Notice: We’re leaving on a road trip this Saturday to visit my Dad and my siblings down in Virginia. There may be a bit of delay or stacking of strips for a bit, though I think I’ll be able to sneak in the Saturday strip on time. Maybe Sunday. Why the trip now, you wonder? My Dad turns 99 in March, so I figure I better get back down there real soon!

It’s not as if Rivera was caught up short in her storylines and had to plug a plot hole. Like most comic strip artists, Rivera has to work up her stories and art weeks in advance. Theoretically, anyway.

Rivera had long ago met her goal of illuminating more aspects of “At Home with the Trails” beyond the traditional, limited sessions of porch chats and pancake dinners we used to see. And that’s just fine. But this week sure takes the pancake … uh, cake. Most of the nature walks Rivera has portrayed last just one or two strips. But this time, Rivera apparently showed us an entire walk!

That long of a focus might make sense if Rivera was the type of artist who spent a lot of time creating and showing really impressive, detailed drawings of flora and fauna. But that is not her style. Furthermore, nothing particularly exciting or dramatic has happened on this walk.