On day sixteen of our road trip through North Carolina and Virginia Theo informed me that he wanted to go home.  He was simple and direct.

“Daddy, I want to go home.”

Max disagreed.

“Daddy I want to go to another campin’ ground.”

I could have stayed on the road for the rest of the summer, but alas, for a variety of reasons, it really was time to go home.  However, I tried to keep both boys happy.

“Well guys, we are going home tomorrow, but we are going to go camping again this summer!”  Max smiled.  Theo was silent.

“Where is the new campin’ ground?” asked Max.

“Vermont,” I responded.

“Theo, do you want to go camping again this summer?”  I asked with a bit of concern.  Was it possible that one of my sons did not love camping as much as I do?  I could hear him thinking for just a second.  Then he made an authoritative pronouncement that officially ended the conversation.

“Okay, I’ll take a chance.”

I found a whole philosophy of travel wrapped into Theo’s words.  Our two day stop in Luray had been largely spontaneous and our hike and picnic lunch in Shenandoah National Park were planned only after we had reached the visitor center.  Though unplanned, it was one of the two or three best days of our trip.  We had taken a chance and been rewarded.

Our “Story of the Forest” hike had reinvigorated us in a profound way.   It was the first hike that we have done since Wes was born and it felt really good.  He was only three and a half months old but Stephanie was clearly ready and willing to plop him into her Ergo Carrier and hit the trail.  But why was I surprised?  This mom has always been fearless with her boys.

The Shenandoah hike made for a perfect ending to our road trip because it wasn’t really an ending at all.  We had planned our upcoming Vermont trip months before Wesley was born.  When I booked our sites at the Brattleboro KOA, and the Quechee/Pine Valley KOA I imagined us hanging out by the pool and playground and maybe strolling (literally with strollers) through some quaint Vermont towns in search of coffee and organic vegetables.

But our successful hike in Shenandoah has now reshaped our plans for Vermont.  We are now in search of family friendly hikes and swimming holes.  We plan on enjoying some relaxing campground time, but we also plan on getting some serious exercise with the boys.

We just got home a few days ago but we are ready to head back out on the open road.  We weeded the garden.  Did a mountain of laundry. Mowed the lawn. Visited with friends. Got library cards in our new town. Attended the County Fair.  Cleaned the black tank.  Trimmed the bushes.  Set up Wesley’s nursery.  Vacuumed the cereal off the floor of the camper.  Brought the Silverado to the car wash.  And now….

Ami (grandma on Stephy’s side) has flown into New Jersey.  Bags are getting packed.  Meals are being planned.  Guidebooks are being consulted. The inside of the camper is looking like brand new.  I even bought everyone new hiking socks.  Too much travel this summer?  Never.  Stephanie and I have never regretted a road trip.

We are always ready to take a chance…