This is the longest that I’ve been away from home in 30 years. Back then, I’d be gone for three months and home for three months…, and so on. But that was when I was in the service and out to sea.

The longest we’ve been gone traveling before was just over a month, back in 2001. Back then, the bad thing about going home after being gone that long was the dread of going back to work.

This time, while I’d like to stay gone longer, going home is okay, too. There’s no work to dread.

The timing for going home is somewhat tied to Karen’s doctor appointments that have been scheduled for some time shortly after we get back. Nothing of concern — just normal appointments for her.

I’m not sure when we’ll be heading out again. I’ve got a lot of things to get done at home. We’ll probably have a few short local trips and may make a fast trip out east sometime to visit family — without the camper.

We’re taking it easy going home, traveling about 5 hours each day, then setting up the camper and relaxing for the evening. We’re currently in Gallup, New Mexico. Tomorrow, we should be near Tucumcari, and the day after that, Oklahoma City, then home. This place didn’t have wireless, so we are using our own system to go on line.

I’ll be posting photos from Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park soon on my Haw Creek Out ‘n About blog.