My time in Athens has been very interesting. First was the Brown Recluse spider bite on the back of my neck. That is an ongoing issue. I then fell into a fire ant mound and got the ants in the travel trailer. I finally got rid of the ants.
Then we had the awing incident. We had a big wind just one gust. I went outside to put the awing down. The second very big gust of wind got under the awing, did I tell you I was under the awing hanging on to one of the arms. This wind lifted me off the ground and then knocked me down. The awing came flying off. It tore the awing off with me hanging onto it. That was one big wind.
I like where I am and I like the Athens Jail Restoration Project. So instead of staying until just after Labor Day I am going to stay until March. I can still do some traveling but I have to leave my RV as that creates security.
It is a bit isolated and can get to one fairly easy. For me it has been wonderful. The solitude is a way to get in touch with ones self.
Today as I look out the window there are big white puffy clouds and a beautiful blue sky. I am on the beginning of the plains of Mississippi.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
I am now in Athens, MS. Home of the Athens Jail Restoration Project.
The Athens Jail in its current state. The windows had to be boarded over because of vandalism.
This is essentially where I live. Athens now has a residence of one person and two fur kids.
This is the front of my travel trailer. Dragonfly I. The sign was done by my sister-in-law Vicki.
The super moon in July. The picture is not that great but I was not going to stay awake until 3 am to get a better shot.
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| This is Bud-e-Boy. Having a few minutes of freedom. |
This picture is missing Martha. I am the one with the huge hat. FL sun does not necessarily agree with my face.
I always enjoy the sunset no matter where I am.
While I was in Mexico Beach, FL I went over to Tallahassee, FL to visit some old friends from the Keys. It was good seeing them but sad as their health was failing.
Back to Alabaster, AL. I stayed in Alabaster for two weeks. We did girl stuff. Pam and I had a great time talking and just going around the places and things she did. While in Alabaster, AL Pam, Martha and I went to a Dulcimer Festival at Tannenhill State Historic Park. I love Tannenhill it is such a nice park. Rates are reasonable. Does not have great phone service. The do have WiFi but it is iffy.
What you see here is a bass finger piano.
Sorry, I digress. After Mule Days I traveled with my friend Martha to Alabaster, AL. We stayed in Alabaster until late April.
From Alabaster we went to Mexico Beach, FL where we stayed at Rustic Sands RV Park. This was a RV Get Together. Five people made it to the GTG. We had a great time. This is a picture of Martha, Curt and Betty we were in Apalachicola, FL.
From Alabaster we went to Mexico Beach, FL where we stayed at Rustic Sands RV Park. This was a RV Get Together. Five people made it to the GTG. We had a great time. This is a picture of Martha, Curt and Betty we were in Apalachicola, FL.
Here we are it is nearly August and I have not kept up the blog. I am going to try to do better.
The middle of March I started traveling again. My first stop was Hartsville, SC to go to Reno Fest. I had a great time and had an opportunity to visit with and old Bluegrass fan. That was a precious time as she died two weeks later. One never know when you will loose a friend. See your friends as much as possible.
From Hartsville I went to Charlotte. The plan was to go to the Great Smokey National Forest. That plan changed rapidly as it was snowing in the mountains. I just did not think I could drive and camp in the snow. Maybe another. I parked the camper in my friends driveway and hung out with her for a week or so.
Next I went to visit some old college friends in Knoxville. That was not a good visit. If you read this you know who you are.
My next stop was in Columbia, TN for Mule Days. What fun that way. I met my friend Martha there. Martha brought me a Hover round so I really could enjoy the exhibits and the activities without being miserable because of my knees.
Pictures are of the Mule Days Parade. I plan to return to Mule Days next year.
The time at Mule Days was great except for the possible tornado. Sirens went off and everyone in RVs and there dogs were herded into the high school hall ways until the all clear.
By the way, I forgot to tell you about my traveling companions. I picked up Aousie a Lhasa Apso that I co owned. She is 12 and as spry as can be. On September 16 in WV we picked up Bud-e-boy
a year and a half old Bouvier des Flanders. It took some adjustment for Bud and Aousie but when there is a thunderstorm they cuddle together.
The middle of March I started traveling again. My first stop was Hartsville, SC to go to Reno Fest. I had a great time and had an opportunity to visit with and old Bluegrass fan. That was a precious time as she died two weeks later. One never know when you will loose a friend. See your friends as much as possible.
From Hartsville I went to Charlotte. The plan was to go to the Great Smokey National Forest. That plan changed rapidly as it was snowing in the mountains. I just did not think I could drive and camp in the snow. Maybe another. I parked the camper in my friends driveway and hung out with her for a week or so.
Next I went to visit some old college friends in Knoxville. That was not a good visit. If you read this you know who you are.
My next stop was in Columbia, TN for Mule Days. What fun that way. I met my friend Martha there. Martha brought me a Hover round so I really could enjoy the exhibits and the activities without being miserable because of my knees.
The time at Mule Days was great except for the possible tornado. Sirens went off and everyone in RVs and there dogs were herded into the high school hall ways until the all clear.
By the way, I forgot to tell you about my traveling companions. I picked up Aousie a Lhasa Apso that I co owned. She is 12 and as spry as can be. On September 16 in WV we picked up Bud-e-boy
a year and a half old Bouvier des Flanders. It took some adjustment for Bud and Aousie but when there is a thunderstorm they cuddle together.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
How It All Began
This obsession for more travel began with my parents. They really wanted to be wanders and were when they retired. So I have wanted and have wandered the world.
Finally it is close to retirement time but not quite yet so I work from home. I am a freight agent when I am not driving down the road to somewhere. When I get to somewhere I work.
The actual physical journey began in February 2013. That is when I decided this was the year and it was time to shop for an RV. First was what kind, what style and what could I afford. The afford part was not much. I knew I did not want a motor home when I test drove one. My parents had mostly had 5th wheels. My Dad had complained that travel trailers had to much sway. So now we are at the juncture of 5th wheel and travel trailer. Off to the internet to begin my research. One look at the price of even a used 5th wheel helped me make my decision. Now that I have decided on a travel
trailer what features did I want or could afford and how was I going to get it down the road. I knew I wanted a Ford F-150 as Dad was a Ford man and I knew the F-150 was used extensively in the Texas Oil Patch.
Now I had to really figure out what I could afford. Most everything was more than what I wanted or could pay. My friend who lives in Texas to the rescue. She was going to sell her Ford F-150 named Trigger and her 21' Travel Trailer. Arrangements were made for me to purchase my rig. It was not sight unseen a number of years before I had spent a week in Destin, FL in this rig.
The new journey begins with my flying to Dallas and taking to shuttle down to Winona, TX. The first trip in the Dragonfly was to a music festival about 50 miles from Winona. I actually did not have that much of a problem driving but was somewhat nervous.
I spent the first three months in Winona. I headed East the end of August. This was the first trip with just Trigger, Dragonfly and me.
The first one hundred miles I gripped the steering wheel telling myself to relax. I eventually did relax, got into the groove and was an old hand by the time I reached Birmingham, AL. This was my first planned outing with other women who were RVer.
It was so nice I met these two great ladies and one of them had made dinner and were just waiting for me to get into Tannenhill State Historical Site. One of the ladies had everything planned food wise for the next couple of days. I did throw in breakfast the next morning. Later in the day I met a couple of other RV women. I had a wonderful time and cannot wait to meet up with the ladies again.
The next day I returned to Surfside Beach, SC for two weeks.
Mid September I left for WV with a new passenger aboard, Alousie Boudreau the Lhasa Apso. I gained some new experience in pulling a travel trailer. I drove through the mountains for the first time. This is how my little girl got the name of Dragonfly, she was dragged up the mountain and would want to fly off the mountain. I can attest to one thing, for sure, it does not pay to plan on when you will arrive anywhere especially while traveling through the mountains. We finally reached our first destination which was a 1 am. I had left Myrtle Beach, SC at 9 am the previous day. We had made no long stops. Our first destination was to pickup our other traveler, Bluegrass Bud-e-Boy our Bouvier des Flanders.
West Virginia was great fun. I painted primitive art for my sister-in-law. Hung out with my brother and nephew. I went to a old time cider pressing, the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, WV, and a wine tasting tour. The best part with just hanging out with my sister-in-law.
I returned to Surfside Beach the end of October. I am not off the road for the fourth month. I have been working on the travel trailer. I have made to valances for the windows and will be making new curtains and am considering other changes.
Finally it is close to retirement time but not quite yet so I work from home. I am a freight agent when I am not driving down the road to somewhere. When I get to somewhere I work.
The actual physical journey began in February 2013. That is when I decided this was the year and it was time to shop for an RV. First was what kind, what style and what could I afford. The afford part was not much. I knew I did not want a motor home when I test drove one. My parents had mostly had 5th wheels. My Dad had complained that travel trailers had to much sway. So now we are at the juncture of 5th wheel and travel trailer. Off to the internet to begin my research. One look at the price of even a used 5th wheel helped me make my decision. Now that I have decided on a travel
trailer what features did I want or could afford and how was I going to get it down the road. I knew I wanted a Ford F-150 as Dad was a Ford man and I knew the F-150 was used extensively in the Texas Oil Patch.
Now I had to really figure out what I could afford. Most everything was more than what I wanted or could pay. My friend who lives in Texas to the rescue. She was going to sell her Ford F-150 named Trigger and her 21' Travel Trailer. Arrangements were made for me to purchase my rig. It was not sight unseen a number of years before I had spent a week in Destin, FL in this rig.
The new journey begins with my flying to Dallas and taking to shuttle down to Winona, TX. The first trip in the Dragonfly was to a music festival about 50 miles from Winona. I actually did not have that much of a problem driving but was somewhat nervous.
I spent the first three months in Winona. I headed East the end of August. This was the first trip with just Trigger, Dragonfly and me.
The first one hundred miles I gripped the steering wheel telling myself to relax. I eventually did relax, got into the groove and was an old hand by the time I reached Birmingham, AL. This was my first planned outing with other women who were RVer.
It was so nice I met these two great ladies and one of them had made dinner and were just waiting for me to get into Tannenhill State Historical Site. One of the ladies had everything planned food wise for the next couple of days. I did throw in breakfast the next morning. Later in the day I met a couple of other RV women. I had a wonderful time and cannot wait to meet up with the ladies again.
The next day I returned to Surfside Beach, SC for two weeks.
Mid September I left for WV with a new passenger aboard, Alousie Boudreau the Lhasa Apso. I gained some new experience in pulling a travel trailer. I drove through the mountains for the first time. This is how my little girl got the name of Dragonfly, she was dragged up the mountain and would want to fly off the mountain. I can attest to one thing, for sure, it does not pay to plan on when you will arrive anywhere especially while traveling through the mountains. We finally reached our first destination which was a 1 am. I had left Myrtle Beach, SC at 9 am the previous day. We had made no long stops. Our first destination was to pickup our other traveler, Bluegrass Bud-e-Boy our Bouvier des Flanders.
West Virginia was great fun. I painted primitive art for my sister-in-law. Hung out with my brother and nephew. I went to a old time cider pressing, the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, WV, and a wine tasting tour. The best part with just hanging out with my sister-in-law.
I returned to Surfside Beach the end of October. I am not off the road for the fourth month. I have been working on the travel trailer. I have made to valances for the windows and will be making new curtains and am considering other changes.
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