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.