Finally Home

Our last hours in Canada are numbered and soon we will be on the Air Canada plane to Denver, Colorado, USA. Late in the evening we land at the airport, pick up our backpacks and are warmly welcomed by my mom, Andreas, and the three dogs. It's really nice to see some familiar faces again, even the oldest dog Alinghi seems to still recognize me after all these years and wags his tail excitedly. The departure at the airport is delayed a bit because I stupidly forgot my duty-free bag with gifts and cigarettes under my seat on the plane. Even after asking and calling multiple times, we don't make much progress. So we go to the Sloughi truck in the garage without it. It's a huge mobile home, with enough space for the four of us, the dogs, and our two backpacks. Since it's already very late, we drive directly to our accommodation north of Denver. Our destination of the trip is Dalton, Georgia, about 1300 miles away, where my mother and Andreas live. That means, in plain text, we will spend a lot of time in the Sloughi truck and not take the direct route, but the one through New Mexico and Texas. The travel is very pleasant, everything is already perfectly organized and we don't have to worry about anything. It's so nice to lean back and not have to worry about anything after such a long time. On the first day, we visit Pikes Peak, which is over 4000 meters high. Already on the way to the top (of course like in the USA, by car) an unforgettable view of the Rockies opens up to us. Breathing becomes increasingly difficult as we go higher. But once we reach the top, it's definitely worth it. The vistas are incredible. After numerous photos and a cafe stop, we drive back down and continue to Antonito, a small village in southern Colorado. So that Andreas doesn't have to drive the whole way, I also take turns behind the wheel. It's quite unfamiliar to drive such a huge car and with the darkness, more and more trucks come on the highways, which makes me feel uneasy when overtaking. Nevertheless, we arrive safely. On the following day, we drive to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A very beautiful city, as we discover on a walk. I especially like the special architecture of the houses. They are kind of brown adobe houses with rounded corners and edges. Very special. Unfortunately, we don't have time to stay and continue driving east. The roads in New Mexico are lonely, but the desert landscape is even more beautiful. We cruise through the Prairie and admire the surroundings during a beautiful sunset. Again, late in the evening, we arrive at the booked motel, have a beer, and go to bed tired. A new day begins and we reach the border of Texas. Here too, the desert landscape is present and accordingly hot when leaving the air-conditioned vehicle. Our destination is Sulphur Springs in the eastern part of the desert state. We take a day off because we had to change the route due to weather conditions. I think everyone is happy to have a day to relax without driving. The next city we visit is Memphis. After a good breakfast, we walk through the city to the Mississippi River. Walking in Memphis. I really like the city, the promenade by the water invites you to linger. We walk past the hotel where Martin Luther King was assassinated, it's impressive to stand in such a place. Individual monuments and inscriptions remind us of this great personality, and in the room where he stayed, there is a large floral wreath. We continue driving until we finally arrive in Dalton late in the evening. We are incredibly excited because we will be here for a longer time. Our own room with a bed, a nice shower with warm water, a huge, stocked fridge, functional Wi-Fi, and two very welcoming hosts. After Canada and its moody weather, the motivation to travel was not very high anymore. That's why we are even more excited about our new home and the time with my mom, Andreas, and of course, the lovely three Sloughis and the two cats.

We relax a lot at home, take smaller trips, and explore the area around Dalton. We eat delicious food, sometimes have fondue and once have raclette, and I feel a real sense of home. After two and a half weeks of chilling, we continue on our first road trip from Dalton to Savannah. We are allowed to rent the Ford Flex, a really great vehicle. We drive a short 340 miles to Savannah and check into our Airbnb. A warm, young family accommodates us for the two nights. Savannah is truly worth seeing, the houses are in the old colonial style, and you can take a leisurely stroll along the riverfront. Small green parks invite you to linger and the cute cafes are perfect for a cozy brunch. We walk a lot and eagerly listen to the city's history on a tourist app. We continue driving north, crossing the border to South Carolina, Hilton Head. A holiday paradise for Americans, with a beautiful beach. It's extremely hot and the coolness of the sea is wonderfully refreshing. After exploring the small town, we step on the gas again and drive south to Jekyll Island. Here too, it's all about the beach. We arrive at a slightly secluded stretch of coastline with lots of driftwood on the beach. It's perfect for a few romantic hours as a couple and a drone flight. The day is coming to an end and the sun disappears artistically behind the horizon. We make our way back to the car and drive to our accommodation in Kingsland, about an hour away. The next day, we head to our final destination, with the great name, Okefenokee. A huge swamp area with alligators. The sun is scorching from the sky and we find a shady spot in the boat for a tour. The guide, who is a bit older, speaks wonderful southern English and we have to figure out some sentences ourselves. The swamp landscape is very beautiful and nature is magnificent. We even see a few alligators splashing in the water. After the tour, we hike through the forest, which makes us sweat profusely. Happily back in the car, we embark on the long journey back to Dalton. Our trip through Georgia was beautiful and the state has a lot to offer. Exhausted, we return to Dalton after a seven-hour drive. But we can't rest for long because the next trip to New York City is coming up in a few days!