Goals Without Deadlines

Before we checked in to our hotel we stopped at Jeff and Rochelle’s on Merritt Island. I was really happy to see them getting settled into their home.  Charlie and I managed to get out and do quite a bit during our stay in Cocoa Beach. On Monday morning we went to breakfast at a dog friendly restaurant and someone anonymously paid for my breakfast. It’s always a blessing when that happens not because of the money but because it shows that people appreciate service from Vietnam vets. That was a long time coming.  We did a lot in the time we were in Cocoa Beach. We went to the dog beach including once with my sister Carol and her dog Jack. While Carol was there Jeff had us over for Taco Tuesday, he’s really quite the cook. We also got to see a space launch from the cape and Charlie and I found a nice park to walk in that was really close to our hotel.  A big part of any vacation is eating and I was lucky enough to find places where Charlie was welcome at outside seating. W...

We left the Motel 6 in Cleveland, Tennessee to head to Athens to see Clarence and find out if he was going to travel with us or not. Our first stop was Dunkin Donuts where Charlie had his first pup cup.  Our first stop when we got to Athens was a trail by the river where I’ve run many miles so Charlie could stretch his legs before we got to Clarence’s. He was at work but his roommate Rick was home and I knew where the key was hidden.  After driving from Oregon to Georgia this is what greeted us at Clarence’s. A locked gate so I couldn’t even get to the hidden keys. 😳 So I decided to walk downtown on college to get us something to eat. I knew they had a Chik Filet we could get a sandwich and nuggets at. It wasn’t very far but I had to take a break at the courthouse. Coming back I had to take a break halfway up the hill. It really stinks when I think of all the miles I’ve run here and now I get tired just trying to take a short walk. When I was here after my knee surgery and co...

Tom’s Aunt Maureen and Uncle Danny came through St. Louis on a road trip and we had a busy Friday and Saturday before Charlie and I headed for Georgia. On Friday night we had a corporate box at the Cards - Rockies game. Got to see how the rich people live and got to see a Cards shutout win. The pitcher even hit his first major league home run.  All the food and drinks you wanted. Hard not to be a glutton but I actually only had one beer because I had some at home before we left and we went to Paddy O’s next to the ballpark where I bought everyone in our group drinks. Unfortunately that was the last place I saw my debit card so I had to cancel it when I was driving to Georgia Monday. The good news is no one used it if it was found.  On Saturday we went to the Arch museum after we went to the brewery for appetizers. It was a good day and we finished off at Wildwood Pub and Grill. I had a delicious adult grilled cheese.  The Blues lost in OT that night but with the point the...

It’s been an unusual trip including my time here in St. Louis because I simply can’t run any more. I get tired and short of breath so easily now! On all of my past road trips, running, racing and hiking have been a huge part of what I do. Now it’s short activities and napping 😴😞 one thing I still do that I always did is make time to read.  One of my favorite places to run here is Rock Hollow Trail a 4.8 mile round trip to the Al Foster Trail on the river and back. Downhill out. I got up one morning and decided to take Charlie to do three miles there figuring I could at least walk three. Wrong! I knew looking at all uphill going back that I had to turn around at the 3/4 mile mark. That was really disappointing because we were simply walking with plenty of stops.  In keeping with my interest with Route 66 I finally went to Ted Drewes for frozen custard. It was good but not better than a DQ blizzard. It was fun eating at a 66 historic landmark with Stacie, Haley and Jackie thou...