Dorothy was right..

There is no place like home, but adventures are not to be missed. On this last day of the journey, I had an early morning walk on the beach with Buddha before we broke down camp, emptied our waste water and got underway for the last leg of the trip.

It was about another seven hours of driving time, but we had a few stops. During a fuel fill up, we noticed one of the tires on the trailer was over heating. We rested in the shade for a bit until it returned to a normal range. The breakaway cable had partially detached as well so we gerryrigged that for now. I’m not sure why a small metal cable is the breakaway safety when you have two large chains in addition to the hitch, but I’m new to this trailer stuff!

Right before Ashland, Wi, “we” completed the continuing Ed course for Jill’s pain fellowship. I said now what? We have another three hours and that was way more entertaining than the license plate game?”

Buddha needed a potty break and Jill wanted to get some smoked fish, so a stop in Ashland was indicated. The fish place is also the office for a motel which is an interesting combination, but it is easy to find with its flying fish.

My next concern was the high bridge in Duluth and climbing up the hill. I was concerned about windy conditions on the bridge, but it was not. And my vehicle did just fine pulling the trailer up the 6 degree grade out of Duluth. Still I needed a break before our final stretch, so we pulled into the rest area in Duluth. I would argue that it is one of the most dazzling rest areas in the country. The views are just amazing. Locals sometimes park there to enjoy the view.

From there is was just about two hours to pull into my driveway. I was trying to park the trailer but I was tired. It wasn’t going well. I told Jill if we wanted to get to her house before the steaks her hubby was cooking had fossilized that she had better park the camper.

We got it all settled and arrived at her house right at 7:45 as we had predicted. Aged steaks and Canadian beer on her deck overlooking Mitchell Lake on a sunny summer day was a perfect end to our journey. And I do have to point out that the New England IPA that I selected was unanimously voted the best. Just sayin.

Until the next journey…late September/October, I’ll be heading to Clermont-Ferrand, France to visit my daughter Amy who will be teaching English there and on to Corsica to visit a turtle refuge.