Caption: Home Sweet Home.

Leaving Greensboro, NC

July 3, 2008 - July 6, 2008 (Greensboro NC, Charlottesville, VA & Mt. Gilead State Park)

It has been a not so long-about 1000 miles-and often windy road. We arrived in N. Muskegon last night, after a couple of days driving up through the Appalachians and the Ohio River Valley. The van, child and dog are all doing well.

Caption: Grey and Haku all loaded up!

We started on July 3^rd, late in the afternoon. About 30 miles from home we stopped in Reidsville, NC at Short Sugarπs for plates of real NC pulled pork barbecue.(http://hkentcraig.com/BBQ21.html).

Caption: Sarah, ready for sweet tea!

After lunch we continued on up highway 29 to Charlottesville, VA, to meet our friends, Kurtis and Heather, for the Fourth of July.

Caption: Kurtis and Heatherπs on the 4th

Besides visiting Thomas Jeffersonπs hallowed grounds (the campus of U-VA), Grey played non stopped for 48 hours with their children, Max and Ruby (no relation to the rabbits), and we celebrated our nationπs independence, in true American spirit, by drinking beer and blowing things up.

Caption: Ruby taking a farewell snapshot

On July 5^th we headed west, taking Interstate 64 to 81 and then turning onto the Midland Scenic trail in Rupert, West Virginia (http://www.midlandtrail.com/). What started as a large two-lane highway soon became a windy road through the heart of the Appalachian Mountains! After a few hours of hairpin turns up, and then down, at 15-25 mph, we descended back onto Interstate 77, and then onto highway 33 towards the heart of Ohio and Mount Gilead! (http://www.mountgilead.net/).

Caption: Grey stokes the fire at Mt. Gilead State Park.

This was a great park, with a beautiful lake, trails, playgrounds, and friendly campers who literally brought us a campfire in the form of a burning log and a pile of dry wood! The town of Mt. Gilead also looked great, with a thriving downtown and busy ice cream shop. On July 6^th, after a hearty pancake breakfast (compliments of the very friendly locals), we headed west along highway 95, and then on to Interstate 23 towards Ann Arbor, MI. In Ann Arbor we stopped at Zingermanπs Deli (http://www.zingermans.com/ ) — for corned beef sandwiches and white fish salad. Mmmmm! Is it extra fancy that we saw Julianne Moore there, too? Movie stars hang out in Ann Arbor? Who knew? (And no, we didnπt ask for her photo.)

Caption: Sarah with her loot from Zingermanπs

Caption: Grey with critique about a FRESH pickle: ≥Hey, thatπs tasty!≤

After lunch, we headed west along Interstate 96, and arrived in North Muskegon in time for Julieπs all-star hamburgers and the last night of fireworks for Summer Celebration! Home of Sarahπs mom and dad, her sister, Julie and her brother, Kent, in N. Muskegon we also get to see Julieπs family, with husband Robert and son Carleton, and Kentπs daughter Emma! Lots of folks!