This was another great highlight of our trip – great for Bob to reunite with old friends, and my chance to connect with them as well. As we pulled into their driveway, Steve and Joy Lynn were so warm and welcoming and I felt like I had known them forever! Their home is a dream, and the result of years of sweat equity to get it where it is today. It was a pristine spot on the lake, with a beautiful boat house, a new pontoon boat, and grounds that were so beautiful and well cared for! More than that, it was a respite from our journey, and a place that felt like home immediately. They treated us like royalty, and the connection and friendship was immediate. Joy Lynn is a friend of mine on FB and I can honestly say that she makes my day each and every day with her positive and mostly hilarious posts! What a sense of humor she has, and we had lots of laughs.
They treated us to an amazing filet mignon dinner the first night along with fun reminiscent conversation.
The 2nd day Joy Lynn and I went to see the Mercantile of Pioneer Woman in Pawhuska, about 1.5 hours away. I’ve been wanting to go there for a long time, and was not disappointed. Had a delicious lunch there, and did some obligatory shopping in that beautiful shop and walking tour through town enjoying other businesses owned by Pioneer Woman, like the historic hotel, a B & B, and a pizza restaurant and bistro. She owns half the town it seems. On our way back, we stopped at an Amish shop to look around and realize that their culture is alive and well while enjoying watching them go to and from work in tractors and horse drawn carriages. Bob and Steve stayed behind with Coco and did some boating and commiserating about the past together while we had a girlie day together. Loved it!
Another mellow evening together at their home, and a sunset cruise on the lake for a stunning view as the sun set yet another day.
I literally did not want to leave the next day as their home and their hospitality was so special, and I felt like I had made new special friends thanks to Bob having stayed connected with them through FB for the past few years.
Joy Lynn’s sister, who was also good friends with Bob growing up, still lives in Tullahoma, TN and so we plan to have a lunch with her on the way out of Nashville as we drive into Georgia…. more on that later.