Happy and I had decided to take some time off back in Washington before continuing our trip. We did this for a couple of reasons.

1. We were getting ahead of the sun! In other words, we were making good time and needed to let Mother Nature catch up so it would be warmer the further north we went.
2. It'd been about seven weeks, nearly two months, since we left home, so home was missing us. Plus, I guess I needed to do a reality check back at the office.
3. And lastly, a third person was joining us, Jerry Cowden, a long-time friend of both Happy and me. He will ride with us as far as some point in Massachusetts, as he has plans after that . . . but he is welcome for whatever distance.
4. Of course, there are sundry other things to attend to, all in time.