From Jackson Hole to Columbus to Arkansas

Five months and so much travel - most of it fun, some of it maddening.  Here is my catchup recap of it all and an iconic photo for each:

May 2016/Atlanta/Work trip:
  • Stopped by the Margaret Mitchell House in downtown Atlanta.  
  • Walked by the Adult Swim murals by their office - fun and quirky.
  • Strolled in lovely urban Piedmont Park.
  • Missed the Chihuly exhibit at the botanical gardens.  Drat.

June 2016/Jackson Hole/Jeff and Jen trip:
  • Jeff won a trip from work to Jackson Hole.
  • Learned that I could really get into fly fishing.
  • On the horseback ride my steed insisted on snacking the whole way.
  • I love staying at the Four Seasons - especially when someone else is paying for it!
  • Met Ross, the roadie trucker guy with a million stories who dropped us back at the Four Seasons with a blast of his horn. 

Intermission:  6 performances of Mary Poppins in our local community theater.  Got my fill of red Twizzlers backstage.



July 2016/Muncie/Mom and John trip:
  • Trampolines, donuts and Pokemon go with the cousins.
  • Road trip stop on the way home at Fair Oaks Farm. Elegant and delicious. 


July 2016/Pittsburgh/Work trip:
  • My chain hotel was on top of a hill and had amazing sunsets.
  • Took in Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.
  • Waze routed me though a valley with an old, lost city in the middle of Pittsburgh, as well as up and over Mount Washington.  I always have the craziest routes when in this city.
  • Spent some time in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood.
  • Maddening moment:  flight delays on the way back.  Luckily I decided to spring for time in the Oasis lounge in the MSN airport.  Blissful and totally worth it.


August 2016/Michigan/Work trip:
  • Took the ferry across Lake Michigan from Milwaukee.
  • Charlevoix in northern Michigan is beautiful.  Apparently Kid Rock's yacht had been in the area the week before.
  • Total fleet car fail - battery wouldn't start again after a meeting.  Ended up getting acquainted with the Toyota dealership in Traverse City.  That was not part of the plan.  I liked watching the Olympics and eating cheese and peanut butter crackers.



August 2016/Columbus/Family trip:
  • Jeff did Ironman Ohio!  Way to go!
  • John and I went to the Ohio State Campus and visited the Billy Ireland Comics Museum.  A must see.
  • Cedar Point.  Top Thrill Dragster.  'Nuff said.

August 2016/Arkansas/Mom and John trip (starting to get tired now):
  • Driving with a migraine is not fun.
  • City Museum with a migraine is also challenging.
  • I40 was diverted due to a transformer blowout.  Going 5 miles in 3.5 hours with residual migraine was extremely trying.  Especially driving Jeff's car - which is a standard.  The only good thing I can say is that we made a bathroom stop just before hitting the stopped traffic.  Thank God.
  • Once in Springdale, we got to swim, ride our bikes on the Razorback Greenway, and ate salmon.  Lots and lots of salmon!  

September 2016/Green Bay/Family trip
  • Day trip to see the Badgers beat LSU and make a lot of Jeff's family cry. Geaux Badgers. 

 September 2016/Arkansas/Family, work and personal trip:
  • More time with parents and walking in Har-Ber Meadows.  Makes me very happy.
  • Enjoyed Onyx and Arsagas coffee shops immensely.
  • Spent time on UofA campus and reuniting with old friends.
  • Sassafras winery!  

I think I have now found how much travel may be, for me, a bit too much.  This is a first, and it's interesting to experience that sort of trip fatigue...8 trips in 5 months.  I think after a month of just day trip travel I'll be refreshed and ready to go again.  We have some big stuff coming up for the end of 2016. More to come on that!

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