A few pictures of my trip back home

[arrowmntdiesel]

Again I want to say thanks to everyone that came and shared in such a great weekend!

The trip was aprox. 345 miles one way for me and was a good share of freeway both ways, but once I got a little closer to home I decided to divert from the freeway and take advantage of some good information I recieved on an alternate road home. It was about 60 mile of backroads through the Cascade Mountiain range and I really enjoyed the beautiful road and scenery that my Pup and I took in. I had my bed in the back and my cookstove so I felt pretty good about going on roads not traveled before.

Being up here in the green forests with not so much as even another car or truck to wave to gives a guy plenty of time to consider all kinds of thoughts and ideas that pass through ones mind. Mostly for me.... the thought of my own family and how fortunate I am as a 45 year old male to have such a wonderful wife and two daughters that would be waiting for me when I got home and also my father who had called several times while I was gone to see how things were going. ( I found that out once I got back into cell range. ) It was so good to see David and his family working together to pull this meet together successfully! I was mindful also of the truck that I was driving and how it has influenced my life in such a possitive way with all the new friends that I have made and how my typing has benifited as well I'm thankful that my truck is good enough and I like it that way! I love not having the truck payments or the " gotta keep up with the neighbor" attitude. And after a weekend with alot of folks the same way, I'm thankful for Jack and his effort to bring us all together! I'm thankful for this country that we live in....that we didn't need to bring our "papers" to go an a road trip and to carry my pistol as well

Time is a good thing to have every once in a while just spend by yourself and your thoughts. For me it brought into perspective some very good blessings that God, our creator, has given to me and in this very difficult time that I am having in how His hand is still on my life. Our country is also struggling to figure out who we are and if God is going to be a part in it's continued survival, but with this weekend now a part of my history, I know that we will all make it through if we choose to look at all the good thing around us and also to stay close to our Pup's! The people that are close to a Pup are some darn good people!!

Thanks for a great weekend!
Mark Martin

[soot fart]

Well said Mark. Tracy and Gary were the only members I had met before the meet but It seemed like I'd known everybody for years. Like you say just nice, good ,above average intelligence and easy going good looking gentlemen. Wow, kinda reminds me of me!

266 miles in one day is the longest drive ever for me in my pups and I have been driving them since 84. I may put on a canopy and throw in a bedroll and foam pad and try the Paul and Mark snug as a bug in a rug camper experiance. Jerry

[luvcamas]

hey mark it was a pleasure to spend time with you and for you to share your wonderful story that you told me. It was a good weekend and david and his family did a awesome job. You are right on about your thoughts. I am thankful for this new family of friends, with just a little luv has given me. I was just blown away by Don, the veggie guy. He just came out of nowhere but was such a cool guy . It was great when he dumped that veggie oil in his truck and off he went. I hope we figure out what his form name is. maybe the next meet can be down your way so I can drive on those roads. Guess its time to plan the next meet

[puttputtinpup]

Thanks for the pictures of an awesome creation God gave us to enjoy! I appreciate your thoughts as well..the priceless value of God, Family, and Country! (Oops...and our P'up friends too!)

[Gerald K4NHN]

Oh, to live is such beautiful and cool looking country... Camping would have been so much fun and to have fixed a meal in my ole Dutch oven... A nice roast with carrots, potatoes, & onions. And for breakfast, corned beef hash, eggs, and yellow grits and some cat head biscuits and hot coffee..

[quicknotslow]

YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[puttputtinpup]

yeah! What Larry said!

[arrowmntdiesel]

Oh the National Meet is going to be Fun!!!

Desert out of a Dutch oven is absolutly Devine! This is what I'm talking about.....These Pup folks really know how to survive in style. Looks great Gerald.

Mark

[JoeIsuzu]

...and yellow grits...

One line, and it gives away your location (South Carolina). Nobody around here has ever HEARD of yellow grits and they always assume they're cheese grits. My dad was from the low country of SC, so we never got white grits at home. Real grits were always YELLOW.

Jack

[cowboync]

Yellow Grits Rule and White grits are good too.

[larrybuck]

Enjoyed your pictures. I love uncrowded backroads as well.

There definately was a comfortable down home hecticless feeling of peace I felt at the meet as well.

The Lord does things right! Hope to see you all next year; the new other Larry

[JoeIsuzu]

Mark,

You make me want to drive the backroads of Oregon and Washington in my P'up. I think I'd be pretty comfortable up there.

Jack

[luvcamas]

mr. green would welcome you anytime. The next NW meet is in the works