vice President. Several reports indicate that when Johnson was told of the arrangements, he “blew a gasket” which eventually resulted in a heated conversation between Kennedy and Johnson with Robert Kennedy chiming in by Telephone from Washington. Bobby’s involvement further infuriated Johnson. He accused both the President and the Attorney General of trying to embarrass him in his own state. Later that night, President Kennedy called his brother back. According to some of those in the room, the Attorney General did not hold back on his hatred for Johnson and encouraged his brother to “step on Johnson and step on him hard.”

By the same token, when Senator Yarborough was told that he would be riding with Vice President Johnson, he flat refused telling President Kennedy’s assistant Kenny O’Donnell and Secret Service Agent Rufus Youngblood, “I am not riding in the same car with that son of a bitch!”  

The next morning before the large breakfast at the Hotel Texas in Fort Worth, President Kennedy was notified that Yarborough was refusing to ride in the Johnson Car. The entire Texas Unity Trip was falling apart, and it was up to President Kennedy to personally intercede in the Texas Size Feud.

Meeting with Yarborough, in the Hotel Texas, The President told Yarborough in no Uncertain Terms that he would be riding with the Vice President or Not at all. When Yarborough continued to object President Kennedy told him he had no choice and walked out of the Room.  On the way to the breakfast, President Kennedy told Special Agent Rufus Youngblood that he wanted Yarborough in that car and “I don’t care if you have to pick the Son of a Bitch up and thrown him in.”

When Air Force One landed at Dallas Love Field the President made his way to the fence to shake hand with the enthusiastic crowd. During that time the motorcade was formed, and the members of the motorcade made their way to their assigned cars.  One nearby reporter watched as Yarborough was involved in a heated conversation with Kennedy aides. That discussion got even more heated when Vice President Johnson walked right by Yarborough and got in the car without saying a word. The reporter said that it appeared that Special Agent Rufus Youngblood was nudging Yarborough not so gently toward the open door of the car. 

Yarborough eventually got into the car just as the motorcade was leaving Love Field. Agent Youngblood later said that there was not a single word uttered between Johnson and Yarborough. He said as they made their way through the streets of Dallas, the tension in the car was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. 

As the motorcade made its way down Elm Street in front of the Texas School Book Depository, shots rang out. Both Governor Connally and President Kennedy was struck by the gunfire. John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35^th President of the Unites States died a short time later at Parkland Hospital.

Suddenly the turmoil that had engulfed the democrats no longer existed. Everyone in the party, except for Bobby Kennedy and those most loyal to him united behind the New President. 

For the next 5-years the Bobby Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson Feud intensified. Then in June 1968, for the second time, a Kennedy fell victim to an assassin’s bullet. Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed in the Kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. 

For the second time in 5-years President Lyndon Johnson found himself at the funeral of a Kennedy. I told you that history has a way of repeating itself, if you think about it the Republican Party of today is fractured much like the democrats were some 60 years ago.

2023 CANYONLANDS ADVENTURE - THE END OF THE TRAIL

 

DAY #15 – SUNDAY – JULY 16, 2023

MT. VERNON, IL - HOME

602 – MILES / 5,064 – TOTAL MILES

Because our group was scattered across three hotels, and John would have to load luggage at each stop, those of us had to bring out own luggage down when we boarded the bus.  Also, with this being the last day the luggage had to be loaded in a specific order so that it could be unloaded quickly when we started dropping folks off.

With us being scattered those of us at the Holiday Inn were the first to board the bus at 7 a.m. Then at 7:15 we picked up the Fairfield Inn group. Finally, at 7:30 we arrived at the Drury Inn to pick up the last group. Most were ready but as usual the same four were late.

Hoping to be on the road by 7:30, we pulled out onto Interstate 64 and headed east at 7:40 a.m. A few miles into the long mileage day we hit a traffic jam. For this entire trip this was the only traffic issue that we had.

I looked at the Traffic layer on Google Maps and it showed a backup of about 4-miles. I looked at the News Apps and found out that the reason for the back up was caused by a traffic crash and all east bound traffic was stopped so that a medical helicopter could land.

Finally, a little over an hour later, traffic began to move, and we made our way past the scene. The vehicle was destroyed, partly because of the crash, and partly because of what the rescue workers had to do to get the victim out of the car.

Once we were past the scene it was smooth sailing to Haubstadt, Indiana where we stopped at the Loves for our morning break. I grabbed a large cup of coffee and a snack. A little over 30 minutes later we were back on the road. An hour or so later we crossed the Ohio River and left Indiana and entered the Bluegrass State of Kentucky.

Being Sunday, traffic was light, and we zipped right through downtown Louisville and made our way toward Frankfort where we made our Lunch stop. We stopped at exit 53 on Interstate 64 and stopped at a shopping complex that had several fast-food restaurants nearby.

Once again, we scatter and did not crash one single restaurant. The majority of the back of the bus bunch chose to eat at the Steak’n’Shake. Others went to Taco Bell & Fazoli’s.  As usual it took us a full hour to complete our lunch stop.

It’s 2:30 p.m. when we leave Frankfort and continue our journey east on Interstate 64. A couple of hours later we crossed the Big Sandy River and moved into West Virginia.  Shortly after crossing into West Virginia, we stopped at the West Virginia Welcome Center for out afternoon break.

The break at the rest area took lest time than usual because there was no shopping. So, as quickly as everyone used the facilities we were back on the road. We quickly made our way through Charleston, passing the West Virginia State Capitol.

At Charleston, Interstates 77/64 are one interstate known as the West Virginia Turnpike. We headed south on the Turnpike and a little over an hour later we pulled off at the Bob Evans Restaurant in Beckley. He those that want to have supper can do so.

Beckley is where we begin to say goodbye to some of our traveling companions. Where many of our group are having supper at Bob Evans John take those that are leaving us to their nearby drop-off lot. We lose three couples here and while John is unloading their luggage, we exchange contact information and promise to keep in touch.

Bob Evans was ill prepared to handle the number of people who hit their dining room all at once. As a result, it was well over an hour before we were back on our way. The next stop was at the Old K-Mart lot in Bluefield where we lost a few more of our group left us.

From Bluefield it was on to Wytheville where a few more of our group left us.

Next stop was at the Sunshine Office in Dublin where My new friends Dan and Sallie left us. We exchanged contact information and said our goodbyes. Dan and Sallie, we are just two of several new friends that I have mad on this trip.

Finally, it was a short 30-minute drive from Dublin to the Park and Ride at Exit 118. It was here 15 days ago that I embarked on this magnificent adventure, and it is here that this adventure ends. As we pulled into the park and ride, I say my goodbyes to Miss Mary Ann and Miss Jenny and what was left of the Back of the Bus Bunch.

This adventure was full of wonderful sights that I will always remember. But what I will also remember are the wonder new friends the I have made on this wonderful Journey.

So, after 15-day and 5,064 mile, and a bunch a new friends again my 2023 Great Canyonlands Adventure has come to an end.

Now it is time to kick back, rest up and start planning my next great adventure.