Flying by the Seat of Our Plans

Well, that didn't take long.  Only a couple days after my last trip, Laura caught up in the Rec Your Quarantine challenge, so it was time to cover some ground with Lucy again.  We headed to the Tunnel Hill trail again, but this time at the Barkhausen Cache River Wetland Center. I noticed signage as we pulled in that the entrance to the parking lot is closed and locked at 4:30pm daily, which I hadn't anticipated.  We went just a bit back up the highway and parked at an access to the wetlands just west of the road.  We had to walk a short way down Hwy 37, which was stressful with a stroller, to say the least, but were quickly off the road and on the trail. Lucy really enjoyed watching the water flowing on the Cache from this bridge just outside the visitor center grounds We hit the Junction for Karnak and then headed north on the trail a bit further until we hit another bridge over the Cache River.  The river dumps into a diversion canal her...

Laura and I were so excited that Katie had found Richard Bird and that they were in love and to be married!  We looked forward to going to Florida to attend their wedding and join them on their wedding cruise reception.  So, as excited as we were that Laura was pregnant, we were a bit disappointed when we realized that she would be eight months pregnant at the time of the wedding, and thus, unable to go on the cruise.  We debated driving to the wedding (air travel also prohibited), but it would be a long drive with lots of pee breaks for a 15-minute ceremony.  Katie sweetly convinced Laura not to make the trip for the short wedding alone, and Laura sweetly convinced me to go without her. I love adventures, but they are more fun with someone to share them with.  Because my favorite travel partner was out, I decided to invite a friend.  Over the last year or two, Mikie has been such a positive person in my life and has always been intrigued and excited to...