-June 8, 2007

Pawlet, Vermont - Yes!!! I told you in an earlier post that my ears had to do an adjustment to the lack of noise when I reached Harpursville - same here. What a pleasure sleeping with a complete lack of traffic racket. I started early this morning washing the awning, then the MH. Got two sides done before, the sun came 'round. It is hot out there now. I need to wash my car. It is black from the road grime and the diesel dust from Bearfoot's big engine back there. Sebastian went out with me this morning and managed to lay down in all the grimy water that was pooling under the coach. Then being Bash, he lay down in the dirt. I have been referring to him as Meat Ball. I wonder why white dogs like to get dirty?

I have both ac units going and it is delightful in the coach. I stopped in Amsterdam, NY yesterday out on 90 at Camping World and purchased a Surge Guard. Big bucks spent but think I will rest easier. I arrived here in Pawlet late in the afternoon and was exhausted. My hands and wrists are very sore. But my eyes held up, thank God. The family was happy to see me. We are going to several basketball games in the Saratoga region this weekend. My granddaughter who is graduating from the 8th grade on Monday is competing. She is going to a dance tonight so I get to participate in these wonderful school activities that I usually am absent for. The little one was out here early this a.m. knocking on my door. She is an early riser and thinks everyone else should be too.

Going out again now to set up my Dish. Yuck! Thermometer reading 94 degrees now in the shade. Tomorrow will be normal summer weather for this area - 70's. Of course, there is no global warming. This is all trumped up by some crazy ecologists!!! Sure, sure - that is why there has been double the number of huge destructive tornadoes in the mid-west this year and why the desert just experienced a force 5 cyclone. The first ever! We are an embarassment to the world at the G 8 summit. We are the worst pollutors on the planet and yet, we deny there is a problem. Go figure!

I have wireless in my coach here so will write more later.

6-6-07

Bash and I just went outside here in Harpursville, NY for a walk before supper and I thought I had lost my hearing. I did a double take until I realized it was quiet here. The last time I was in a quiet, traffic free area was a month ago in Crystal River, FL. It is truly beautiful here with long views off to the Eastern mountains and many tiered ponds that are stocked. I had to make three passes at this site though. Not a good thing to be doing when one is totally exhausted. I just couldn't find a spot that was level enough. My rear wheels were lifted off the ground at one point and the slide out wouldn't open. I have an automatic leveling system and it said the slope was too great. I finally got it on the third try of going around the block. It is very wet here too due to heavy rains last night. These sites are all grass.

Each spring when I pass this way on my way north, I rant and I rave on the condition of I 81 through PA. But I realize it symbolizes the rents and tears in our very fabric of life in the USA. Our entire infrastructure is falling apart because the states and the federal gov't don't have enough money left over from the war in Iraq to repair our streets and roads. I saw road workers out all the along the road patching those ugly patches from last year. It is like a poor person who has to patch the patches on her clothes. This is a tattered and poor country thanks to the Bushites. I normally don't write about politics but I find I have a great deal of anger as I witness first hand the destruction of this Country by a handfull of greedy, self serving people who only wish to pad their own pockets. Meanwhile, each day we hear the casualty reports. 3500 as of today. What a milestone and for what? We still haven't punished the one responsible for 9/11 but we have managed to position ourselves in the middle of a civil and religious war that is not about us.
I guess you can tell I am really beat, huh?

Good news! The sun is shining, the sky is clear and it is getting cold. We have frost warnings here for tonight. Then by late tomorrow it will be in the high 90's. Global Warming?? Where is it?? See An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore if you have not already seen it. Fascinating! Be prepared to cry though.

Here is a photo of yesterday afternoon as I prepared supper in Gettysburg. The sunlight was very beautiful. The wine was real good too.

I have renewed my comittment to write a book about women rv'ers. I hope to bring a sense of humor to my experiences on the road. Amsterdam Camping World tomorrow to purchase a surge protector. I would love to spend the extra and buy a Garmin GPS too. The Hokie Bird is strapped into the Navigator seat but he just sits there and looks very fierce. No help there.

June 5, 2007

Hi from Gettysburg, PA. I am posting the attached photo so you can see first hand how we campers truly “Rough It Smoothly”. Bash and I arrived earlier today to take a walk in the most incredible weather we have experienced in months. It is about 78 degrees but there is no humidity and the wind is blowing a clip. The light is much different since it is not filtered through all that humidity. I opened the bedroom windows and was immediately drawn to a large patch of sunlight on the down comforter. Having driven for over 4 hours, I couldn’t resist placing my tired body in the middle of that patch of sunlight. Just like Garfield, I was paralyzed. Bash climbed in next to me and we took a most delightful nap.

The trip was a bit slower than usual since we found lots of construction delays. But let me tell you the thought of being stuck on I 95 which was blocked for over 7 hours today from a 4 truck crash early this a.m. made any 10 minute delays we experienced, a walk in the park. I did stop this morn on the way up Rt. 1 to have my Blue Ox hitch checked by one of the techs at RV Repair of VA. The nuts seemed a bit loose to me. But all is well

I just met a special woman while walking Bash. Walking Bash brings me in touch with many people that I might not be drawn to without his extroverted presence. It’s funny - I was a bit piqued at the management here because they gave me a site out near the main highway which can be noisy. Then a hour or so later, another big rig pulled in across from me. The woman got out to walk their two dogs and we met. She teaches Hospice online and is also a Laughter Specialist. Death and dying plus laughter therapy. I can’t think of two better subjects to teach people. She is thinking of writing a book about her on the road experiences. I feel more encouraged to do so too. Initially, my intention was to keep a journal which is the purpose of this blog in order to write a book or a series of articles for single women Rvers. I have many stories to tell since 2004.

I don’t know when this will post but I have composed it in Word. Tomorrow we will be on Beldon Hill near Binghamton, NY. We have visited there each year on our northward trip. It has a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains. Wide open meadows and many ponds. I dare say it is one of Bash’s favorite spots. We plod onward.