100 and Done! (Countries that is...)

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We are back! This last trip brought the total countries visited to 100! It is a crazy milestone. It is difficult, time-consuming and can be (IS) expensive. After I got back from Antarctica in 2007, I started thinking about it. After 2010 I was thinking about it more (as I moved from NY to Georgia) and in 2014 it had become a real goal. Between Angie and I we have been to 109 Countries. We are tied at 100 countries each. We have 9 countries different in our lists. For example, I have been to San Marino. She has not. She has been to Israel. I have not, yet. There has been some fun competition in this area. That's why we had to establish rules. 1.) Must be listed (as a country) with the US State Department 2.) Being in an airport doesn't count. You have to get through immigration somehow and not in a DMZ or a no-mans-land 3.) A passport stamp is not required. I have been to Canada, Paraguay, and Uruguay without getting my passport stamped. There are friendly borders in many places...
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Angie and I are back from NY. It was a perfect trip, definitely a mission accomplished. The only issue I have is that I wasn't able to connect to folks I wanted to, way too short. It was good to get a bearing on my Mom's memorial service as we will have in Rochester when she passes.

We timed the leaves at peak. The cool clear air, the crackling leaves, the taste of fresh apple cider brings a timeless place we all know exists. Definitely, salmon coming home to do their thing. It is an urge that too many of us ignore or shrug off. We hiked in areas that I had not been since I was a pre-teen. Although the woods and nature has taken their course, these places exist. Regress; it is ok.






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