Alex, Leah, Lola, Bo, Pancho and I left for ‘the Bluff’ at about 4:15 AM on Sunday, December 21, 2008. The car (the Escalade) was loaded to the hilt, including the top rack and an extra-grill attached to the rear hitch. After a bit of uncertain start with the cargo on the top rack coming loose and Bo being anxious (bothering her sister Leah), we got into a good driving groove and eventually made it here at about 5:15 PM EST (4:15 PM CST – Local).

Jan was very happy to see us and us her; she’s been here the whole week with Chris and tremendous progress has been made; but it has not come easy. Anxiety, uncertainty, last-minute changes have been the daily ‘agenda’…

When we got here it was cold, about 27 ˚F; we unloaded as much as we could and put it all in the garage. Later, as we were trying to find our air mattresses in the garage, Pancho saw and sought the opportunity to escape, and SO HE DID! It was dark already and we were all in inside clothes; by the time we grabbed jackets and shoes, he had take off and disappeared into the wilderness.
Jan, Chris, Lean and I went out to look for him while Alex stayed behind just in case he returned on his own. Leah stayed on foot while Jan Chris and I jumped on the car to see if we could find him and then entice him to come to the car; no avail! As it turns out, after he roamed for a while and satisfied his curiosity he came back on his own! Dirty, cold and wet, but in one piece!

Sleeping was OK; we all used air mattresses: Jan and I each in one, in our bedroom, Alex and Leah upstairs and Chris took the basement (to avoid the early morning stirring) as I am causing right now... It is about 6:50 AM CST and about 6.9 ˚F!

This is clearly work-in-progress, but the key word is ‘progress’…

Will report again tomorrow…