Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening....

…or meandering through the forest on a Sunday morning.  Give the month showing on the calendar we chose the second option.

Meeting up with friends, part of our new Passion Talks group, in Burlington at 9:00 a.m.  We carpooled in our van to Boone Cliff Nature Preserve.  Originally the outing was planned for the spring but life happened and most of the wildflowers had come and gone.  The cliffs were covered with trees so the views of the cliffs were not available.  But the walk was good, the conversation also.  

We did see remains of a little mole who was feeding the beetles.  There were ‘puff balls’ hanging on an oak tree.  Seed pods or insect nest – where the biology majors when you need them.  The Mayapples actually had apples on them.  The spiderwort (our guess) was in bloom adding a little color.  Mushroom here and there were popping up.  Fallen trees were quietly decaying.  The bird, on the other hand were singing in full chorus.  There were birds that popped out to be identified.    A scarlet tanager, mocking bird, red bellied woodpecker graces us with their presence.

The 1.6 mile trail was enjoyable and relaxing.

The enjoyment continued when we found a little outdoor cafe in Burlington still serving breakfast at 11:00.  A table for 6 greeted us as we walked in.  Good food and good fellowship.  So good.

The mood was almost broken when we got home to a message on our answering machine.  Seems that someone in Mexico was trying to use our credit card number.   Not a good thing but a phone call took care of it all - hopefully.  Thank goodness for the people who catch things like this.  A little inconvenient but manageable. 

Way to go Cincinnati !

Jerry and I headed out for an early morning walk this morning.  Well, I guess 8:00 isn’t too early on a ‘work day.’  We parked over in Newport and walked The Purple People Bridge.  What a wonderful idea turning that in to a walking bridge.

Way to go Newport & Cincinnati!

On the Cincinnati side of the bridge we turned west, wanting to check out Smail Park and the new carousel.  Turning left towards the riverfront we found the area completely blocked off, including the restroom.  The restrooms were in sight just on the other side of the fence and there were people around to inform us that the area was blocked off and no, we could not use the restrooms.  Way to go, Cincinnati !  It wasn’t an issue until Jerry started talking about it.  Seem that the Bunbury Music Concert is happening this weekend and it must be quite a big deal.

We walked along the riverfront where there is a lot of construction and preparation going on for the All Star Game.  Way to go Cincinnati !   Jerry stopped in one of the construction port-a-potties.  Not me, thank you !  We walked up to Fountain Square and low and behold the restrooms were open – open but totally disgusting!  Way to go Cincinnati!

We sat on the square for a bit and then wandered down and found the old Dixie Terminal.  Wanting to take a stroll down memory lane we walked in.  When talking to the guard he gave is some old newspaper articles written about the Terminal.  He invited us to the upper level to tables where we could sit and read the information.  Way to go Cincinnati !  We read for a short bit and then head back down to the riverfront after being permitted to use the locked restrooms in the terminal.  Way to go Cincinnati !

We passed the carousel, the water play area where two men in suits were having a blast along with the 3-5 year olds.  We walked through the black war memorial, enjoyed the many colorful flowers and watched the little kiddies play.  On the way back towards the bridge we sat in the swings for a bit and watched the people and the river roll by.  Way to go Cincinnati !

Headed back to our car which we were able to park on the street for free and resisted the urge to stop in Mokka’s for a little breakfast.  Way to go Jerry and Sue!

We put in 6.2 miles and saw a little of Cincinnati this morning.  It was time well spent.  Hooray for us !

October 10th

Wednesday (the 8^th) found us on the road traveling to Baxter State park in Maine.  If wasn’t exactly planned that way we just decided to do it.  The ride and the weather were beautiful.  We pulled in to Baxter and while we were registering at the gate it started to rain and then lightning and then thunder.  It rained so hard….15 minutes later the sun was out.  We got a site with a lean-to on it.  Strange thing was that you had to drive a smidgen on the AT.  It just didn’t feel right.  We had a nice site next to the river, a nice campfire and  good weather.  Met a hiker, B-man who told us he was planning on proposing to his girlfriend on Mt Katatin on Friday.  How sweet.  He appeared to be about 55.  I’m sure he was younger than he looked.  We found out later that his girlfriend was about 25.  Ah, trail love!

Baxter was beautiful!!   The colors were so vivid, bright.  We were in the trees not just looking at them.  I couldn’t stop taking pictures.  We did a little hiking then slept well in the van.  It was all good. 

After we left Baxter we headed to Monson.  Jerry hoped to hear loons on the lake there.  We ended up staying at Shaw’s, a well known hostle on the AT.  We slept in the van but had use of their bathroom.  That is always a plus.  No loon sounds but Jerry id run in to BlueBerry Bear, someone he hiked with in GA back in March.  The three of us ate supper together and then stayed a little listening to music and ‘open mic night’.  It was all good.

We met blueberry again for breakfast and then said our goodbyes.  BlueBerry is from Lexington so our paths may cross again.

Friday we headed up to Canada.  No real destination in mind except perhaps Niagara Falls on our way back in to the states.  Crossing the border was interesting.  We were told to pull over and two border patrol guys searched our van.  We had to move away from it while they did it.  They spend about 15 minutes and seemed to look everywhere.  That was an interesting feeling.  The van was a mess  but they left everything as they found it.  We ended up in Quebec .  In the afternoon we took a ferry to Old Quebec.  There’s a lot of history there that we need to check out We walked a bit and Jerry had a beer.  We took the ferry back a short time later.  

We are in a motel once again.  It is Cold out.  The leaves seem to have left their homes in the trees.  We’re feeling that it is about time for us to head south back to KY, family and friends.

Oh, Man....

…my goodness.  Maine has certainly been a wet state since we’ve arrived yesterday, Monday.

But let me backtrack a little to catch up on the last two or so days.  Friday night we stayed in Lincoln NH at the Mt. Coolage Motel, a place where Jerry and I stayed when he was hiking the AT.  There is nothing special about this place except that the motel owner reminded us both of Bob Newhart as he played the Innkeeper on the Newhart Show many years ago.  Well, Bob ( I think his name was Dennis) was gone but we stayed for two nights anyway.

This is the Franconia Notch area.  A very popular tourist area.  There were so many people cars were circling the parking lots trying to find a space to park.  People were everywhere and the most common language heard was not English.  We headed up the road a little to Cannon Mountain and there I took my first Tram ride.  Yep, I did it.  When we got to the top we were in a cloud, not much to see.  We hiked a little and soon the cloud lifted and we could see forever.  Well, it seemed that way anyway.  We enjoyed some hot chocolate and took some pictures and then rode the tram back down the mountain.

We then headed north to Gorham – so much traffic the overlooks stopped traffic with people trying to get in.  We finally made it to Gorham where we met up with Dan (Gray Ghost) and his wife Becky.  Dan and Jerry hiked together a little back in March when Jerry spent a month on the south end of the trail.  We enjoyed dinner with Dan and Becky.  We then spent the night in a room in Gorham.

Monday THE SUN WAS OUT.  Woo Hoo!  Since we left Genesis the sunny day have been very, very scarce.  So, on Monday our plan was to take a tour van up the road to Mt. Washington.  I had done this before and Jerry hiked it in 2010.  The van ride is the way to go.  You can drive your own car but believe me it isn’t worth it.  The road is narrow and steep – no guard rails.  I’m sure I would have been in tears if we had tried to drive it.  The day was beautiful and we could see all the way to Canada.  It is a rare event on this mountain.  It was time well spent.

After the ride we headed to Maine.  We camped in a National Forest Campground in Maine.  For the first time Jerry joined me in sleeping in the van.  He had so little faith in the adventure that he set up the tent so that he could move in to it during the night.  Much to his surprise (and mine too) he made it through the night.  We woke to rain this morning so even though we didn’t use it we had to pack up a wet tent.  We’ve gotten good at folding up the tent under the rain fly – a trick I first tried out in Yellowstone last year.  It really does work.

On into Maine this morning (Tuesday.  It is a good thing that Jerry’s watch gives us both the time and date.  Saves us the embarrassment of having to ask someone that information.)  I just realized that Maine rhymes with rain.  And that is what we’ve had all day.  Rain and more often than not, RAIN. 

We followed the AT a bit.  Jerry showed me where a canoe is used to cross a river and then we stopped for lunch at a lodge.  And then we got stuck.  And then we got a room.  We were planning on sleeping in the van, really we were but the rain just kept coming.  We did take a ride this afternoon, in the rain.  There is a road that loops near a ‘pond’.  In our neck of the woods it would be called a lake.  The girl at the desk that Jerry talked to said that it was paved but turned to gravel but was completely passable.  So off we went.  There were vacation houses along the shore of the pond.  Paved road turned to gravel.  Gravel road turned to dirt or rather mud in the rain.  We traveled for awhile, there were a number of turnoffs along the way.  I was beginning to feel like we were in an awful version of a corn maze.  Lucky for us God/fate smiled upon us and Jerry decided to make the decision to turn around and go back the way we came.  Sometimes that is the best decision ever.  The road/mud was beginning to turn into very deep puddles/lakes.  It began raining even harder and even though it was only 5:00 things were getting dark.  Needless to say we made it out alive and without having to spend the night in the van after all.  It just would have been crazy spooky.  Back in the room the rain seemed to stop so we attempted to take a walk by the time we got to the door it started to drizzle again but we forged ahead.  Only to have it rain harder.  We ate supper in the lodge to the sound of lightning and thunder.

Jerry was so hoping to hear loons tonight since there is a lake on the property.  He has heard them before and wanted to share the experience.  That is one reason we ventured in to Maine.  Hopefully they will be around in the morning.  There is also suppose to be a lunar eclipse tonight.  Perhaps if the sky clears up and the gods smile upon us we will experience a Loonar Eclipse. 

Same day...

….another blog

Today started out with blueberry pancakes followed by a dive in the hills – along with millions of other people.  We parked to do a short hike and ended up talking to a NF Ranger for some time.  He was very helpful and friendly.  We started a short hike to Franconia Falls that turned in to a little over a 6 miler.  We hadn’t taken water with us because we weren’t planning on a 6 miler.  They trail itself was a easy one, an old railroad bed with a very gradual elevation.  It was good.  The rain held off until the end so we only got a little wet.

We had lunch in the car which was dried than having lunch at a picnic table out in the rain.  Tonight we are warm and dry in a motel room. Considering that they are predicting over an inch of rain tonight the room is the right place for us to be.

Tomorrow – Laundromat in the morning and then…we’re really not sure.  Monday we’re hoping to meet up with a guy that Jerry hiked with during his spring hike on the beginning of the AT.  Gray Ghost has flipped flopped and will be near us in Gorham on Monday. 

If we get some sun soon we hope to get to the top of Mt Washington but the forecast isn’t too promising.  At this point it looks like mostly rain during the coming week. 

No bear or moose sightings yet.  Hopes are still high.

There is music coming fro the sky....

…….and from the shore line of Lake Champlain.  The flocks over head are headed from north to south, noisy and interesting to watch as they fly in and out of formation.  The birds in the water have been congregating near our tent site.  The sun, finally the sun, is slowly sinking in the west.  Let me catch up with the last few days.

On Sunday, still at Genesis we made a morning grocery run. On the way back we decided to make a side trip to Mohican Camp just a little ways from Blairstown.  The A.T. passes through the camp.  We did a little walking.  There what been a wedding there the day before ant the guest were just emerging from the cabins.  From the looks of things the celebration was a good one.  We made one more stop before going back to tackle our packing up tasks.  For two weeks Judy had been talking about Hot Dog Johnny’s.  She tried her best to find time to get us there but it hadn’t happened just yet so we typed in Hot Dog Johnny’s NJ into our phone and then right before us were directions.  We were lucky to find the place and to find out that the lines were not too long.  Just a hot dog stand that sold only hot dogs, fires and drinks.  On Judy’s suggestion we ordered a Birch Beer Float.  We decided to share it.  It was good.  The hotdog and fries were okay.  Apparently this place has a reputation that has spread far and wide and now we’re a part of it.

We had dinner with Judy and Len Sunday evening.  Then said goodbye.  Headed back to Genesis to finish packing.  Monday morning found us on the road by 8:00.  A final goodbye to Judy and the apprentices. A stop at a coffee shop and then back to the farm to pick up something that we forgot.  Another final goodbye.

On the road we headed to VT. By way of NY.  The day was very overcast and rainy now and then.  We ended up in Bennington VT.

We spent two nights in the Greenwood Campground neat Bennington VT.  A nice place.  The lodge had a hostel, private rooms, tent sites and RV sites.  The couple that ran the place was very nice.  We seemed to hit it off and we spent the evenings sitting in the lodge talking with them, staying out of the chill and rain until it was time for bed (8:00).  I slept in the van one night and it worked rather nicely-listening to the rain of the roof rather than the rain fly.  We visited a few places in Bennington including the AT&T store.  I’ve been having some trouble with my phone-very frustrating.  But so far I haven’t had to find an Apple store – keeping my fingers crossed on that one.  The first night there was a wonderful surprise.  Just about 15 minutes before sunset the sun popped out so we could watch it set.  There is color in the leaves and when the sun is out they are brilliant! 

On Wednesday we headed north in VT.  We stopped at the Chocolate Barn, alas, the Barn was not made out of Chocolate but only sold chocolate, it was delicious though.  A little down the road we stopped at a nursery.  There seems to be a thing with scarecrows up here.  They are everywhere and this nursery was just a little over the top in that area.  It was enjoyable even though the rain continues throughout the day.  Thank goodness for rain jackets. 

We stopped for lunch on Wednesday in Rutland and ate at the place where I did work for stay back in 2010.  Nice walk down memory lane.

Wednesday night we found ourselves at Button Bay State Park in VT.  A very pleasant place on Lake Champlain.  This morning after high and low for the fuel canisters in order to heat up water for Jerry’s coffee.  We found ourselves in town at a hardware store and then at Subway for a breakfast sandwich.  We decided to take a ride up the road and found ourselves on a ferry to NY.  Took in a back road through the Adirondack Mountains.  In a field, off the road less traveled we saw what I believed to be a wolf.  It was hunting and kept a watchful eye on us as we watched it.  We took in a museum and walked a fort site from the 1700’s.  By the time we got back in from our fuel for breakfast run it was 2:00.  Jerry took out a kayak out on the Lake.  He stopped at 2 little islands and, no surprised to those who know him, he picked up garbage. 

It is evening now.  The sun has been out all afternoon.  The air is chilly.  Tomorrow (Friday) we are headed to Lincoln NH and to a motel that we stayed at 4 years ago when Jerry was doing the A.T.

Let the adventure continue….  

Tour de Farm

Sept 27

Today was an interesting Saturday.  There is this event that Genesis Farm is a part of called Tour de Farm.  Basically it is a cycling event with three different categories – the Family Friendly Ride is a 5 mile ride that stops at petting farms but as one woman put it ‘who ever decided all those hills were family friendly.’  This part of NJ is very hilly.  The next category is The Weekend Warrior – a 27 mile ride that stops at farms along the route for a food tasting.  The last category is called The Extreme which consists of 78 miles.  

Genesis Farm fell within the second ride.  So around 9:00 this morning about 150-200 cyclists converged on the farm.  We fed them farm food – biscotti made with bread made from wheat from the farm and a tomato relish made with tomatoes, onion, garlic and herbs from the farm.  There was also 3 verities watermelon and Asian pears.  There were many positive comments about the food.  I was able to work in the kitchen with Charlie, the almost chef.  Interesting guy who I loved being around. (He reminded me of Neal.)  There were also fresh farm veggies for sale.  The people could but the veggies and then have them delivered to another farm where the ride finished.  We sold over $600. worth of food.  More important than that was that the word spread about the good food available from the CSG – Community Supported Garden.

The afternoon ended with another event, a dinner served under a huge tent at yet another farm down the road.  Genesis had been given 2 tickets to attend this $100/plate dinner.  Judy and Smadar tried to talk Jerry and I into going but we really didn’t feel that we should not being members of the farm, etc.  As it turns out Judy and Smadar were able to attend because of their connection to the farm and Jerry and I also ended up going along.  Never been to anything like it before and probable never will again.  They served a 10 course meal prepared by local chefs.  I should have taken a picture of the menu but I didn’t.  It is enough to say that there was soooo much food and wine and chocolates……  No supper for us tonight, maybe no breakfast tomorrow either.  We are grateful to have had such an opportunity.

Our plan is to move on Monday.  The trees are changing and the hills are calling.  We’ll probably head north in to VT and NH.  I’ll keep you posted as things progress.

Thanks for reading.

There is Magic on the Farm....

There is Magic on the Farm…

…magic isn’t quite the right word.  It is something stronger that that.  It is everywhere but this week I discovered it in the smallest of things.  Seeds.  Tiny, tiny seeds.  Do you know how small a poppy seed is, think smaller than that.  And of course, think larger than that. 

While Jerry is out in the field doing the heavy harvest I’m sitting in the Garden house harvesting seeds.  Tiny, tiny seeds.  Judy has been saving seeds for some time now.  There is even a kale seed that is named Judy’s seed.  You can buy it through Johnny’s Seeds.  Trying to separate the shaft from the seed is a trick in and of itself.  I know there is a scripture quote here but it is not coming to me at the moment but believe me I’ve spent hours trying to do this successfully.  Good eyesight comes in handy.  A little blowing helps now and then.  You can use the wind if the wind is just at the proper speed.  Pouring the seed and shaft from one bowl to another when the wind is just right causes the shaft to blow away while the heavier seed falls in to the lower bowl.  Swishing the seed and shaft in a large bowl in a circular motion causes the seed to fall somewhat to the bottom and the shaft remains on top – well sort of.  All being said and done it isn’t a quick and easy job.

Of course neither is harvesting sweet potatoes.  Jerry has spent hours in digging in the dirt finding the sweet potatoes treasures.  (He certainly is dirtier that I am at the end of the day).  Today being a harvest day they also picked beans, green peppers, red peppers, Asian pears, greens of all sorts.  I’m sure I’m not remembering everything.  I spent the morning cleaning cone head cabbage.  Just pealing back the leaves of 103 heads of cone head cabbage until they looked good enough to eat.  It was unwrapping a present or like trying to peel back the layers of a person you just don’t see eye to eye with until you finally find the good hidden inside.  Today’s pickup is for 84 people.  Lots and lots of good food.

The weather has changed. The nights are almost cold now.  The trees are beginning to show their colors.  We’re due to stay at the farm until next Monday then we’ll head up north, hoping the colors are still in their prime. 

(We are grateful to have a house sitter through all of this.  And woo hoo to Christy for today was street cleaning day and she moved our corolla (a stick shift), without any problems.)

So perhaps M on the farm is for Magic and Mystery and Miracle.  There sure is a lot of that going on!

Full Circle

  

 9/18/14
We’re back on the farm again.  Genesis Farm once again called our name and we here appreciating the full wonders of nature.
Two days on the farm, so far I’ve – washed many, many seed pots and trays, cleaned leeks, helped with the cooking, washed dishes – put in about 7 hour days.  Jerry on the other hand has helped – harvest over 1,000 butternut squash loaded and unloaded them for storage (these are the squash that I seeded back in June – full circle), harvested leeks, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and lots and lots, and lots of weeds.  He puts in about 10-11 hours a day.  He is convinced that he needs to keep up with the young interns.Once again our living quarters are great, guess it pays to be related to Judy.  We are in a two bedroom wing of a farm house.  A very nice farm house. We have a shower and compost toilet all to ourselves.  There is even a washer that we’ve been using in the evenings for Jerry’s very muddy clothing.  Woo Hoo!      

It All Began At Genesis

It all began at Genesis.  Actually it began on the 10 hour trip to Genesis on June 2 '14.  What began?  Just another crazy  adventure.

It was brought to our attention that the staff at Genesis Garden house was short of workers and that things were a little stressful there.  Since our June and July were fairly quiet we decided to spice them up a little and head north to NJ and back to the Garden.

We arrived about 5:00 p.m. on Monday 6/2.   Met everyone and Judy took us to where we’d be staying.  There is a little cottage up by Bread and Roses that will be our dwelling place for the next few weeks.  We decided that we have three weeks at the max but we also realized that we may drop before then.

Judy fixed us supper the first evening.  We ate at the garden house.  It was good to get caught up with her.  It was good to be back on the farm.

Tuesday, being distribution day, we were up bright and early and reported for work at 6:00 a.m.  You kind of hit the ground running on distribution day.  Normal working day is 8:00-6:00.  On Tuesdays and Fridays it is 6:00-6:00.  Fact is that most of the time things run past 6:00.

It is hard to remember just what one does during the day.  The chores kind of run in to one another.  My first job was to harvest and wash the chard.  Then most of us harvested spinach.  I worked pulling radishes.  Other jobs this week included but are not limited to – helping to put up a pea fence, weeding dandelions, not pulling them out but weeding around them.  Seems that some people like to eat there fresh dandelion.  I’ve washed planting pots, gathered eggs, learned how to feed the chickens and put them to bed, planted squash, about 7 different varieties, in the planting pots, soaked the planting pots and put them to bed in the green house.  I’ve become the su chef for the cook of the day, they take turns.  Lunch is quite a production, all fresh greens, beets, onions, etc.  There are anywhere from 7 to 14 people eating on any given day.  I also have volunteered to do dishes while we are here.  That one thing I feel that I know how to do.

During the afternoon if I still have any energy left I pull the old lady act and usually land an inside job.  Jerry on the other hand is the energizer bunny, keeping up with the young interns.  Not only does he show his muscle he also shares his brain.  After 3 days of no hot water in the intern’s house, they decided that he was their hero after finding and fixing the problem.

The evenings are spent sitting in our little cottage, usually hunting down stink bugs.  We try to stay awake in order to but the chickens to bed about 9:00.  Jerry being more of a night person than I am has graciously offered to do that.  Usually the interns have that job.  Someone however thought it would be fun for us to do while we were here.  So at 6:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 we have a chicken encounter.

We have also had a duck and doorbell encounter on Thursday.  While Jerry was putting the chickens to bed I heard a duck outside our bedroom window.  Wrong time of day for a duck and certainly not the right place.  When I decided to investigate I realized that it was the alarm on my phone going off, reminding us to feed the chickens.  Then about 10:00 Jerry sat up straight in bed and asked me if I had heard the doorbell.  I hadn’t, it didn’t go off in my dream land.  He said that it happened before and he got up and looked out the door.  Mind you we are in the middle of pretty much nowhere.  Not only was there no one at the door, there wasn’t even a door bell.  Spooky!  After a few minutes of trying to figure things out I checked my phone only to realize that someone who shall remain nameless sent us a text at 10:00.  Really, Maria just because we’re in another state doesn’t mean that we’ve changed our sleeping habits.   We’re still the same old mom and dad.

Today (Friday) was another distribution day.  Hit the ground running but before we reported for work at 6:00 a.m. we had to let the chickens out of the coop and feed and water them.  The coop is about ½ mile away from the cottage we are stay in.  Nothing like a walk in the wet morning grass carrying 2 jugs of water to get you excited about the day.

More harvesting, chard, turnips, radishes were my lot.  It is all good, I’m not complaining.

We lunched with Judy at the Runway Café, one of my most favorite places in the world.  Not that the food is anything special but it is right next to a runway where, if you are lucky, you can watch gliders and their lead planes take off.

This afternoon I rested.  My body is complaining.  In a little while I’ll join Jerry again at the farm for our 6:00 p.m. chicken duties and then wash the eggs we collected and carton them.  It’s all good.

The weather has been good although the farmers would appreciate a little more rain it think.  There has been a delightful breeze blowing which makes the sun’s rays a little easier to handle.  Evenings are rather cool.  Definitely long sleeve temps.

Saturday brought with it an early morning trip to the Laundromat.  Although it opens at 5:00 I got there a little before 6:00.  Except for one other person for a load of wash it was just the way I like it, all to myself.  I hit the A&P on the way home for some odds and ends and then back to the cottage.  Jerry put in a 9:00-2:00 day with the rest of the crew.  I just didn’t have the energy so I just hung around at ‘home’.  After a quick bite to eat we headed over to the river walk to put in a little over 2 miles.  It was all good.  In the evening we drove over to Judy’s and then visited Rita’s for a gelato.  Nice down time.  Home just before dark and early to bed once again, after Jerry tucked the chickens in for the night.. 

Sunday we did a walking tour of the farm.  Got a little lost in the woods but nothing serious.  We visited the Cherry Valley Winery where Len was playing in the afternoon and then back to Judy’s for dinner with Len and Justin.  Very nice evening.  Again we were home just before dark and in time to turn in at the respectable hour of 9:00.  After Jerry put the chickens to bed.  Good day.

Today, being Monday, started with laying in bed listening to the rain fall.  A gentle refreshing sound.  Jerry once again graciously took care of the chickens at 6:00 a.m. letting them out in to their fenced in yard, looking forward to a day of pecking in the dirt and at each other

. 

Monday’s around the farm start with a walk through the fields.  Since it was raining and my work in the fields was becoming more limited due to – shall we say old age (we could say leg cramps and pain, achy back, the reoccurrence of what seems to be carpel tunnel syndrome and headaches that are occurring more frequently) I decided to forgo  the walk in the rain.  I reported for work at the leisurely hour of 9:00 a.m.  I put in time coaching the cucumbers back in to place, planting brussel sprouts and corn in pots for the green house. 

I’m not sure if it was the rain or the fact that it is Monday or just what but today seem to be slower paced and a little quieter.  We ate lunch at the cottage, Judy joined us.  The rest of the afternoon was spent weeding beets.  I however, took the afternoon off and stayed at the cottage waiting for it to rain today.

At lunch Jerry figured out that last week even with starting work on Tuesday he put in a 44 hour work week.  My time was probably about half of his.

Odds and Ends – Have I mentioned the stink bugs yet?  They seem to be just about everywhere.  But I suppose it could be worst.  The garden house certainly has its share.  Our cottage..Jerry removes about a half to a full dozen each day.  We now have a resident mouse (hopefully just one) but when you live in the woods I think that is to be expected.

Jerry is talking about making a beer run tonight.  We’ll see what his energy level is like after he feeds the chickens at 6:00.

It is Tuesday – I think.  Being a pick up day we clock in at 6:00.  Chickens first.  I hit the chard.  Picked 46#s worth today.  The the pea patch.  Nice stand up job.  We picked mostly yellow peas today and some green.  Busy, busy, busy.  Produce has to be ready for pick up by noon.  Luckily there were some work/share people joining us for the peas and turnips. No scheduled lunch today, too busy.  My day ended about 2:00.  Jerry ate lunch and carried on.  I joined him to help with washing the eggs and I also managed to get some computer work done.

Sad news.  Yesterday I found out by way of facebook that Julie Williams died.  I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it.  Wish I knew of something to do or someone to contact.  So sad.

It is now Friday (the 13^th)

The week was a long one yet it went fast.  Heavy on my mind is the death of Julie.  The children, Matthew all wanting a place in my mind as if somehow that could change things.  Julie is at peace but it is hard to imagine how the family will move on gracefully for this.  Yet I know they will.  Their faith is deep and lifegiving.  I feel disconnected.  I do not know any of her friends or family.  I was just out there alone on the receiving end of her occasional phone call.  Listening to her cheery voice and her positive attitude.

Farm life continues on.  Planting seed.  Waiting with hope. Working in the rain and sun. Harvesting that which someone else planted many, many days ago.

Jerry continues to keep up with the young ones.  10 hours days Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, 12 hour days Tuesdays and Fridays and on Saturdays, 4 hours.  Then there are the chickens.  Feeding at 6:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m..  Putting them to bed, closing the coop door at 9:00.

Found a second tick on me yesterday and saw a snake in the green house today.  Ah, farm life.  All is well.

Still I stand in admiration of the young people who work these long hours.  Who are learning the language of growing things.  Who are the hope for the future of life with meaning.

So it is now 5:30 p.m., still Friday.  According to my weather app we received 2.51 inches of rain this morning.  About an hour ago the sky darkened and the thunder rolled across the mountains.  Decided to grab a cup of tea and sit on our tiny porch to watch things develop.  It was that or vacuum the floors.  The porch is so tiny I could not sit there long so I moved to the living room, opened all the curtains and watched things blow up.  My phone gave me a severe thunderstorm warning.  (I didn’t know that it could do that.)   Things got darker and the thunder, lightning and wind were continuous.  Nice storm.  No damage done around the cottage.  But I was sitting on that fine edge between fascination and fear.  There are flash flood warnings out now and we’re suppose to get another wave of rain yet this evening.  It will be interesting to hear the total rainfall for today.  The garden house has a rain gauge but apparently it had a hole in it.

My bet is this is the weather maker that will change things to hot and humid in the coming days.

Saturday – and Jerry is working over at the intern house with some members of the Genesis Farm board.  They are fixing and repairing.  The interns and Judy are working in the fields or in the garden house.  I was up about 5:00 and headed for the Laundromat by 5:30ish.  A short stop at the A&P and I was home by 8:30.  Jerry left at 9:00.  I straightened things up a little, out the laundry away, called Aunt Joy and then just took it easy.  Hot shower followed by blow drying my hair, i.e. a walk down the lane with the breeze blowing.  Walked a path by the cottage which lead to two benches sat in a clearing.  The supports for the benches were shaped like snakes.  Intriguing. The weather is on the bubble.  Bight and sunny one minute and then looking like it might pour down the next.  Someone is cutting the grass invading my quite.   They seem to do this quite often.  Second time in the time that we’ve been here.

Last evening was a little slower.  Jerry was up from the farm by 6:00.  Supper was before the usual 7:00.  It seemed good.  We’ve had no TV, no radio.  I should admit that I have listened a little to my iphone music, but not much.  For the most part it has been just quiet.  Good!

Just had the idea that perhaps Jerry and I should try to find a cabin somewhere once a year or so just to be quiet.  Camping is fine but it is work and there are usually campers around and if there are not sometimes I’m a little uncomfortable.  But a place with just the necessities.  Where we are now there is one pot, a small skillet, two knives, one fork, (two plastic forks if they count), and three spoons.  There is a tea pot and a coffee maker, two plates, a few glasses and a saucer.  There is a TV, dvd player and vcr.  We have listened to a Wendell Berry CD that Judy left with us, his poetry set to music.  Or at least I have.  It has been good.  We’ve been tried and tired of farm work and tired of chickens.  But the beat goes on and it has been/is good.

Saturday afternoon we walked down to the garden house to use the computer.  Judy was still there.  We sat and talked for a bit.  We were hoping to go out for supper but I wasn’t feeling 100% so we decided to make a beer run instead.  Rode down Main Street in B’town.  Got out and walked around a bit.  Marveled at the interesting buildings.  Walked up on to Blairstown Academy campus.  Apparently it is known worldwide and has an international enrollment.  Judy said that it creates future CEOs.   We did see a Great Blue Heron on campus along with a deer.  They looked quiet normal.

After buying the beer we stopped at the Foot Bridge Park.  Reminded me of a lot of city parks that we camped in last year.  Came home to sandwiches and a quiet, early evening.

Father’s Day – 6/15.   Up in time to do the chickens.  I went with Jerry and took a little video of the event.  I sent it out to the kids.  They seemed to enjoy it. 

We went to the Boat House in Swathburg for breakfast.  It was about a 20 minute ride.  Beautiful morning, nice ride.  The Boat House is situated on a lake.  Imagine that.  It was a wonderful setting.  Near a state park.  Food was good.  A great start to the day.

Came back to the cottage.  Rested a while.  Took the long way to Judy’s by way of Delaware Water Gap and skirting S’burg.  Supper consisted of clams which I think Jerry enjoyed along with the liquor.  We also had brats, chicken salad, greens, strawberries and ice cream and cookies.  Best part was the company.  It was good to spend down time with Len and Justin.  Home by 9:15.

Monday brought a nice sunrise along with the usual bird songs (and stink bugs).  Work was as usual.  Jerry spent the day out in the field.  I filled flats, dibbled and planted.  Lettuce seeds this time.  I appreciate Judy giving me work in the gardenhouse.  It does get a little lonely but out of the sun is good.

Judy usually stops up in the evening for ‘a half of a beer’.  It good time to be with her and talk a little although we’re all somewhat beet.

Tuesday = pick up day.  For me that means harvesting chard and pickin’ peas.  3 hours in the sun pickin’ pea did me in.  I just don’t have the stemma   or the blood pressure to keep this up.  Distribution day seemed to come together rather smoothly.   Judy came up and stayed for supper.  Time is short, we want to make the most of it.

Wednesday was clean up and pack up day for me.  Jerry hit the fields once again, weeding onions and such.  I went down for lunch but then topped off the tank and did one last beer run.  Cleaned a little but can’t put the finishing touches on until Jerry’s one last shower,

The cottage was been good for us.  We are certainly grateful.  Hoping to hit the long road home bright and early tomorrow.  Well, at least early.

Treasure Hunt

The sun was out today and it was above 32.  Nice day for a ride in the country.  But wait, we’d already had been to the gym and the book sale at the library.  I have cooking and baking that needs to be done.  But….the weather report says inches of snow by morning and more temps around 0.  The ride in the country was sounding better and better.

Lately Jerry and I have been hearing more and more about Wendell Berry, his writing, his poetry, his ideas about sustainability.  We actually heard him read some of his poetry last year in Louisville when he was on stage with Barbara Kingsolver.  Along with Berry I’ve also been intrigued by the life of Harlan Hubbard.  An artist, writer, wonderer who just happened to be born in Bellevue KY (that gives us something in common).  I’ve read a lot of what the Kenton County Library has to offer about Harlan including one by Wendell Berry.   

We had a general idea of just where Berry lives, outside of Port Royal on the KY River.  A quick phone call confirmed our belief and offered us some specifics.

So we began our treasure hunt.  What we found was –

-a little town off of I-71 that we’ve often saw the sign for but never ventures through – English, KY, which has a rather large cemetery for such a small town

-buffalo grazing on a ridge top

-beautiful and wide open bottom land

-a few clouds dancing with the sun

-a house with many solar panels, a dead give-a-way, had to be Wendell Berry’s place

-a ‘writer’s shack’ built up on columns in order to rise above any flood waters that may outgrow their banks with an outhouse that was not build up on columns but seemed to be out of the flood plain

-wood stacked neatly near the front door

-a General Store that sold ear tags for cattle and just about anything else you’d need including a place to sit and order breakfast or lunch

-a huge red tail hawk swooping down to bid good-bye to us as we headed back towards I-71

Our treasure hunt was a great success.  Yes, some people might call it stalking but there were so many treasures to be discovered along the way.

Not in Kansas Anymore

Blog-NC

Sept 9

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock, Deer Ticks,  yuck!

I have never before seen a seer tick.  Today I had my fill.  I pulled about a dozen off of me today.  My companions also had their share but I ‘won’ for having and hopefully removing, the most.  We took a boat ride to a barrier island in hopes of seeing wild horses.  We saw a lot of horse poo and some of it looking fairly fresh but we saw no wild horses.  We looked everywhere – well, I guess not everywhere (apparently not where the horses were) but we trampled through high grass and over sand dunes, around drift wood and litter, walked on shells and avoided waves – no wild horses.  Other people saw them so we know there were there.  After two hours in the hot sun we boarded the boat to ride back to the mainland.   As a reward for having spent so much time and not meeting our goal we did the only things we knew would make up for the lost time – we ate ice cream.  As we were sitting in the shade bemoaning the fact that we had failed to find the horses when I looked up and out across the water on a very nearby island were two horses.  So at the end of it all we got to see what we could not find in two hours of searching.

Coming back to the house hot and tired we cleaned ourselves up – found another tick, and headed out to dinner, just a very short walk down the street.  Did we have reservations? – well, no.  but we were able to make them then and there for about 45 minutes later.  Back to the house for a strawberry daiquiri – yumm!  While we were there we notices a woman walking down to the beach, checking on something and then walking back.  A quick question later we found out that she was checking on a turtle nest that is due to hatch at any time.  When we were walking the beach last evening we saw some people sitting by a trench made out of black plastic.  The trenches guide the little ones down to the ocean when they hatch. When the time is ripe volunteers keep watch at night for the first signs of the eggs hatching.  This event is taking place on the beach right behind the house we are staying in.  We went down and watched for awhile tonight.  I’m sleeping on the couch tonight in hopes that they will come let us know if anything is happening tonight.  Apparently the blessed event usually takes place at night.

We did return to the restaurant for a delicious meal.  Once again – good food, good talk,  great friends.  Can it get any better?  Once again our hearts are full of gratitude..

Sept 10,2013

An Evening on the Beach….

..was a very eventful one.  It followed a visit in the morning to Beaufort, NC just down the road a bit.  While in town we visit the Maritime Museum.  A small but informative museum.  It told of the area, fish, sea life, residents, pirates and shipwrecks.   Apparently, Black Beard was a famous resident of the area.

For lunch we visited a little café.  It had charm, well maybe, and the food was about a 1 on a scale of one to ten.  

 After a wonderful dinner and cleanup we headed for the beach with our beach chairs.  We just sat and watch the ocean for a while then we noticed a fisherman with a pole bent with the weight of an apparent fish.  He struggled for a short time before he landed,,,,his shark.  It was about 5 foot long and weighed - couldn’t even venture a guess.  (This is of course the same water Jerry has been swimming in all week.  And continues to swim in.)  The shark was landed and flopped around on the beach for a while.  It wasn’t being treated very kindly but it was impressive to see.  A few pictures later and when someone appeared with a very large knife we walked back down to our chairs.

By this time it was evident that something was going on with the turtle nest.  There appeared an indentation in the sand.  This happens when the turtles begin to come out of their shells and the sand above the eggs begins to fall down around them.  There were official turtle people there, all volunteers and unofficial onlookers.  This all began about 7:30.  There was excitement in the air – you could feel it.  By about 9:20 things began to happen.  The nest began to ‘boil’,  aka little black heads began to show.  One little guy was out ahead of the rest.  He was anxious to answer the call of the wild.  Head out of the sand, body to follow.  Number one was off and running, away from the nest, down the prepared chutes and towards the ocean.  About a minute later he was in the water headed for the deep blue sea.  The rest followed.  Sometimes one or two at a time, sometimes 8 to 20 at a time.  What a sight to behold!  The miracle of nature in action.  And we were there to witness it!  What an opportunity.  There is a lot that goes in to helping these little guys get to the sea.  No, they can’t be touched.  And since they are attracted to light there are no flashlights or other lights used.  Not even red lights.  Near the nest is a fishing pier, a fishing pier with lights.  Fear was that the lights would attract the little turtles and send them crashing into the pilings.  Thus, the chute with black plastic on either side and a sand trench smooth and ready to guide them towards their watery home.  Once in awhile someone or two would scoot under the plastic and head towards the light – official person to the rescue in guiding them back to the trail.  So with no lights and very little moonlight it was very hard to see just what we were witnessing on occasion, when your eyes adjusted, you could make out their little flippers walking them down to where the flipper would give up the walking and start the swimming.  Some of the turtle people were very concerned about the survival of the turtles because of the lights from the pier.  At one point a man walked up to one of the turtle people and asked if he could help in anyway.  The frustrated person said only if he could turn out the lights from the pier.  Turned out that he could do that – he was the mayor.  Shortly after that most of the lights on the pier went out.  But then there were the lights from the street and the moon was fading.  These little one have to swim out some 20 miles before they are caught up in the current that heads them out to the Gulf of Mexico.  20 miles!  God bless them!

Unofficial count was between 91-98.  On Friday even the Turtle people will come back and dig up the nest.  They will do an egg count among other things.

One unbelievable, unexpected, marvelous part of this whole miracle is that we were here to witness it.  What a gift!!

One more thing…..there is a nest about ¼ mile from here that is about to ‘boil’ at anytime.  What are the chances…………?

Sept 12

The evening went from wonderful …

…to just plain weird,  Last evening we took a walk to check on the status of the turtle nest about ½ mile up the beach.  There was an indentation an indication that something might be happening but some of the turtle people thought it might be just a crab hole.  No way to tell I guess.  But people were gathering and camping out for the night, at least part of the night until they could determine if the nest would ‘boil’ or not.

Sat out on the back deck for a while.  Watch the moon and stars.  Jerry and I saw a meteor.  Cool.  All of us saw three of something that looked like flares out above the ocean.  About 20 minutes or so later we watch a helicopter fly out over the water, make a couple of circles then fly out a little further.  It seemed to hover for awhile then fly on off towards the shore line.

After a little more star watching we headed up to bed.  It is now 4:23 a.m.  I was awaken an hour ago with noises that sounded like the house door opening.  I listened for a while and heard it again, and again.  Thinking it might be Anna needing something for the baby I got up only to find things in the house very normal, a.k.a. everyone else was asleep.  I peeked out the windows there was a young woman walking up our back steps.  She carried a camping lantern.  One that was not giving off much light.  What to do????  I got her attention by asking if I could help her.  That could have been pretty stupid!  She said that she was looking for someone and walked away.  She walked down the road to the next house and then walked back again.  Not having windows on all four sides of the house I lost track of her.  The noises have stopped.  Everyone else is asleep.  I should be too but …

Sept 13

Events of the day;

Breakfast at  4 Corners Diner

A walk/run on Hoop Hole Nature preserve-a little piece of jungle on the shore line.  And about ¼ mile down the path Jerry started complaining about the bugs.  When I looked over at him he was literally covered in flies, about 2 dozen of them.  Decided to nix the trail and he took off running for the car.  Somehow the flies were more attracted to Jerry than to me.  I was able to walk back to the car swinging my hat all the way.

We did a tour of Fort Macon just up the road from where we are staying.  I have trouble doing fort tours or anything connected with battles or war.  I busy myself with taking pictures of nonviolent things; doorways, steps, anything will do.

After the tour a nap was in order.  Not having slept much the night before due to the mystery lady that appeared at our house (see previous blog).

The rest of the evening was very enjoyable.  We drove up to New Bern for an evening of classical music.  Four performers

Sept 14

Oh, My Goodness…..

…again.  Another Miracle by Moonlight.  I think I mentioned that there was another turtle nest down the beach about ½ mile.  Yesterday there was a small depression.  Not much happening.  We figured ----oh wait, let me back up a little.  Friday evening at 7:00 all the Turtle People showed up at the old nest near our house.  They were going to evacuate the nest.  Check to see if there was anything worth noting.  Volunteers began the dig.  The first thing they found was a live little turtle.  He was probably just trying to make his way to the top.  Maybe he was caught under the other eggs up to this time.  Anyway, with everyone excited beyond words, they checked the little guy out, determined that he could make it to the ocean on his own and placed him on the sand.  Wonderful thing was that the sun was still out so pictures could be taken.  Everyone silently cheered him on.  He made it.  Second order of business was to remove the hatch eggs for a count.  127! plus 15 unhatched eggs.  Some undeveloped, some rotten.  In the end the shells were placed back in to the hole to let nature take its course.

Okay, fast forward to 9:15 p.m.  My cell phone rang- it was Turtle Sherry who has had my # since Monday.  She promised to call when anything happened.  Turns out the second nest was moving right along and they thought it might be soon, sometime during the night or in the next few days.

We hoofed it down the beach.  Low and behold, the nest was beginning to’ boil’.  Within about 15 minutes of our arrival the turtles made their appearance.  The half moon was bright and the little turtles knew just what to do.  On to the ocean!  March On!  Right, Left, Right, Left.  Build up those flipper muscles.  Your going to need the strength to make it out to the Gulf Stream Current.   Go! Go! Go!  The tide was out so the march was a little long.  But they all made it.   What the mechanics of all of this is unknown.  Why mostly at night?  How do they know in what directions to march towards?   Perhaps it is best just to let the mystery be.

The silence, the moonlight, the sense excitement, of awe and wonder –

The Miracle by Moonlight!

What's the Name of This Town

I wasn't going to put anything in this month.  Felt like I said enough in my blog during the last two months.  But today was an interesting day, leaving me with more things to contemplate.

Today found Jerry and me down on the river bank just out for a short stroll, enjoying the wonderful weather.  We like to walk past the murals painted on the flood wall.  Most of the time we approach them from the wrong direction causing us to walk backwards through time instead of advancing.  We passed a man and his camera and politely comment on the weather.  He was marveling at the murals.  As we talked on we found out that he was from LA and flew into Cincinnati to watch the Dodgers play the Reds this weekend.  He flew in early to be able to explore the surrounding area.  He was so enjoying himself.  He asked what he should see while he was in the area.  We gave him the run down on the riverbank parks, historical walks, talked Lewis and Clark, recommended some places to eat, pointed out some buildings to notice, steered him in the direction of Mother of God since he was noticing it on the mural, talked bridge construction, etc.  He was just happy to be here.  What a treat for us also.  Kind of made us realize that we do live in an okay area with lots to offer.  As we were parting he asked “So what is the name of this town on the other side of this wall anyway? “  We were proud to tell him Covington.

The reason we were in the area is that we were able to apply for the Home Stead Exemption at the Court House.  Another perk of getting old.  Seems that when you turn 65 and own your own home you can apply for a break on your property taxes.  And so we did.  Today I also became a member of the card carrying  Medicare group.  It’s getting more and more official – people think I’m getting old.  I’m out to prove them wrong!

One last....

….sunrise over the ocean.  One last dolphin sighting.  One last walk on the beach.

The dolphins were fairly close as they let me walk with them down the beach.  They were playful as some of them breached and slapped their tails.  What a treat!!

There were fewer and fewer people on the beach for the sunrise as the week progressed.  There was one young man however who always arrived a few steps ahead or behind me each day.  He was a runner.  The last day I found him just sitting on the sand with his camera.  My hope was that he hadn’t hurt anything but was enjoying things from a different perspective.  Sure hope his pictures turn out.

We decided, after watching the sunrise to head for home a day early.  We’ve been gone about 9 ½ weeks and it was time to return to the nest.   We got a later start than usual.  Traffic was heavy the first part of the day and it was rainy the latter part of the day.  We made it home safe and sound with yet another adventure under our belts.

For these and all our gifts, we give thanks.

August 3

Should have ended it when it ended.

That was the way I felt last night when I was trying to get to sleep in the Virginia Beach KOA Campground.  It was your typical couple hundred site campground.  Mega RVs, medium RVs, 5^th wheels, pop-ups, tents of every shape and size, cabins, deluxe cabins and super deluxe cabins.  Anything you could want.  The only thing was that you were not allowed to sleep in your van or car – go figure.  We managed to get through the night, although I think I fell asleep about 4:00.  Jack blew the bugle about 5:00 so that we could leave by 5:30 and get him to the airport by 6:00 in time for his 8:00 flight.  So we lost one Coaster to USAir.  The rest of us headed South to Virginia Beach where we connected up with more relatives for a week  of fun and frolic.

So now it is August 6^th.  My how time flies!  I’ve managed to get up every morning for sunrise and one dolphin sighting.  The weather is the weather – somewhat wet, sometimes sunny.  Had good food and a night at a restaurant last e evening.   Some people when to visit Yorktown today.  Since we were just there for 3 days last week I decided to stay back.  Thinking of jeans, long sleeve shirt and the beach.  A different combination.

It Happened on Wednesday !!!

 I had taken the longer scenic road in to Yorktown instead of I-64.  Met up with the guys along the way.  Found my way to the Victory Memorial which was on the top of a hill.  It kind of makes me wonder – the official beginning and end of the route were at places close to the water but  nowhere near where a person could dip their bike wheel in to the water – which is suppose to be the tradition.   While I was waiting for the guys I wondered around town for awhile and ended up sitting by the waterfront.  There is a beach where people were swimming in the river.  As I sat and watch the kids a thought came to me.  The guys would be dipping their wheels later in the day.  But wait a minute I was a part of this team also (I think, at least in my head).  I realized that it would not be a good idea for me to dip the front van wheels in the water, so I dipped my feet.  And I took a picture also.  I only wish I had done the same on the day we started the adventure.  Guess I have to go back and do it all again (NOT!)

At preset we are guests of Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown.  There is a house next to the church that is used for meetings, Sunday School, etc.  When it is not being used they open it up to bikers.  Even though there were fresh linens on the bed last evening we all chose to sleep on our air mattresses on the floor.  

Since we do not need to be anywhere until Saturday we are staying over another night in the warmth and dryness of the house.  There was another biker here last evening Dave from Portland.  He had just gotten back in December from serving 2 years in the Peace Corp in Africa.  Interesting guy to say the least.  He was headed back to Richmond VA in order to ship his bike home and begin a trip by bus and train up the east coast in order to visit friends.  It was a rainy morning so Jerry and I offered to drive him to Richmond.  It was about 90 minutes each way but time well spent.  At least on the way there.  On the way home we tried for about 45 minutes to locate a grocery story.  By the time we did we were both pretty tired cranky and needing to get out of the car.  But it is all good now.  Jeff and Jerry are at the Pub again.  The sun is coming out and I’m, thinking of a walk.

I hope I’m able to reflect on the trip a little more as time goes on but for now this is all I have.

Thanks for following along with me.  Thanks for your support and prayers.  Stay tune for more updates since this blog is not just about the bike trip.  The bike trip just happens to be what my life has been about for the last 2 months.  I'll probably be back 'on the move' tomorrow.

From Somewhere in VA

Why I’m Looking Forward to August 2013  (Not necessarily in order of importance)

***

-sleeping in one spot for more than one night

-fixing and eating something besides pasta and salad for supper each night

-being able to use the bathroom without leaving the house

-being able to flush, knowing there is always paper, not having to check for bugs, not having to stand in line, 

not having to find the nearest gas station

-knowing the shower is clean, not having to wear flip-flops, not having to check for bugs, having a little room to spread out towels, clothes, etc., having the shower ventilated so that you can breathe

-missing the symphony of tent and sleeping bag zippers during the night and early in the early morning

-not being awaken at 5:00 a.m.

-not having to listen to the deflation of air mattresses at 5:00 a.m.

-worrying about the guys during the day especially on windy, hilly roads and during hot or wet weather

-packing the tent up each day, sometimes wet

-being left alone in city parks and other strange places

-seeing friends and relatives

-clearing out and cleaning the van

-not having to shop almost every day for buy peanut butter, jelly, bread, bananas, pasta, sauce, salad and beer

-feeling clean and not having to keep track of how clean the clothes are

-not living with three guys in their biking shorts

-not looking for a campsite or sleeping in city parks

-not following maps and directions

-not having to remember what city you are in or looking stupid when someone asked you where you were 

yesterday and you can’t remember

-just being home

The Sounds of the Night

We camped last evening at the Mallard Duck Campground in a (tongue in cheek) suburb of Lexington VA.  It was a challenge to find but when we did it passed our (tongue in cheek) tough standards.  Things were fine until bedtime.  My first problem was that I went to bed before I was really tired.

Then there were the noises –

-dog across the road barking literally all night

-sound of beanbags hitting the corn hole platforms

-music being played on the other side of the campground

-music being played on our side of the campground

-traffic on the road close to the tent

-community of old men, which I thought was kind of cute at first, getting progressively louder and crazy

-trains passing by, at least 4 that while laying on our air mattresses you could feel the ground vibrate

-another dog howling in the distance

-lightning and thunder on the other side of the mountain which made for a hasty trip to the bathroom before it started raining, which it never did

-snoring coming from my tent mate telling me he was sleeping through all of this

-a bird thinking 4:30 was a good time to welcome the morning

The only sound I missed was the Sound of Silence……

July 28

Thanks to the rain and prediction of high winds, large hail and flash floods we did not camp in the city park last night.  We stayed in a motel in Daleville.  The same one I stayed in when I visited Jerry on the AT back in 2010.  All is well.  It did rain all day yesterday but the severe weather did not materialize.  They came in looking like very wet little puppies.  The forecast is for t-storms again today but the guys have a short day today and should beat the weather.  Question is will we be in a campground or motel again tonight.  I hate spoil our record of so very few nights in a motel but then I also don’t always like the idea of sleeping in the tent with lightning and thunder all around.  We all ended up packing up wet yesterday and it would be good to have a chance to dry things out today.  We’ll have to see it that happens. 

Not much to report on.  We’re moving on to Lexington VA today.  They are positioning themselves for MT. Vesuvius on Monday.  Not sure that is the official name of the mountain just the name of the town it is near.  It is the last reportedly huge mountain.  It is all downhill from there I’m told, although they are on the Blue Ridge Parkway for a while.

I’m just hanging out in the motel room for as long as I can so that I don’t have to hang out on the street corner in Lexington where we’re to meet.  Maybe Jack will even beat me there.  He is the speed demon of the group – up and out early.  In the beginning they talked about riding as a group/team, that didn’t last long.  They all fell in to their own rhythm.   I just wish they could look out for each other a little better.  But, it is almost over with and it will be history soon.  One more thing checked off the bucket list.

Hope all is well where you are.

And the rain...

July 27 – Saturday – 9:39 a.m.

“And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down.” W. the P.   It started about 2:30 this morning and kept it up pretty steady until about 8:00.  That is when the men decided to get up and head for the road.  It is now a little later and raining again.  The campground host just stopped by and said that it was suppose to start up any minute again and sure enough while we were talking it started.  I managed to get the tent down although things are packed up wet.  ‘Packed up’ this morning means shoved in to a plastic bag until the sun comes out again.  Somehow I’m seeing a motel in our future tonight.  We were planning on another city park tonight.  Not my favorite place to be but as I keep telling them, they make the decisions and I follow.  We’ll see what happens.

Normally I would be following the guys on the route but lately there have been so many twists and turns on narrow county roads, and so many route changes that I’ve taken to I-81 and meeting they at their destination.  I’ll do that again today but then backtrack until I find them to make sure all is okay since it is raining.

My hat is off to anyone who drives alone in new and different territory.  I find it very difficult to watch the signs, watch the traffic, read the map and enjoy some of the scenery by myself.  To say I sometimes pull off a lot to check the map, etc. would be an understatement.

We had a first last night.  Jack decided that he wanted a campfire.  He bought the wood from the campground host.  He stacked the wood very ‘boy scoutish’.  He lit the fire.  The kindling burned very nicely.  That was about it.  He worked hard but it difficult when the wood is so very green.  What seemed to give it life were some pistachio nut shells.  We had the nuts in the car since the beginning of the trip but I guess their mission was fulfilled last evening.     Did I mention that it was about 72* last evening when Jack made the fire?   Jerry, Jeff and I enjoyed it from about 10 ft. back.  Jack insisted that it was cool enough to watch it up close.  Oh, Jack…!