A few more shots of VT

May 12, 2007

I am in Ashland, VA as of 6 p.m. tonight. I spent last night on the Blacksburg, VA Campus of Virginia Tech with my grandson. We dry camped in one of the parking lots. We walked all around campus last night and early this morning. I took many pictures of the memorials and the impressions of VT after the April 16th tragedy. The strength, dignity, faith, hope and forgiveness of the thousands who have signed the memorial boards under the tent and left notes around each of the Hokie Rocks near the first memorial garden was created the night of the shooting, impressed me deeply. The strong vortex of prayer created on this campus will have an impact on the world.

I visited the campus bookstore and bought a Hokie flag and some bumper stickers. Those of you who know me well know how much I like that stuff. It feels really good to be "home". Tomorrow after church with my family, I will move the coach from this campground into their driveway for the next 3 weeks. I have projects galore ahead. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my impressions of the VT campus today as each school graduated and the students were leaving. Maybe the media left too. Hope so!

May 10, 2007

Hi from Townsend, TN. Picture of yours truly at the Lily Farm. Having a great reunion with my dear friend whom I haven't seen in two years. We have been hiking, talking, hiking, talking, eating and hiking. What a great area! I really like it here. I went for a long bike road tonight on a lighted 11 mile trail they have here. There are tunnels for getting across the road to the sidewalk and shops on the other side of the street. We have discovered a need here though. There is no dark chocolate in Townsend, TN. But we did find a great coffee shop with yummy scones and muffins as well as great coffee. I am ready to roll over the mountains tomorrow to Blacksburg, VA. Plan to sleep in one of the parking lots then carry my grandson's stuff home the next day. His parents are coming to pick him up but I can help carry the stuff. Having done this duty many more times than I can count for 4 girls, I think I can handle it. The weather is wonderful here although hotter than I thought it would be. There is a fire burning up on the mt. nearby that has been burning for days since a lightning strike.

More coming later -

May 9, 2007

Cheerio ,from high in the mountains of the Great Smoky Mountains, so named by the Cherokee people who settled and managed to stay here inspite of the gov’t pushing them out on what is now called the Trail of Tears. The mts. here often have a blue mist rising up from the gorges and valleys. As many of my readers know from following along with Bearfoot on previous trips, I have been in WiFi blackout from time to time. I seem to be in that place now so am writing this in Word and will transfer it. I arrived here yesterday, the 8th, about noon. I only drove 62 miles yesterday but had made 295 miles the day before. That was the day I came through Atlanta, GA. If you glance at a map of GA, you will note that there is a huge web or vortex of roads which translate to traffic there. There are not many easy ways around it. It is like all roads lead to Atlanta unless you go to Alabama. I had wonderful advice from friends who have made the trip. I left Forsyth, GA at 9 a.m. and went through the Big A at 10 a.m. on Monday. You have to watch the lane changes, the Exit onlys, the merging traffic and of course, the big rigs all around you. I could feel all the prayers that were coming from friends and loved ones who knew where I was. It took just about an hour to go through which is actually good time. I kept the cruise control pegged at 55 mph which is the speed limit through much of it. I continued on as though I wanted to get as far away as possible ending up with 285 miles on the odometer. I was exhausted and sore everywhere. I do admit to singing that haunting song, “Jesus take the Wheel” for some of that trip. My dad was a trucker. He often rides in the passenger seat with me, stub of an unlit cigar stuck in the corner of his mouth.

In Forsyth, I stayed at a tiny campground out in the hills owned by Cherokee people. They make hand carved and painted walking sticks and canes very reasonably priced. I bought two; one for me and one for my friend Marte who lives in the Great Smokys now. We haven’t seen one another in over two years. What a reunion we had yesterday! We plan to hike today in the mts. Yesterday, my lower back went into spasm for awhile making hiking impossible. We hung out, looked at photos and just generally caught up on all that we have experienced in the time we have been apart. She has driven 35,000 miles during that time and moved 7 times. I am going to post a photo of Bearfoot V camped Crystal River, FL and another camped in Forsyth, GA. I also hope to download a shot of the master camper sleeping in. It has been in the mid-forties here in the a.m. About 59 in the MH. Since we have spent five months in hot weather, some of us get a bit chilly even though we have fur.

Live, dance, love and shout for the Joy of it!

May 6, 2007

.Hi loyal readers,
I am writing this in Word Perfect since I just lost my WiFi connection. I am in Forsyth, GA, red dirt country. I am one hour south of the big one, Atlanta. Will leave tomorrow a.m. about 9 a.m to make it through with the least resistance. (I pray). What a lovely trip I have had thus far. I did make an error and turned on Rt. 41 from Rt. 300 too early. Managed to find several mean RR crossings and narrow roads with little villages from time to time. Rt. 300 was fantastic as was Rt. 19 reported yesterday. I would come back south this way. I will let you know about Atlanta after tomorrow. Spoke with my dear friend, Marte, that I haven’t seen in over 2 years today to tell her I would see her in a couple of days. I am very excited. This campground I came in called L & D RV campground in Forsyth, GA is plain but as I entered the office I was astounded by the group of hand carved, hand painted canes and walking sticks there for sale. These are Cherokee people. What a gift to be here. I bought a walking stick for $20. Made of dogwood. He had some jewelry I would give my eye teeth for but NFS. This experience brought me right back to the Earth and to the belief system I have practiced for many years. I am very grateful to be here. Tomorrow I go on to the TN border before going to Townsend, TN to camp.

RV, the new Bearfoot Coach, is running well. Bought my first tank of fuel today at $2.67 per gal. If I had cash, I could have saved 6 cents. The diesal pumps were lined up with self plus 4 trucks with huge long trailers housing horses. As I glanced at the people pumping fuel, I realized we were all women drivers. Cool! They were all blondes and better looking than me, younger too.

I am kicked back in my recliner with a glass of wine watching Tiger in NC. This is a rough life! I apologize for lack of photos but I guess I am lazy since I am moving northward quicker only staying one night in one place. Almost stayed in the Walmart tonight but it looks like showers and I was thinking about the noise of the genset running the AC and all that stuff. Decided to splurge – Ha Ha. Each night so far, the fees have been $20. That is a Good Sam parks with the discount. Not bad for pull throughs with full services.

My gauges on my tanks are not working correctly. Anyone have any suggestions for the best way to deal with it? I know the gauges always quick working even on the new coaches early on. There are some additives that are supposed to help. Does anyone have experience with that sort of product? I have been emptying them each day. Maybe I should not do so and let the liquid build up to slosh a bit. Let me know what you think. More later--