It Wasn't Supposed to be This Way

 I am beginning to wonder where I actually live...and I think my friends and family are also beginning to wonder the same thing!  This year has been a series of plans made, starts, stops, plans broken, plans re-made and a lot of mending along the way.  You know what they say, "We plan,, and God laughs."  He must be cracking up this year!  I just hope the joke is over for the next month.  That fateful fall on the ski slope in February changed our year's plans which have resulted in a very busy Fall!

After our summer in Nova Scotia, TJ had planned a leaf peeping bike tour in Vermont for the group we fondly refer to as our Red Solo Cup friends.  Eight of us met in Vermont for an Inn to Inn bike tour covering over 100 miles in 4 days.  One (TJ) out of the eight of us is a cyclist!  No problem, right?!  This was going to be the first real test for my knee to see just how strong and stable it really was.  Turns out, it works just fine.  I would say the trip was a great success. Eight people, between the ages of 60 and 70, rode bicycles over 100 miles, without incident or injury and had a great time doing it!  

The Inns were charming, as were their hosts!

We felt, at times, (or maybe it was just me) like we had been dropped into an episode of Gilmore Girls as we stayed in small towns that resembled Stars Hollow with their gazebos in the town squares and the white steeples framed by tree covered mountains.  The main streets were quaint, and each town seemed so small that you just knew everyone knew their neighbors.  It was like riding through a postcard some days.  The leaf color was not at its peak yet when we started, but by the end of the week things were getting a lot brighter. 

Here are a few scenes from along the road...

Waterfall in Brandon, VT  were it all began.

One of the many covered bridges along the way.
Who doesn't love a covered bridge!!!

Plenty of farm stands and country markets with pumpkins
and all things maple!

The British Fort at Crown Point, NY
1760

Love the mountain in the distance poking out of the clouds!
The reason for one of my many, "Photo stop!" cries along the way.

White picket fences, lots of cemeteries and the occasional fall color!

If we saw one, we saw 20, tall white steeples.

Full circle back to Brandon, VT and one of the 
cutest town squares!
Queue to town troubador!

When in Vermont....

This is what we came for!
This, and a lot of great memories with some very good friends!

Once we got back "home" to Houston we shifted gears very quickly and went to our niece's wedding in Virginia.  This wedding has been on the books for a year, so we knew what we were getting into when we scheduled the bike trip so close to the wedding weekend.  What we didn't know when we made these plans way back pre-Feb. 2nd, was that this wedding weekend would not be the end of our travel season but sandwiched between two trips that were originally scheduled 5 months apart instead of two weeks apart.  God is still laughing.  

The wedding was full of family, fun, and lots of love!  The bride and groom were glowing as they made the most of their special day.  We do love a good party, so suffice it to say by the end of the weekend our voices were cracking from all of the talking and our feet were in desperate need of some ice therapy from all of the dancing.  Weekend bonus- all seven Mahoney siblings were together at the wedding and all four of our children/adults were there too!  It was a family frenzy!

And now we are home, once again unpacking, only to repack.  It wasn't supposed to be this way, but it is.  We are finally taking the trip we planned to take last April...instead of having ACL surgery.  Talk about delayed gratification.  I must say planning this trip while doing all of my rehab gave me something to do, something to look forward to and a goal to work towards.  It has served as a giant carrot dangling in front of me, motivating me to get out there and get stronger.  I am not absolutely sure if I am there yet, I am praying for some adrenaline to kick in once we start!  Next week, we will be on the Camino de Santiago, walking our way to Santiago de Compostela.  No, we are not doing the entire Camino!  We will walk the final 100 km of the Portuguese Camino into Santiago de Compostela.  Shoot....if  I can ride a bike 100 miles I should be able to walk 100 km...right?  Stay tuned!