The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 295: Last Post of the Wedding Trip/Livingston, MT/6120 Miles

Miss Kate with her Aunties

Assuming the Lord grants us another day of traveling mercies, we'll arrive home some time in the mid afternoon tomorrow. Today, we steadily climbed from the Sand Hills to the Black Hills to the Beartooth Mountains of Montana. We rode harder than ever today, traveling over 540 miles, a new record for us. It's interesting because when we entered this Fric and Frac Adventure stuff, we told ourselves we didn't want it to become a driving exercise. Things change, I guess, because we're both smelling the barn like a couple of dairy cows a little over filled. We can't wait to have the robotic arms of home brush our utters, grasp our teats, and let us feel the pure milk goodness of Spokane's South Hill. I know. That was a little much, but so was this trip. Prompted by the fabulously successful union of Scott and Kate, we were able to brush shoulders with family, welcome some new shoulders, and carry on to points East. Judy couldn't have been more pleased with our stay in Floyd. I have VIDEO of us flat foot dancing in Floyd, honky tonking in Nashville, and grinning like girls on a first date to the music of the Time Jumpers, who are exceptional. On the way home, we got to visit with Aunt Alice, Cousin Dale, and Cousin Kathy in Beatrice, NE. And I do believe if the unbearable weather you brave people suffer through in the midwest had given us a little reprieve, we'd have dallied a bit longer. The fact is, we live in heaven, which makes us eager to get home. We'd welcome any of you to come West to visit us. We're like most empty nesters. We have a huge house that used to house children who now populate the place only on major holidays. As a result, we have rooms that we rarely go into anymore. They can easily be de-junked to make room for honored guests from the heartland. As part of our effort, Judy drove again today, and quite well I might add. She must have been buoyed by her new winning streak in cribbage. She soundly trounced in Nebraska (Fitting, I guess, since it is the state of her birth). I hope to recoup some of my losses now that we're in Montana. We do enjoy the traditions we're building on these road trips, one of which is our daily game of cards. We're also advocates for any of you who hope in the future to hit the roads of America. We didn't invent it, but anyone can do it. There are people to meet, places to see, and everywhere we go, we're inspired. Having said that, we've already made arrangements with our kids and my dad to have family dinner Sunday night. If we've noticed anything on this trip, it's the value of family. Nothing makes a hug more firm than an absence. What's that line, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." As for highlights, nothing surpasses the wedding kiss of the two newlyweds, although one of the best things about traveling is reliving some of the moments after we get home. That's why I write this blog. I'm flattered that people read it, but for us, the best part is re-reading where we've been and what we've done. We choose to live the moments as they happen, but they do run together, and if road travelers aren't careful, they can view the whole trip from the cab of the truck. That's why the record is fun to revisit. The bottom line is we like to get out and rub shoulders. I believe people are more alike than they're different. I also believe that most Americans are busy living "the dream". It's a good dream. It's is what makes life good, especially today. (A few photo highlights to follow)