The Road to Yellowstone

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So, what the hell am I doing?  I am spending my summer driving from Orlando, FL to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.  But like all things in life, it's not about the destination so much as the journey that gets me there and back.

This trip launched on July 1st, 2023 and is expected to end on August 7th, 2023.  That's my son Ben's birthday and he will be with me on the final legs of the trip that will bring me home.  The way I will organize this content for you, is to post highlight photos below and try to keep them changing as you return to follow my progress.  Each of the photos will link you into a page that covers what happened on that day.  But in advance I can tell you about the highlights I have planned for the trip.

• July 4th will be spent in the Great Smokey Mountains.  I have a spot reserved about halfway between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  This stop will be hikes and a visit to the convention center for the semi-annual crafts fair.  
• July 8th-11th is a return to Nashville.  I have spent a lot of time in Nashville and spent many a sleepless night with friends crawling the music strip in search of blues and late-night breakfasts. 
• July 12th-15th is Kansas City.  If nothing else, I should be able to find a good steak.  I also have tickets to see the Tampa Bay Rays play the Kansas City Royals.  Go Rays!
• July 15th-17th is about getting to Wyoming.  It's a haul through Iowa and Nebraska, but we'll make the most of it.  I think the great ball of rotting twine is on path.  
• July 18th-21st is in Grand Teton National Park.  More hiking and with any luck, a Moose or two.  
• July 22nd - July 28th is in Yellowstone National Park.  It's a bucket list adventure.  I expect to see Old Faithful, Mammoth Springs and the Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone's Grand Canyon, countless waterfalls and Elk, and Bison and BEARS... oh my!
• July 29-August 1st is the journey back to Nashville where I will await Ben's arrival to retrace my steps to Orlando.  We will see Nashville, The Grand Old Opry, Nashville Cuisine, Great Smokey's and Whitewater Rafting on the Pigeon River, Savanah GA, and then home.