Home Again

Kayak Morning

Sandy Bottom

Northern Sky

Woodlawn Starting To Green

It's just after 9:00, and both Evie and I are back to our usual routine — listening to Michael Smerconish and enjoying our coffee. I've been up since 7:30 and got in a 40-minute paddle, down to Sandy Bottom and back on a gray, 55° morning. It felt wonderful to be back on the lake.

Knowing we had a four-hour drive ahead, we were in no hurry to leave the Hampton. We had some breakfast and were off by 9:30. We've made this drive many times, so it was a bit of a slog — an hour and a half to the Cleveland area, another hour-plus to the Ohio/Pennsylvania line. We stopped for gas at $3.87 a gallon and grabbed burgers from McDonald's, then made the final hour home to the lake. We're always a little anxious pulling in, hoping to find everything in order — and thankfully, it was. No problems.

Unfortunately, Evie was coming down with a cold with a slight fever, so I handled most of the unpacking. Once that was done, we both relaxed, and Evie eventually headed upstairs for a nap. I took care of a few things outside — moving the lawn mowers into the garage and pulling out the Outback, which started right up after sitting for a few weeks. A small victory worth celebrating.

Around 5:30, I drove to the Ashville General Store to pick up dinner: a Highjacker for me — think Cuban sandwich — and chicken-and-vegetable soup for Evie. The sandwich was excellent, but the soup was another story, so oversalted that Evie couldn't get through it. By 8:00, Evie was ready for bed, feeling miserable. I stayed up watching basketball until 9:30 before turning in myself, worn out from the long day of driving.

We loved the trip — cherishing the time with both Beth and Tom — but as always, there's nothing quite like coming home.

By the way, I just read King Charles's address to the House. I highly recommend you read it.  I loved the way it ended it: 

'Mr Speaker, Mr Vice-President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence. The actions of this great Nation matter even more.

'President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address, that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do.