More than half the map filled in by the end of 2026

According to the rule I have set for myself, a state qualifies as ''visited'' if I have actually been on the ground, within the borders of that state. I have been in the air over Georgia and South Carolina but that doesn't count. For the same reason, my flight over Arkansas tomorrow won't count.

When I arrive in Texas tomorrow, it officially makes visited state #23. I have a lot to do in this mission. However, I have figured out that I can hop across the border to Colbert, Oklahoma adding a little over 2 hours round-trip to check off another box.

Oklahoma makes #24. In November, I stop over in Colorado (#25) on my way to New Mexico (#26). It was just a little over 13 months ago, that the grand total of states I had visited was 16. To go from 16 to 26 in only about 14 months is pretty incredible.

In 2027, my goal is to knock off those 6 on the bottom right. Included in that plan is to drive the Lake Pontchartrain bridge in Louisiana and visit EWTN in Alabama.

That would get me to 32 down, 18 to go. Pray for me.