Dixon, MO

It was so hot in Arizona, 112º, that we decided to leave a couple of days early to head to Missouri and visit Melissa, Mark and grandkids.

We originally intended to make the 1,300+ mile trip in four days, but we ended up doing it in three days.  It was about 20 hours of driving time, according to Google, but pulling a trailer, you can add an extra 4 or 5 hours to that.

We arrived at Melissa's growing farm on Saturday, October 5th and stayed 12 days. They now have 60 chickens, 3 pigs, 10 goats, 12 Guinea hens, 6 dogs including their new addition named Rex and 5 barn cats.

The weather was amazing! Eighty degrees plus almost every day, one day hitting the 90s, but it cooled off to the 50s at night.  Clear blue skies, very few clouds. The last two days it turned into fall, highs in the 60's and it got down to 29º the last two nights. No rain the entire time.

We had a chance to visit with Tegen, in between his work schedule.  He's working at Walmart in Rolla for the time being, but he enlisted in the Marines, just like his Mom and Dad.  He has to put on 10 pounds, but it appears he will be heading off to basic training in San Diego, mid-January, graduating in mid-April.

We made some great memories while we were there.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Attended the Harvest Festival, Oct 6
• Old Iron Works Festival, Maramec Spring Park, Oct 12
• Saw the Northern Lights for the very first time!
• Skeet shooting on the farm
• Church with Tegen and his girlfriend Ali
• Went on base to the PX, Karen bought some new shoes, lightweight ON tennis shoes and some Birkenstocks.
• Three Cross-fit sessions at Melissa's gym, that was a burn-out!
• Physical therapy for Karen's foot, still recovering from her broken heal. Jess, a friend of Melissa's and a member of the Cross-fit Gym did a great job!
• Helped Mark build a fence for the chickens
• Tested out our Starlink internet.  We got an amazing 477 mbps at one point, even with an obstructed view of the sky.
• Looked at houses, it's amazing what $250K will buy in Missouri!
• Lunch at Freddy's and 28 Shots
• Dinner at El Maguey, a Mexican Restaurant, the night before we left
• Went with Melissa and the kids to the bus stop at the end of their driveway on a chilly 29º morning, to say goodbye as they went off to school