As usual, Tracy picked out this stop on his own during his many quiet planning afternoons, and when I looked it up on the map, basically as we pulled in, I thought for sure it would suck. It’s on Lake Michigan, yeah, but at the southern tip, close to Chicago and surrounded by cities. […]
I Can Breathe in a Small Town
We’re only a few miles from John Mellencamp’s hometown in southern Indiana, and man does this area feel small-townish. This is a view from Skyline Drive through the Jackson-Washington State Forest, into Starve Hollow. Lots of family farms down there. Here in the state forest campground, lots of dudes pulling in to get high over […]
Rocket Barges and Giant Cypress at a River Confluence
I meant this to be a short photo essay from our one-night stay at Fort Defiance State Park in Cairo (pronounced like Kayro Syrup), Illinois. I got carried away. Such an impressive place. This river confluence is one of the largest in North America. The Ohio River is actually wider than the Mississippi where it becomes […]
City Camping at Little Rock
We are right on the Arkansas River in Little Rock, at a city campground that’s a lot like that one in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It’s basically just an organized parking lot, but it’s within walking and biking distance of most of downtown. What we thought might be a deal-breaker when we pulled […]
Little Rock Nine and the Clinton Center
Oh my goodness is Little Rock, Arkansas, not what I expected. Not that that sets the bar high, seeing as how the main thing I was looking forward to was its cheese dip (which did not disappoint). Still, “better than cheese dip” is not a bad motto. We’ve done so much in just a few […]
Heat, Heat, and More Heat
We left Livingston, Texas, yesterday with plans for an interesting, relaxing route north on our way to the Mothership in Ohio. Thanks to the heat and repairs and health crap, we’re going to have to work for it. Last night, we found a spot on the water at a Corps of Engineers campground in Texarkana. […]
🎶 I’m Back in the Saddle Again 🎤
I’ve sung this many times when we’ve gotten back on the road after a long stay in one place, but this time I mean it in a bunch of ways. Saddles One saddle I’m back in is a literal saddle, the one on my bike, finally. After basically six months of waking up early to […]
What Severe Weather Means for Us
I don’t think about big bad weather unless it’s right on top of us, so I’ve never written about it in general. After OG blogger Mark asked me about it (several times, sorry, dude!), I realized it’s been a bigger factor in our lives than I thought. So, here’s a retrospective of weather we’ve ridden […]
Celebrating a Dangerous Man
When Tracy and I were dating, I noticed something small in his house that made a big impression. Okay, yeah, it’s just a cardboard coaster he’d taken from a brewery and tacked to his wall, but I still have it because it says this: Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their […]
Tell Me How I Surprise You
I just found this picture during my big family photo scanning project, and it’s prompted new thoughts about the book I’m planning. Paul and I are walking back from grad school graduation. Look how young and happy! I was extra relieved because this was on the heels of me almost flunking the oral defense of […]
