Roadrunner

I sold the truck camper (just the camper, not the truck) and got a small RV. Here's the roadrunner.

first post in a year -- catching up for 2014

I can't believe it's been a year since I posted on this blog. It's been a busy year. We have a new grandson now -- Jacob is almost 3 months old.

We are planning a road trip to TX in October. I have three presentations to do at the ADEIL conference in Lubbock mid-Oct so we're heading that way for three weeks to visit family and take some vacation stops along the way.

We're renovated the fifth wheel to make office space. We never used the recliners anyway so we fixed it up for desk chairs (which are way more comfy). We also took out the dinette and made an L-shaped sitting area so we  wouldn't lose the storage space under the benches. We're not sure yet whether we'll keep the sofa or get rid of that and make more office space. I don't need much but hubby has the laptop and a large monitor. The space he fixed for that is really nice. We also have new steps inside and out to make it easier for me to get up and down without straining my hips and back. 

We'll be putting the 5ver up to the top of the driveway soon to start getting ready for the trip. I'll post some more photos then. More later.

My first meander-thal trip

So I'm taking off on Sunday for a few days. Have no idea where I'm going other than heading west. Just 2-4 days to try out some interesting photography. This will be a new experience for this left-brained traveler who likes to have the route and overnight stays well planned in advance. It'll be cool enough to take advantage of Wally World for overnight parking if I get stuck with no place to stay. More to come later.

Are you a meander-thal?

Love this post -- this is what I want to be when I grow up!

Are you a meander-thal?

Camper's back on the truck!

The camper's back on the truck for some minor repairs. Need a new vent fan in the bath so DH is putting in a max-air vent and then one of those nifty covers that lets air circulate but keeps even driving rain out. Being able to open the hatch over the bed and also get that max-air fan going when parked will really help keep it cooler. And overnight parking without power will be more comfy too with the hatch and max-air vent both open to catch any cool air and breeze at night.

Happy trails! Hope to be on the road again in a couple of weeks.

Ready to hit the road soon .. maybe

Weather is looking good for the next week so we're heading down to the campground and I'll stay through the week if the heat and humidity stay down. Planning for a solo road trip in August -- maybe more than one. Time to get to the mountains!

May have a small problem though -- my right hip is getting very bad. Pinching, catching, constant pain down the outside of the hip, thigh, and knee. Plus the torn cartilage inside the hip joint. Not sure at this point what my options are. I know that pt for the soft tissue pain (iliotibial band) might be helpful. Nothing much to do for the arthritis and torn tissue inside the joint except repair surgery or replacement. Not going the repair route - I've read horror stories from people with ehlers-danlos who have done that (multiple surgeries and eventually after a couple of years a replacement). So when and if the time comes, I'm going right for the replacement and to heck with repairs. 

Time will tell. DH is going to make another modification in the camper so that I can use the sofa as a bed if I'm on a road trip and the hip acts up and I can't get up the steps to the bed. 

Here's the sofa-dinette with the little table -- see that little area where the table goes? He's going to put in a platform that fits precisely so that I can put a cut-to-fit foam pad to extend the flat bed area. Even if I don't sleep there, it's more space for me to sit comfortably and work and still have room for Beau :-)

I'll be able to use either the table or the bed extension.  You can see the steps up to the bed behind the table and bench seat.

Bottom line -- I'm a bit worried about hip problems when I'm on a trip. I need to have a place to sleep (and the bench area is plenty long and will be wide enough with the extension platform) if I can't do the steps. So we'll see. Got to get the camper back on the truck so DH can get in there to fix up the bench extension. 

Happy travels to my blog travel friends -- stay cool!

Writing outside

The weather (heat, humidity, storms) is not conducive to being at the campground and working out on the deck. My hip issues are not conducive to walking three dogs four times a day. So I adapt.

I now have a nice clean power-washed patio with deck chairs and a table. The patio is under the deck so when the weather gets hot, it's a lot cooler down there. It's just a bit of a pain carrying all my stuff (laptop, drinks, snacks, etc.) out back but I do have a stair chair inside so I don't have to walk up and down the steps.

Then upstairs on the deck, we have a huge 12x12 Gander Mt canopy (we've had it a few years but haven't put it up this summer until this morning) and deck chairs, tables, etc. Plus I've got a fan out here now and since the sun's not shining and the temps aren't too high yet, I've been very comfy out here. And the dogs LOVE being outside lazing around.

DH is working on my camper, fixing a few odds and ends so that I'll be ready to roll in a couple of weeks.

But first .... *sigh* .... I have to see an ortho specialist about my hip. It's getting to the point where I may have to give in and get something done. More about that later.

Have a great (and dry) weekend, friends.

Productive yet relaxing weekend

The trip to the campground has been awesome. I was afraid the weather would be too hot but I've been able to be outside on the deck until around noon every day and then back out for a few hours in the evening. The dogs LOVE it!! I've gotten a LOT of work done and a lot of reading. I needed a relaxing break and so glad the weather cooperated.

This fall, late Sept, we are going on a duo trip either to the northeast or the northwest. Researching and trying to decide. DH has two weeks he can take and we figure if I do some of the driving (first time towing a fifth wheel for me but I'll learn fast!!) we can get just about anywhere in 2 1/2 days.

He wants to go to Acadia. I want to go back to the Black Hills and Badlands. Glacier is on both our lists but might be pushing it for just two weeks.

Solo trips in the planning stages -- of course TX again! But I'll go a different route this time, probably around my elbow to get to my thumb so I can hit some new places going and coming back.

I'm not sure I'm up for two month-long trips solo every year. Thinking about where I'd go other than my TX trip. Problem is we've been just about in every state and I don't really want to do reruns. I'm not sure I want to go cross-country solo although I know a lot of you do that. I'm worried about my hip giving out on me as it's getting progressively worse and I refuse to even consider surgery.

I'm quite comfortable going all up and down the east coast and there are a lot of historical sites I haven't visited yet and quite a few I would love to go to again, this time for photos.

So I'm thinking solo to TX taking a route that goes all the way around so I come in from north TX instead of south/west. Then several shorter 1-2 week road trips up and down the east coast. First I think I'm going to head to Shenandoah Valley and further west in VA as soon as we get a break from the nasty stormy weather as it's been just as bad, if not worse, out there than here.

Happy weekend to all! I'm going to kick back in the lounge chair right here on the deck and join the dogs in a nice little nap!! 

Planning next road trip

Planning is underway! I'm going to head to the Shenandoah Valley to take photographs. I love the mountains and historic places and the Valley has a lot of both!

Haven't been to Wmsbrg to the campground since May. It's been too freaking hot and humid, plus some major thunderstorms almost daily. Humidty, heat, and storms are worse in Wmsbrg than either here or at the beach.

We ARE going over the 4-day weekend. Hubby has a "work at home" day on Friday so he'll work from there. Hopefully the weather will be a bit cooler early in the mornings so I can spend at least a few hours a day out on the deck.

Back to work and writing! I'm also working on some online photo albums from my/our 2013 trips. I'll post when those are done.

Safe travels to all this week and next weekend!

Antsy for a trip

The weather here has just been awful. It's been in the 90's with 90% humidity. Just nasty to be outside. I've wanted to go to the Williamsburg campground for weeks now, ready to sit out on the deck and work and write. But it's been too hot and humid to be outside at all, except maybe a few hours early in the morning. And rain? Omigosh it's stormed and rained almost every day. And it's always worse storms in Wmsbrg than at home just 45 min away.

So .......  we're going to try for the weekend. Then hopefully we can go back next Thurs through that weekend. It's not the best time of the year to spend a week or two there. And Wmsbrg weather is worse -- hotter, more humid, and worse storms.

If I have to stay inside, I'd rather do that at home where I can just let the dogs out and not have to walk them in the nasty weather.

So I'm ready for a road trip. But the weather out in the western part of VA and in WV is as bad, if not worse, than here.

Perhaps a 3-4 day trip just close by (within a couple of hours) to photograph some old historical homes. That might quench the craving to be on the road, at least temporarily.