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Living a nomadic lifestyle
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Finishing our first seven months on the road, we feel a qualified confidence as the newbie mystique of what do we do and how do we do it has faded into the past. Now, that is not to say we don’t have more to learn about this lifestyle having only tipped the iceberg but, like most very adaptable humans we are moving along comfortably. During our brief journey we have brought our rolling home to fourteen states, barely scratching the surface of the many cities and towns within them. We have visited with family and friends who, if not on our journeys path, we might not have had a chance to spend quality time with. A true blessing of exploring life has been unfolding before us.
A feather in our cap as our travels so far, have been fairly slow paced. When we started this journey, we both decided we were not going to rush ourselves along the way and made sure we had enough time in each location to, at least, get a good feel of the areas. Driving limits have been no more than 300 miles at a time or about 3.5 hours on the road at a time. Driving a motor home with a tow vehicle requires a great deal of mental attention and it quite literally wears one out. We hear about folks traveling great distances and long hours for pleasure and wondering how they get to really see and enjoy anything. The old saying, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey holds true, at least in our case. Over the past seven months we have experienced lots of different scenery, culture, architecture, history, music, food, wine, beer and spirits. More meaningful positive stimulation than we could have imagined. Domestic travels really send home the reality that we live in an exciting multi-cultural country. It is the people that make a country great and we are the only nation on this globe that thrives on multi-culturalism. A phrase heard many times is, it must be nice being on a constant vacation could not be farther from the truth. We, in fact, are living our lives pretty much the same as we did in our sticks n bricks with the only difference being, we change our neighborhoods. With changing locations along the way, we get to see and experience a lot of cool stuff and have the opportunity to meet and spend time with a lot of interesting people while enjoying the freedom of living life on our own terms. On a day to day basis we still have to shop for food and other necessary things along with paying bills, doing laundry, seeing doctors, making repairs etc., etc., etc. We are leaving for a month-long European vacation this week and will do all of the vacation stuff associated with our trip. In a broad sense we are like the pioneers of centuries past, traveling around this country and the world, as so many other folks do. In our case, not looking for new opportunities but rather to follow the weather and broaden our experiences. Call us gypsy’s, vagabonds, nomads, wanderers, perpetual travelers or crazy lunes but, fact of the matter is, we are just doing what we like while we are able. Freedom gives us all the opportunity to explore the type of lifestyle that brings us joy and is personally fulfilling. Our short-term goal is to continue to realize good health and forge forward with our chosen lifestyle as long as we are enjoying it and are able to. Traveling around this country it is hard not to realize how vast America is and although we have and will visit a lot of states, it would take more than a lifetime to see everything this land has to offer. “All we are is dust in the wind” holds so much truth. Nomadic travel is like being blown from place to place, settling in a spot only to be picked up and carried to another. Is the RV lifestyle for everyone, of course not, but in your lifetime, you would be remiss not finding your own way and pursuing the things that give you joy and bring life to your life? May the wind be behind you and carry you safely on your chosen journeys.
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What, you might ask, is Borscht? A soup with its origin in the Ukraine and a staple in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. This comfort food is made from beets which are pureed and blended, usually with sour cream and served over a hot, peeled potato with an additional dollop of sour cream on top. The taste is earthy and the comfort level associated is high. So, what is the mix with a belt? Well, the New York Catskill region in Sullivan and Ulster Counties was called the Borscht Belt from the 1920’s till the 1970’s. An area about 90 miles from NYC where mostly Jews escaped the city and migrated, in droves, for a vacation in bungalow colonies and hotels scattered, in mass, throughout the region. In the hotels they got all of the amenities associated with grand resorts including lots and we mean lots of food, social and sports activities and headline entertainment. In the bungalow colonies the guest mostly did their own cooking and created their own activities. Ok, ok, the answer to the question, why the name Borscht Belt? The soup, Borscht, is often associated with Eastern European Jews and considering the Catskills was the Jewish Alps the name Borscht Belt was totally appropriate. Other than food the big draw to the hotels was the entertainment. Just about every entertainer you could name from that era either got their start or performed at a Catskill hotel.
During the early 70’s we worked at a number of the resorts while in high school and college during the summer. The experience for a staff member was quite different than a guest. We won’t go into detail but if you want a good idea of the climate watch movies like Duddy Kravitz with Richard Dryfuss, Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze and of course season two of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The story lines are about as accurate as you can get. We worked hard, well not that hard, ate well and had lots of fun. Living conditions for the staff were a far cry from guest accommodations but being young and adventurous, we survived. On our exploration of the area we got a hold of an old Borscht Belt hotel and bungalow colony map. Our efforts were not as expected trying to seek out the long gone establishments which have been either been vandalized beyond recognition, demolished or taken over by other types of businesses. A sad state of affairs by any stretch of the imagination. Many of the bungalow colonies have been taken over by Hasidic Jews who come to the area from NYC and surrounding areas for retreats. Driving by many of them they look like the old villages their families lived in in Eastern Europe. The hamlet of Woodbourne in Fallsburg is an example of a Catskill area that has a major influx of Orthodox and Hasidic Jews during the spring, summer and fall. The businesses cater to their lifestyle and include a number of kosher eating establishments and groceries. So, what happened to the Catskills? To make a long story, with multiple events, short and to the point. During the late 60’s and early 70’s travel to Europe and the Caribbean became very accessible, family incomes increased and the desire to travel longer distances for greater adventure was taking hold. Southeast Florida also was becoming a place where retirees and families were traveling to and establishing residence. IBM Corp had a massive presence in Kingston, NY employing thousands of people and decided to pull their facilities out. The hotels were closing in mass and what was left was a hard place for residents to make a living and a huge downturn in the vacation population. The nails in the coffin were being pounded in with vengeance. Remembering when we were kids, going to the Catskill hotels with our families along with our personal experience of working at a number of them, packing for a 3, 4 or more-day vacation was a surreal experience. The typical day was broken up into distinct segments based around three massive meals. Preparation went something like this. You packed clothes for everything, and no outfit could be worn twice because even in a massive hotel like Grossinger’s, if you wore something twice everyone would notice, and you would run the risk of being the topic of conversation for 3000 people. This is not an option. You needed an outfit for breakfast, and after you finished stuffing your face you went back to your room and changed for the morning activities. Afterwards you went back to your room and changed for lunch. Again, you ate copious amounts of food and would take a leisurely stroll or ride back to you room and change for afternoon activities all the while wondering what you were going to order for dinner. About 4 o’clock you might go back to your room and take a little nap. About 5 o’clock you started to get ready for dinner. Suits for the men and evening gowns for the women as no business casual or less was allowed in the dining room for dinner. After finishing a dump truck portion of dinner and dessert you quickly headed back to the room and changed into a more leisurely outfit for the evening show followed by a late-night snack and then off to bed. Now, that was one day worth of clothes and as said before you could not wear anything twice. Multiply that by 3, 4 or more days and you practically needed a U-Haul to get the tremendous amount of luggage up to the Catskills. The last day you usually left to go home after breakfast and the outfit could not be the one you wore up to the hotel. Most likely your clothes size had increased as well. Most folks left being helped by a forklift for their luggage and their increased girth after eating a city worth of food. All right, maybe the forklift stuff is an exaggeration, but the amount of clothing packed, and food consumed is not. As a society we most certainly have changed, at least a little. When we left the Catskills our thoughts for this scenic area of lower Up-State NY are hopes they can recover and once again be a thriving destination in the mountains. Woodstock, in August 1969 was about so much more than the music. The Aquarian Exposition was 3 days of peace and music along with lots of rain. The baby boomer generation was coming of age and were starting to reject the social norms established by preceding generations. The nuclear family no longer fit into the advancing culture and technology of the 60’s along with a growing interest in social activism and the realization that the war being fought in SE Asia was being run by the political leadership during that time. Thousands of young men and women were sacrificing their lives for a cause many of them did not understand. The world was in turmoil. Music, art, culture, free love and recreational drug experimentation were taking a strong hold on the youth. Institutions of higher learning were promoting a do your own thing culture and the gathering at Woodstock, of 400,000 on the field and probably another 100,000 on the highways and outlying areas was about to make history.
We were not at the original festival back in 1969 but driving into the area it was strange how we both remarked about the feeling of lingering energy still in the air. Best described as an emotional swelling along with an overwhelming feeling of joy. The area is as pristine as it was 50 years ago with little commercial growth. As we approached the festival fairgrounds and museum, we passed White Lake and images of masses of people bathing in the water and camping along the banks sent images through our heads like flipping through a portfolio from the past. Driving into the festival grounds we imagined how blocked the roads were with cars and people flooding in. The very well-maintained property houses a terrific museum, arts and learning center along with a state-of-the-art concert venue and of course, the 600 acre bowl shaped field which was once land carpeted with alfalfa for Max Yasgur’s dairy cattle. When we entered the architecturally pleasing museum a docent was assigned to us and he led the small group through. The well-planned exhibits along with his vast knowledge of the times and event were totally engaging and brought a new sense of clarity. After the almost 2 hour guided tour was over, we were encouraged to go back through the museum and look at the exhibits in more detail as well as watch the individual movies presented. We ate a leisurely lunch on the outdoor patio and then proceeded to the monument. The best words to describe the field are, completely overwhelming. We looked out over the area from various vantage points, even getting to the area where the stage was on imagining what the musical artists saw, a sea of humanity. The barn across the narrow road where the acts grouped before going on stage is still there next to a flat area on a small hill where the helicopters landed as they brought the musical groups in. This preservation of history is a truly magical place and as said before, the energy is still lingering in the air. Next to the monument, the message tree is still standing. We were told that an arborist was consulted to strategically take cuttings and replant due to the original tree being in the later stages of its life. The area is extremely quiet with guests showing a reverence for these hallowed grounds. The sound of the wind and the deepest parts of imagination create images of being on that field in 1969. These are a few of the interesting facts we learned on our visit: The event produced and financed by Artie Kornfeld, Michael Lang, John Roberts and Joel Rosenman took a tremendous financial loss. 80 lawsuits were filed against Woodstock Ventures and they eventually paid off the 1.4-million-dollar debt incurred Before the gates even opened 80,000 people were already on the field and the small chain link fences were not enough to stop the masses of people coming in. It was declared a free concert. There were no reported acts of violence during the entire event which is a tribute to the love and respect people had for each other. Bill Graham of the Fillmore East and West managed many of the performing acts. His house band, a little-known group called Santana, was put into the music lineup as part of an agreement between Graham and the promoters to give them exposure. The rest is history. Santana will be one the featured groups at the 50th anniversary show at Woodstock. Carlos Santana said that the Woodstock grounds is the most sacred concert venue in the world and is proud and honored to be performing there once again. Joni Mitchell, who was dating Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash at the time was not able to attend the show as a performer because she was in appearing on the Dick Cavett Show that weekend. We were told that she was in constant phone communication with Graham Nash during the festival. Mitchell wrote the iconic song Woodstock and if you read the verses and delve into the metaphor of the lyrics you can truly get a feel of the climate of the 60’s. I came upon a child of God He was walking along the road When I asked him where are you going This he told me. I'm going down to Yasgur’s farm Think Ill join a rock and roll band I'll camp out on the land I'll try and set my soul free. We are stardust, we are golden And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. Then can I walk beside you I have come here to lose the smog And I feel just like a cog in something turning. Well maybe its the time of year Or maybe its the time of man And I don't know who I am But life’s for learning. We are stardust, we are golden And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. By the time I got to Woodstock They were half a million strong Everywhere there were songs and celebration And I dreamed I saw the bombers Riding shotgun in the sky Turning into butterflies Above our nation. We are stardust, we are golden And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. We are stardust, we are golden And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. We are stardust, we are golden And we've got to get ourselves back to the garden. The name Cape Cod easily rolls off the tongue and is a fitting name for this destination-oriented land mass off the coast of Massachusetts. First discovered by Norse Voyages in and around 985 - 1025 AD and inhabited by Native Americans. It is said that Leif Eriksson landed there in 1007 AD when the keel of his ship needed repair. In 1524 Giovanni da Verrazano landed their and named Martha’s Vineyard Claudia who was the wife of Claude of France. Finally, in 1602 Bartholomew Gosnold named the tip Cape Cod due to the abundance of Cod fish in the surrounding waters and renamed Claudia, Martha’s Vineyard, after his deceased daughter.
So now that you have a bit of history it is time for our take. First the name, Cape Cod has such an overwhelming array of fish and shellfish available it could have easily been named Cape Fish. Yes, you are saying that is a lousy name and just let Cape Cod stand. Done deal, no name change. Unless you are not a fish eater there is no way you can go to the Cape and not indulge or at least have a cup of chowda and a lobsta roll. There are roadside seafood stands and restaurants all over the place, each one claiming “best seafood on the Cape”. Ya gotta wonder if there is a little self-voting going on, but who really cares. If it’s good, it’s good. The drive in was pretty easy with not too much traffic and the RV park we stayed at was in a great location in South Dennis which is considered Mid-Cape just inland from Yarmouth. Our son, daughter-in-law and their new puppy Moose joined us for our stay. It was fun hanging and exploring together. Quality family time is always a blessing. Moose had a great time doing his puppy stuff and with the super good weather enjoyed a lot of outdoor play time. Last year we got a lifetime National Park Pass and handily used it on the Cape when we went to the National Seashore. We found a dog friendly area and had a nice day on the beach. Janet and I, being former sailors and on-going cruisers, love being on the water but are not fond of hanging on the beach. We did have a very relaxing day enjoying the cool breeze and bright sun. We did not venture into the water as it was a brisk 62*f. Moose got his paws wet and decided it was a bit too cold for him as well. The Cape is a breeding and feeding ground for Great White sharks due to the large grey seal population. No, Great Whites do not like hanging with the seals, they love eating them. A hefty food supply is just what brings them in just like the delectable array of fish brings in the tourists. There were a number of close to shore sightings while we were on the Cape and many of the beaches closed for an hour or so until the Great White threat cleared. The closest one we heard about was 40 yards off the beach we were on the day before. The thought did cross our minds that we preferred to eat lunch rather than be lunch. Janet and I had been to the Cape many years ago and our expectations were seeing lots of small fishing villages with grey shake siding buildings and the sound of gulls filling the air. Either we were never in the right places or that image does not exist or is long gone. Needless to say, we were a little disappointed. Now, we are not saying our expectations were shattered, just that the expected charm was not there. Hey, different strokes for different folks. We most certainly would love to come back to Cape Fish, oops, we mean Cape Cod again. Next time for a much longer stay to give us a chance for more in depth exploring. So, after a month in Massachusetts our stay here, thanks to our dear friend Terry’s brother for providing a lake front view for our rolling home, is drawing to a close. We will hold lots of fond memories of the places visited in this great state and most of all our kids, family and friends who we got to spend time with. Our adventure continues, next stop, the Catskills and the site of the Woodstock Festival in 1969 for a few weeks. Janet and I are so excited because we both worked in a Borscht Belt hotel in the area back then and had some great times. It will give us a chance to re-live some of those memories and we will, “Finally get to Woodstock”. Far out, peace and love. Over the weekend we went to Salem, Ma with our son and daughter in law, their new puppy Moose and our cousins Ellen and Bruce. Hot was a friggin understatement. How hot was it? It was so hot, any hotter and it would have been beyond hot. We experienced a heat index of over 108*f. The temp was so oppressive that we all felt completely drained and, at times, on the verge of feeling sick. How much of Salem did we get to experience you might ask? Well, not much. We spent the afternoon in air- conditioned shops and at one point sat outside, yes, we are insane, having cold non-alcohol drinks for fear of further dehydration. We did have hot clam chowda although. You cannot be in New England and get your fill of chowda. Actually, it is a proven, cannot qualify the proof, that if you eat hot soup when it is on the verge of hell hot outside it cools you off. We can attest to the fact that it just made us feel hotter but put nice smiles of contentment on our faces because it tasted so damn good.
Janet and I did get a chance to take our friend Terry’s pontoon boat out on the lake one day last week, when the temps, sky and air were just perfect. What a relaxing day we had just drifting along with the breeze blowing through her hair, I don’t have any, so it was not having the same effect on me. Sometimes it is just nice to not do much of anything and our month stay in the Boston area has been a good mix of doing and seeing stuff and just chilling. You have to do that at times to recharge, unwind and plan for the next step of the journey. Oh yea, forgot the maintenance we had done on our rig. New hydraulic line and generator repair. One of the inevitable parts of RV’s is that just like sticks and bricks homes, shit breaks. Depending on what the culprit is, you are at the mercy of time as parts need to be ordered and installed. We keep hearing that you just have to smile and put it in perspective as part of the journey. As our stay here winds down we are looking forward to spending a few weeks in the Catskills near New Paltz. That is our old stomping ground having worked in a hotel in Ellenville, NY one summer when we were in college. The hotel, like many in the Catskills is long gone as the demise of the “Borscht Belt” closed most of the well-known resorts our families frequented during the 50’s and 60’s and 70’s. We are hoping to see some familiar sights while we are there. At least enough to spark fond memories of out blast from the past. All and all it has been a wonderful time for us being with family and friends. Those times, for all of us, can be some of the most rewarding. When you are with people you love even oppressive heat gets taken down a few notches. There is no doubt that in our travels we will be back again. We are spending the month of July in the Boston area at a lake front property owned by the brother of our dear friend Terry. We have our son and daughter-in-law close by in Cambridge along with cousins in Brookline and long-time friends in the Charlton area. Eastern Massachusetts has been a great place, so far, to explore, eat, drink and visit with folks we love. It has also given us a chance to have some needed maintenance done on our rig and unwind and recharge after our first 6 months on the road. Even though our pace has been relatively slow, the extra downtime is a good thing. There are a number of ways full time travelers can go about their lives, fast and furious or slow gin fizz style. We prefer the more, easy going pace as it gives us a chance to change our neighborhoods at a comfortable pace and have a chance to taste the coffee and smell the roses without feeling like we have to keep moving to be somewhere else. Our initial research of the RV lifestyle kept stressing that a mistake made by newbies was rushing to see and do everything with the end result being that you see and do very little, except for driving, at that accelerated travel pace. Being well seasoned travelers, we knew that pace was not going to sit well with us.
So, what do we like about the area other than the opportunity to spend time with our kids, family and friends? Answer is, architecture, culture, scenery, food and drink. Now, that being a mouthful, let’s break it down. The architecture, especially in Boston and surrounding areas is a visual playground for Janet and me. Both of us are architectural nerds and having experienced some of the most exciting examples, especially on our travels to Europe, Boston and the metro area does not disappoint. There is nothing worse than coming into an area and finding that new construction has all but obliterated the beauty of iconic architectural styles. We are finding that although there is a lot of new construction the city planners have not forgotten the importance of preserving the old styles that help to keep the history of the area alive. Places where history comes alive for us were the city of Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Concord, Lexington and Lincoln. By no means are these the only areas but out of the ones we visited, the best example of life here beginning in the 1600’s. Culture in this part of New England is like any other major city, diverse and eclectic. Being a hub for some of the most prestigious institutes of higher learning there are students coming here from all parts of the globe, bringing with them their native cultures and giving exposure to all who are interested. The essence of what our great country is about, a cultural melting pot and yes, it is a beautiful thing. The scenery is diverse with a pleasant mix of urban and rural within short driving distances. This mix sits well with us and our mood. As for food and drink, there is one culinary choice that stands far out from the rest…Seafood. How can we come here and not have chowda, losbsta, shellfish and other swimming delights? Without going overboard, no pun intended, fish here is king. If you like brewskis, like we do, the Boston area has its fill of excellent craft breweries. What’s next for us? We are still here for a few more weeks before moving on and our plan is to keep visiting with family and friends until they are totally sick of us. We will continue to explore, eat, drink and recharge ourselves as we get ready for more. The old question, what came first, the chicken or the egg. As sailors and now full time RVers we hear and read the statement with the frequency of an over-active bladder. Is it about the journey or the destination? Walt Whitman sums it up well when he penned, “Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land”. Satisfaction, success, adventure are all journeys not destinations and as it has been said, the doing is often more important than the outcome. Yes, we plan a trip to the Caribbean and venture there for the purpose of sun, relaxation, adventure, food, culture etc. or Europe or a cruise or down the road to a favorite alone spot. All are destinations that require some type of journey. When you focus on the journey, getting to the destination opens up a treasure chest of learning and enlightenment. The journey helps you to grow personally and prepares you for your enjoyment of the destination.
Over the past six months as full time Rvers and during our lives as avid, ongoing, travelers we continue to learn the practice of slowing down and smelling the roses. Our RV journey has been unlike other newbies simply because we have been moving from place to place at a snail’s pace. We read about RVers that are driving long hours and huge distances almost daily to get somewhere with a focus on the destination while seemingly trying to get through the journey as quickly as possible. Now, understand, there is no right or wrong with traveling this way. Personal comfort and threshold dictate the method for getting somewhere. The point is, when there is an insignificant journey, it’s like getting to the end of a book without reading the story. The destination should actually be what sparks you to set out on the journey. So, you could say, the journey is the body of the story with potentially a number of destinations. Skipping the journey can disrupt the process. Journey vs destination, the question goes unanswered only to be left for travelers of all types to debate. Our journey, so far, in our RV lifestyle, has been interesting with ups and downs, destinations of interest and destinations that without the excitement planning the journey would seem mundane. We have, hopefully, many more journeys to come with bucket list destinations along the way. Life itself certainly is a journey with many known and unknown destinations. Here’s hoping your journeys take you to fulfilling destinations wherever that may be. The photographs below were taken in and around Croton on the Hudson, NY. Whether you grew up there or not most people have heard about the Jersey Shore. Some of the most spectacular beaches in the world with entertainment, great food, drink and of course Jersey folks. As a kid the family would pack up for the summer and rent a house in Bradley Beach, right off the boardwalk. Fun times running around, family, bar-b-ques, my dad and uncles taking the train down on Fridays for the weekend, the sunburns cooled with rags that my grandmother soaked in vinegar laid across our shoulders and of course, the beach and boardwalk. Janet, being a NY girl, had similar summer experiences at Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY until she moved to Jersey as a teen and Bradley Beach and the Jersey Shore became part of her. Going back to Bradley and Asbury Park brought back lots of memories for both of us. We drove the streets we had known looking at the typical Jersey Shore residential architecture along with new builds that had taken over the locations like the Loraine Hotel and many of the shops that we frequented. It is hard to explain the emotion that comes over you as memories of events and people, many of them gone now, flood your head and heart.
We drove through Ocean Grove, or as my grandfather called it, Ocean Grave and on to Asbury Park, just a short ride up the coast. Asbury, that was where the amusement rides and boardwalk food, stands and shops put happy faces on kids and adults alike for decades. Gone is some of the old school charm but a few of the iconic places are still there and thriving. The Stone Pony where Bruce Springsteen first played in 1974, Wonder Bar, the Asbury Park Convention Center where many world-famous music acts graced the stage are still operating. We reminisced about going to a Linda Ronstadt/ Jackson Brown concert at the convention center back in the early 70’s. Janet and I decided to spend the day at the beach before the show that evening and while walking around came across Linda Ronstadt with a few band members getting some sun on blankets in the sand. We went up to her and she graciously engaged us in conversation. Janet told her we were going to the show and wished her well. We were wrapping up our stay in Jersey. It is always a thrill to go “back home”. They say you can take the boy or girl out of Jersey, but you can never take Jersey out of the boy or girl. We have not lived there for many years but what is in our blood can never be purged. It was a pretty easy road trip with the coach and car towed behind up the New Jersey Turnpike and across the Tappan Zee (Mario Cuomo Bridge) into Tarrytown, NY where we spent a magnificent week in Croton on the Hudson. Looking forward to sharing the area with stories and photographs. Being native to New Jersey, Janet and I refer to the State as just Jersey. A State with much diversity, including productive farms, forests, mountains, lush countryside, an industrial eastern corridor with transportation, shipping, refineries, tourism and corporate bases. Not to forget, some of the finest ocean shoreline in the world.
Our visit through the State started on the southern tip, Cape May, as we entered via ferry from Delaware. Jersey is divided into two major areas, North Jersey which is metro NYC and South Jersey being metro Philadelphia. Having grown up in the northeastern part of the State, South Jersey had a foreign flair to it. We did not travel there often. Cape May area was, for the most part, a first for us. Verdict is we found it to be a beautiful area replete with everything and more you would expect from the Garden State. Ok, short of sounding like a travel PSA for Jersey we had fun exploring, relaxing, meeting up with good friends, eating great Jersey food and enjoying our explorations. We will not forget fresh seafood and the best pizza to be found anywhere. We have eaten pizza everywhere we have travelled and lived in the US and Europe. Hands down, the best of the best for us is in Jersey and NYC. Yeah, we know there is a lot of debate but all we have to say is "fuhgeddaboudit". What visit to South Jersey would be complete without a stop in Philly? We had the opportunity to trek into Queen Village. As the oldest settled area of Philadelphia, Queen Village contains many of the city's oldest houses with most of them a part of the National historic registry. The neighborhood was incorporated in 1762 by English settlers and has an eclectic ethnic flair. On recommendation from our cousins, we ate lunch in the iconic Famous 4th St Deli. This Jewish eatery was established in 1923 and has a menu that rivals imagination. We shared a gigantic tuna fish sandwich and a potato knish. Holyyyyyyy...smokes, was all we could manage to say. The food was just short of orgasmic. Stay tuned as we move further north in the State. Looking forward to seeing family and friends, exploring familiar ground, reinforcing old memories, eating some fresh bagels and of course, pizza. “Something told us it’s all happening at the zoo, we do believe it, we do believe it’s true” … Ok, you might be saying zoos are a terrible habitat for keeping animal’s captive. Well, in many parts of the world that is true. Conditions are often times less than acceptable and even on the verge of animal cruelty. We have to say we were pleasantly surprised during our visit to the Cape May County Park and Zoo in Cape May Court House. This pristine property, donated by the Matthews family, once housed their plantation here in southern Jersey. What was so impressive to us was the animals that require free range habitats were given acres of space to roam and graze. The air had a crisp clean aroma, partly, we are sure, because of the beautiful weather conditions and excellent grounds keeping in the park. Jersey has a reputation, especially from folks who have not lived there or only associate the state with the ports and industry in the metropolitan Newark corridor. Contrary to that assumption and not speaking of the politics or high property taxes, Jersey is a beautiful state replete with farmland, mountains, pristine lakes and rivers, a world-famous shoreline, boatloads of history and food that is not rivaled anywhere on the globe. So now that we have given our pitch for the state, let us tell you more about the zoo. We walked quite a bit following the well-marked paths guiding us to the different animal and bird habitats. Photos, photos and more photos are always a must everywhere we go. Due to muscle and joint damage from my past health crisis, I use a cane to help me keep at an acceptable pace and steady on my feet, so I don’t fall on my face. What do you do with a cane when you are taking photographs? Sometimes hand it off to Janet or lean it against anything available. While visiting the Leopard habitat we crossed a bridge overlooking the area. Cardinal rule, do not lean a cane on the rails of a fence. Why you might ask? Reason is, the cane will inadvertently fall into an area where you might never see it again and fall it did. We were not climbing into a Leopard habitat to retrieve the walking stick. We reported the mishap to the office. They called the next day letting us know they retrieved it. The last time that happened to me was on a prior visit to Hoboken, NJ and while photographing the NYC skyline on the Jersey side of the Hudson River I did the same thing (of course I sometimes don’t learn lessons), I leaned the cane against the fence and watched it fall through the rungs into the Hudson River, never to be seen again. We are sure that someday in a few hundred years when they dredge the river my Bat Masterson replica cane will become a museum artifact. The DELMARVA (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia) Peninsula is an east coast strip running from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel north for 170 miles. The ecological haven is rich with farming and sea life. We spent a week exploring this visually interesting area with stays on a Harvest Host and Boondockers Welcome property. This fairly narrow land mass had lots of great seafood restaurants, quaint historic towns and plenty of places for provisioning. The laid-back culture made for a relaxing time. Newfound friends, Theresa and Ken, live in the area we called home and it was great to have the opportunity to meet up and spend some quality time. We hope to have the chance to get together in the future. Our Boondockers Welcome host was very engaging as well and we enjoyed the time spent with him and on his rural property. Being on the road gives us a chance to meet so many interesting folks. Sharing stories and information makes the experience very rewarding. Two of the highlights of our stay in DELMARVA were a wonderful seafood dinner, on the water, for Janet’s birthday and a visit to a quality winery in Lewes. Our shellfish dinner and bottle of white along with the perfect waterfront setting was memorable. We spent several hours enjoying the food, drink and moment. Wine is literally everywhere, and first reaction is generally based on area. Well, truth be told, you don’t need to be in Napa or Virginia to experience a solid product. You need several things to produce the fruit of the vine. The proper terroir, the environmental factors necessary for vitis vinifiera grape growth, mature vines, careful viticulture and a winemaker who is knowledgeable and trained in winemaking. If you have all of that there is a chance that balanced wine can be produced. Proof in the pudding is amount of quality wine being produced in many unsuspecting parts of the planet. We love wine and have years of experience and education that help us to know what we don’t like. It has taken many more years to develop a sense of what we do like and why we like it. A fun hobby that goes with us wherever we travel. Wine snobs, no, just lovers of the all aspects of the grape. Our journey will continue as we take the Lewes Ferry to Cape May, NJ. No matter where we travel, or live Jersey is our home. The Garden State, once in your blood, never leaves. The state gets a bad rap, but it truly is a diverse land mass and a beautiful one at that. “In my mind I’m goin to Carolina” … a state that is near and dear to our hearts, having lived in Chapel Hill and our first grandson being born there. A state filled with history and a polite, welcoming culture. While we were there, we had the opportunity to go to downtown Fayetteville with Fort Bragg Army Base, home of the 82nd Airborne in the same town. The downtown area was walkable and filled with shops, eateries and watering holes along the historic looking streets. It was really hot when we were there and that with being a weekday left the streets fairly empty. Some cold brewskis helped us to forget how friggin hot it was. We were in the Fayetteville area for 5 days at a private property with a park like setting. Janet and I, along with the owners, a pediatrician and teacher, were the only ones there. They were gone during the day and not that they made any noise but the isolation on this exquisitely landscaped property was fantastic. We were sorry to have to leave but our pre-made plans dictated our next move. Chocowinity, NC on the banks of the Pamlico River with Washington, NC on the other side is a rural town inhabited by nice country folk. Washington commonly known as The Original Washington or Little Washington. The architecture is what you would expect from a southern town established in 1776. We enjoyed strolling along the Pamlico Riverwalk checking out the boats in the marina and restaurants with outdoor seating. The main street in the town had many antique shops and the historic Turnage Theatre. Built in 1913 as a vaudeville playhouse. It operated for 50 years before closing. The theatre was restored by the Arts Association of Pamlico and is a beautiful venue looking very much like it did in the early 1900”s. The historic town of New Bern was very interesting with several streets filled with shops, restaurants and pubs. We spent most of the day there walking around, window shopping and taking in a nice lunch. The town was founded in 1710, settled by Germans and Swiss led by Baron Christoph DeGraffenried from Bern, Switzerland. In the 1890:s Caleb Bradham, a New Bern pharmacist invented Brad’s Drink which today is known as Pepsi Cola. Ok, enough history. But what do you expect from an area filled with an abundance of it? The town is large but has a very small hometown feel. We got the impression that most of the folks walking the streets knew each other. Hey, we are tourists, so we were not part of that social click. I am sure we stood out like sore thumbs. No, I was not dressed in black nylon knee sox and sandals with shorts. Our home was an Encore RV property for two weeks built on a series of canals. It is an interesting, park like area that was hit very hard by hurricane Florence. They just recently had the place fully operational. The cleanup and retrofit was a massive undertaking. Our weather there over two weeks was extremely hot and dry. In the high nineties every single day. The two pools at the facility were a welcoming haven that we used almost every day. The evening before we left produced some intense thunderstorms complete with hail and tornado warnings. Basically, scared the crap out of us. We were in a river front watering hole and peoples phone started sounding tornado warnings. Why ours did not is a mystery to us. Like most of the folks we left. When we got into our car the radio started blaring take cover warnings and the sky opened up. By the time we got back to our motorhome, it was full blown mayhem. From the car to the rig we were completely drenched but glad to be home. We hunkered down, hoping for the best, until the storm passed. Hey, it’s all part of the journey. Charleston is known for her rich history, picturesque scenery, southern culture and culinary delights. Our visit to this beautiful coastal city was well worth it. I had been there a number of years ago on a business trip and told Janet I would love to go back with her as I knew she would thoroughly enjoy it. We set up our home about 20 miles away on a 35-acre rural property that we called home for a week. It was a sharp contrast from the abundance of tourists in Charleston. Having a car that we tow behind the motorhome makes it possible to live, for a short time, in off the beaten track places and still have the ability to venture into the surrounding areas and towns. Charleston, like Savannah, has a plethora of history, unique architecture, culture and food to delight the most discriminating tastes, including ours which are not that hard to please. We drove into the city and found it easy to park near the waterfront. We hoofed it around the central market area and then down toward the Rainbow District and The Battery which was filled with street after street of beautiful antebellum style homes and historic buildings. After our legs could not take anymore, we got the car and true to fashion drove very slowly, you could walk faster, up and down the streets. Aimless neighborhood surfing is one of our travel trademarks. We do that everywhere we travel, here and abroad. It is one of the best ways to soak in the architecture and local living. The popularity of major tourist areas has its pros and cons. Certainly, a boom for the local economy and all those people milling around creates its own energy. Downside is the crowds take away from the beauty of empty space. There is nothing better than walking down an architecturally spectacular street and not having to climb over folks or when you see that magical photographic shot and the masses are mixing in the whole vibe gets distorted. Ah, the challenges of having fun. If you have not been to Charleston definitely put it on your bucket list. Pack a good pair of shoes, your camera and venture out. Wow, what a beautiful historic city Savannah is. First impression is, this area is so large that walking all of the neighborhoods, especially for gimpy me, was not in the cards. We decided the best way to navigate and be able to see the different sections was a hop on hop off trolley. Yes, most definitely the right move. Savannah is laid out in a grid with each neighborhood having its own park in the center making it fairly easy to navigate. There are 15 potential stops on the hop on hop off and the narration by the drivers was informative and sometimes even comical due to the side comments made. The largest college in Savannah is, Savannah College of Art & Design which has a huge presence in the city with SCAD banners all over town. When you get into the city the first thing you are taken with is the architecture. More than 2500 buildings in the city have designated historical significance. You can find Federal, Georgian, Gothic Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate, Regency, Romanesque Revival, Second French Empire and Antebellum styles throughout the city. The restorations were painstakingly done with a great deal of pride in preservation. Getting off the bus allowed us to explore some of the neighborhoods get a feel for how life was in the 17 and 1800’s. The city was founded in 1733 by General James Edward Oglethorpe, a British philanthropist. Because of the grid layout Savannah was dubbed America’s First Planned City. The city has some famous haunted houses with the Hamilton Turner House on Abercorn Street holding its status at the top. They have haunted tours and unfortunately, we did not have the time to take one but we were told they are well worth going on. Maybe on another visit (we are sure the ghosts will still be hanging out). Savannah is a foodie and adult beverage town having no open container laws so you can freely travel around the city with a drink in hand. The food choices are southern low country delights with enough choices to go around. To our surprise, Savannah has the second largest port on the east coast with many huge cargo ships arriving and leaving daily. The port is expanding and bringing large amounts of revenue to this, already, thriving city. If you have not been here you should put it on your bucket list, it is well worth the visit. We hope to return someday and explore, eat and drink more of this southern treasure. MG, the initials of Morris Garages, is a British automotive marque registered by the now defunct MG Car Company Limited, a British sports car manufacturer began in the 1920s. On our last stop in Florida we visited long time friends Jan and Rick in Yulee, a suburb of Jacksonville. The quaint town has a historic downtown and is close to Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. Jan and Rick were gracious to let us park and live in our rig for a few days on their property. We had a nice, relaxing time with them, as always. They took us around the area giving us a chance to see a number of interesting sites along with tasting some of the local food and drink. Rick is a retired master automotive mechanic who owned and operated a renowned Volvo/Saab shop in the Central Florida area for many years. He is still actively working with a friend who collects vintage MG automobiles. Rick uses his skills to bring these, in some cases, rough vehicles back to showroom condition. He took us to the shop where the magic happens for a tour. The cars were in varying stages of reconstruction and the finished products were nothing short of breathtaking. It was hard for Janet and I to pick the one we would most like to drive around in although we did have our favorites. Jan and Rick are avid RVers in their own right having traveled to many areas throughout the country. We are hoping to hook up with them as we continue our travels to enjoy some adventures together. Our next location to explore is Savannah, GA where we are looking forward to taking in the sights, history, food and drink in this iconic southern port city. We are not going to dwell on social commentary, but Ft Lauderdale is truly a city of the have and the have nots. A far cry from the 1960’s movie, Where the Boys are, filmed there with stars Connie Francis and George Hamilton. We spent a week in this South Florida playground for the rich and famous and were taken back by the sharp separation between people with lots of dough and those barely getting by. Ok, enough about that. We had an enjoyable time strolling Las Olas Blvd doing some window shopping and sampling food and drinks from the restaurants and watering holes that line this well, known street. Janet got us visitor passes and we took advantage of the nice weather and spent two days cruising around the downtown waterways on the Jungle Queen and the Carrie B. What trip to Ft Lauderdale could be complete unless you went to the old Seminole Indian reservation, now a commercial attraction, and saw some good ole alligator wrestling. Hey, someone has to do it. They had lots of photographs of the by gone years when the village was inhabited by the Seminole tribe. I remember as a kid, coming to Florida from Jersey with my parents and sister. We took the Jungle Queen cruise and saw many of the sites depicted in the old photos. Lots of memories filled my head. Several of the highlights of our stay in the area were seeing our aunt and uncle, cousins Gene and Doris and our long time, dear friends, Jill and Mark. Unfortunately, time constraints did not allow us to see everyone in the area, but they are always in our hearts. We are fortunate to have family and friends throughout the country and the grounding that being with people you know and love along the way is satisfying to the soul. Janet and I were looking forward to moving further north on, what has been, an extensive stay in Florida. With a few more stops we will be saying goodbye to the sunshine state just in time to get away from the oppressive heat and humidity that is just around the corner. Matlacha, pronounced Mat-la-shay, is a small town next to Pine Island in the Fort Myers area on the west coast of Florida. Matlacha is an artsy enclave with pastel painted little buildings filled to the brim with art of all kinds. Yes, it is touristy, but that does not take away from the charm of this hobbit like village. Janet and I, along with Bob and JoAnne, walked along the narrow road that separated the waterway, on both sides, leading to Pine Island. We ducked into many of the art galleries along the way for a look at the crafts and also to get out of the heat and increasing humidity. One particular shop we visited had a magnificent outdoor gallery on a residential canal. It was an amazing display laid out with careful placement of the art pieces. The artist created a visual park that instantly brought smiles to our faces. We spent quite a bit of time walking the paths admiring the work displayed. Janet bought an acrylic flamingo that is a wind ornament. It fits on a thin metal pole and moves gracefully in the smallest breeze. It will make a nice outdoor mobile when we park our motor home. We ate a light dinner with some drinks at a local watering hole on the bay. The four of us sat, ate and drank until sunset. A very relaxing time was had by all. It was our last night with Bob and JoAnne until we see them again at the end of August for our trip together to Europe. Our visit to Fort Myers has been wonderfully relaxing and with great weather, before the brutal Florida heat and humidity set in, is the perfect location for Janet and me. Having our cousins Bob and JoAnne here, as bi-annual residents, is an added bonus. Our home base for the motorhome is an RV resort in the northern part of the city. The grounds are well maintained, and it has lots of trails for bike riding along with a pool and spa for cooling off and meeting some interesting folks. We feel like a minority as the majority of RVer’s here are French Canadian and, as you would imagine, French is the primary language spoken. Our command of French is limited to “French Fries”. Fort Myers has an architecturally interesting and very walkable downtown area along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. Thomas Edison had a residence and laboratory here and was responsible for revolutionizing the lighting in Fort Myers along with his wife having rows of tall palm trees planted on McGregor Avenue, with runs past the Edison Estate and Museum. We went to an art street fair in the downtown area and after some dinner, walked around people watching, art gazing and enjoying the tasteful architecture and beautiful evening weather. We are looking forward to taking a ride over to neighboring Sanibel Island and Captiva to take in the beach, shelling and the art enclave. Janet and I are feeling very comfortable in our new living environment. Just enough room for us. We have made a few modifications on the interior, converting a bunkhouse to an office and have a few ideas for further interior change as we make our home the way we want it. I did a thorough cleaning of the roof yesterday. It went smoothly and I was not out of my comfort zone. Just like when we were in our sticks and bricks, the motorhome requires its own set of maintenance routines. We have an appointment to have the engine serviced with an oil change. An oil change on your home, now that’s a new one for us. As our journey continues further south, on the west coast of Florida we had the opportunity to stay on our friends, Billy and Lisa’s property. Our dear friends have been so gracious to us making us feel at home. They had an ample area on their property for us to park our motor home and tow car. We lived in our home with the added benefit of spending quality time with them during our stay. Being long-time residents of Sarasota, they showed us how this affluent community continues to be a very desirable area for full time residents and tourists. The pristine beaches and hot spots were loaded with tourists, Janet and I among them. We had pleasant weather during our stay and in addition, it is spring break, so people were out in masses. We are extraverts but with practice you can be visible and invisible at the same time. At times, we like being by ourselves making it easy for us to acclimate in the midst of seasonal population explosion. The amount of wealth, as shown by exotic automobiles, estate type homes, high end shopping, magnificent watercraft and quality restaurants add to the mystique of this coastal city. The diverse architecture blends well to create a comfortable environment. We often wonder about the seeming, run away, environmental impact to the state. Resources are limited and the grim reality is Florida is being sucked dry by greedy developers and politicians who only see the immediate financial benefit. Hoping that care of this fragile ecosystem will not be overlooked to the point of no return. What an amazingly beautiful day exploring Tarpon Springs sponge docks and an early evening in Hudson Beach. We had been hoping the weather, here in Florida, would finally break and break it did with cool temps and sunny skies. Tarpon Springs is a Greek community on the West coast of Florida north of Clearwater Beach. A long history of sponge diving and better than the Greek Isles food make this a terrific place to stroll and enjoy all it has to offer. The streets were crowded with tourists, us among them. Janet and I had lived in this area along the beach for many years and were not strangers although we felt like tourists exploring the shops and bakeries along Dodecanese Blvd, the main street. People from all over the globe come here for the culture, food, pastries and real sea sponges along with the pristine waterfront that winds into the Gulf of Mexico. A short drive from Tarpon Springs is Hudson Beach. This very small community is on the Gulf with two restaurants, a motel and marina. Not much to see but a magnificent view of the Gulf of Mexico and spectacular sunsets to be seen. We did eat dinner their and had a good seafood boil with of mussels along with some drinks to complement the sundown. The Gulf coast of Florida has a lot of charm and does not seem as crowded and contrived as the East coast which, although not necessarily a bad thing, is like being in the Northeast with sweltering temps and humidity. We are looking forward to venturing further south along the West coast. Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida. We ventured through a maze of traffic to downtown Tampa, on the way passing the New York Yankees training stadium and Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL Tampa Bay Bucs. Having lived on the beach side south of Clearwater for many years the area is not foreign to us but there has been so much growth to this part of Florida we felt, every bit, like tourists. We have not moved our motor home in two weeks and our trek around the central west coast has been with the car we tow behind us. Lots of car driving has been part of our busy schedule. We are not keen on having a schedule, but family and friends brought us to this neck of the woods so drive we must. Well, not must just more like personal election. Every visit to Tampa should include a drive around the University of Tampa campus. One architecturally interesting building is Plant Hall, UT's central building, once housed the Tampa Bay Hotel, a resort built by Henry B. Plant in 1891, and the Moorish minarets atop the distinctive structure have long been seen as an "iconic symbol" of Tampa. Our nephew was a student there and our niece had her wedding in Plant Hall. We are very interested in architecture and whenever we travel it is an important part of our adventures. Along with the architecture comes volumes of history that helps keep structures alive to educate and keep memories alive. From city to rural settings to beaches you don’t have to drive too far, well on paper it’s not too far but in reality, the miles pile up. Just a mile from our home camp is Strong Tower Vineyard & Winery. This is, for Florida, a total surprise. When you think of Florida wine the first thing that comes to mind is awful fruit swill, not palatable wines from vitis vinifera grape. This unique find is a diamond in the rough. Beautiful, serene 12-acre property with mature vines and an owner/winemaker who knows the craft and produces very tasty wines. Florida, with its hot, wet climate and sandy, poor draining soil is far from the best for growing wine grapes. Through education and science backed by several universities in the state conditions were honed for optimum growing and production. We sampled several of the wines and settled on a Pinot Noir that was very nice. A pleasant, quiet afternoon was spent under a gazebo with a cool breeze and view of the vineyard pleasing many of our senses. We love the novelty of surprises around every corner and surprised we were. Coyote and Angela let us stay in our motor coach on their fabulous ranch property in Morriston, Fl. The magnificent location and amenities along with a relaxing setting was just what the doctor ordered. The eclectic couple gave us a complete tour and helped us get our rig situated. They are accomplished show car builders and have won many awards for their work at shows around the country. Another RV couple from N. Dakota, had their rig their as well. Janet and I were told to make sure we were outside at the beach pool and bar area, yes, it was a Caribbean setting complete with inground pool, tiki bar, outdoor living room and fire pit in the heart of equestrian country. So, at 6:30 we made our way, with a bottle of wine and our beach chairs, to the designated area on the property. What transpired was an evening of great conversation with interesting people and a cozy fire to complement our bottle of Cab Franc. Janet and I are still slapping ourselves hoping not to wake up from this most exciting dream. In a very short period of time, almost two weeks, we have traveled to and stayed in 5 states, explored some great locations and met some wonderful people. Our next two weeks will be in one location, staying in an RV resort near family and friends. It will be terrific to see everyone and catch up on our lives to date and share stories. Taking chances out of the comfort zone has always been an important part of our life and having each other to share it with gives strength and motivation to our journey. Our visit to Rome, GA was at a private 30-acre property on the out skirts of town. We had partial hook ups with electric and water. The hosts were very gracious and made us feel at home. Quiet and secluded with, with unfortunately, too much rain did not totally put a damper on our time there. We had some basic chores to do like, laundry and some marketing. When we finished it was time to explore the area. Rome is a historic town in N West GA near the Alabama boarder. Glenn Pop Warner was the football coach of UGA and during a game with UVA coached by John Heisman. A UGA player from Rome, GA was killed during the game and a memorial was erected to him, Warner and Heisman in the town center. Glenn Warner went on to become famous for starting POP Warner football and John Heisman had the famous Heisman Trophy named after him.
The town has a very large and thriving downtown with Broad Street at the center as well as the Berry College Campus and the Atlanta Braves Farm team stadium. Many interesting shops and eateries line both sides of the street. Walking up one side and down the other is a good mile. We ate some Thai food for lunch and strolled in the not so great weather. Being in the town was an experience that made us realize we probably would not have gone there had it not been for our off the beaten path travels. Pushing forward to warmer weather for the winter is our initial goal and Rome was just another step as we “follow the yellow brick road”. Over the past 6 months we read RV Life by Julie and Marc Bennett, watched countless RV YouTubes, spoke to other part and full time RVers and did our own planning. How can one ever be ready for a major lifestyle change without a period of adjustment? Almost all of the credible information we absorbed told us to go slow, in our own backyard and work out the kinks. Well, extreme winter weather, selling our home, taking possession of our motor coach and being typical, Janet and David we dove in head first and left Grand Rapids headed to our winter destination, Florida. Our first stop was Indianapolis, IN. Weather continued to suck with very cold temps, ice and snow. Next stop Nashville, TN awaiting us with not so cold temps but torrents of rain. So much so that there were major flood warnings for the Cumberland River. Our friend John said that our coach is an arc and my thought was, I must be Noah. We spent three days in Music City enjoying a bit of what this city is famous for. Best takeaway, we had time to get used to our new home. What’s it like to drive a 23,000 lb. motor home, flat towing an SUV behind for a total of 50 ft down the highway? The amount of concentration is nothing short of tense. There is a feeling of being big even when being alongside a semi-truck. With that length and a height of 12 ft we are among the largest rolling beasts on the road. We are fortunate to have a good amount of space for our stuff with pass-through compartments below and a comfortable layout on the interior giving us comfort in our traveling home. Getting familiar with the mechanical and electronic systems was not as daunting as we had imagined. Once in Nashville we were able to de-winterize the rig. With tanks flushed, dual power on for our water heater, furnaces and refrigerator/freezer we were all set to begin living like human beings. First stop in Nashville was a Kroger’s supermarket where we shopped for food and some other household necessities. Being careful about not overloading or exceeding weight restrictions we did not stock up the same way we did in our sticks and bricks life. But as we did before cooking, rather than eating out is an important part of the way we live. We did manage to put 2 cases of wine in one of the storage compartments from our collection, which has dwindled significantly. Ah, the sacrifices of mobile adventure. Our plan is to work our way down to Florida to see family and friends throughout the state along with lots of just Janet and David time for living our regular lives and exploring. Reality is, we are not on vacation, just moving our home around the country. We still have that same obligations and routines as before, just like others, but at the same time we have the freedom to enjoy new locations, experiences and people wherever the roads take us. Travel has been an important part of lives and now we can do and enjoy it more often. Most importantly, we are not on any schedule and destinations are, for now, loosely planned. Janet and I are happy to be feathers in the wind. “The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain” … They were actually talking about the state of Tennessee. We and a good portion of long-time residents we spoke to have never seen the amount of rain that fell from the skies with unrelenting consistency. At times rain was falling at a rate of 7” per day. Now folks, that’s a lot of water. Being fulltime, RV newbies we are on a huge learning curve. Throw in a monsoon and the level of stress becomes magnified to immeasurable heights. Being semi sane individuals, we resigned ourselves, with some difficulty, that this stinking weather would pass. Dodging land oceans of water, we did manage to enjoy a bit of Nashville, a visit with our cousins, a Jack Daniels Distillery tour and getting used to our new mobile home. Now, that’s a lot to swallow, even for the lot of us. Under non-twilight zone circumstances, Tennessee is a visually and culturally interesting State. Overall our time spent there was not so bad. As we push forward towards Florida, we left Tennessee after a few days and headed into Georgia via Alabama. The highway and rural mountain road scenery driving down is very pleasant. Our destination in Georgia for a few days is a private property with 30 secluded acres where we are boondocking. Janet and I like the idea of living off the grid rather than going from one RV park to another. Not that we are introverts, on the contrary we are true Jersey extraverts but being away from the masses is very appealing to us. Our plan is to mix things up, taking advantage of the amenities at RV resorts and off grid boondocking. Hey, we are newer than new to this lifestyle so the old adage “throw plenty of shit on the wall and see what sticks” is the only way for us to learn what works best. As every experience rings true with a song, our limited exploring so far speaks Simon and Garfunkel’s song America – “All come to look for America” and so we are. |
About UsTravel is living life to its fullest. Sharing our journey and adventures create memories that live on as we truly enjoy the passage of time Archives
October 2022
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