Our return drive took us back to Littleton, where we went to church Sunday with the Parkers; and, from there, for overnight stays in Palmyra, New York; Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania; Canton, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Springfield, Missouri; Woodward, Oklahoma; Springer, New Mexico; and Kingman, Arizona. It wasn’t always possible, but we tried to avoid the Interstate Highway System. It was a great way to see the country.

From Massachusetts, we dipped into New York to go through my first Eastern States Mission area, in Peekskill, New York. I was there with Elder Voss, Elder Jones, and Elder Felt, from October 1962 to April 1963. Sad to say, from what I could see, Peekskill was more vibrant then than now.

From there, we crossed the Hudson River and then continued into the beautiful Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I served there, near Wilkes-Barre–in Trucksville–with Elder Brown and Elder Dowd, from October 1963 until April 1964, as part of the Cumorah Mission, which the Church had split off from the Eastern States Mission. We taught and baptized a bright young boy Maurice. He has since retired from the Army and lives in Sugar Loaf, Pennsylvania. I had hoped we could visit with him and his wife, but just got the answering machine when I called.

In Pennsylvania, we stayed overnight and ate at the Inn of Jim Thorpe in the borough of Jim Thorpe, (formed from the union of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk townships), so named because Jim’s widow donated some money to honor the famous athlete. From Jim Thorpe, we drove up through Binghamton and Ithaca, New York, to Palmyra. We visited the Martin Harris farm, checked into the Palmyra Inn, and ate dinner at the Yellow Mills Diner.

The next day took us on a walk up the Hill Cumorah to the Angel Moroni statute, then to see the Palmyra Temple, and then to visit the Sacred Grove and Smith farm. Unfortunately, we hurried through the Sacred Grove—too many flying insects. In downtown Palmyra, sister missionaries took us through the E.B. Grandin printshop—now owned by the Church—where Joseph Smith first had the Book of Mormon printed. We walked from there to the nearby cemetery where we saw Alvin Smith’s grave. Just as we were leaving, Maurice called. They had been out of town. It was good to talk but, by now, too far away and too late to visit in person.

Our next night, after a drive that included Cayahoga Valley in Ohio, we slept at the La Quinta Inn in Canton, eating from the nearby McDonald’s. The next day took us into Indiana. In Fishers, we experienced Graeter’s Ice Cream; I gassed the car at Costco in Indianapolis and we bought groceries there; I got the car washed while we did laundry; we dined at an Indianapolis Texas Roadhouse; we drove to Carmel to see the new temple; and we slept across the road at a La Quinta.

The next day, we drove through Illinois, where we had lunch next to the world’s largest wind chimes and across the street from one rocking chair claimed be the world’s largest—we later saw a billboard in Missouri advertising the world’s largest rocking chair at a town in that state. Who knew that there was a largest rocking chair competition?

We entered Missouri via St. Louis, and then headed to Springfield, Missouri. Outside of St. Louis in Rolla, we stopped for the tiny burgers at White Castle, which I had not had since law school in Chicago. In Springfield, especially Carla enjoyed sampling and buying at the Arkinosie Chocolate shop, after which, on the recommendation of the Arkinosie proprietor, we dined at the nearby Pizza House. After a night at a local La Quinta, we drove to Oklahoma.

During our trip, I had called to try to get together with Rick and Deann Roberts, friends from our ward here long ago but now residents of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. But no one ever answered their phone, until our night in Missouri. Deann answered and we were able to meet here and go for a BBQ lunch at Smokies. We drove on to Woodward, Oklahoma; and, guess where we stayed—the La Quinta Inn. We had a good dinner at colorful Ramiro’s Mexican Restaurant. The next day, we enjoyed church at the Woodward Branch. The branch president was a Rasmussen, but didn’t claim to be our Taylor’s relative.

The beautiful clouds and sky kept us enraptured as we drove then through the Oklahoma panhandle and into New Mexico. We had a good night in Springer at the Oasis Motel. The next morning we had brunch in Santa Fe at The Pantry.

The next day, we drove to Kingman, Arizona, ate well at Oyster’s Mexican and Seafood Restaurant, and slept at this Best Western. The next night, we slept in our own, wonderful bed in Pasadena, California. We had a great trip, driving back and forth across the United States, and into Canada, and spending time with family.