Ahh, summer. Unfolding in refulgent splendor all around us! Let us soak in the deep greens of summer time and store them away for the iron grey of February! OK — Emersonian rhapsodizing done for the day — let’s get down to business. Here at Apogee Intergalactic HQ, we are in the briefest of summer lulls today, with only four trips in the field today…

And of those trips, one comes to an end tomorrow. After five hundred miles, three service projects, hundreds of cows, more peanut butter than anyone cares to recall, and some of the best scenery on the planet, the Montana Service Adventure trip comes to an end tomorrow — but not before a celebratory dinner in Whitefish tonight. Perhaps more importantly, not before picking out the right outfit to wear to a formal dinner in Montana…

Out on the Cape, or off of it, as it were, Lucas and Danika are taking in the sights on the gorgeous island of Nantucket (for the sake of those of you reading this blog all summer, I’ll abstain from the same not-very-funny cracks I made about Nantucket reds and cable sweaters the last time our groups were out there. It’s hard to resist, though.). Today was their challenge ride around the island — and all reports indicate that it was a complete success. Lucas sent in the below shot of the group at the outset of their ride — obscured by shadows, but perhaps identifiable to those who recognize their child’s silhouette. And up in Orleans, Chrissy and Wyatt got in some great beach time today. Chrissy sent in the below shot of the group cruising back to camp at the end of the day.

And churning through the miles like a colonial butter-churner at a dairy festival (yes, sadly, I did just make that up), our coast to coasters are cruising into Whitesboro, Texas as we speak. Cait just checked in and sent in the below post-flat picture. Who says Texas is brown during the summer, anyway?