We began 2001 as volunteers in Big Cypress National Preserve, adjacent to Everglades National Park, in south Florida.   We had now been “houseless” for almost a year, and Cathy thought we needed to establish roots.  So, in April we bought a nice villa in Homosassa, FL and traded in our Cardinal 5th wheel for a Lance truck camper.  We left our house punch-list with the handy-man, loaded the Lance and headed back to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we were Campground Hosts once again. (Yes, we lived in a Lance truck camper for 3 months with no TV and big Golden Retriever!)  We finally moved into the house in July.

Even though we now had roots, the west still beckoned.  So, two weeks later we loaded up the Lance and headed back to Wyoming.  We once again visited Mountain Springs Ranch and did many 3-4 day excursions around Wyoming.  We got to know & love the area.  (Thank you, Otto & Rosemary).  However, since we were now responsible homeowners, we did the adult thing and went back east.