ON THE ROAD: Leg Five - Settled In, Slowing Down, and Squirrel Watch Intensifies

ON THE ROAD: Leg Five - Settled In, Slowing Down, and Squirrel Watch Intensifies

Somewhere between Day 5 and Day 10, we stopped counting. The trailer became background. The bags stayed unpacked. Mornings started late, and evenings stretched out long—meals blending into conversations, chipmunks darting across the yard like they owned the place (they might).

We fully shifted into Retreat Mode.

Monty and Gadget took charge of perimeter security. Fence line checks became a twice-daily ritual. Gadget patrolled with military precision; Monty, in his usual stoic fashion, handled “oversight” from the shade. Chipmunk and squirrel traffic peaked midweek, leading to some intense standoffs and Olympic-level tail wagging. We’ve never seen them this invested in local wildlife.

The weather turned cold and rainy more often than not, but that didn’t stop us from gathering for chats under the canopy during the day and circling up around the fire pit at night—fires generously fueled by Rich’s dwindling pile of pine logs he’s been saving since 2013. There’s something about the glow of a campfire, layers pulled tight against the chill, and a cold beer in hand while the rain drums softly on the canopy that makes stories come out smoother and laughs land louder.

This part of the trip was especially meaningful—it was centered around visiting Kristen’s brother and his wife, along with her parents visiting from Germany. Kristen and I hadn’t seen her brother in person since our wedding day—almost ten years ago. Zoom calls filled the gap for a while, but there’s nothing like sharing space, passing plates, and just being together again.

Tim also got in some great family time—catching up with everyone, sharing meals, and swapping stories that were long overdue. To celebrate, he threw a full-blown American BBQ. Traveling a thousand miles with a smoker was no small feat, but totally worth it. We slow-cooked pulled pork and a few racks of ribs, served up with Tim’s family recipe for baked beans, homemade loaded potato salad, and gooey mac and cheese. It was one of those meals that turns into a memory before you even sit down.

Still no fish tacos—those are officially being saved for South Carolina.

Monty and Gadget had a blast meeting new family members, offering tail wags and suspicious sniffs to anyone willing. Kristen got in some long-overdue hangout time with friends, the kind of time that doesn’t have to be scheduled or squeezed in—just picked up right where it left off.

We didn’t do anything big. No grand road trips. No packed agendas. But there was a ton of something that’s hard to name but easy to feel—the kind of slow, full-hearted peace that only shows up when you finally stop rushing.

Evenings were spent around the fire, passing around cold local IPAs and letting the conversations drift. The laughter was easy, the air crisp, and the company exactly what we needed.

We’ll be back on the road soon, but for now, we’re soaking up these final moments—hearts full, and two Shibas who are absolutely certain their chipmunk surveillance duties are far from over.

More soon from the road—
Tim, Kristen, Monty & Gadget 🐾🐾

P.S. Turns out all we really needed was family, firewood, and a fenced-in yard full of squirrels.