Day 26: Sept 28, 2026. Canada! Here we come.

It was time to say goodbye to Minnesota and the spot we camped for a week at Lynn's house. It is always sad to part but we must keep moving. I got up and prepared my comments for the proposed roadless rule rescission and got them uploaded before we went to say our goodbyes. (You, too, can make comments. It is very simple. Go to https://morethanjustparks.com/roadless-rule/ and click on comment. A series of questions with multiple choice are presented. Easy.) Before turning the front yard back over to Lynn, we returned her car keys which she graciously loaned us for the week so that we could travel to all the family gatherings. It is a nice car. A 2020 Toyota RAV 4 hybrid. It has all the newer technology and dutifully warns you when you are drifting out of your lane. 

We made a stop at the hardware store in Pine City because I like this place. The have all kinds of stuff.

And they had some good magnets worth purchasing 

This was in the window and captures a chaotic hunting family. I thought it was humorous.

Less than an hour into our trip, the fog in Pine City gave way to a bright, sunny day. We detoured into Moose Lake to fill up our propane tank—we needed it, taking on six gallons. It’s comforting to know we’re heading out with a full tank.

We tootled down the road enjoying the fall colors just starting to turn as we made our way north to Thunder Bay, ON Canada. The motorhome doesn't have the fancy technology the RAV4 has so I substituted my own voice whenever Kasey drifted out of his lane. I had to give that up because I would not have been able to get any reading done 

After Duluth, we started to see the lake. The clouds made each picture different.

Our route took us along the north shore of Lake Superior. The native Americans called the lake Gitchie-Gami or Great Lake. We passed the time by reading and playing music. It is a pretty drive and passes through many small tourist towns. It was a bright and sunny day. Even though it was a Monday, there was plenty of people enjoying the weather and the beautiful scenery.

We stopped along the way for a break and Tad and I walked around. A disgusting looking blob was on the ground and I said to myself "What is that?" I suspected it was a fungus of some type but had to be sure and so I touched it lightly to confirm its gelatinous feel before instinctively retracting my hand. Mental note to wash hands before continuing the journey. 

We made are destination in good time but lost an hour as we moved into the Eastern time zone. Our border crossing was uneventful but the attendant informed me that I needed to sign my passport. We have been to and from Mexico with that passport and no one mentioned it.

Our camping spot is at the Loch Lomond Ski Area. It isn't operating of course, but still available for Harvest Host guests. I saw a few bicyclers and hikers so I believe it is still available for recreation. We had the parking area to ourselves.

I took Tad for a walk while Kasey cooked some chile. Since this is a new area, Tad quickly discovered the local flora hitchhikers: the Devil's Beggarticks. These things stick easily to clothes too, so we both brought them back to camp. I spent almost an hour working to get these little bastards out of his fur.

With dinner ready, I decided it was time to stop torturing the dog and give him a break. He was eager to find a spot away from me and my busy comb.

An excellent and filling dinner was served by a most friendly chef. This establishment really serves some delicious food at a very inexpensive price. After dinner, we played a game of cribbage as the sun disappeared for the day. Another Harvest Host guest quietly arrived and set up near us. I guess we are not the only ones here after all 

We are far north yet the night is still a comfortable temperature. 

We are not sure where we will be tomorrow. It is not the destination that matters, but the journey.

Day 24: Sept 26: Autumn Activities

I vaguely remember Kasey taking Tad out while I drifted in and out of sleep. I don’t remember dreams the way he does: he can give a TED Talk about his. Mine are rarely retained long enough for me to remember after I am awake for long. But Tad has been laser‑focused on the bunnies and cats near Lynn’s house, so my brain apparently decided to merge them. I dreamed up a “cabbit.” Dreams are interesting. I never know whether they mean anything or if it’s just mental housekeeping. I am not sure I would know reality if I could remember them for longer than a few minutes. How would I know what was a dream unless they disappear like snapchat. Maybe that’s the president’s issue. He doesn't know reality and keeps showing us images from his dreams. 

Anyway, the Internet is full of Cabbit pictures so this one is close to what I dreamed except the cat and rabbit were all black.

Emerging from my slumber I found coffee being offered from Kasey's outstretched hand. A welcome sight. Not long after a tap at the door and Lynn was waiting for morning conference. The therapy dog, Tad, was there to give positive feedback and canine encouragement.

Soon, she had to get back to attend to Randy and the dogs, Frankie and Gidget. 

We heard from the rest of the family that an Autumn adventure at an apple orchard and pumpkin patch were in mind. Alice's fever from yesterday had disappeared and she had successfully kicked the bug. First stop was the apple orchard (Sunrise River Farm) in Wyoming, MN about an hour away. They allowed dogs but with free roaming chickens, I opted to be free from getting my arm yanked off by a dog that likes to make things run. There were probably some rabbits around too.

There was lots of activities and a few shops. Bikes for the tikes, vendors and a gift shop/bakery. We tried the apple bars. They were pretty good.

A booth where you could make your own planter arrangement. Nice idea.

The kids had fun petting the rabbits and the kitties that were all up for adoption. Funny how the Cabbit theme keeps coming up. The rabbits were black too.

This is a farm and they have rules. 

Good rules.

Picking apples yourself is expensive here and costs about a dollar an apple. You get a small plastic bag for $25 which you can fill. Kasey filled his a little too much and broke the bag. He went back for a replacement. The first apple type inside the gated area was Sweet 16. I picked one off the ground that had no blemishes. It was the best apple I have had. Crisp, sweet, and juicy. Some apples have tart skin, but this one was perfect. I had a couple more of different varieties as the others picked their bags full. None compared to the first one. Even the honey crisp variety was not quite as perfect. 3 apples and I was full.

Next we headed for the pumpkin patch down the road about a half mile. Lendt's Pumpkin Patch also allowed dogs so Tad was allowed to attend the activities. 

Lots of things for kids to do. Kasey bought a huge bucket of popcorn that kept spilling out. He insisted on taking it on the balance beam. Alice is quite the gymnast and showed us her abilities. Nice to see she is feeling better.

There was plenty for the kids to do and they had no trouble exploring this pumpkin farm. Mini basketball, bean toss, and face painting. After a few minutes there, it seemed that it might rain. A few sprinkles sent the normally hardy Minnesotans running for cover as if it was a monsoon. I found it a little amusing and just put my hood up. Families started leaving and before long, it seemed that we had the place to ourselves. This family doesn't let a little rain stop the fun.

It was fun looking at all the varieties of pumpkin and squash.

On the way home, we stopped at the old hardware store in Pine City. We only had a few minutes before closing. I love their inexpensive metal works. 

This one says 1913.

The metal works are door knockers, key hangers, coat hangers, and wall hangings. Fun.

A quick check in with Diana Pace back in Roseburg and we topped the evening with Rummikub and ice cream.  A nice day.

Day 22: Sept 24, 2026. Lunch with the big kids

Kasey drew the short straw this morning and took Tad out for his bathroom break while I stayed tucked comfortably in bed. At least it wasn’t as cold as yesterday. Before long, it was time to head into the city for brunch with Kasey’s kids, Nick and Ash, and Ash’s fiancé, Orion. We’d eaten at this same restaurant last year, so it felt familiar in that cozy, cyclical way.

Conversation flowed easily, bouncing from raising children to wedding plans to work and whatever else surfaced. Midway through, I got a call from Jody back home in Roseburg so I stepped away from the dining table. An out of town visitor was having trouble with a motorhome slider. Something jammed near the gears, leaving it stuck open. I tried to picture the cramped space where the obstruction must be lodged, but there wasn’t much I could do from Minnesota. I passed along the name of the repair shop we used for our slide issue and hoped it would help.

When I returned to the table, I discovered that Nick had swiped my utensils while I was gone. I’m fairly certain he’s pulled this stunt before, which is why I had tucked them near my coffee cup. He’s a sneaky one, that Nick. After a bit of playful scolding, we shifted our attention to the enormous pancakes being delivered around the table. I swear they must use a forklift to flip them. I ordered the Senior pancake, which still covered the entire plate—and even then, I couldn’t finish it. Eventually Nick had to head back to work, and Kasey and I made our way to the mall to get her phone screen repaired. A kind young man named Saif replaced it for over $200, which made me grateful I’d lived with my cracked screen for three years before switching to a foldable phone. At one point I guessed his accent was Indian, an error he corrected with a firm but friendly “No! I am from Bangladesh.” "Ah, okay" I said. He said "You know where Bangladesh is?" I said "Yes, generally." Then gesturing with my hands, the left one representing India and the right one representing Bangladesh, I said "It is on the east side of India."

Bangladesh is the most populated country in the world. It is a country surrounded by India on 3 sides. The borders of modern Bangladesh were established with the partition of Bengal between India and Pakistan during the Partition of India in August 1947, when the region became East Pakistan as part of the newly formed State of Pakistan following the end of the British rule in the region. The Proclamation of Bangladeshi Independence in March 1971 led to the nine-month-long Bangladesh Liberation War, which culminated in the emergence of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Independence was declared in 1971.

We thanked him for his work and Kasey managed to slip in that we value immigrants and appreciate the contribution that different cultures bring to the US.

The mall is very sparse. Very few businesses are open and several of the shops are vacant. I suppose the popularity of indoor malls is fading at least until winter. They did have a couple of cool murals with butterfly wings for our amusement.

Back at the motorhome, we waited for the rain to pass before lighting a fire in the raised pit out back. The evening settled in gently as we sat outside, talking while the flames crackled around us. The rain never arrived to spoil anything, and we finally turned in as the fire dwindled to embers. I lay in bed wide awake for hours, turning over a few stubborn conundrums in my mind, hoping they’d loosen their grip before morning.

Day 20: Sept 22, 2026. A day of rest. Pine City MN

As the temperature continued its overnight slide toward morning, we stayed safely tucked beneath the covers. Outside, an aggressive overhead light that never seems to shut off beamed down right behind our motorhome. I suggested that we just pretend it was the moon, but while Kasey's usually the unflappable one, by daybreak even he had the window covered.

​Tad wanted out at "Oh Dark Thirty," as usual. Since I was already awake, I took him out for a quick pit stop; emphasis on quick, since it was still dark and cold. A few hours later, right around dawn, he was asking for round two. The air probably hadn't warmed up yet, but as I stood there, I grinned, remembering my heated vest. I tossed it on, clicked the battery, and instant warmth flooded through my back and torso. I bought it for exactly these moments.

​Once Tad took care of business, we returned to the motorhome where I lit the burner under the coffee pot and crawled back into bed, hopping out again a few minutes later to shut it off after it had percolated. My blankets must have kept me a little too warm, because by the time I actually got around to pouring the coffee, it was barely lukewarm.

After breakfast, we sat outside and soaked up the sun until we got too warm opting to peel off a few layers. 

Tad was eager to inspect his new territory, on high alert for the local cats and bunnies darting through the brush. The neighborhood consists of just a few houses on a loop drive, but traffic is still a concern, so we have to keep a close eye on him with all the activity and opportunities for mischief. I opted to put him on an expandable leash to save myself from constantly chasing him down—and it was a good thing I did. A neighbor happened to be walking his dog, and Tad apparently didn't like the look or posture of the animal because he suddenly charged right at it. He made it about halfway before I yelled "NO!" and the leash abruptly arrested his progress, putting an end to the showdown. Why he thought it was a wise move to challenge a Rottweiler, I will never know. It completely caught me off guard since Tad isn't an aggressive dog by nature. I think he temporarily lost his mind!.

​Eventually, we both settled into our computer work; Kasey drafting his blog posts while I dove into tasks for Umpqua Watersheds. Kasey’s blog writing tends toward nostalgic, family-focused, and deeply philosophical themes, drawing from a reservoir of old memories; his posts are naturally optimistic and entertaining. Mine, driven by an urgent concern for the environment, take a darker turn.

​So many foundational environmental safeguards are being quietly dismantled, and the pace only seems to pick up as the midterms draw closer. Protections I thought were secure are wiped away with the stroke of a pen, no public discussion, no national debate. A lifelong passion for protecting wildlife feels reduced to one person's callous disregard for the living world around us. My sense of despair over it can be overwhelming. Kasey prefers not to dwell on it because it’s depressing, but for me, putting it into words and documenting it feels essential. Even if no one reads these entries but us, at least a record exists of how it felt to live through this moment in our democracy.

​Reading Kasey’s reflections on family makes me think of my own. I so appreciate the ones that get it. (You know who you are.) I wonder how some of the more conservative ones view what's happening. They might not share my specific passions, but we all have a stake in things that affect the common good. I don't have children in childcare, for instance, or need to go to college, but I fully support making it affordable because I understand its value to society. Above all, we can't sustain any of these systems without a healthy planet; environmental quality isn't an elective issue.

​Bedrock laws that took decades of scientific work to craft are being undone in minutes. That isn't how a healthy democracy functions. So I spend hours filing public comments and encouraging others to do the same: to engage, to vote, to participate. If it motivates even one person, the effort is worth it. It’s exhausting, but exhaustion is part of the strategy. Our country isn't a corporation, and running it like one ignores the immense ecological and environmental costs that businesses routinely write off.

​My advocacy work was paused when Lynn dropped by for a quick visit before returning to care for her husband, Randy. For so many people, daily survival takes every ounce of energy they have; playing watchdog over the federal government simply can't be a priority. People deserve to trust that their government is acting in their best interest, not plundering public resources while they try to get by.

​In the end, it’s good that Kasey can focus his energy on the nuances of human relationships, just as it’s good that I can keep my eye on the broader policy landscape. The contrast works for us.

​Later, Lynn called to ask if we could run into town to pick up a prescription for her. Tad was so thrilled by the prospect of a ride that he looked ready to take the wheel himself. The moment the vehicle door opened, he bounded inside, eager for the trip.

​After finishing the errand, we stopped by the local dog park. Within seconds of arriving, Kasey managed to drop his phone face-down on the ground, earning his very first cracked screen after four years of ownership. Not a bad run—it had taken me less than a month to do the exact same thing to mine.

Tad had a great time running around, though he had the park entirely to himself. We stepped in as playmates, trying to coach him in the fine art of high-jumping.

We returned to our motorhome and delivered the prescriptions to Lynn and began to think of dinner. With our propane running a bit low, we chose a dinner menu that would let us heat the rig and cook at the same time: blackened salmon and rice, paired with a Pokegama Porter for Kasey and a peach cider for me.

Tad was delighted to find the salmon skins mixed into his dish. Afterwards, we settled in for a few games of cribbage. Kasey is a sharp player and I’m still mastering it, but he’s a patient teacher. Every game tonight was competitive right down to the wire.

We finished off the evening with Mexican chocolate cookies for dessert. All in all, a good day.

Day 19 Homecoming, Monday, 9/21/26

We all woke up early knowing we would be breaking camp today, but we eased into the morning, wanting to savor each remaining moment.

Our time with Cece had been special, and cathartic. It had been far too long since we had spent this kind of time together, with too many miles separating us.

Campfires are good for the soul.

There is something about sitting around a fire that gives us permission to slow down, to relax, release, remember and reflect on our lives, on the years behind us and those still waiting ahead.

During our days together, we made a pledge to make the most of the time we have and not let so many years pass between these moments again. We are already making plans for more grand adventures together in the months and years ahead.

Before leaving, we took one last three-mile hike.

Taddy, of course, performed his usual trail maneuver. At one point we all thought he was somewhere ahead of us, only to have him suddenly come gliding past us from behind, full of glee and completely absorbed in his quest to discover whatever hidden secrets the trail might hold.

That dog knows how to embrace an adventure.

We returned to camp and finished packing. Before long, Cece climbed into the Blue Dart—my nickname for her Honda—and headed toward Fargo. In a couple of days, she will make another nine-hour drive to Chicago, where she will reunite with friends for an annual retreat.

We watched her leave with full hearts, grateful for the days we had shared.

Then it was our turn.

We loaded the bikes onto the motorhome. I headed for the showers while Janice finished securing everything inside for the trip. We stopped at the dump station, filled our fresh-water tank, and soon the Chariot of the Dogs was rolling again.

We followed much of the same route I had driven on Sunday, zigzagging our way through the Minnesota countryside until we reached my sister Lynn's house, where we are always welcomed with open arms.

Coming here always feels like a homecoming.

My mom used to say, "Home is always where your mom is."

Mom has been gone for nearly seven years now, and being with Lynn is perhaps my closest connection to her. My sister and I have shared a lifetime together, and I love her dearly.

We pulled in, got ourselves situated, and Lynn came outside to greet us with hugs.

"I love you sooo much!" she said.

And I knew we were home.

Life has not been easy for Lynn and her husband, Randy. He has struggled with severe health problems for years. Diabetes eventually resulted in the loss of both of his legs, and complications from the disease led to several months in a rehabilitation center.

Sadly, Randy is also struggling with the early stages of dementia. He frequently becomes disoriented and sometimes has difficulty expressing what he is trying to say.

He was finally able to come home a couple of weeks ago, and Lynn is now working hard to establish routines while caring for him.

Lynn is a caregiver by nature and one of the most compassionate people I know. She fights fiercely for the people she loves.

She was able to spend some time with us today, although understandably much of her attention needs to be with Randy. That's perfectly fine with us. We feel completely at home here, and my heart is happy simply knowing that I am near my sister.

We had planned to have dinner with Nick and his family, who live about 25 minutes away, but the kids came down with a bug, so those plans were postponed.

Instead, Janice and I headed into Pine City for a few supplies and decided to investigate the new grocery store in tow, Aldi.

Neither of us had ever been in an Aldi before. We liked that the are committed to doing things to protect the environment like reducing packaging and encouraging recycling.

We soon discovered one of its little quirks: you need to deposit a quarter to unlock a shopping cart, and you get your quarter back when you return the cart to the rack.

There was just one problem.

Neither of us had a quarter.

Consequently, our shopping expedition was limited to whatever we could carry in our arms.

On the way out, however, I noticed two abandoned carts sitting near the entrance that hadn't been returned.

Opportunity knocked.

I handed Janice everything I was carrying, returned both carts and collected the two quarters.

Fifty cents!

At this rate, we may have discovered a new funding source for the Grand Adventure. With gasoline costs taking a bigger bite out of our travel budget amid the Trump war with Iran, perhaps we'll start stopping at Aldi stores across America in search of abandoned shopping carts.

Smirk...

We returned to Lynn's, made burrito bowls for dinner and played a couple of games of cribbage.

Later, I took Taddy for an evening walk around Klondike Loop and pushed past my goal of 10,000 steps for the day, a milestone Janice had already blown through long before me.

Eventually, we crawled into bed and listened to a couple more chapters of our audiobook before sleep overtook us.

It had been a day of departures and arrivals, of saying goodbye to one person we love and coming home to another.

As I drifted off to sleep, I felt grateful.

Grateful for Cece and the campfires we shared.

Grateful for Lynn and the bond between a brother and sister that has survived all the miles and years of our lives.

Grateful for Janice beside me, Taddy nearby, and this little rolling home that keeps carrying us from one person we love to the next.

Tonight, the Grand Adventure didn't require a spectacular landscape or some unexpected discovery along a dusty road.

Sometimes the grandest adventure of all is simply coming home.