Once I left Moab, I spend two full days on the road.  The first day started in Colorado going up and over the Rockies in a late spring snowstorm.  I made it as far as Topeka, Kansas before needing some rest.  The next day, the same storm system followed me for most of the morning and early afternoon through eastern Kansas and Missouri.  The sun finally came out around 5 while I was in Kentucky.  The late day sun helped me push the drive through Nashville and all the way to Knoxville by days end.  The last day of the trip before arriving home took me through Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  On the Tennessee side, I drove along the Little River Road toward Cades Cove.  The green of springtime was a bit overwhelming after 4 months in the desert. 

I headed up the range toward the North Carolina border where the views are expansive.

The North Carolina side of the park was much less crowded and more peaceful than its Tennessee counterpart. 

Right before leaving the park, I encountered a large number of yellow swallowtail butterflies feeding along the creekside.  Whatever it was, it must have been good because they appeared quite intoxicated. 

A few hours later, after a nearly 4,000 mile journey, I finally arrived home.