Road Trip!

Every year in early Spring, my cousins and I converge on a small rural Alabama town where we own land that has been in the family since it was deeded from the government many, many years ago.  Our grandfather was a prosperous cotton farmer decades ago on the land.  I remember remnants of the cotton field when I was a small child.

My next post will have pictures of the day.

This is a trip I look forward to all year.  Some of us arrived on a Thursday, some arrived on Friday and by Saturday, all of us were there!

A few of us were at the property on Friday. I arrived first and was there by myself for about an hour before anyone else showed up.  I quickly unpacked my guns and target shooting stand and began hitting the bullseye!  If you are new to my blog, maybe you don't know that I am a "gun nut!"

Saturday was the big day.  There was fishing, more target shooting, hamburgers on the grill, and walking the land.  Our Aunt Ilene is 93 this year and just as feisty as ever.  We really have to watch her.  While she is in her right mind for someone that age, she thinks nothing of walking off by herself, through the bushes, briars, over downed trees, and mud!

Now I have to tell you this one!!!  It's true, too. . . A handful of us were target shooting.  Then Kenny says, "Okay, everyone gets one shot."

"Huh?" I asked.

Everyone gets one shot and whoever gets closest to dead center wins.

I could feel the adrenaline flowing in my veins.  Did I tell you I was one woman out of 5 guys?

I beat out the guys!  Yes, that made my day, especially when you consider Kenny is a sharpshooter!!!

I don't know where the time went.  In the blink of an eye, it was time to pack up and head out.  Not fair.

My cousin, Debbie, and I spent a couple of days at Rita and Kip's place on a large lake, about an hour drive from the reunion.  Kip's parents own this and it's a vacation home.  It's a nice home overlooking the lake with a covered deck right off the living room and a much larger one down the steps and over the water.  Kip took us on a boat ride up and down the lake on Sunday.  Then he grilled steaks for us.  What a treat!

Another fun reunion (this was number 7) was over and I drove north again for the two day drive back to Rochester.  Yes, a two day drive down and a two day drive back.  I really don't mind that.  I'm not a big fan of flying and with the gear I carry, flying is out of the question anyway.  I like to watch the end of winter up north turn into Spring, the further south I drive.  Ohio and Kentucky are particularly scenic.  Ohio, with its vast farm lands and old barns and Kentucky with its rolling terrain.