We took a more direct route on the drive home. We spent rainy days and nights in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Kentucky before arriving in our next destination, Tennessee. The Appalachian Mountains were a dark green maze often wrapped in clouds. We were especially taken by West Virginia.

In Memphis we stayed in the Graceland RV Park while visiting Dennis' brother and sister-in-law. We had hoped that the south would be cooler in mid-September, but the heat held on through Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. We enjoyed the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma and the Cadillac Ranch art installation in Amarillo, Texas. It finally cooled down on our last night in the Manzano Mountains in New Mexico.

We are grateful to all the friends, family members, and complete strangers who made this such a great trip. 

Chenango State Park - Chenango, New York

Blueberry Pancakes for dinner

Rocky Gap State Park - Flintstone, Maryland

Ashville, Kentucky

Greenbo State Park and Resort - Greenup, Kentucky

Not a live bear

Lake Malone State Park - Dunmor, Kentucky

Graceland - Memphis, Tennessee

A yard sign in Memphis

Welcome to Oklahoma

Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma

Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

Manzano Mountains - Mountainair, New Mexico

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Steller's Jay

Sunrise at Mountainair

After our last blog post, we traveled east across the Michigan Upper Peninsula to Tahquamenon Falls State Park. (We had been trying to get there, and Whitefish Bay, for about 15 years and finally made it.) From there we crossed the Mackinac Bridge and into the Michigan glove to visit our friends Amy and Ramon (and their wonderful garden) whom we had not visited for years. Great visit. Then on across Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York into Massachusetts to visit family there. Also great visits.  

We should note that this trip was planned on very short notice, and, sorry, we were not able to plan visits with all of our friends along the route. We'll try for that again next year. We are thinking about a big trip back next summer. 

Lake Superior

Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan 

Whitefish Bay

Mackinac Bridge

View from the bridge

Amy and Ramon's garden

Clear Creek State Park, Pennsylvania

Ricketts Glen State Park, Pennsylvania

(All clear after the Tornado warning.)

Sunsetview Farm RV Park - Monson, Massachusetts

First Church of Monson