After missing us for six weeks, our home was so happy to see us, it lit up its own windows with sunset.

19 states. 72 close friends/family members.  I’ve lost count of hikes and bike rides, but I can trace our route through the generosity of my cousins, who sent us on our way from L.A. with a bagful of avocados from their tree.

As the traveling avocados ripened, they graced our meals, most of which I managed to capture before gobbling. We started with leftover Vietnamese food in a motel in Mesa, Arizona:

Next up: our avocados went camping in the Chiricahuas of SE Arizona.

Then they accompanied a salad at our friends’ in Dallas,

and enjoyed a night in a sweet State Park cabin in Alabama:

Our avocados reached their culinary zenith at our friends’ in Asheville; Ben cooks the best food on the planet, and the guacamole just went along for the ride.

So numerous were the avocados, they lasted into our return trip, where they appeared in a cameo on some curry in the Land Between the Lakes of Kentucky.

I did, of course, pay attention to more than just food on this trip. And now that I’m home, instead of playing my traditional game of “Best Of,” I’m just going to share some random Discoveries.

Discovery #1: Even when you’re going somewhere sunny and southerly, that white stuff can still follow!

Discovery #2: Disasters are much, much worse on the ground than they appear on television.

Discovery #3: Apparently I am so immature, I can find delight in another athlete’s shoe explosion in a big game. (Oh, don’t worry, Zion Williamson is just fine!)

Discovery #4: the Organ Peaks of Las Cruces, NM!

Discovery #5: The Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas has an ADORABLE Mardi Gras parade.

Discovery #6: the Missouri Bluffs section of Missouri’s Katy Trail

Discovery #7: I thought I didn’t care for llamas. Turns out I care a lot for BABY llamas!

I won’t list “there’s no place like home” as a discovery, because I already knew that. And it remains just as true as ever. Thank you, Red Rover, thank you friends & family, and thank you, my Mate, for all that driving!

Wing’s World now morphs back into its regular, irregular, non-travel-blog self. Please keep visiting!