Day One Hundred and Sixty-Two

A much shorter drive today took us west to Memphis. A couple of friends from camp where I worked this summer were kind enough to look after us and give us a place to stay here. After grilling some of the best steaks we've ever eaten we headed downtown to the famous Beale Street.

I love live music, so this was pretty much heaven for me walking up and down the street listening to the many bands and artists performing on the roadside and then into BB King's Blues Bar.

Day One Hundred and Sixty-One

Music City! After yesterday's drive through Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky we really are in a very different part of America from where I've spent the past three months. Today we explored the city, walked the country music walk of fame and sampled a local bar before spending the afternoon relaxing in the park with short run and a bit of footy.

This photo is the home of the Tennessee Titans.

Day One Hundred and Sixty

A day on the road! We left Chicago later than planned and hit the road for the 450 mile drive to Nashville, Tennessee.

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Nine

Today we drove down to Chicago from the lake house in Wisconsin, its really starting to feel like our road-trip is beginning now. This is from the lake shore that we walked by late in the afternoon

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Eight

We're up near Burlington, Wisconsin staying at a friend's lake house for a couple of nights. Its a beautiful lake and this afternoon I even took a gentle 4 mile run around it.

This photo however symbolises the great food we've been eating today. It our first morning out of camp and its time for some real food. After a long nights sleep, the ladies went out for breakfast whilst a few of the lads knocked up this amazing breakfast for us. Cheers fellas!

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Seven

The day finally came, today all the families and children have left the camp. The afternoon was spent packing everything away for the winter before finally relaxing outside one of the cabins looking out at the Lake of the Woods one final evening...

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Six

Finally registered the van and got our plates today, wont be long until I on the road and heading west!

Day one Hundred and Fifty-Five

This is my office for the final week at camp, its a hard life I know! Today I had a little visitor come see me, welcome to camp Tag!

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Four

Here's our new baby! Today we purchased the wheels that will take us from Michigan across the States to the west coast, here she is in all her glory....

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Three

All eyes are on the lane in a pretty intense bowling game this evening, no prizes for winning but the loser had to play truth or dare! I narrowly avoided defeat!

Day One Hundred and Fifty-Two

I saw this sign on my drive back to Michigan and thought it was a pretty sweet description of my summer!

Day One Hundred and Fifty-One

Amanda flies home from Chicago to Utah tomorrow, so we left camp and drove to the city with enough time in the evening to visit Navy Pier and make a couple of gifts...

Day One Hundred and Fifty

Staff Appreciation Dinner! The children have all left the camp and the final night of the summer has come. It kind of seems like its flown by, but thinking back it seems like a year has passed since Dean and Martin dropped me off back at the start of June. I've made a lot of new friends over the summer, here's the best one...

Day One Hundred and Forty-Nine

Burn That Rope! Colour Days concluded today with the all camp relay. These are the captains of each team, who complete the final part of the relay with all too often determines the overall Colour Days Winning Team. This time around, Red Team are the champions...

Day One Hundred and Forty-Eight

Its the second day of Colour Days at Greenwoods camp, the two teams are rumoured to be neck and neck in points so every event counts. Here's the winner of the 60 meter dash...

Day One Hundred and Forty-Seven

The staple diet of a camp counselor, its the final few days and I need anything that will give the energy to make it to the end. The irony is that I ran had to run 4 miles in 90 degree heat to buy these! Yup, there's definitely still some Irish in me.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Six

I took the camera out with me on my morning 3 mile run today. The only time to get some good exercise in at camp is before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. Its not all bad though, as sometimes it the best time of day to get away from it all. Here are a few shots...

The camp road

The famous junction for all the morning runners, "to turn or to go straight?"

I always make the turn for the longer run and end up in this park just inside Decatur boundary line

Day One Hundred and Forty-Five

arrrrrrgggggghhhhhh

This is the turtle Amanda rescued from the road, tried to keep as a pet, but ultimately released back by the lake. He's an ugly fella, but was happy to be back where he should be!

Day One Hundred and Forty-Four

Here is a picture of us NOT doing the dreaded camp cook-out, this evening with took the kids out to a Chinese restaurant and a movie!

Day One Hundred and Forty-Three

Its 'International Day' at camp today, where we raise flags representing the different countries that the councillors come from and also have to sing our national anthems in front of the camp.

Day One Hundred and Forty-Two

Day trip down to Indiana and want felt like a million miles away from camp. This is the campus of the Fighting Irish, The University of Notre Dame. College is out of session right now and it made it feel like one of the most tranquil places on earth.

Day One Hundred and Forty-One

Night off this evening and enjoying a few pints of the black stuff. This one's for you Dad...

Day One Hundred and Forty

These are my boys in Mohawk East Cabin at Greenwoods camp.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Nine

Just another day at the office for the British boys on the lakefront....

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight

I know I'm living in a remote part of the world....but I didn't think it was so far behind the times until I saw this Pepsi bottle in a store.

Turns out it wasn't as bad as I first thought, its still 2010 and just a 'throwback edition'.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Seven

CAMPLIFIED! Today's special event at camp was a concert with a number of up and coming American music acts. To open the show though, George, Joe and Michael warm up the crowd with a original number.

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Six

Its the staff show today at camp, where all get to show off our talents and perform for the kids.