While I was enjoying my last couple days with E before leaving him and the circus to finish my journey around the United States, I spent some time soaking up the natural beauty of southwest-central Arkansas. I discovered DeGrey Lake State Park and pitched up the tent—my own, not the circus tents this time. One afternoon I noticed there were mountain biking trails, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to get back on my beloved bicycle. In hindsight I probably should have paid more at...

    Traveling this far has made me realize more than ever that I was landlocked in a flat prison for 20-something years. Those few times I traveled outside of the upper Midwest—Colima Bay, Mexico; Disney World, FL; Colorado; Arizona; Oregon—they all had a common theme: eyes glued to the plane/car window, “WOAH!” As I’ve been driving through the hills of the Appalachians, my heart fills with fascination and appreciation and often accompanied with a dorky grin on my face.  The most re...