Hello friends--

This journey was a long time coming. I grew up in Kansas. It's a nice state, a little red for my taste, but anyway. The mainstay in my early life, besides the animals I grew up alongside there on the farm, was my family. There are Billie and Larry, my parents. My brother Troy, and later brothers Tom and Ken. All of us are grown now, and Tom has a little baby just a few weeks old.

Also important to me were my grandparents. On my mom's side, there were my Grandmother Mable and Grandfather Bill--I called him Poppo. These two were the travelers in the family and set off on trips with their camper loaded in the back of their pickup truck. No destinations were terribly exotic. The Ozarks. Arkansas a few times. I think once they even made it to the West Coast. Most trips were to the close-by lakes (or reservoirs as we know them back home, a word that has taken on different meaning in the Northwest). Boating, fishing, water skiing, playing cards and making new friends. Troy and I would join them on some trips. They were tight quarters with the four of us. In that camper was where I first learned I talk in my sleep. But they were joyful times, and something I have always wanted to replicate.

Tomorow I'm taking it full circle. Grandma Mable and I are embarking on a trip southward to Mexico pulling an Airstream trailer. Also coming along is my dog Sarah. I have some nervousness about pulling a trailer down the whole stretch of I-5 from Seattle to Chula Vista, and then further southward to land's end. Give me a few miles and I"ll probably get over it. As my friend Chris said tonight, just take care of your girls and you'll be fine. She's always got the best advice.

I hope along the way to have interesting adventures to share, maybe photos, and some Internet access to share them by. I don't know what's ahead. But if you have checked in to this site, know that I miss you and wish us safe travels.

Last thing. Tonight, my very best friends joined in a celebration of our adventure. I love them all. Thank you for being a part of my life and getting me off safely on this journey. I'll miss you.

Bill.