{"id":2276,"date":"2023-10-01T22:46:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-01T22:46:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?p=2276"},"modified":"2023-10-01T23:09:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-01T23:09:38","slug":"south-by-southwest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?p=2276","title":{"rendered":"South By Southwest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>It was a balmy 99 degrees F when we landed in Tucson, AZ in mid-August, but as they say, it was a \u201cdry heat!\u201d My sister Cathy and I were at my dad\u2019s former home to meet with his widow and sort through some of his stuff to bring back home with us. Although this was their monsoon season, they hadn\u2019t received any rain in a long time. I guess we brought some good luck with us because that evening we received a much-needed storm that brought some relief to the hot, dry Sonoran desert. I did manage to get in an early morning walk through the desert neighborhood. This was a necessary trip that we\u2019ve putting off for a few years, but the real adventure was about to begin the next day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_060441-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_060441-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2277\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_060441-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2277\" class=\"wp-image-2277\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Sonoran Desert morning<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_063820-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_063820-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2278\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_063820-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2278\" class=\"wp-image-2278\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">My dad&#8217;s old house in Tucson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow1-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow1-678x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2282\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2282\" class=\"wp-image-2282\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A rainbow forms over a Saguaro Cactus<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal1-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal1-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2281\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2281\" class=\"wp-image-2281\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Javelina on my morning walk<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird10b-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird10b-1024x702.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2280\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird10b-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2280\" class=\"wp-image-2280\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Roadrunner hops up on the wall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird1-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird1-1024x804.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2279\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird1-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2279\" class=\"wp-image-2279\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A White-winged Dove sits on top of a cactus<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We had decided to rent a vehicle, pack up what we could fit in the van, and proceed on a 2,150- mile road trip back across the country, stopping for a little sightseeing along the way. The fact that I\u2019m writing this blog is proof that at least one of us made it back without being abandoned by the other, somewhere along a desolate highway in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, or the rural countryside of Missouri!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/AZDesert.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/AZDesert-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2285\" width=\"408\" height=\"306\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_184513-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_184513-1024x401.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2284\" width=\"555\" height=\"218\"\/><\/a><figcaption>The lowlands of New Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_152613-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_152613-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2286\" width=\"560\" height=\"272\"\/><\/a><figcaption>A quick visit with my HS classmate and basketball teammate Steele Eyer, in NM<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC_0093-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC_0093-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2288\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC_0093-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2288\" class=\"wp-image-2288\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird9b.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird9b-1024x962.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2287\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Bird9b.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2287\" class=\"wp-image-2287\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Gambell&#8217;s Quail rests on a sign<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal4-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal4-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2289\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mammal4-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2289\" class=\"wp-image-2289\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Coyote pauses to check us out<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When two siblings agree to a long road trip, there\u2019s a buildup of excitement about all things we could see and do together, catch up on what\u2019s going with our lives, and share stories of our father. There\u2019s also driving to share-lot of driving, and this is where a brother\u2019s and sister\u2019s love is truly tested! As you can imagine, we both were absolutely convinced that each of us was a much better driver than the other. I was better with directions. She paid more attention to the road. I obeyed the speed limit. She handled all the rented van\u2019s driver-assist settings better. You name it and somewhere along our voyage, we disagreed on it! After three days, I believe we even \u201cdebated\u201d about where exactly we should park in the rest stop! If you ever want to test your love and patience, take a long, multi-day road trip in 100-degree temps! Throw in a couple 12-hour driving days, and you should be all set! But don\u2019t despair, it wasn\u2019t all wicked. For most of the outing, we did enjoy each other\u2019s company, and saw some really cool things along the way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SantaFe.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SantaFe-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2292\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SantaFe.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2292\" class=\"wp-image-2292\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_095103.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_095103-1024x707.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2291\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_095103.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2291\" class=\"wp-image-2291\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_092139-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_092139-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2290\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_092139-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2290\" class=\"wp-image-2290\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A short hike at a local TNC property<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cadilac.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cadilac-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2294\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/cadilac.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2294\" class=\"wp-image-2294\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Cathy w\/her Cadillac, at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_150503.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_150503-847x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2293\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_150503.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2293\" class=\"wp-image-2293\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">A Buffalo Bill along RT 66<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/RT66.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/RT66-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2295\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/RT66.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2295\" class=\"wp-image-2295\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">RT 66 in Tucumcari, NM<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We piloted through the desert lowlands of Arizona and New Mexico, and up into the mountains of northern New Mexico, spending the night in the beautiful artisan city of Santa Fe. After stopping in Amarillo, Texas so Cathy could leave her spray-painted signature at the Cadillac Ranch, we continued through the pan handle of Texas into the plains of Oklahoma, jumping on and off historic Route 66 for 50 miles. We couldn&#8217;t pass up the chance to stop at a roadside attraction that allowed us to stand in three states (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri) at the same time! Our day finished up in St. Louis, standing under the Gateway Arch in the fading sunlight, as the Mississippi River flowed quietly past. \u00a0It was long, but fun day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_144338-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_144338-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2308\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230809_144338-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2308\" class=\"wp-image-2308\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">For anyone&#8230;.at a truck stop in TX<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123528-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123528-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2309\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123528-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2309\" class=\"wp-image-2309\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">I asked Zoltar to be &#8220;Big&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123628-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123628-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2310\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230810_123628-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2310\" class=\"wp-image-2310\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Cathy asked  Alien Zoltar to not let me drive anymore<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/threestates.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/threestates-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2298\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/threestates.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2298\" class=\"wp-image-2298\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Three states at once<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gaspump.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gaspump-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2297\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gaspump.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2297\" class=\"wp-image-2297\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Does it look like it&#8217;s falling on that VW bug?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_193405-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_193405-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2299\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_193405-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2299\" class=\"wp-image-2299\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, MO<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_195301-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_195301-498x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2300\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230811_195301-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2300\" class=\"wp-image-2300\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">The 630&#8242; high architectural wonder<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As we powered up I-70 into Illinois, we got distracted bickering about which color Peanut M &amp; M tastes the best, and ended up driving north toward Chicago, about 50 miles out of our way. We managed to snake our way through the farmlands of southern Illinois, back on to our planned route. Note: All Peanut M &amp; M\u2019s taste exactly the same, regardless of color! Next stop-the town of big records!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230812_100730-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/20230812_100730-1024x498.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2307\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Somewhere &#8220;misguided&#8221; in the farmlands of southern Illinois<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/CatsupBottle.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/CatsupBottle-590x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2296\" width=\"275\" height=\"478\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you go to the website Roadside America, you\u2019ll find some of America\u2019s weirdest and most unique tourist traps. Many of these are world records in the <em>Guiness Book of World Records<\/em>, others claim to be, but have no way of verifying their fame. One such town that has embraced these attractions is Casey, Illinois. I stopped there several years ago on a cross-country trip with my son Tyler, to see the largest wind chimes. Well, the wind chimes are still hanging there, but the town now showcases a 15-foot barber pole, giant deer antlers, a giant chair and the world\u2019s largest: mailbox, pencil, golf tee, pitchfork, pizza slicer, truck key, wooden shoes and teeter totter! How\u2019s that for a little roadside pit stop, only 10 minutes off the highway! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/antlers.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/antlers-1024x895.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2301\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/antlers.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2301\" class=\"wp-image-2301\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bigchair.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bigchair-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2302\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/bigchair.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2302\" class=\"wp-image-2302\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mailbox.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mailbox-934x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2303\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/mailbox.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2303\" class=\"wp-image-2303\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pencil.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pencil-904x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2304\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pencil.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2304\" class=\"wp-image-2304\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/windchime.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/windchime-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2305\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/windchime.jpg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?attachment_id=2305\" class=\"wp-image-2305\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The rest of our trip through Indiana, Ohio and back into Pennsylvania was pretty uneventful, other than the occasional snarl I gave my sister to slow down, or her sporadic complaint for me to stop drifting out of my lane on to those dumb little rumble strips they install along highways to keep people from, well, drifting out of their lanes! In the end, we didn\u2019t bury each other\u2019s body in a rural weed patch somewhere, and we\u2019re still talking to each other, but I\u2019M STILL A MUCH BETTER DRIVER! Love ya sis! Thanks for a great road trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC_0026-scaled.jpg\"><img src=\"http:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/DSC_0026-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2311\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It was a balmy 99 degrees F when we landed in Tucson, AZ in mid-August, but as they say, it was a \u201cdry heat!\u201d My sister Cathy and I were at my dad\u2019s former home to meet with his widow and sort through some of his stuff to bring back home with us. Although this &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/?p=2276\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">South By Southwest<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2276"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2314,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2276\/revisions\/2314"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/woodyoutdoors.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}