Day 77 - December 14, 2024

Today we said goodbye to Puerto Rico and our wonderful hosts, David & Wanda. We had a great time, but all good things must come to an end. Before we left for the airport I got a couple last shots from the balcony, a large gecko or small iguana, a dove, and the complex pool.   Then a few from the airplane. Tomorrow, we start the long drive home.

Day 78 - december 15, 2024

It was a long drive in rain today from Atlanta to Jackson, Missouri. We started in Georgia, passed through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee into Missouri. Five states in one day. The map says 8 hour, 9 minutes, but it was closer to 11 hours with stops for gas and food and a brief nap.   I try to get a photo of the state signs but sometimes it isn’t possible.

Some states do a very nice job of “Welcome Centers” just inside the border. Mississippi is one of them. We also stopped for a bit in Jackson, Tennessee (different from Jackson, Missouri where we are tonight). Jackson Tennessee has a beautiful old downtown core with three large courthouses. I also too a phot of a couple signs with some interesting historical information. Worth the read.

Day 79 - December 16, 2024

The plan for today was to drive to St. Louis, tour the gateway Arch, then drive to Kansas City, Missouri. When we left for St. Louis, it wasn’t raining, it was pouring. We almost changed plans to skip St. Louis altogether. We are glad we didn’t. By the time we arrived, it had stopped raining but was quite foggy. We drove around a bit, took a few foggy shots, then parked and went in.

Verna was a trooper. Not only did she walk up and down roughly 100 stairs, but she also went to the top of the arch, in a very small tram car. She was extremely nervous but did it with style and a smile. Anyway, the sky had cleared, and we got some great views.

Next, we drove around downtown a bit, and I must say, St. louis was much nicer than I had anticipated. I was here in 2017 and wasn’t impressed. This time I was very impressed. Busch Stadium, a city park and very little traffic. In and out was a breeze. Then on to Kansas City.

Day 80 - December 17, 2024

Another long drive today. We started in Kansas City, Missouri by stopping by GEHA Field, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals. Then we drove through Kansas City into the state of Kansas where we took some back roads for a few hours with a stop at Atchinson, Kansas. This is where the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad started in 1860. It has now become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, or BNSF for short. Back into Missouri for a while, Nebraska, then Iowa before coming to rest in Sioux falls, South Dakota. I shot a few old, abandoned homes along the way.

Day 81 - December 18, 2024

Sioux falls, South Dakota to Minot, North Dakota. A little over 500 miles but the issue was a forecast storm about to hit Minot around 3:00 pm. So, we hit the road early and didn’t spend much time sightseeing. We did manage to get Verna with the Welcome to North Dakota sign…her 50th state! We also got a few shots as we were driving of the countryside.

A little later in the drive we found “Balfour”. Once upon a time this looked to be a thriving community. But no more. I tried to find some history as to why it is now virtually abandoned (population as of 2020 is about 20). The one large brick building looks like it could be right out of a horror movie.

Anyway, we arrived in Minot at 3:20 and the snow started minutes later. Full on whiteout now. Hopefully, it will let up before we leave for Swift Current tomorrow morning.

Day 82 - December 19, 2024

The storm was still going on when we awoke this morning. The road reports were very bad. We decided to wait until about 10:00 before we headed out on the highways to, first the border, then on to Swift Current. Good decision. By 10:00 the snow had stopped. The roads were not great for the first hour or two but by then the road crews had done amazing things, and from that point on, the roads were good. A brief stop at Milestone for a nap, then Rouleau, where Corner gas was filmed. Not much of the TV series left there. Then a couple shots on the #1 highway headed to Swift Current. Swift Current was hammered by the storm. At least 12 inches of snow. The streets are a mess!

Oh, and a week ago we were in Puerto Rico where the temperature was 30 C. I have decided that I definitely prefer 30 C to -19 C.

Day 83 - December 20, 2024

Swift Current to Three Hills. It was supposed to be an easier day, but the weather had other ideas. When we headed out, it was -19 C, snow, freezing rain, 80 km wind blowing snow across an icy highway. Visibility was very limited. But after a couple hours crawling along about 60 kms/hr, we were almost at the Alberta border and the weather started to improve. By the time we reached the border we were able to get the shot by the sign and from there it was a pleasant drive.

Day 84 - December 21, 2024

Final day. Not much here. Just a pleasant drive from three hills to Gleniffer Lake Resort and home.

A quick summary of the trip and the year. On this trip through the eastern and southeast part of the continent, we visited 4 provinces and 32 states and travelled 21,730 kms. On the trip earlier in the year through the south, southwest and western part of the continent, (January 12 to April 10) we visited 2 provinces and another 14 states but drove further. 25,421 kms. This totals over 47,000 kms, 5 provinces and 47 states (missing just Florida, Hawaii and Alaska, but adding in Puerto Rico). With my normal, day to day driving included, I am over 70,000 kms this calendar year.