Author: Steve

    That outlier county is from an overnight stop on a previous trip years ago, before we were counting birds in each county.   Evening light.           Tomorrow, the Colorado eastern plains.  

    We didn’t retire 20 years ago, we figured out how to work from the road.  It’s great.  I don’t have to work all the time, we have time to travel, but I don’t have to give up what I love doing for a living either.  I can’t do everything from here, but I can still contribute.     We still practically have this place to ourselves.       Guess we’ll stay here tomorrow too.  

  I’m still sending out gymnastics videos and can’t stop!   This is Alex’s high bar routine from Sunday.   2018 nationals finals   This is what it was supposed to look like on Friday.  I love watching the high bar.  The part that really knocks me out about this one is the double back layout dismount.  It’s so graceful.  I just keep punching replay.     This morning’s view out the windshield looked a lot like yesterday afternoon.   We hung out until the morning storms passed and had a smooth drive north.   Now we’re at Meade State Park in Kansas.   2018 May Colorado Trip       The thunderstorms aren’t due until midnight.   Tomorrow, more of the same.  We like it here.  

  I got a few things wrong.   There were 36 athletes advancing out of the first round into the finals, not 26 like I said.  It was not a two-way tie for 36th, it was a four-way tie, meaning 40 gymnasts in Alex’s group advanced.  The slate wasn’t wiped clean, the preliminary scores carried forward to Sunday and the results were based on total scores for both days.  That’s what I think I know about that.   In the videos and photos, you’ll see Alex with his coach, Rob.     Normally coaches get pulled every direction at once, because there are so many athletes they are responsible for.  Rob had four gymnasts at Nationals, but Alex was the only one at Level 9, so when Alex was competing there were no other contestants Rob had to watch.  Rob was right there every moment of every event.  That was fun.     Now we’re back on the road and back to state parks.   2018 May Colorado Trip   Foss State Park for one night.     Western Oklahoma.  We watched the afternoon weather evolve.       Tomorrow, Meade State Park in Kansas.  

  We are so proud.   15th on Vault.  14th on Rings, and 2nd in the nation on Floor!   Highlights:   Vault   Rings   Floor   Wow!