The snoring emanating through the wall confirms I’ve successfully worn them out. Tomorrow morning we fly home to Texas…and we are READY to get home! We left November 23rd, six weeks ago and have traveled over 25,000 miles by just about every conceivable mode of transportation except motorcycle… 6×6 wheel drive vehicle in the high country of New Zealand, mountain biking the Rimutaka Range between Wellington and Masterton, cruising the Interislander ferry between the north and south islands, jet boating the Kawarau and Shotover rivers outside of Queenstown, NZ, winding through old growth beech forest on horseback in Paradise, NZ, exploring the four decks on the jet powered catamaran ride to the Agincourt Reef located 90 minutes from the coast of mainland Australia on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef. But perhaps the best mode of transportation of all has been our own two feet.

Our fin-clad feet pushed us over, around and the through the reef. Our bare feet luxuriated in the sands of Tauranga, Cape Tribulation, and Trinity beaches. With long boards strapped on we’ve schussed down the slopes around Lake Tahoe. And when shod, we’ve traipsed, traversed, rambled, hiked, splashed, waded, balanced, jogged and yes, walked through some amazing places.

2013 was a hard year. The care-giving demands were extreme. Then, when Kristi died, the grief just piled on. So many changes, so many adjustments to life. I wanted to put a good end on the year and start 2014 off on a good note. I hope that as 2014 winds down we will be talking about all the good that happened here at the end, rather than the bad that filled so much of the year.

Through it all, I’ve stayed consistent in my training. I’m now facing my second full year of triathlon training and races and it has me nervous, but motivated and excited at the same time.

Here’s to going home, though. And here’s to a great 2014.