Driving in Circles

When we first arrived in Red Bay, we were told they probably couldn't get to us for another five weeks.  Yikes!  Ok...  we'll plan on spending Christmas in Red Bay.  We settled in to wait.  The following Monday we received an early morning call that we could pull around to Bay 31 to start our service.  Go figure.  Thus is the mystery of Red Bay.

While waiting, we decided to take a look at a new 2015 Phaeton.  Significant changes have been made on the outside and inside.  Huge mistake!  We fell in love, and started to talk to several dealers to see what could be done.  We found a dealer in Memphis who gave us a good deal.  We also decided to order a coach so Jerry could watch it be built.  Next step was to talk to the finance company (s) to find a good rate.  Here's where our learning curve went straight up...  If you are a full time RV'er, and do not own property, you are viewed a bit differently and large down payments are required.  Of course somewhere your ability to pay the thing off is a must.  Much of the more strident rules are a result of the banking mess a few years ago - and rightfully so.  So while we are talking to two different institutions, time is slipping by, and in the meantime, our coach is finished and we head back to IN to get papers needed that we left in storage.   From IN we headed straight to south TX where we have a spot reserved for a few months.  By the time we got here and had more talks with the bank, we ran out of time.  We are due in CA to take grandsons camping the second week in April.  There's no time to put that deal together before that date.

All things happen for a reason.  We may not be aware of the reason at the time.  In this case, we will take the next year to regroup, think this through and target next fall if we decide to move forward to order a new Whale.

In the meantime we are set up at Sea Winds RV Resort outside of Riviera, TX just south of Kingsville.  The park is on Baffin Bay - great fishing for Black Drum.  With the exception of the last couple days, the weather is mild and breezy.  We've gathered back together with friends we met last year, and look forward to spending time with them over the next few months.  This is the first time we have returned to an RV park, and we did that primarily because of the great people who come here.

Shortly after arriving at Sea Winds, we took a nature tour of the back country on the King Ranch.  Every tour covers a different part of the ranch and it's any body's guess what wild life might be spotted.  On this afternoon, there was a multitude of birds, javelina's, deer and wild boars.  Of course we forgot the camera so no pictures of this entry.

We hope to check out other historical sites in this area while we are here again this year.  Stay tuned...

Slow Travels

 Brown County State Park at the peak of color in October.  It's hard to lodge a complaint that if I had to break an ankle, recuperation started here in this setting.  We use to travel to Brown County each fall to enjoy the color and uniqueness of the artists' village known as Nashville, but we never were able to quite stay a four day week-end at the peak of color.  This year, due to the break, we were able to stay a total of three weeks in three different camping spots, and we were able to witness the beauty that is Brown County in the peak of Fall color.Hiking was not an option, but driving tours were.  We spent time roaming the park with both dogs.  The only difference between original plans was we were now riding, not hiking.

One of the many vistas in Brown County State Park

From Brown County we traveled to The Land Between the Lakes / Kentucky.  Canal Campground is at the northern tip of the area known as the land Between the Lakes between Canal Lake and Kentucky Lake.  It is an Army Corps of Engineers park and is as beautiful as others we have stayed in.  While there we explored areas along the Trace - the road that runs the full length of the Land Between the Lakes.  After a week, we traveled to Joe Wheeler State Park in northern AL.  The weather was still warm and breezy, and the campground is heavily wooded with pines.  The breeze carried the pine scent through the motor home along with the smell of cedar wood fires - my kind of camping!  

Alabama Bambi / Joe Wheeler State Park

We then moved on the Huntsville, AL to the Air and Space Center where there is a small RV campground.  While here, we toured the Space Center and made it to the IMAX theater to watch the 45 minute film about the invasion of Normandy narrated by Tom Brokaw.  We were the only two in the entire theater.  The effects were pretty amazing.  Using the ap I have on my iPhone to find dog parks, we discovered a fenced  park in Huntsville to take the dogs.  Both days found other large dogs and the pups had a blast.  That kind of exercise is a must, particularly for Bella / high energy beastey.

Air and Space Center Huntsville, AL

An example of original flight aptly hanging in the huge building that holds a Saturn V rocket.


Off to Red Bay, AL this Sunday morning to get in line, wait for service and head further south. 

This coming Friday will mark six weeks after the ankle break.  I'm blessed we've been able to alter our schedule to accommodate healing and to do all that in such beautiful settings.  Yet to be honest, having a broken ankle in particularly is extremely confining and a big pain in the rear!  I'll be glad to lose the walking cast and be more mobile soon.

Brown County, IN

First, if you are ever in IN in the fall, Brown County State Park near Nashville, IN is a MUST visit.  The state park has several hiking trails, a couple of lakes, and view after view of fall color that are all stunning.  The area has been protected since 1941, but prior to that, like so many other wooded areas, was abused without consideration.  Now it's become an internationally known area for fall color.  The small town of Nashville historically has been an area where artisans of all kinds gather to practice their crafts.  Shop owners have tried to hold to that tradition although some measure of commercialism has seeped into the area.

In addition, Brown County has sentimental meaning to Jerry and me.  This is where he proposed to me 34 years ago.  This is where we returned every year to honor that time.  Our plans were to be here a week, walk and enjoy returning to our roots and move on to another stint in Red Bay, AL.  Wellllll....

Remember what I said about life's twists and turns?  Revise the last statement from my previous post...  Cool mornings, coffee and NO walks with the dogs.  We were only in Brown County State Park a few days before we attempted a moderate hike with the dogs.  Halfway to Ogle Lake, I slipped on gravel, fell - breaking my left ankle.  No it wasn't the puppy's fault.  Fortunately, a friend from Elkhart was also here for a few days.  While I started to hobble my way back to the trail head, Jerry took both dogs to get help.  Before Jerry got back with help, I had several offers of assistance from other hikers. I wasn't about to let someone carry me out.  I was hobbling and at that point hoping I had only sprained my ankle.  I know not every single person is good hearted, but thankfully we've only met the ones who are.  A young couple with a two year old came by on the path and were clearly very bothered that I insisted I was just fine.  They finally walked ahead only for the young man to return a bit later with a sizable tree branch he had cut for me to use as a walking stick.  Somehow my ankle didn't hurt that much after that.

Jerry came with assistance, and we found our way to an emergency clinic and an orthopedic doctor only to find out no sprain, spiral break.  Six weeks in a removable walking cast.  We figured it was best to try to stay put and found one open spot for an additional 8 days in the state park.  The spot just happened to be in the handicapped area, and the park management approved our stay in that spot.  We are now comfortably set up in a handicapped spot - all concrete, a fire pit and picnic table - for the next 8 days.  I'll see the orthopedic doctor again before we move on to a couple of weeks at Mammoth Cave National Park.  After that we may check out a state park in Alabama before settling in at Red Bay, AL.  We need the ankle to be usable before we hit Red Bay.

Here's the thing about our travels.  Everything is negotiable, adjustable - the art of making in-flight corrections.  We don't have to be anywhere at any specific time.  In fact, we are starting to find it quite constraining when we do.  So for now we will alter our journey to accommodate the healing process, and we will enjoy watching the colors of Brown County change literally before our eyes.

One of many vistas in Brown County State Park.
Taken at the beginning of our stay.  Touch of color barely visible.

Resuming the Journey

After a two month stop in Elkhart, we have resumed our travels.  It's always bittersweet to leave family and friends.  It's still exciting to continue to travel.  We're once again reminded not to get too locked in to a particular destination because life's little twists and turns may change the plan...

Our departure preparations included a Whale wash and wax.  As Jerry was walking around the Whale to  check out progress, he discovered a split in the side wall of the back driver's side slide - about two inches long.  Eventually, enough water could seep in to rot the side of the Whale.  Our trip to the east coast of Florida via Charleston and Savannah have been scrapped for a return trip to Red Bay, AL.  This will be warranty work.  While in Red Bay, we will also get the engine serviced.

We will spend a week in Brown County, IN before heading to Red Bay.  Those reservations have been made for months, and it's on the way...  sort of.  We use to take a long week-end to Brown County every year.  It's one of our favorite places although the quaint town town area of Nashville has gotten way too commercial in recent years.  The Brown County State Park is gorgeous, especially in the fall with trees turning every shade of yellow, red and orange.  Crisp mornings, wood fires and long walks with the dogs will be the going fare for this next week.

Running the Gauntlet

While home our days are full of family, friends... and doctors' appointments.   Given our track record in the last 5+ years, it feels much like running the gauntlet.  When we talk to others who are thinking about living full time in their RV, health concerns are a very real stumbling block.  One conversation we just had recently went this way....  We don't think we can full time because we would have to go back home four or five time a year for medical care.  Of course all situations are different.  We can only speak from our personal experience.  Thus far what we have to deal with is manageable from other locations with doctors here calling the shots.

This trip home has given us the opportunity to spend time with new and old friends.  Time on the river, both the upper and lower St. Joe, with friends has been peaceful.  We have also been blessed to spend some time with friends we met in TX who are currently in MI.

The bulk of our time at home has been spent with puppy, Bella and our dog Maci.  I'd forgotten how time consuming puppies can be.

Next week is our last week here.  Next week we get a new windshield in the Jeep, a repair of the Whale windshield, wash and wax of the Whale and carpets cleaned.  In between all that the boat will be stored, the inside of the Whale gets totally wiped down, all pillows, covers and clothes are laundered, items get stowed, and all will be ready to pull out on Monday, Sept. 22.

We head to Muncie, IN for a couple of days for me to spend time on Ball State's campus.  Then we will spend a week in Brown County, IN.  We will head from there to the Smokies.  Then down the east coast to Charleston, Savannah, east coast of Florida before we head to TX for a month or two.

Unless, of course, doctors tell us otherwise...

So what do you do when you are home sweet home?

Where to begin?  Of course we are spending much needed time with friends and family.  We are also taking advantage of the down time to clean, reorganize and make updates.

No matter how organized the "basement" is, it always needs reorganizing.  We say we are constantly trying to see how we can downsize.  This is a testament to having too much stuff.  After almost three years, we are still trying to weed out things we don't need.  But what if... ?  That's always part of the debate when we start cleaning out.  Now that we have two dogs /  twice the dog food, we had to make room for storage.  It's a process.

One of our favorite jokes is that when we sit too long, we spend too much money.  During our time in Elkhart Jerry has installed a macerator, a new water pump and tire pressure monitors on all tires including the Jeep.  For those not familiar with an RV sewer system, the macerator eliminates the large tube from the RV to the sewer whether that be a full hook up or a dump station.  The macerator pulverizes the sewage making it necessary for only a small hose - like a water hose.  It's all around a cleaner way to go, less smelly.  It also take longer to dump the tank.  As with everything there are pros and cons, but so far we are happy with it.

The tire pressure monitors are a safety item.  The equipment is wireless, and it monitors both tire pressure and temperature of all tires on the RV and the tow vehicle.  Levels are set to activate a warning if temps get too high or pressure gets too low.  The hopes are if we start to blow a tire, we will have warning and get slowed down fast enough to avoid a serious accident.  We've been talking about installing these for two years.

The water pump was an equipment malfunction.  Fortunately there is a SurFlow location in Elkhart.  When they examined the pump, they determined the manufacturer put adhesive in a place that caused it to go into the pump.  SurFlow replaced the pump for free.  That's the kind of business you want to return to.

We are also spending an inordinate time with our two dogs - Maci and Bella Rose.  Both are high energy and require consistent exercise.  We're located in the far south east corner of the campground where we can run the dogs by playing ball and walk them.  It's a great spot to be in!

We did take a break to go to a Taste of Elkhart at the new botanical gardens - The Wellfield.  What an incredible community effort that has been.  Scores of volunteers have planted the gardens designed by a landscape architect.  Over the course of the last few years, more garden areas have been added.  Currently the pathway around the outside perimeter of the park is about a mile.  During the "Taste" event, several restaurants in Elkhart set up booths and offer limited items from their menus.  What a treat!

The Wellfield in Elkhart, IN

The day was overcast so pictures were not clear.  This one area showing the stone walkway, a pond and a pavilion.  Such a peaceful setting.

Our time in Elkhart continues with friends and family, dinners, cookouts and mobilizing to get on the road again.

We find we get restless after about a month.  We won't be giving up this lifestyle any time soon.

Maci and Bella loving the motorhome life

Home

My goal this time home is to not neglect the blog like I have in the past.  I've realized coming home is as much about traveling as the other places we've visited.  It's exciting in different ways.  Even the most familiar aspects change over the course of a year.

Our first week at home, Elkhart, IN, was spent spent with family and getting prepared for our new puppy that would arrive the following Tuesday.  I won't bore you with talk of the dogs, but if you are a dog person, and want to hear about our adventures with Maci and Bella please feel free to check out my new blog, For The Love of The Dog.

Gradually, we have been able to see or plan to see several friends from this area, and we've already visited our favorite restaurant a couple of times.  Driving around the area reminds us you can go home again...  just don't expect it to stay the same.  People and places move on, grow, change, disappear.

We have grown and changed.  Thankfully, we haven't disappeared just yet.  One of the most poignant example of our growth and change is when we recently went to our storage garage to organize and make decisions about items that we don't really need to keep anymore.  A year ago, I looked at the stacks of stuff and could not imagine getting rid of any of it.  What if someone in our very small family wanted those pictures of relatives generations back.  You know...  the ones no one can remember their names.  What if one of the kids wanted that Mother's Day card made for me when he / she was in first grade.  All those mementos that were so dear when they were given, but what about now.  Still dear but the perspective is so different.  Many other thoughtful, loving cards and gifts have been given, and at the end of the day, the thoughts that went along with those cards and gifts are really what is meaningful.
How about the good china and other assorted glassware that is of little interest to my daughter or daughter-in-law?  Not their tastes.  Gone are the days when children gladly inherit dated items just because they belonged to an older family member.  That's OK, but now what?  Several boxes of fine china and everyday dishes that I'm not even interested in anymore.  I have changed, and my tastes have changed.

Most importantly, what I have learned after two years of traveling in the Whale full time is we need far less than ever to enjoy far more than ever.  We'll see how this part of the journey goes as we complete our stay in Elkhart and continue on.