We won’t have many opportunities to connect with family while on our trip, and only a precious few to visit them at their home along the way. So when we started plotting our course, a stop in Monmouth (aka #theMapleCity) to see my older brother, CA Duane, and his family was a no brainer. 

Home for this short two night stay has been at a campground at a small local park on the outskirts of town. Our spot overlooks a small lake (or would that be a pond?) which has been a perfect place to break-in our standup paddle boards.

Our lone full day in the #MapleCity has been jammed-packed. While Nikki took the paddle boards out, I got a run in with my nephew CJ. He’s wrapping up his freshman year at Monmouth and is running track and cross country. Fortunately he took it easy on his slower, old uncle. I have to admit, I’m awfully proud he’s running in college. No doubt I plan to live vicariously through him over his next 3 years. Roll Scots.

Later, CA Duane arranged some gym time for Wyatt (see next post). We wrapped up the afternoon by a quick bike ride into town for a visit to the gallery my sister in-law runs, a campus tour and stop at Save-A-Lot for tonight’s Swintosky-inspired one-pan-campfire dinner with the fam. 

Tomorrow we hit the road. Onward.