For the first time in this trek to Mordor, my miles have occurred outside the area of New York City. Boy was it nice to get out! To celebrate our Nation’s Independence, I went do to visit some friends in Washington DC. We had a weekend of adventures and miles and America. It was nice.

I’ve spent almost a year celebrating National Days, and here we are at the big one! Independence Day! Sometimes I get frustrated or angry about the things that I feel are wrong with this country. Other times, I think things might be going ok. How lucky and blessed I am to be able to write