Has It Really Been A Year?!?!

Wow. It was a year ago we retired, sold everything, and started our travels in the RV. A year ago!! Looking back it seems like a lifetime ago, so much has happened in that time. September 27, 2019, I retired from my position of 30 years at the Freehold Public Library, Paul had already retired in March. Our home had been sold, 90% of our possessions sold or given away; we were living in Dexter, our RV. On October 8, we headed out on our new life adventure and what an adventure it turned out to be. We traveled most of the east coast: from Vermont down to Florida, visiting friends, family and beautiful places. FairyStone State Park in Va., Okefenokee Swamp in Ga,, Herkimer Diamond Mine, NY, and the Everglades in Fl, truly stand out. Florida has many memories in itself: The Manatee in Blue Spring State Park, all the amazing bird life at Okeechobee, getting to visit with our grandson Brandon and his folks, and of course there was the RV repair fiasco that enabled us to be amazed at all the iguanas at John Prince Campground. We left Florida in mid February and continued our travels westward. Falling Waters State Park, seeing the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi, Lake Claiborne State Park in Louisiana, Hot Springs Nat'l Park, Arkansas were highlights but yet so much more as well. 

We arrived in Texas mid-March and suddenly the world as we knew it was no more and never will be again. For 46 days we were locked down at Lake Tawakoni Campground due to COVID-19. We were so fortunate to be in such a lovely location with great people. Twas during this time when the 'it really hit the fan. All our reservations we had were cancelled, no going to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Badlands. Heck we didn't even know if we were going to have any place to stay as campgrounds were closing all over the country as well as state borders. Again, we are so thankful to Thousand Trails for making it possible for anyone at one of their campgrounds to stay put indefinitely (where the states themselves didn't say otherwise). Our son-in-law, Kevin, who was not suppose to be deployed until mid-June/July, had to leave his family and report to the ship in April leaving Sara alone with the three boys not knowing when he would be back (we still don't: some time between late December and March is the possibility.) If that wasn't bad enough it was soon after this that they received the diagnosis both younger boys have Autism. To add to the emotions, it was during this time with me stuck in Texas, my daughter in Washington, and my son in New Jersey, that we received the news their father had passed. And we could not be together.  We also found out we were to be grandparents again, our Miss Karen will be having another child in October. Turbulent time, yeah you could say that, and this was how it was or worse for so many people and yet till this day it continues.  We kept making plans and having them change, our heads were spinning. 

It was during all this we made a life changing decision. As soon as we were able we were hightailing it out of Texas and making a beeline to Washington. That turned out to be the very end of April. We left and only stopped each evening to sleep. Making reservations as we traveled, never sure if the campgrounds would be open when we got there. Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana went by in a blur. Such beautiful countryside though, I look forward to someday spending time at each. As we traveled I was busy trying to find us a place to live in Washington as we had decided to remain there while Kevin was gone to help anyway we could Sara and the boys. They needed us, we needed to be there. How so very odd renting an apartment sight unseen and then having to buy furnishing online as stores were not open. It truly amazes me how well it all came together. We even bought a car through CarMax without seeing it first. What a crazy world to live in but so thankful this was during a time when we could buy online. What would we have all done at other time? 

So by Mid-May, we became residents of Washington State. Wow, huh. The RV is in storage, we have an apartment, a car, and two plots at the community garden. It is a beautiful state, the mountains, Puget Sound, the trees, all incredible. We were able to take Sara and the boys to the Pacific Ocean for several days in the RV. What fun to watch them play in waves. Things are still crazy, there is no in school classes only online, they have finally been able to start scheduling assessments and going to Occupational Therapy. More services should be soon available for them all. So we juggle schedules and who goes where when. our garden does well, we have been canning, cooking and making the best of things. We are adjusting to this life and often talk about what will be next. That is truly up for grabs though we do plan on doing more traveling once Kevin is home and they reestablish their lives. Will we go back to fulltiming, extended trips of a month or so, your guess is as good as mine. Who knows where or what we will be doing this time next year. If nothing else, this year has taught us one must be flexible, determined, find enjoyment whenever, wherever one can and yes, keep you sense of humor as best you can. Follow your dreams where ever life leads. 

What a difference a year makes!! Be well my friends. When time are so crazy remember: This too shall pass.

Thanks for being a part of our journey. And yep, we still look at each other and say "What are we crazy?!?!?!

Where are we? How are we? What are we doing now?

Where are we? How are we? What are we doing now? These are the questions we have been asked by many and I thank you all for wondering and being concerned.

First and fore most: We are well, just adjusting to our new life adventure. Where are we? We are in the state of Washington. What are we doing now? Well that's an interesting question, so let me back up a bit.

I have been trying to get a post up for many weeks now but each time I sit down to write one up, I just go blank. Well, not really go blank, I just have had a lot of trouble trying to write honestly without so much of the emotion that I was feeling. It's has been such a trying time for all and while maybe in some ways not as hard for us as for others it was difficult, so much of the time just trying to stay above my emotions. We got to Texas and almost immediately went into lockdown mode for 46 days. Thank goodness we are self-container, we did not have to use the public facilities and all amenities at the campground were closed. We never left the campground accept twice in that period to go grocery shopping. We didn't know one day to the next whether or not we were going to be able to stay there, as so many states were closing not only public campgrounds but private ones also. We were so very fortunate in where we were. It was a beautiful location right on Lake Tawakoni, Texas. Lots of room to walk, ride our bikes, or just sit and be. The staff was great, trying hard to accommodate everyone and the other campers respected the new rules of social distancing.

But it was still so hard. We were in the middle of nowhere, not knowing where we could go next, with all those so very important to us in places getting the hardest hit by COVID19. We could do nothing for them. We worried and still worry as it is not over. My children lost their father (my first husband) during this time and we could not gather together. One in NJ, one in Washington, and me in Texas. How my heart broke for them and for so many others that also of lost someone during this crisis. We all know there will be no going back to what was, that no longer exist, instead we can only hope to see things ease up and find a new normal. During this time, the Navy decided to send my son-in-law's ship out earlier then expected so there was my daughter trying to take care of their three emotional charged, highly energetic sons, all alone as there to no one could gather together.

It was for this final reason we made a life changing decision. As so as things opened up that crack, we high tailed it out of Texas and bee-lined for Washington. We stopped only to sleep at what campground we could find open, and get gas. Kept safely to ourselves, again being thankful we were self-contained.

The areas we past though were filled with beauty and I long for the day I can go back through those states to explore them more thoroughly. We did no touristy things as nothing was open, no state or national parks, no museums, no restaurant, the world was a ghost town. Yes, I will admit, each time we passed a place we were to visit but now our reservations to had been canceled, I shed a tear. The many natural wonders we had set out to see, we no longer could. With hope, in the future, for the present, no.

As we traveled, we had to make plans. You see, we have decided to come off the road for the present. We are going to be staying near our daughter and grandchildren while Kevin is deployed. We found an apartment near them and accepted it sight unseen. We found a campground to store the RV and yet use it from time to time. We have had to order furnishing also sight unseen, online as no stores are open. It has been an interesting experience. But I cannot begin to tell you how absolutely wonderful it is to be able to wrap my arms around Sara and those three amazing boys of hers. Worth it, oh indeed.

So this answers all those questions asked earlier, We are Well, We are in Bremerton, Washington, We are adjusting to apartment life. The most important of those are WE ARE WELL!

We will continue to go out and explore with the RV from time to time. Even getting to take one or two or all the boys with us when possible. This is a big beautiful state and we looking forward to learning about our new home. I will be posting here from time to time talking about what we are doing and when we go exploring. I will be going back in time once in a while to post some of the beautiful photos I took along the way. Thank you all for following along and I hope you stay tuned for whatever comes next it this crazy life of ours.

Oh on a fun note, We have taking a plot in a community garden! Now there's a fun adventure in itself.

Love you all

Be Safe Be Well

Lake Tawakoni

4/22/2020

It's been a while since we have posted. As I told a friend of mine, just haven't been able to find my inner muse. We are in Northeast Texas at Lake Tawakoni (Ta -Wa-ka-ni). The name translating to River Bend Among Red Sand Hills is also the name of the Native America people who lived and live in the area. We were very fortunate to have stopped here on our journey. Our plan was to stay here for a week and then start heading north to the Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and onward. COVID-19 had other plans for us as well as the rest of the world. Twas at this time the world as we knew it stopped. All reservations were canceled as parks across the country closed. That was back in Mid-March and looks like we are here until the end of April.

The campground is great, large with lots of room for walking and biking. If you are into fishing and boating it would be perfect. Normally, there are two pools, two activity centers, the usual playground, miniature golf, and lots of programs and gatherings. Of course, at this time all that is unavailable as “Social Distancing” is the new norm for now. This campground is part of a membership program called Thousand Trails, one we debated buying into and yet are so glad we did. This program has allowed us and all their members to “shelter - in- place. Normally, depending on your membership level you can stay at one of their parks for 7 to 21 days, but when all hell broke loose they have allowed anyone already at the campground to stay until further notice at no additional cost.

We did have to change sites a week after being here as we came during a time of heavy rain storms that caused the Sabine River above us to flood which in turn caused the lake to overflow it's banks. Our site was about 10 – 15 yards from the waters edge when we got here and, well, about 5 feet from our unit when we sought a site more inland.  The sites here are generously large and with the closing of new reservations and many of the people here that were now heading back to their homes, the place is virtually empty. Which is fine by us. Quiet is good. The staff has been great with keeping things running a smoothly as possible and always friendly.

As mentioned our activities include walking, biking, as well as, reading, chatting together, planning what's next, playing games, and I did some hand sewing and made a pillow. Oh Yes, My first attempt at cutting Paul's hair! Came out rather well and no blood was shed. LOL Another bigger transpired, Paul is now reading from a kindle! And he thought it could never happen, HA!

Mirror Image LOL

An entertaining tidbit: Our RV is rather unique in that it has no slides. So with this in mind imagine our surprise when the same one pulled into the site next to us! Couple years older but yep another Coachman Freelander 27QB. That tickled me.

We are hoping we will be able to continue northward soon. Once we do, we will be on our way to Washington, we won't be stopping along the way except for the night at whatever campground we find open. We will load up on groceries before we leave so as not to have to stop along the way and as our RV is self-contained we will continue not using facilities at rest stops or campgrounds. Once there we will slow down just a little as we make our way across the state to be near our daughter and family. At that time a new phase of our journey shall begin and more about that at a later date.

Until next time we can only wish all to Be Safe and Be Well. We are doing what needs to be done and hope everyone else is as well so we can move beyond this shadow and find a new normal.

Photos of the campground flooding

Will be taking more and posting at a later time. Just been laying low and not carrying my camera of late.

And I can still be entertained!

We have a rather unique RV in that it has no slides. There aren't many like that and fewer still of our make and model. So imagine our surprise and delight when what should pull into the site next to us but a Coachman Freelander 27QB! Couple years older but yep, the same! Love it.

Our Twin!!

A Rant

April 4, 2020

I am going on a rant today as I'm fed up with the knee jerk reactions of state and local governments, especially in how it pertains to us and the millions like us. I get the trying to control this plague we all are experiencing. I get social distancing, shelter in place except to grocery shop and exercise. I get closing of non-essential businesses though I can't help but question how that is determined. Sorry folks, but no, gun shops should not be considered essential businesses and yet libraries are closed, and yes, I know a lot of you are going to have something to say about that. Don't bother you're not convincing me. I get so much of what is being done and a lot of it I applaud and wish they had done sooner.

Right now my concern and head shaking is about the ridiculous panic mode before thinking it through that concerns campgrounds. There are estimated to be several million Fulltime Rvers, and more than half of those have no actual sticks and bricks home. They live and some work in their RVs. Of that almost half again of those are people who are retired and over the age of 60. Now do keep in mind with this plague 60 seems to be the magic number they have come up with to decide risk factor.

So what are state and local governments doing? Closing campgrounds or putting severe restrictions on them. Almost all states have closed their state park campgrounds and now are trying to close private ones as well. And yet they are leaving parks open to day use?!?!?! This makes no sense. Close the bathhouse facilities, yep I get it, close the amenities, yep again, not allow tenters and other camping units that are not self contained, oh yes, no problem. But to close campgrounds to RVs that are fully self contained no, that makes no sense. Our unit and the units I am talking about have kitchens, full bathrooms, have fresh water tanks and tanks for waste water. We don't have to leave our “home”, except to shop for food. Talk about the ability to Shelter In Place. And yet they are taking away that option, they are taking away Where we can stay. Latest is many states are not allowing campgrounds to be open to overnight or short term stays and have strange and ridiculous travel bans in place. So now you have thousands of RVers that do have options to go to a sticks/bricks and how many more that have been wintering in the south trying to get home BUT CAN”T. Oh and some states have closed rest stop along highways. Great move folks, I guess I should give them credit for opening them back up to truckers eh.

What really takes the cake in all this nonsense is the fact that Hotels, Motels, B&B, and the like are allowed to stay open and receive overnight guests. REALLY?!?!!? who makes these rules up. So it's okay for someone to exposed themselves to the germs that can be found at these establishments, the surfaces touch by many many persons, sleep in beds that someone else slept in last night, interact with hotel personnel and have to find somewhere to eat, but it's not okay for us to spend the night in a campground, sleep in our own bed, cook in our kitchens, use our own bathroom? Would you rather have RVs park on the side of road, in parking lots and anywhere else they can find a space? You tell me how that makes a lick of sense.

We ourselves are fortunate, though all the reservations we have made to go different places have been canceled, we are in a campground that is able (at this time) to allow those here to stay here until April 30^th. After that, well time will tell. We are safe and we are thankful for that. But my heart goes out to the thousands if not millions that aren't so fortunate. Yes, we all have to do what we can to help stop the spread of this horrific virus but can we please just stop and use a bit of common sense?

Hot Springs Arkansas

Hot Springs Arkanas 

March 9 – 12, 2020

Zipped out of Louisiana and 

over into Arkansas.     

Look we found WALDO!! 

Wanted to check out the National Park there so we found Hot Springs KOA to stay in. It was nice but not very unusual or exciting. It was very convenient to Hot Springs National Park. One of the perks of the park was the shuttle service back and forth between the KOA and the national park. The national park and town of Hot Springs was a fun day trip for us, but more on that later from Teri. The campground had few outdoor amenities and limited walking areas. There were a few trails but nothing very long. The office had most things a camper might need and the people here were very helpful. The bathrooms and laundry were in good shape and clean. This was our first KOA, and while not very memorable, was a nice quick stopover.

Nice Comfortable Site

Hot Springs National Park

Paul and I spent a day at Hot Springs National Park on March 10. When one thinks of a National Park one immediately thinks of being surrounded by nature, out in the wilderness, some remote place with awe inspiring views. Not so Hot Springs. When you arrive at the town of Hot Springs your first thought is how do I now get to the National Park. Well, guess what, you are there! You stand there on the main street (Central Avenue) and look from one side to the other. On one side of the road is typical touristy shops, restaurants, apartments; looking just like a downtown anywhere USA. Then you look to the other side of the street and there it is: the National Park, that section being also known as Bathhouse Row.

BathHouse Row

Hot Springs is the oldest National Park, established in 1832, making older than Yellowstone by 40 years. It was established to protect the amazing thermal waters flowing from Hot Springs Mountain. Like so much of America this land was first used by American Indians in particular the Caddo, Quapaw and Choctaws. You can read more about this Here (https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/historyculture/upload/american_indians.pdf).

In 1804, an expedition was sent out to explore the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. The springs were “discovered” and it didn't take long for them to be exploited and turned into public bathouses. The town grew rather haphazardly. Soon the government came in and set rules and regulations and eventual made the area on the south side as well as Hot Springs Mountain a National Park to help control and preserve the area. There are several of the historic buildings on Bathhouse Row, and a few you can go into it. Two are spas where you can experience the hot springs, yes, for a steep cost. 

And one is a restaurant where we had a fun lunch to celebrate Paul's birthday including a beer flight of local beers. The museum run by the Nat'l Park is interesting and informative. Here is were you can get more info: https://www.nps.gov/hosp/index.htm

On the top of Hot Springs Mountain is a observation tower that overlooks the area. There is a crazy winding rode you can drive or like us you can hike one of the many trails.

The formation of the springs is fascinating and, no, I don't completely understand how it works. Here is information on that: https://www.nps.gov/hosp/learn/nature/hotsprings.htm 

It is amazing the water coming out of the springs is over 150 degrees and takes over 4 thousand years to reach the surface!! No bacteria lives it and it has a pure taste. It's neat there are several places where you can put your hands in the water, believe me, it's HOT!

Also they have a fountain where you can fill bottles of the water. People in the area come regularly and use it almost exclusively.

Fun, educational, interesting, Worth the visit.

The now defunct Military Hospital, Such a impression building. 

Hot Spring Fountain

Looking down through the steam

Fun street sculpture Several different ones in area

Lake Claiborne State Park, Louisiana

Realized with all this craziness in the world we hadn't posted our past several stops. So here without further delay we go back to the beginning of March! May all Be Well.

Headed out of Mississippi across it's namesake river. Couldn't get the pictures I would have liked as there was to much steel beam (which considering how far across the river is, is a very good thing!) With all the rain of late the great river was over it's banks and extended even further than usual.

 Our destination was Lake Claiborne State Park in Homer, Louisiana and this was a great experience for us. We spent the weekend of March fifth through ninth there and had a great time in the park. Our site was spacious and backed up almost to the lake. The park had a free laundry, which unfortunately had some broken machines, and nice bathrooms. And for those who want something different there were two disc golf courses to use. We didn't get the opportunity but it looked interesting. Lots of trees around us provided shade and privacy. Sitting out back watching the lake became our favorite thing to do.

 There were many trails to hike and we did most of them, even though they were pretty hilly. Some ran along the waters edge and allowed many views of the large lake. While hiking on one of the trails we can across this giant evergreen tree. MY goodness, how big as you can see Paul could not reach around it! Didn't think they grew them that big in the south! 

No that's not a tree with hands,
That's actually Paul trying to get his arms around it!

  The highlight of the park for us was the wildlife. While hiking we saw deer and an armadillo (a first for me). Those little guys move pretty fast. Watching the lake was fun too. On two occasions we saw a bald eagle travel over the lake. One day we watched as several hundred cormorants landed in groups until a whole section of water right behind was filled with them. I have never seen so many of them together before.

   This park was a great place to camp, hike or boat and we would love to come back someday.

Til next stop

Teri & Paul

Be forewarned, lot's of photos below!! ENJOY

Across the way looking at the back of our RV

Rather nice view!

One of many views from our backyard

Cypress knees always remind me of a little village.