Water Park

The guys stopped at a resort for a day of lazy river swimming and pool lounging to cap off the cross-country trip. More than 2,000 miles and lots of memories. 

Mini Family Reunion

 An invitation to Aunt Ginny's beautiful home on Sanibel Island allowed for shell collecting and an impromptu mini-reunion when Patrick drove over to join everyone for breakfast. As they left the island, the car carried several boxes of large conch shells, now on display on our mantel. 

Water

There were several stops along the route to enjoy the warm waters on hot days. Galveston's coastline and, of course, the Florida west coast offer plenty of swimming opportunities. Bob, Lukas, and Noah also took advantage of boat rentals to explore - pontoon boating is far easier than kayaking, although it is hard to get into the mangrove with a pontoon boat. 

Briskets and Friends

The guys stopped in Texas to reconnect with old friends. Not only did they have a fun time catching up, but they were also treated to famous brisket cooked right in the backyard. 

Buc-ees

Where can you find 100+ gas pumps? What gas station has set two World Records? The answer is Buc-ee's, where the beaver never sleeps, and the BBQ sandwiches are made right in front of your eyes. Lukas and Noah finally realized the wonders of Pecan Divinity. I am confident we have exposed them to it before, but it never made an impression like this one. When plotting future routes, I have a hunch Buc-ee's locations might have some influence. 

Camping

 As they traversed the country, the guys checked out and rated various campgrounds. Bob's generous Father's Day gift was the shade/rain fly aptly named Fred. He was deployed at each site to protect from afternoon thunderstorms and for early morning bright sunshine. 

National Museum of Nuclear Science and History

 Another interesting stop on the journey from West to East.