Road Trip: Day 9

*sniff, sniff*

Alas, all good things must come to an end. Today we left the lake to return home. We weren't in any particular hurry, so after we awoke, got dressed, and packed up the vehicle, we enjoyed some hot doughnuts--deep-fried and dunked in cinnamon and sugar--and some coffee with the relatives. Then there were final photographs to be snapped and hugs to be had before we were off.

Cassie (and baby-to-be) with her nieces: Abigail, Hillary, and Suzanna

While some of Susan's relatives were planning to take a southwest-and-then-northwest route to get back to North Dakota, we chose a westward one: Superior/Duluth to Grand Rapids to Walker to Park Rapids to Detroit Lakes to Moorhead/Fargo. We ate dinner before noon at McDonald's in Hermantown and then got started on the scenic byway through the lush trees and numerous lakes and picturesque towns along the way (thanks heavens for them--we made several restroom stops!). We were ready for supper at Olive Garden in Fargo and all shared three large dishes: manicotti, grilled shrimp caprese, and chicken and shrimp carbonara. De-e-e-e-elicious!

Paul Bunyan really gets around, even in statue form! This one, in Akeley, is one of many we have encountered when traveling MN.

We have been listening to audiobooks on CD as we've been driving, and today we finished one that we had started the first half of our vacation: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. Then we began another and got most of the way through it before arriving home: The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. Both are great young adult fiction that had me thoroughly engrossed the whole way.

By 10:00 P.M. (our time), we were home. We drove about 2,000 miles (and spent about $400 for gas) on this vacation, and our vehicle is glad to be home now, too! Thanks to all of you who helped to make these past nine days such a great time for us!

Here's the fam: full of doughnuts, all hugged-out, pooped from our travels, and ready to leave Susan's aunt and uncle Patti and Frank's lake home this morning.

P.S. Patti and Frank had quite a crowd at their lake home! They invited all of Patti's siblings (she is one of six children) and their families. Here's who showed up:

• two of Sue's children: daughter Susan and her husband, Kevin, with their kids Suzanna, Abigail, and Hillary; and daughter Cassie and her husband, Nick
• Kathy and her husband, Pat, and two of their kids: daughter Tina and her husband, Craig; and son Todd and his wife, Trista, with their son Trae
• Patti and her husband, Frank, and all four of their kids: daughter Mary; son John; daughter Anna; and son Joe with his friend, Molly
• Terry and his wife, Audrey
• Mary and her husband, Dale
• Jake and her friend, Scott, with Jake's two children: son Jon; and daughter Kelli and her husband, J.J.