tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26991005606749910642024-02-07T00:44:19.171-05:00This is Not Camping!!!Our mission is to see all 50 states (mine) and ride all the North American IMBA Mountain Bike Epic rides (his). Join us as we travel the country in our RV in search of our dreams. I know there will be challenges at every turn, but it sure should be fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-7219403635964098402016-04-23T23:08:00.000-04:002016-04-23T23:08:16.913-04:00FLW Chapel of the Holy CrossHere are some photos and videos of this beautiful chapel
It was a bit dark inside though.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ux2Dp3IJsdo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-78466461338457794452015-04-19T14:46:00.000-04:002015-04-19T14:59:23.575-04:00Trajectory AdjustmentWe had to readjust our plans, from our short term <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/p/debbie-downer.html" target="_blank">goals</a> to longer term. We would have loved to go to Texas as planned. But our finances were still tight and we figured a winter in Brevard would be better than a summer in Texas. <br />
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So I got a part time job at the local CVS. It may have been my previous training load or working somewhere that a lot of people with the flu and other ailments go or both, but I felt crappy for a few weeks, so in January decided to take a break from coffee and alcohol, and got the flu as a special reward.<br />
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I was not riding much, but Tammy and I would go on walks and hikes. I took a wrong turn on what was supposed to be an easier hike and we started up a relatively tough climb before we decided to go back. Even though she was on all fours at one point scampering one of the steeper rocky parts, this showed us that she might be ready for more than the flat trails. We progressed to harder and harder trails, trying to not do too much too soon and get easier walks and rides in between. We have done Pink Beds, North Slope, Big Rock, Andrew Cove, most of the Dupont waterfalls, Cat Gap (the hardest) and finally back to the trail that started us down this path, Sycamore Cove, (no scampering this time).<br />
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She was hiking so well, it dawned on me that if we were campground hosts at Davidson river all this hiking would be just out the door. The website looked promising, but when I called, that was filled, but positions were open at Cascade Lake. We checked it out and decided to give it a go. It was taking a while and in the mean time AutoZone called me in for an interview. It ended up being a decision between being apart most of the day or together. We picked together.<br />
Here are some photos, from some of our adventures, many of which may be on Facebook but I wanted to group them the together here;<br />
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Some Unwanted critter</div>
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One of my favorite pictures of Tammy! Heading down upper Sycamore<br />
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Some rock art in Dupont<br />
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The View from Big Rock in Dupont</div>
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Going Up Cat Gap<br />
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Minor set back <a href="http://www.blacksheepbikes.com/" target="_blank">Black Sheep</a> turned it around very quickly, for which I am very appreciative<br />
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Duck On Ice<br />
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<a href="http://www.theadventurevillage.com/" target="_blank">Adventure Village</a> Office<br />
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Tree Hugger Tammy<br />
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Davidson River Ducks<br />
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Duck Prints in the mud at <a href="http://www.theadventurevillage.com/" target="_blank">Adventure Village</a><br />
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Pink Beds<br />
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Pink Beds Victorious!<br />
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North Slope</div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0Americas (null)35.215138 -82.631068tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-81166296119965132072014-10-26T16:05:00.000-04:002014-10-27T02:14:39.970-04:00On the Road Again!<div>
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Good afternoon! This is my view, right now, as I sit at the picnic table and write. It really doesn't get much better than this, does it? 77 degrees with a great cool breeze off the lake really agrees with me.<br />
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We finally, after some setbacks, left NJ on Monday. We got to Roanoke, VA on Wednesday and stayed at a most unusual RV camp, McFarland's Overnite. It was perfect for what we wanted this time, just a place to park while Jeff got some riding time in and we got to visit with his friend, Carter...sticking our toes back in the waters of travel, so to speak.<br />
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It was a trailer park with about half a dozen RV parks along the outside. Lots of highway noise, nothing to see scenery-wise but convenient to <a href="http://www.roanokeoutside.com/carvinscove" target="_blank">Carvin's Cove</a> for Jeff to ride.<br />
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The day we got there, Jeff took me to Carvin's Cove to walk/hike. It was a fire road with lots of hills so I felt like it was hiking. Absolutely beautiful scenery and no one else to be found (on a weekday). It let me burn off some pent up stress. Also, I always think it's cool to see some of the places Jeff goes to ride. This was the easy stuff, so not exactly where he would ride, but close enough.</div>
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We had dinner with Jeff's friend, Carter, Thursday night. He told us we needed to see the Roanoke Star before we left. 100 feet tall, on the top of Mill Mountain, it can be seen for miles.</div>
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He put in some long rides on Wednesday and Thursday while I took care of some domestic chores and walked around the trailer park. Friday was another travel day, but a much shorter one.<br />
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We are camping at <a href="http://www.recreation.gov/camping/bandits-roost/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73074" target="_blank">Bandit's Roost </a>on the Kerr Scott Reservoir in Wilkesboro, NC. This has got to be one of the most beautiful places we have parked! This is the first time I have wanted to keep all our shades and curtains open all day long! I love to be near water and the lake is about 100 feet outside our door! We got the end campsite so only have had one neighbor, everything else is a panoramic view of the lake.</div>
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We came here to see two of Jeff's Bulldog teammates do a metric century mountain bike race starting at <a href="http://brushymtncyclists.com/mountain-biking/warrior-creek/" target="_blank">Warrior Creek</a>. So we also got to see two of our NJ friends, before we even had time to miss them. Tom and Ryan arrived here shortly after we did, so Jeff did a quick spin with them. Jeff has ridden here before so he really enjoyed riding with them on trails that were a bit familiar to him. </div>
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<a href="http://mtbepicrides.com./"></a><br />
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While they did that, I took my bike out on a tour of the campground. It wasn't a long ride, but it's all rolling hills. I still have not gotten good at climbing, but it was so fun! It wasn't a long ride, but I really enjoyed it. On Friday, the campground was filling up for the weekend. Tents, RVs, kids and dogs everywhere!<br />
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We had a nice pre-race dinner with Tom and Ryan and tucked ourselves into bed pretty early. We did take the time for an after dinner walk. There was no moon, but the sky was so clear and the stars so bright. The air was just a touch crisp!<br />
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Saturday was one of the best days ever!<br />
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We woke up to a super foggy lake. Breathtakingly beautiful! The mountain bike race went directly past our campground twice, in a spot that was easy for me to get to. It was so fun to be able to cheer the guys on and ring our cowbells so they knew we were there for them. After watching them come through the first time, I went back to the campsite with the intention of working. </div>
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Hahaha, that didn't happen. I did a couple things and then just had to go outside and play!!! I was tooling around on my bike, hoping I could see the racers across the lake. No such luck, however, I found some playmates. There were three neighboring campers (children) riding around the loop on their bikes. I ended up playing bike tag with the 8-year-olds and having the time of my life! I never did that as a kid, so I was swooping around and giggling and hiding. They said it wasn't fair because my bike was better and faster. I pointed out that I was waaaaayyyyy older. Since I was "Grandma" age, they decided it was OK. Their grandma won't play bike tag and "she's like 50 or something."<br />
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By the time it was time to ride back up to see the guys pass through again, I was wiped out. I definitely am not 8 years old, although I felt like it for about half an hour!<br />
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We drove over to the finish line of the race just in time to see Ryan, then Tom come out of the woods and onto the last stretch of pavement up to the finish. They are both such strong riders! Ryan came in 6th in the Open category and Tom made the podium at 3rd in the 40+ age group. Prizes were great! You have to check out his video of the race when he puts it up. It will either be on this blog or <a href="http://mtbepicrides.com./">mtbepicrides.com.</a><br />
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We said goodbye to them as they headed out for the long drive back to NJ and their ever supportive families.<br />
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Just the best day ever!!!<br />
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Today...I have played procrastinator and had quite a bit of work today. It's mostly done now, so I can sit at the picnic table and share these thoughts. There are a few people out on the lake, getting in their last bit of fun for the weekend. Jeff is off on a ride. The campground is emptying out of folks heading back to reality.<br />
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How grateful I am to be here, to be learning more about myself and to have such a wonderful family and friends.<br />
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Tomorrow, we are heading to Brevard, NC for a few weeks. It is still one of my favorite spots of all that we have been to. This spot, Bandit's Roost, is more beautiful for camping but a bit impractical for day-to-day life. But, it's all good. Isn't it now?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-85911481443489516372014-10-26T11:16:00.001-04:002014-10-26T11:21:08.679-04:00ReflectionsHere are some pictures from a beautiful morning at Bandit's Roost campground on Kerr Scott Lake, near Wilkesboro North Carolina. We were fortunate enough to get the last spot out on the point.<br />
If you ever get out this way, this is definitely a destination location, with boating, biking, Hiking and fishing.<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-64270117244827020612014-10-22T23:02:00.000-04:002014-10-22T23:02:23.746-04:00What I Did Over Summer Vacation By Jeffrey M. O'HaraI crashed several weeks ago on a "Bro" ride. Lots of stops and starts and I just lost focus. Well I damaged my left shoulder quite badly. Just short of dislocating it and the humerus could have had a hair line fracture (my 4th worst bike injury). I had arrived in NJ last April in fairly good shape, which quickly went away. We needed to refill the coffers after some repairs to the motorhome, end of last year. It was not so much the repairs, as most, but not all, of that was covered by our extended warranty. It was the extra time spent in hotels and eating out that drained the bank account the fastest. We planned on staying in NJ for five months, which turned to over six. The plan was also, for me to work part time so I could do some other repairs and bus maintenance. With Cycle Craft opening another store, this quickly became 60 hours a week and did not taper down until John Nicholson came to our Jefferson store to be the Service manager. Ironically, just the week before my crash, John had messed up his right arm somewhat worse than mine. We both worked through it, though. As for bus repairs and maintenance, my damage did limit and slow down what I could do. There were several times that I moved the wrong way or too quickly, that made me want to cry!<br />
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Over the summer, I rode when I could, but I soon got tired and slow. When I was at my most rundown and my race bike was in for major surgery, I bailed on a 50 mile race. I was just starting to get some good training in the few weeks before I damaged myself.<br />
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I was hoping to just be a mechanic for the summer so I could become more efficient, C'est la vie.<br />
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While everything did not quite go according to plan, I am happy about many things too. <br />
Like"<br />
Tammy has been walking or riding her bike as regularly as life would allow. <br />
Tammy has started to learn to use exercise to help balance stress.<br />
Tammy is proving doctors wrong by still being alive and not in constant pain!<br />
Kim Fury got back on the bike.<br />
Kim let me show her some handling techniques.<br />
I got to ride with many from my Jersey crew, Tom, Rich,Tommy, Jorge, Igor,, Ryan, Kris, George b., Njck, Eric, Dom, Morgan, Blane, DR J, Doug and for the first time in many years Brendan and many others.<br />
We got to see all kinds of our Jersey peeps. (Just wished there was more time)<br />
We put on two really good road cycling events, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hillierthanthou" target="_blank">Hillier than Thou</a> and <a href="http://www.tourdelongvalley.com/" target="_blank">Tour de Long Valley</a> (Thanks Mark, Chris,Igor and Rob)<br />
I had an awesome trip to Vermont with Rich, Jorge and Tom<br />
We fall but we get back up.<br />
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Special thanks to Rich and Cheryl and Tom and JoAnn and Jessi, who helped in too many ways to list!<br />
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Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tamy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy, Tammy< Tammy, Tammy, Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy Tammy</div>
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-55938025569827385822014-06-11T19:08:00.001-04:002014-06-11T19:08:08.865-04:00Bikes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love riding my bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I'm not sure I always love the after effects of riding, but it is so
much more worth it to have pain from having had so much fun, rather than from
just existing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of my friends ride...a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost all of them have epic rides at one
time or another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theirs are usually of
the 50-150 mile ride epic ride.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I managed to have an 8.5 mile epic ride!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeff took me out on the Columbia Trail last Tuesday
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a pretty warm day
(mid-80s) when we started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to
go from the Cycle Craft Long Valley shop to the trailhead on Bartley Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had not gone that direction in several
years and it has been improved with a trail that goes around the housing
development; very nice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing that let me know it would be a special ride
was seeing the Ghostbusters ambulance right before we got on the trail!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ghostbusters was a great part of my young
adulthood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was exciting to see the
ambulance in Long Valley, of all places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmm, I wonder about the ghosts along the trail.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="Photo: Where you going to call?" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="504" src="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/p552x414/10382988_798978793446369_7157781022222675663_n.jpg" width="504" /> </div>
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<br /></div>
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A little further in on the ride and it started raining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've never really ridden in the rain before
and I started feeling a bit nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
no time at all, it was a complete downpour and the trees really didn't seem to
be sheltering us from it at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
couldn't stop laughing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rain was pouring
down my helmet and into my mouth (which I never seem to be able to keep
shut).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so drenched and having so
much fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don't see well on a good day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain came down so hard I could barely see
the red and blue of Jeff's jersey riding ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He very graciously steered me away from the
horse poop on the trail and guided me across when we had to cross streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I couldn't stop giggling.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We saw a bunny on the way out, ducking for cover as we came
barreling along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw another bunny on
the way back; in my "magical" mood, I imagined it was the same bunny
waiting to make sure we got back.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The rain seemed to draw turtles onto the trail, as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw two on the way back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not big ones, but cute little fellows
enjoying their own walk in the rain.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="Photo" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="504" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/p552x414/10352393_798998173444431_8680502899522424243_n.jpg" width="504" /> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that might have been the most fun ride I have ever
had!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was all of 8 years
old and disobeying all those rules I grew up with!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Epic rides don't need to be long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Epic is a state of mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
probably wouldn't have been much fun had it been cold, and that would be a
different story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished that ride
drenched, covered in grit from the trail and excited for my next ride.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My next ride is noteworthy also; but for a different
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday, I was busy having a
stupid, old pity party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate when I
get like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am intelligent enough
to know that the way I am thinking is only making my mood worse, I just can't
seem to help myself sometimes.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jeff came home from his ride and offered to take me out on a
ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn't have a lot of free
time, so I knew I should take him up on it while the offer was there.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We went down to the High Bridge end of the Columbia Trail
and started up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time I started
at that end, I got 7.5 miles in and was completely wiped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, I used my self-pity as a
motivation and channeled my inner "Kim Fury".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a good friend who rides like she is
possessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has always told me a bike
ride makes everything better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually,
a lot of my friends say that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Sunday,
I found out what they meant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I started that ride so mean, evil and bitchy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we got to the Califon city
limits, I checked out of the pity party and into fun mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The slow steady climb took all the abuse I
could put into my pedals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With every
turn of the crank, the moodiness and bitchiness flew out the back of my tires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We turned back at 5 miles which meant I had
my longest ride since being back in New Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I finished, I was content and at peace, the way I like to be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img alt="Photo: Almost to Califon. And looking better on the climb out of high bridge" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="504" src="https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/t1.0-9/p552x414/10420079_801430486534533_5724262308787269109_n.jpg" width="504" /></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, riding causes me some pretty bad pain the day
after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy that it brings is worth every bit of
the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can deal with some steady
chronic pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't do so well when
deprived of the pure pleasure of being on a bike, even for my short, simple
rides.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-70093254685628333982014-05-19T20:25:00.002-04:002014-05-19T20:25:28.298-04:00"What Can I Do For You?"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until very recently, I considered myself a strong,
independent woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked tirelessly
both at my job and at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played
some, but not as much as I wish I had.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am still pretty strong, or as Jeff calls it,
stubborn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't like to give in to my
pain and weakness, however, I am finding if I occasionally give in, I can do
more later.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have never been good at accepting help when offered, nor
have I been able to ask for help when I needed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm getting a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's even difficult for me to ask Jeff for
help; and I know he loves me unconditionally and has seen me at my very worst.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am blessed with wonderful friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part, they seem to understand
that too much activity wears me down and I have to spend a couple quiet days
after "excitement".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
frequently asked, "What can I do for you?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This shows me the heart of my friends and
they all have HUGE hearts!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, I usually don't know how to answer the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often, I feel as if I am imposing (even
though the offer has been made).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worry
that people will find me weak or needy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I worry that they won't like me any more if they see me in my weakness.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, I'm dumping it all out right here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't see out of my right eye, so I don't
drive any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can barely hear out of
my left ear, so try to stay to my right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I frequently lose my balance and stumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More often than not, I catch myself but some
of my falls are pretty rough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
shortest, easiest walks and bike rides tire me out to the point I need a
nap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to have the best memory of
anyone I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, sometimes, I can't
remember what we were talking about while we are still talking about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all this, I still need to feel <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love that Brendan keeps letting me work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, when you ask what you can do for me, and I reply
"nothing, I am good", I am lying about half the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am working on asking for what I need, but I
still have a long way to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our very
good friends, the Kruse family, pick me up once a week to just hang out with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They let me do laundry at their
house and just chill as if I were one of the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gets me out of here and I get to see
people I really love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also take me
grocery shopping whenever I need to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was very difficult at first, but the idea came from them and was
offered with such kindness and love, that it hardly hurt at all to accept.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My other good friend, George, frequently takes me out to
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to cook, but it's nice to
get out, let someone else cook and just chat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I know that there are others with the same problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New mothers, shut-ins, caretakers of the ill
or elderly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don't know how to reply
to the "what can I do for you?" question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't speak specifically for them, but
offer to cook a meal, do their shopping, do their laundry, watch the
child/parent/spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's much easier to
have the conversation if you ask specifics. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, please don't ask me what you can do for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please ask me if you can take me for a short,
easy bike ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask me if you can come
over and visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask me if I will bake
you cookies or make you dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask me
if I want to go shopping, out for coffee or lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm pretty good at answering the specific
questions, just not the general ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And sometimes, all I need is a phone call and to know that my friends are
still out there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thanks for listening. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-69035491584029713162014-04-21T20:33:00.003-04:002014-05-06T00:39:41.544-04:00A Year in the Making...or thereabouts<div>
<br /></div>
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<br />
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We have been traveling in the RV for a little over a year
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly is home now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We traveled by car for about three months
before buying the RV, and enjoyed that almost as much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could never be home for us though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like to have our "stuff" around
us, and I like to cook waaaayyy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>too much
to stay in hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when they have
kitchenettes, it's just not the same.</div>
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<br /></div>
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While our goal is to see all 50 states, so far we have only
been in 24 with the RV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are other states
that we have traveled to previously, so they have kind of fallen to the bottom
of the list</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unfortunately, I wish we had started this a couple years
earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm not quite feeling as well
as I was when we first started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
every good day, I seem to have 2-4 bad days; depends on how I spend the good
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe me, I am trying to make the
most out of each day that I feel good enough, but I end up paying for it with
the bad days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Financially, the money has
gone a bit quicker than expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For these
reasons, we have returned to New Jersey where Jeff will work at the bike
shop for the summer and I will try to rest and relax and prepare to travel
again in the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess we truly have
become snowbirds, because the thought of a northern winter makes me very, very
sad.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We traveled along the Gulf Coast from Florida to Texas, with
stops in Gulf Shores, Alabama, Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent 10 days between Galveston and
Houston before moving up to Austin for a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Water fascinates me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeff has
always been more of a mountain person, but I love the peace and serenity of the
sea, as well as the fury and anger during a storm.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car ferry across Mobile Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6gm953zPLDtom5K57yDU468TLNaRejs-pyZEA0mncgarJ0zpxzgF0EEBzJ5lybUgMJJOF527TCofVkZIZDogmYokSvB-P_GGL1VS_Mu0dHMqQkcolb1quaY14hdwpYyN3mJP5iD2VTFM/s640/blogger-image-1740528895.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji6gm953zPLDtom5K57yDU468TLNaRejs-pyZEA0mncgarJ0zpxzgF0EEBzJ5lybUgMJJOF527TCofVkZIZDogmYokSvB-P_GGL1VS_Mu0dHMqQkcolb1quaY14hdwpYyN3mJP5iD2VTFM/s640/blogger-image-1740528895.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mobile Bay</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHZQ61yAImpfm9S_Co0y5H_BU1m1XWqkvkaxoOjFqXK4upQvM3cAQNvgdAnEyo7anAcpve-e8TJbxpVigU0EsPIIdvlg3_ldFUEIt7oJ935h4uEsQB7aIPr7BSoiCP306ezSKcmX8qXNp/s640/blogger-image--1581344196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHZQ61yAImpfm9S_Co0y5H_BU1m1XWqkvkaxoOjFqXK4upQvM3cAQNvgdAnEyo7anAcpve-e8TJbxpVigU0EsPIIdvlg3_ldFUEIt7oJ935h4uEsQB7aIPr7BSoiCP306ezSKcmX8qXNp/s640/blogger-image--1581344196.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Angels Museum, Pensacola, Florida</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISKo7aQk2C9ezFIm5iq94Z2xLVIa9tLc9xarAXveE6n_cAGCwqrYSLXuFz56WSkAo-X8xfptWhtn6GMfLd7SiB0ir-ZAt2ByPAG_tGipfXHmO2nxAMF8yu6fsdQV83NdeBM7RsrPTZc2H/s640/blogger-image-1965078190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISKo7aQk2C9ezFIm5iq94Z2xLVIa9tLc9xarAXveE6n_cAGCwqrYSLXuFz56WSkAo-X8xfptWhtn6GMfLd7SiB0ir-ZAt2ByPAG_tGipfXHmO2nxAMF8yu6fsdQV83NdeBM7RsrPTZc2H/s400/blogger-image-1965078190.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Perdido Bay</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Photo" class="Bea" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9hNxPlXnAy8Bv7LF_pFZOz9YgaXAbiwbF1z73wr3Wok=w276-h207-p-no" style="height: 207px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; width: 276px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gulf Coast from Biloxi MS</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
A few years ago, we took a Caribbean cruise and opted for
the shore excursion that took us parasailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I fell in love with flying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
used the experience in my visualization exercises for months afterward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew that we wanted to do it one more time
and I thought the Gulf of Mexico would be a cool place to fly again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did it back on March through Caribbean Breeze
out of Galveston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just as great
as last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say the
Caribbean was more beautiful but the experience was still amazing...and this
time I wasn't nervous about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did I
mention I have a HUGE fear of heights and I don't know how to swim?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like it should be harder than it is,
but despite all my physical issues, I can still fly pretty easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff at Caribbean Breeze was awesome and
accommodating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shared the boat with a
newlywed couple that had never flown before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were nice yet not intrusively friendly.<br />
<br />
You can see our para-sailing trip through this link, or the posting from 3/21. <br />
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<a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/03/para-sailing-video.html?spref=fb">http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/03/para-sailing-video.html?spref=fb</a><br />
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I'm hoping I can visualize off that for several months.</div>
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We spent 8 days in Austin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although we have encountered friends on our travels, this was the first
time we actually visited friends in their "new" home town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve and Amy have<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a wonderful family and they made us feel so
welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steve is an avid mountain biker
and was happy to show Jeff his favorite Austin trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy and I went to the Zilker Park Garden
Festival with the two girls, Abigail and Madeleine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Riley was ill that day; I really missed
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Austin is an amazing city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much music and the growth of the arts in
the city is spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it's fairly
new growth, so there is a definite lack of "urban jerks".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit, we totally hated the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>traffic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost any time of day it was far too reminiscent of Route 80 at rush
hour.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairy House at Zilker Park</td></tr>
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Steve and Amy also made sure we experienced epic Texas BBQ
by taking us out to Salt Lick BBQ, a family style BBQ place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food kept coming, and coming, and
coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also each took a huge to-go container home
with us which made for another entire </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first round of epic Texas BBQ at Salt Link</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The next day, after the men went riding and the women went
to the Garden Festival, Steven treated us to a grilled pork loin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They truly are Texans now, because they
absolutely differentiate between BBQ and grilling.</div>
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Our two other major treats in Austin were Amy's Ice Creams
and Mellow Johnny's Bike shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not
much of an ice cream fan, but Amy's had the best I have ever had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would definitely go again.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff in line for his second serving at Amy"s Ice Creams. And he ate the whole thing!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Mellow Johnny's is a very cool bike shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest, though, I did expect a bit
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me more proud to come from
the Cycle Craft shops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brendan has done
such a great job with his focus at Cycle Craft and I am grateful to have seen
the progression and growth throughout the last 20 years.<br />
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Jeff and I took a quick day trip to San Antonio to visit the Riverwalk and the Alamo. Our room overlooked the Tower of Life. What a cool city!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">60 ounce margarita on the Riverwalk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Alamo shrine.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower of Life.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We spent our last couple nights in Texas near Dallas with
Jeff's aunt and uncle, John and Jen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, Southern hospitality was laid at our feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not seen these O'Haras in more than 20
years and need to return to spend more time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We took the train into Dallas for lunch and rode the free trolley around
to see some of the area.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle John and Aunt Jenn with Jeff on the trolley. So good to see family.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So now it was time to head back to New Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was exhausted from the flurry of Texas
activity so we stopped for a few days near Nashville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeff got a good ride in, I got a bit of rest
and we saw the Johnny Cash museum.</div>
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Now it was seriously time to head back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeff made the drive from Nashville to Chester
in 2 days, long days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bus is pretty
big and I can't help drive, so driving more than 5 hours in a day can get
pretty tough on him.</div>
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As of Saturday, April 19, we were back in Dirty Jerzey, as I have
heard it called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time for me to rest and
for us to put some money away to try and travel again in the fall.</div>
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I will try to post more over the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, with some rest I will feel better
and more able to be upbeat and positive.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-16297434185879480762014-04-11T10:12:00.000-04:002014-04-11T10:12:37.472-04:00Clement Railroad Hotel MuseumMy wife has always wanted to be a perpetual student. She just really likes school. So I gave her an assignment to write an 100 word essay about our trip to the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum.<br />
She was feelin' a bit randy and wrote it like a 3rd grader (her words) :-)<br />
<br />
"My sweet husband took me to the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum even though I was having a difficult day and taking it out on him. Even though I was exhausted, it was well worth the trip.<br />
<br />
I learned about the role that Dickson, Tennessee played in the Civil War. The Union army was holding Nashville but the railroad had been destroyed. Freed slaves and free black men were conscripted to build the railroad from Dickson to Nashville, (not so free, eh?).<br />
<br />
Montgomery Bell, for whom the park we are staying in was named, was a big deal in iron works. He had forges, and we know more about forges than Marianne, the senior docent at the museum.<br />
<br />
My favorite parts were the sitting room because I wanted to sew there and the miniature train, because, I, like Sheldon, love trains.<br />
<br />
The quilt was also very nice.<br />
<br />
I love my husband for taking me and bringing me home to bed.<br />
<br />
The End"<br />
<br />
<h2>
This part of the model train switchyard was recreated from the next picture below.</h2>
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The photo was shot from a bridge represented by the model in this picture. Note the working turntable.</h2>
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They even had a working Ferris Wheel and sound effects.</h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
10,000 man hours as of this post. </h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cxU_G785Zk/U0YXxOUpdoI/AAAAAAAANo0/r1pzsdb1hZo/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cxU_G785Zk/U0YXxOUpdoI/AAAAAAAANo0/r1pzsdb1hZo/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+10.jpg" height="640" width="477" /></a></div>
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Tammy really liked this quilt!</h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cxU_G785Zk/U0YXxOUpdoI/AAAAAAAANo0/r1pzsdb1hZo/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cxU_G785Zk/U0YXxOUpdoI/AAAAAAAANo0/r1pzsdb1hZo/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3cxU_G785Zk/U0YXxOUpdoI/AAAAAAAANo0/r1pzsdb1hZo/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dw2jOdwvveA/U0YXxw9HZeI/AAAAAAAANo8/PGeTsLAygqQ/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><br /><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dw2jOdwvveA/U0YXxw9HZeI/AAAAAAAANo8/PGeTsLAygqQ/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+12.jpg" height="640" width="477" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
The ceiling of the hotel was very interesting </h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlrfmvLGgEU/U0YX1E21s1I/AAAAAAAANpk/ePfW6CL9dbE/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlrfmvLGgEU/U0YX1E21s1I/AAAAAAAANpk/ePfW6CL9dbE/s1600/Dickson+hotel+Train+Museum+-+9.jpg" height="640" width="477" /></a></div>
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<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-58890295217189066482014-04-09T23:45:00.001-04:002014-04-10T00:28:10.280-04:00Houston Space Center<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tammy feels the need to be upbeat in her blogging, which has been hard for her lately. She don't write about it because she does not want pity or sympathy. I suggested that she just write matter of factly, but not dwell on the negatives.</div>
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But we have been getting some exploring in. We may have slowed down a bit but, we are not stopping. One small step and all...</div>
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We went to Houston to see the Space Center. We even stayed at an RV park called <a href="http://thisisnotcamping.blogspot.com/2014/03/game-room-and-laundry-day.html" target="_blank">Space Center RV Park</a>. It was a nice park, just no space stuff. </div>
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<ol><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytp1Mhv-M60/Uz4lVNtspzI/AAAAAAAANmc/tFcsFHw9-lc/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+33" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ytp1Mhv-M60/Uz4lVNtspzI/AAAAAAAANmc/tFcsFHw9-lc/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+33" height="640" width="480" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y98iOR9c7Ys/Uz4lVAVEzzI/AAAAAAAANnM/mxXyqtt2uOM/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+32" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y98iOR9c7Ys/Uz4lVAVEzzI/AAAAAAAANnM/mxXyqtt2uOM/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+32" height="640" width="480" /></a>
</ol>
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<h2>
We got to see Mission Control, preserved from the early days.</h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYmh8WLtNlI/Uz4lVEo4YvI/AAAAAAAANns/BK9Esl6qPAg/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+25" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYmh8WLtNlI/Uz4lVEo4YvI/AAAAAAAANns/BK9Esl6qPAg/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+25" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-jKfDVm8I0/U0YK0yHXBsI/AAAAAAAANoQ/0t_1BsOwOuc/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-jKfDVm8I0/U0YK0yHXBsI/AAAAAAAANoQ/0t_1BsOwOuc/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+76.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Mission to Mars</h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMolIe7_YT4/Uz4lVI-AihI/AAAAAAAANm0/0lWEwpTQMBM/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+19" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zMolIe7_YT4/Uz4lVI-AihI/AAAAAAAANm0/0lWEwpTQMBM/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+19" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>This is part of the tram tour. Super cool facility!</b></h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x40J1P59YN4/Uz4lVGvznKI/AAAAAAAANlg/V29rJFWaIKg/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+15" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x40J1P59YN4/Uz4lVGvznKI/AAAAAAAANlg/V29rJFWaIKg/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+15" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Nifty Robots</b></h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJrSvMo88vI/Uz4lVDsYQAI/AAAAAAAANlw/maJg0tSAlQo/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wJrSvMo88vI/Uz4lVDsYQAI/AAAAAAAANlw/maJg0tSAlQo/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+5" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvY1hsecoRA/Uz4lVHjoRGI/AAAAAAAANmA/9ioHDkhIfD0/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FvY1hsecoRA/Uz4lVHjoRGI/AAAAAAAANmA/9ioHDkhIfD0/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+1" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The Ultimate Motorhome</h2>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTyYmWHk6Os/U0YSrnjr-9I/AAAAAAAANog/jBmmNGr8A-I/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTyYmWHk6Os/U0YSrnjr-9I/AAAAAAAANog/jBmmNGr8A-I/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+7.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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Isn't she cute!</h2>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4REjizrG3DU/U0YTlnm7ruI/AAAAAAAANoo/a2CPcJ1mTUw/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4REjizrG3DU/U0YTlnm7ruI/AAAAAAAANoo/a2CPcJ1mTUw/s1600/Houston+Space+Center+-+29.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-78222043783650369982014-03-23T15:33:00.001-04:002014-04-08T18:28:06.839-04:00Game room and Laundry DayLaundry does not seem to be as much a chore with a game room next door! We rotated ping pong, pool and air hockey. All of which are included here at the Space Center RV Park, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://spacecenterrvpark.com/">SpaceCenterRVPark.com</a>. Good way to make use of a dreary, looks like it's going to rain anytime, kinda day. Don't let website being under construction, this is a nice place. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kex9AFTggrM/Uy829qxG9OI/AAAAAAAANRg/3yprGhswPeI/s640/blogger-image-226132246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kex9AFTggrM/Uy829qxG9OI/AAAAAAAANRg/3yprGhswPeI/s640/blogger-image-226132246.jpg" /></a></span></div>
Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0League City League City29.4999 -95.110481tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-90564505874608310592014-03-21T00:50:00.001-04:002014-03-21T00:50:57.959-04:00Para Sailing VideoThe first time we para sailed, Tammy used the memory to float in her mind for months afterwards. So we had to do it one more time.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BlFGFuWfzds" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-66482013779198656942014-01-30T18:23:00.005-05:002014-01-30T18:23:56.358-05:00Holiday Musings<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I know, I know, it's been a long time since the last post. Believe it or not, sometimes I don't have a lot to say. Anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes with me will dispute that, but it's true.<br />
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With the major winter holidays recently passed and Valentine's Day coming up, my mind turns to thoughts of the variety of holiday celebrations that exist. <br />
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Holidays are not a big deal to Jeff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He's the kind of person that doesn't need a
holiday to remind him how to treat people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If he sees something that he thinks someone he cares about would love,
he buys it on the spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the kind
of friend that will drop anything to help you out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shows me his love every day, I don't need
a Valentine's Day reminder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may not
be conventional, but he is true to himself.</div>
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As a result of 32 years together, holidays are not a big
deal to me any more either, unless we happen to be around family.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
In 2012, we went home to Minnesota for the winter holidays
for the first time in 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
so great to spend that time with my daughter, my grandkids, my in-laws and
Jeff's extended family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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For 2013, we spent our Thanksgiving in North Carolina and a
quiet and peaceful day it was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
in an RV resort and just chilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cook
dinner almost every day, and we really didn't have anything special to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of us particularly like turkey so
nothing was lost there. The next day, we got to see some very good friends from
NJ, who were in town to see relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Something else to be grateful for, the wonderful friends we have. We even did a little riding and I got to ride my first Fat Bike. It was a blast, but I think I'm pretty content on my Tassajara for my riding.<br />
<br />
<img class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MCDykXlTMyU/Up1HK-8WwLI/AAAAAAAAK3U/QldCUmfyeK4/w1278-h207-no/Phat+Tammy+-+1-PANO.jpg" /></div>
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In mid-December we dropped our RV off in Ft. Myers, FL to
get some repairs done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed like
the last chance we would have before the busy repair season started in the
South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also seemed to be a good
opportunity to go to Key West, which I have always wanted to see. First, we went to Sanibel Island. It was supposed to be a day trip but was so lovely we stayed for 3 days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Sanibel Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKJOxvBmTkvCBHD-4vuh55UVN8vRqp8DKspgtmlW4OJNRpYtuemvRph-NbjsWEkWVWl9NJkoTkEwnjEzPx4vsUSd_xLJIZT5S3ZRjEK9fzXBqunjs4phfdySBggUxkvSgcDkw7f3satDO/s640/blogger-image--520517335.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKJOxvBmTkvCBHD-4vuh55UVN8vRqp8DKspgtmlW4OJNRpYtuemvRph-NbjsWEkWVWl9NJkoTkEwnjEzPx4vsUSd_xLJIZT5S3ZRjEK9fzXBqunjs4phfdySBggUxkvSgcDkw7f3satDO/s640/blogger-image--520517335.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff warming up his new friend at the Sanibel Island Deli. Gluten free food!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdILLXzBf1crqaHHBmpEanY47N_TIHkzMVVjUhyJvS-bBwJ0VjbvM4MDFceJjec-zE9O_F-S9JiTvFR_LHZSDYXDZ6QVmb61SOnL2BY7nOBr9xDPoZvrw-sag3bW7k2Z-IsGyjlyN41fbK/s640/blogger-image-2101392.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdILLXzBf1crqaHHBmpEanY47N_TIHkzMVVjUhyJvS-bBwJ0VjbvM4MDFceJjec-zE9O_F-S9JiTvFR_LHZSDYXDZ6QVmb61SOnL2BY7nOBr9xDPoZvrw-sag3bW7k2Z-IsGyjlyN41fbK/s640/blogger-image-2101392.jpg" /></a>We don't even exchange gifts for Christmas any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we see what we like, we buy it if we
think the expense is worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other
than that, I think our life together is the greatest gift of all.<br />
<br />
On the way to Key West, we spent a few nights in Key Largo. It was right on a beach, but Key Largo is a little too much of a party town for the likes of us "old folks". There was live music from the tiki bar next to the hotel every night. It was a combination of pleasant and annoying. Pleasant if you were in the mood for it, annoying if you wanted quiet.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSSmDtxHzStq5oNVMPcXckTrGK5uneKPGimOVCn2Zvj6etDkkcxlil0ZNgitsQ87yHuFKRX9yk8vGIgio3bszDdGjc2NxRte8e5bGa9uSTHpkiPI64c7yndCsJzsXahV_OB8XY_x3KNnZ/s640/blogger-image--1906174218.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on Key Largo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
Due to the expense of Key West, we actually stayed in a cottage on
Little Torch Key. It was right on the beach and had a little
kitchenette so that we wouldn't have to go out to eat. The hardest part
of being without the bus was the expense of hotels and eating meals
out. We are currently both eating gluten-free, so besides the expense
of meals out, it's not always easy to find good food to eat.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAKoBGlAEt34kLyAm_rbsTIGChJf3xI2A1e1Ypojr8LnSZYGOkfIK2_p4NlA2_2rLGVDB_xCf_PqNpp0TpPQ2C0pbTSWsuAz9GM1uCZkvYkDghyv8uwrRFmwkv3UawOyRUX_rEwnDEQDe/s640/blogger-image--1156130086.jpg" /><br />
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Christmas Day was spent in Key West.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never been in warm weather for
Christmas and it was a bit odd, to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a very "Caribbean" feel to
Key West, complete with chickens running all over the place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were in shorts and t-shirts and just
wandered all over the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a bit
touristy, but there is a lot of history and remarkable points of interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw Truman's Winter White House,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but didn't do the full tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did, however, tour the entirety of Ernest
Hemingway's home; complete with dozens of cats.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidN-DhyphenhyphenYtZYqsEgr8S45izpO8zF4fuh_6MlYUeZfCoqaBgHrCYgWnFGBlQ7CAf6MB9giyeSPeNoeSvEmoQFsU5-_oJvcol5wSr1rtu5h7ZSEy8JsX81_oRvyIk9VkZGQBCWF7aalwiTLVk/s640/blogger-image-531540965.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why did the chicken cross the road?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cHxi4D1-o2Y/UrsxfC96OcI/AAAAAAAALmI/rF5CiurC-so/w909-h682-no/Hemingway+Cats+-+6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only 1 of 47 cats residing at the Hemingway home.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We also chose to make it a complete Hemingway tour by
heading to his old watering hole,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sloppy
Joe's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I regret to say, I
overindulged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, this is not
unusual in Key West.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bars also give
you your adult beverages in plastic cups so that you may walk along the street
imbibing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't do this often, but
when I do, I have a great time and Jeff takes very good care of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is an extremely patient man because I
become a bit raucous.<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNKykWmKvkwEtxcHfgFR7Zz5BBet9UwVnfVm-qJt7gSHLAZulCw1B_ytouhH9JXwtGT1hNqMspiSwZQBpSKwigjBEhdovqQrRpODGQTuxqR2ZEDTkjo16hAC0tjFZLCvloGy11OQDrgE0/s640/blogger-image--1265798834.jpg" /> </div>
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We drove back to Fort Myers after Christmas, hoping the bus would be ready. Unfortunately, it wasn't. On the way back, we stopped to do an air boat ride and so I could see alligators. I was bugging Jeff every time we walked or rode that I wanted to see an alligator!!! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_fMR0xdTXUQ4D2wFkp5_O-0sIjeYPuyyllNSKfYOY5X40FrfNcir3U_eEBKYcJtTXvizztkEP8adggBNkfuEYsqaWo4s5o7iv2_RDBhra7tvnHRefzINbp1T3UmoeogvbSSAjO1kcr7Bg/s640/blogger-image-1494988625.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our luncheon companion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
New Year's Eve was spent in a Fort Myers hotel; a little
nicer than what we had been utilizing for most of this
"vacation".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it all the
way to 11:45 before falling asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can't remember the last time I stayed awake until midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I would have made it last year if I
hadn't been sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was at my daughter's
and she took good care of me, like she always does.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I don't make New Year's resolutions any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set goals throughout the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they are achieved or my circumstances
change, new ones arise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The organized
part of my brain likes the concept of new year, new goals, but circumstances in
my life and with my health change so rapidly that it just isn't practical.</div>
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<br /></div>
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New Year's Day is my birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to celebrate that more than any other
holiday; my personal vanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because our
RV wasn't ready yet, it was a tad depressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I also do a lot of work on my birthday because the shop is closed and I
can run all of my end of year reports without bothering anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, that is not a complaint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I kinda like spending my birthday that way. </span>I love my work and I love not inconveniencing
anyone.<br />
<br />
With Valentine's Day coming up, I realized that one of the ways Jeff shows me his love is by continuing to celebrate my new-found childhood. He grew up going to rodeos but I had never seen one and always wanted to. There was a rodeo in Lakeland, Florida, not too far from our RV park. There were even rodeo monkeys!!!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXvUJtVl6806FaS0fZb5BlcBkTfjMqtVN1Yxu06e9ZBCvaKlzLujfOAzRMQwuzUKIOU4iDHLJc_i4rcF52JzSe4W1prsUBWz-HCLGu-0sLTAAFtAkiIBIK-nA8yqmeaZBenWxPNSzV6nB/s640/blogger-image-1819729980.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXvUJtVl6806FaS0fZb5BlcBkTfjMqtVN1Yxu06e9ZBCvaKlzLujfOAzRMQwuzUKIOU4iDHLJc_i4rcF52JzSe4W1prsUBWz-HCLGu-0sLTAAFtAkiIBIK-nA8yqmeaZBenWxPNSzV6nB/s640/blogger-image-1819729980.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blurry, cause they move so darn fast!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvwfMYXEWMDevvLMVDjTG-OXsJY-RC2DmKvq-7zUyiAEamAw4pT9z0pM9cWT_5RheH1hWLFWKOhhxAumYI9ikk0G5MRwGRhYbPHE_GZ-Qx5ql5p_YkBkB3ANTJkYMTLTliMLU4ImSbtIe/s640/blogger-image-2037747383.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the monkeys move too fast!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<img class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aFzZxxLel0s/Utydn9U7tuI/AAAAAAAALto/I2CmCcH7NN4/w512-h682-no/Rodeo+-+7" /> <br />
<br />
Religious observances are a personal matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand the concept of a commemorative
day, but I would love it if people held to those principles all year, not just
for Christmas, Easter, Passover, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don't keep with an organized religion, but I endeavor to stay true to the
values that have been instilled in me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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So, long-winded as I am, my moral is that holidays are only
necessary if you need to be reminded how to treat people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Family should be celebrated all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, everybody is busy and it's hard to make
time to be together and share your lives, but do we really need a specific
holiday to do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Valentine's Day and anniversaries mark reminders of those
special loves of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it is
nice to celebrate the holiday, let's not only celebrate on the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the person you are spending your life
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let them know you love them every
day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's
Day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are all days that celebrate
the glorious country we live in and the men and women that protect and defend
our liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not be grateful for
these luxuries every day?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not thank
a serviceperson or veteran every day?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I may anger some people off with these thoughts, but I
needed to get them out of my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If people choose to spend the holidays in the traditional manner, that's great. I would just prefer not to be judged for not particularly wanting to celebrate that way. </span>The
longer I move along the linear path of life, the less important individual
holidays mean and the more every single day means.<br />
<br />
Until I have something else to say, have a great day! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdILLXzBf1crqaHHBmpEanY47N_TIHkzMVVjUhyJvS-bBwJ0VjbvM4MDFceJjec-zE9O_F-S9JiTvFR_LHZSDYXDZ6QVmb61SOnL2BY7nOBr9xDPoZvrw-sag3bW7k2Z-IsGyjlyN41fbK/s640/blogger-image-2101392.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-32777990577050837462013-12-23T20:07:00.003-05:002013-12-23T20:07:31.131-05:00BIKES AND THE ISLAND LIFESTYLE<br />
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I know that many people think that Jeff and I are on one
long vacation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't get me wrong, it is
a totally AWESOME lifestyle, but it really isn't a vacation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We still have to do a lot of the stuff that regular
homeowners do, with a twist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still
have to cook, clean, pay bills, do laundry and all those other mundane chores
that come with pretending to be an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeff not only has to know how to fix things around the house, but also
diagnose issues with the unique types of equipment that come with a motorhome.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We dropped our RV off in Fort Myers, Florida for some
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, I am grateful we
bought the extended warranty since this was a "pre-owned" unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The insurance has already paid for
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, we needed to get our
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due to the holidays, we are not getting it back quite as
quickly as we would like and after a week, I certainly miss my home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to love to stay in hotels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of someone else cleaning up after me
and eating all my meals out was so much fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not so much anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss my
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</span>Being gluten-free, I really miss cooking at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's hard to find GF food for every
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<br />
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We decided our vacation would be to the Florida Keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn't sure how thrilled Jeff would be
driving the bus down Route 1 in heavy traffic and it was someplace I had always
wanted to see.</div>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UgXHyz9dcoc/UrjCeHcriAI/AAAAAAAALYM/dFemW9fGyiQ/w512-h682-no/SANIBAL+ISLAND+-+17" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighthouse on Sanibel Island</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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We started by taking a quick day trip to Sanibel Island
since it was so close to Fort Myers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
fell in love with the island culture and we stayed for three days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would have stayed longer, but all the
modest hotels were booked up for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The hotel was right on the beach with amazing sunrises and sunsets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, I only made it out of bed for one
sunrise, but Jeff took pictures for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The island has no traffic lights and bike paths that go everywhere you
want to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a couple
intersections busy enough to warrant traffic cops, but they definitely seemed
to favor cyclists.<br />
<br />
<br />
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After the first night, we rode our bikes to get our meals,
see the town and pick up groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
started out riding the bikes the hotel provided, but they were in such
disrepair we switched to our own bikes pretty quickly. I think this is the first time in years Jeff rode a bike without a Powertap!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ufCKL2HOq88/UrjCeB-CL0I/AAAAAAAALSA/PK3D6RNeWj0/w909-h682-no/SANIBAL+ISLAND+-+30" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ufCKL2HOq88/UrjCeB-CL0I/AAAAAAAALSA/PK3D6RNeWj0/w909-h682-no/SANIBAL+ISLAND+-+30" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend, the turtle...I love turtles!!!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ufCKL2HOq88/UrjCeB-CL0I/AAAAAAAALSA/PK3D6RNeWj0/w909-h682-no/SANIBAL+ISLAND+-+30" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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I'm pretty sure I surprised Jeff with how much I wanted to
ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was perfect for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather was warm, the terrain flat, the
people happy to be riding and no worries about the cars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my two longest ride days back to back since becoming
so ill .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a deli
that had gluten-free breads for their sandwiches and a couple gluten-free pizza
places.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESHSuFdeu7QKtOmx9hyBCo8KZ_u4GebItnXX3f-Uc3sVxUtyUoqyf7RffRcFFztsAohU9oiQFSO-zZnFirsVsQwIV2Va6sSLgnmBsLGMl5AWNArMDlloBIPgZimU8dzpH03N9Ew7BCPYx/s640/blogger-image--15193720.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESHSuFdeu7QKtOmx9hyBCo8KZ_u4GebItnXX3f-Uc3sVxUtyUoqyf7RffRcFFztsAohU9oiQFSO-zZnFirsVsQwIV2Va6sSLgnmBsLGMl5AWNArMDlloBIPgZimU8dzpH03N9Ew7BCPYx/s640/blogger-image--15193720.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff warming up the snowman at Sanibel Deli</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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I'm so glad we were there at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a friend that told me once Christmas
hits, the island is a zoo!</div>
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The one downside to Sanibel Island was the insects; not the
big, scary ones you hear horror stories about but rather, tiny microscopic ones
that come out on the beach near sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have literally 100s of bites on my arms and legs and couldn't see the bugs till
the very end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don't know what
they were, but they kept me off the beach the last day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we started meandering down the Keys, spending a couple
days on Key Largo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful swaying
palm trees and a terrific view of the Gulf help make up for the commercialization
of the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We like to have a good
time, but we really aren't "party people".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a nice central location for a few day
visit though.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydD018j995K_7KFH_uYgfj7TqELh0z5QOKIX3psMx1BU8ZoiaOEnoYHH4xqOmXbWtqnnyNF4muZEgCEMsFgx7RnXAMKEoq4Df7r4zW7V8ndf_mh2Q2HKGaTnUkz49CvISPsQ-Ufy0GzbK/s640/blogger-image-1454337130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydD018j995K_7KFH_uYgfj7TqELh0z5QOKIX3psMx1BU8ZoiaOEnoYHH4xqOmXbWtqnnyNF4muZEgCEMsFgx7RnXAMKEoq4Df7r4zW7V8ndf_mh2Q2HKGaTnUkz49CvISPsQ-Ufy0GzbK/s640/blogger-image-1454337130.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1sc0TfOJnzXTCspIB1rFwEnqLM44mKZ9jrX1aumcDQJXSX3D1OKvewGlbCXVUfDDoMSnH2G4haJ5TrrsHyYldg7njR6Ugh0q_PLa2G2-_-zAW38HQXd-nrWLFBnCbz1TKrS9pPC6P2xu/s640/blogger-image--1898623656.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1sc0TfOJnzXTCspIB1rFwEnqLM44mKZ9jrX1aumcDQJXSX3D1OKvewGlbCXVUfDDoMSnH2G4haJ5TrrsHyYldg7njR6Ugh0q_PLa2G2-_-zAW38HQXd-nrWLFBnCbz1TKrS9pPC6P2xu/s640/blogger-image--1898623656.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXtX7gDTuwFGRvT_fJPcP8LySNylgne7f7SQMbmNQ5YwW5SHf7GW_xMtr10FEOtIJIYbMiUSFngJ84jnQB7Y-oAZvc5JhAigdLARWDyD8bSrdIINuZ6XCQebfX326pJmLbI_BNpg2jlS/s640/blogger-image--1015380939.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiXtX7gDTuwFGRvT_fJPcP8LySNylgne7f7SQMbmNQ5YwW5SHf7GW_xMtr10FEOtIJIYbMiUSFngJ84jnQB7Y-oAZvc5JhAigdLARWDyD8bSrdIINuZ6XCQebfX326pJmLbI_BNpg2jlS/s640/blogger-image--1015380939.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday, we went back north to Homestead to see the Fruit
and Spice Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not a tour for
everyone, but I love cooking and plants (even though I have a black thumb) and
there were varieties of fruits, especially that I had never heard of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was pretty cool, and Jeff was
very patient with my "odd" fascination.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt82YtYc8ZO1Xl6Wuin5W6B3QuTdl938eVjfCL5RYfIT-IYDBlp3qGmiBmDwWSDqaKCKaILlbrby5e4JWlcHWdMIwab8iRCHGWzTvoqu73Tc9gQuhyphenhyphenqK6qelwp1Oxxt-bus15d_06BnPzG/s640/blogger-image-1756490877.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt82YtYc8ZO1Xl6Wuin5W6B3QuTdl938eVjfCL5RYfIT-IYDBlp3qGmiBmDwWSDqaKCKaILlbrby5e4JWlcHWdMIwab8iRCHGWzTvoqu73Tc9gQuhyphenhyphenqK6qelwp1Oxxt-bus15d_06BnPzG/s640/blogger-image-1756490877.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baobab Tree - Tree of Life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also woke up all excited to ride again yesterday, so we
rode to breakfast, again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the idea
of doing it makes me all giggly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
least in Key Largo, there is a bike path along Highway 1 so we didn't have to
fight with the traffic. Once again, loving the island culture.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We planned to ride early this morning on a trail in the Everglades. I didn't quite make that opportunity. Unfortunately, today I woke up less well than I have been
for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am running a bit of a
fever and have a lot of aches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
unsure if it is the bug bites or maybe just a fun hangover, but I have been
taking it easy.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydD018j995K_7KFH_uYgfj7TqELh0z5QOKIX3psMx1BU8ZoiaOEnoYHH4xqOmXbWtqnnyNF4muZEgCEMsFgx7RnXAMKEoq4Df7r4zW7V8ndf_mh2Q2HKGaTnUkz49CvISPsQ-Ufy0GzbK/s640/blogger-image-1454337130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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Tomorrow we are heading down to Little Torch Key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's about 20 miles outside of Key West, much
quieter and less expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
thinking about having Jeff ride his bike down so he can get a good long ride in
while I drive the car down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
kitchenette in the hotel, so I will be able to prepare some meals for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That will be our Christmas spot this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Home is where the heart is and as
long as I am with Jeff, I am home for Christmas.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVon2GwnKW3mEeesQ8j1ma4mR_OCM1E_m3p_ofasWYYRW3i6koMG-g4HV5JaeXF_TWgHvWIR5NcsqTu5gSG-6ToX-fAWasg2764e2PkhXAvjeGwtPY3jDXmcqk4CFfvPohUisbv7cHI89/s640/blogger-image-662283957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVon2GwnKW3mEeesQ8j1ma4mR_OCM1E_m3p_ofasWYYRW3i6koMG-g4HV5JaeXF_TWgHvWIR5NcsqTu5gSG-6ToX-fAWasg2764e2PkhXAvjeGwtPY3jDXmcqk4CFfvPohUisbv7cHI89/s640/blogger-image-662283957.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<br /></div>
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Merry Christmas to all, wherever you may be.</div>
<br />
<br />
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</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-30083184225133106432013-12-15T21:11:00.002-05:002013-12-15T21:11:35.543-05:00Childhood<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some who think Jeff and I are having a mid-life
crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could be, could be...but I prefer
to think that we are two hard-working people making the most of the time we
have left in a society that seems as if it could fail in a moment's notice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could also say, "This is not a mid-life crisis, this
is my second childhood."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except
it's not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never really had a
childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was cooking complete meals
by the time I was 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Made my first Thanksgiving
feast at 8, had my first part-time job at 10, full-time job at 14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was back when people didn't check your
ID for most things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even had my own
apartment at 16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the things I
was doing; cooking, working, living on my own and didn't even realize other
people didn't live that way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fz5MUPbi-8w/UVW1rDW-NII/AAAAAAAACQ8/8NE-xohwgyk/w162-h215-p-no/C6895817-3AD8-45EC-AB64-F25D389B5160.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo" border="0" class="Bea" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Fz5MUPbi-8w/UVW1rDW-NII/AAAAAAAACQ8/8NE-xohwgyk/w162-h215-p-no/C6895817-3AD8-45EC-AB64-F25D389B5160.JPG" style="height: 215px; margin-top: 0px; width: 162px;" /></a>Meeting Jeff was the best thing that ever happened to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It maybe wasn't "love at first
sight", but it was pretty much "this is the best friend I will ever
have".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least it was for me.<br />
<br />
For the 32 years that I have known Jeff, he has done
everything possible to give me the childhood I never had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He taught me to ride a bike at 27.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was terrible at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took me camping for the first time; I
think I was 29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I love riding and come closer to liking
camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate bugs and discomfort, but
I am starting to like fires and being outdoors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
One year, Jeff put Christmas stockings everywhere in our
house; one for every year I hadn't had one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He encourages me to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
him, my play includes bike riding, hiking, cooking for pleasure instead of
necessity, playing games and relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such novelty!!!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ltjPtErN8Z7St-AyHEQdZyacN08Q1cqjEeICzgnNemM=w270-h202-p-no" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo" border="0" class="Bea" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ltjPtErN8Z7St-AyHEQdZyacN08Q1cqjEeICzgnNemM=w270-h202-p-no" style="height: 202px; margin-top: 0px; width: 270px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first fat bike ride!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UcLIR5EOESQOWo6Jq4wLDQyatdJmY5Xa2dIgg6JFaw0=w157-h209-p-no" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo" border="0" class="Bea" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UcLIR5EOESQOWo6Jq4wLDQyatdJmY5Xa2dIgg6JFaw0=w157-h209-p-no" style="height: 209px; margin-top: 0px; width: 157px;" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the spring, we discovered some very good friends were in
Orlando while we were in Tampa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove
over for a day to see Epcot with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are the kind of people that you can be "kids" with,
totally outrageous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img alt="Photo" class="Bea" height="400" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fHigHzUorAYXSOlGVFwUler1JxLp2xeIbkEa5A0AJOw=w168-h223-p-no" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="301" /> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
We found out the same friends would once again be in Orlando
while we were going to be in Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
scheduled ourselves into a nearby RV resort so we could spend time with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to "Mickey's Very
Merry Christmas Party" at the Magic Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magic was the key word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not something Jeff and I would have
done on our own, but with Fatboy and Sassy, it was like seeing only the good
side of Disney and none of the negative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Normally, I don't care for parades, but this was so amazing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the Disney characters and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And particularly, on this day, the Disney
cast members all seemed to be in phenomenal spirits, full of holiday cheer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did, however, take the "Walk of Shame"
and bail on Space Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we stood
in line, I became increasingly more concerned that it would mess up my back to
the point I would be unable to walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
love roller coasters, so this was really hard.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/y0MYOEFE_2MIlPoHCnPeUiVjBm3NH1lyh6lqX1RLCvc=w154-h204-p-no" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Photo" border="0" class="Bea" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/y0MYOEFE_2MIlPoHCnPeUiVjBm3NH1lyh6lqX1RLCvc=w154-h204-p-no" style="height: 204px; margin-top: 0px; width: 154px;" /></a><img alt="Photo" class="Bea" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1KUU09vVA9n2WgBl0uE17Vjp5CTVvqxlJgKsRbFJniY=w272-h203-p-no" style="height: 203px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 272px;" /><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Saturday, we met up with Fatboy and Sassy again; this
time at Universal Islands of Adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I went on the Hippogriff roller coaster so got my fix that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also went on the ride through Hogwarts
which was so cool!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ride got stuck
for about 10 minutes while we were dangling in front of a huge dragon
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a blast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was even a restaurant with gluten-free
meals so we could eat like a normal person instead of nibbling at nuts and
protein bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The temperatures had been
in the mid-80s for several days so it was perfect for water rides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Popeye and Bluto Blige Rats was the most
water fun I remember ever having!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
entire day was a child's fantasy and I loved every minute of it!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We polished off the visit with our friends
with a luau at their hotel; another first for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polynesian flavors and extremely attractive
hula dancers (male and female) ended the day on a perfect note.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really hard to see them leave the
mid-80s here and return to a snow storm in NJ.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="HAa Eha" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xjyMj-nM7Z0/UqdRSihK50I/AAAAAAAALJE/QI-xH_MBRuY/w640-h480-no/Hogs+wart++-+1-SNOW.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome friends make for awesome times!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, I can't commit myself totally to this
"childhood" thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
still bills to be paid, meals to be shopped for and created, housework to do and
the part-time job bookkeeping for the bike shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am trying to capture every minute of
childhood possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a few more
physical paybacks than a child would have, but it is definitely worth it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<img class="HAa Eha" height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Nd84rnLaP0Q/UqTJQ6gfGjI/AAAAAAAAK9s/3nA6gSZs79w/w909-h682-no/Hogs+wart++-+16" width="640" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-85810175879143927432013-11-27T12:47:00.001-05:002013-11-27T12:47:16.073-05:00REINVENTION<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was about a year ago when this journey began; not yet in
earnest but in the formative stages.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It started out as a "bucket list" journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always wanted to see all 50 states and
Jeff wanted to ride as many of the IMBA Epic Mountain Bike rides as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was, even more than that, our way of
spending as much time together as we could, doing the things that we
loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also my way of dealing
with my illnesses on my terms; essentially dying with dignity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYRDWB9YKFi8eYE-xADclUeqoMsrrf2qOGnlhJn09KH9oFhTTZg5g2pSxKJMnslzR3O0QyXEfxjmBrgCxltEkKFYLHlHlO3H8Q9b5TuHZgOBlogL3-1wTF8tQrEU-At45fcw_TsvCyxLZ/s640/blogger-image-187608317.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYRDWB9YKFi8eYE-xADclUeqoMsrrf2qOGnlhJn09KH9oFhTTZg5g2pSxKJMnslzR3O0QyXEfxjmBrgCxltEkKFYLHlHlO3H8Q9b5TuHZgOBlogL3-1wTF8tQrEU-At45fcw_TsvCyxLZ/s640/blogger-image-187608317.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who knew that it would turn into a reinvention of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are points in our lives that cause us to re-evaluate
our lives and their direction; graduation, marriage, the birth of children, the
purchase of a home, the change of a career, a catastrophic illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether or not we are aware at the time, we
usually reinvent ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes,
we barely notice our changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time,
the reinvention left me in awe.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My health has had ups and downs over the last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were travelling by car from November
through January, I was feeling a bit better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was sleeping a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was working a little less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also was
only working remotely, so I could for the most part make my own hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could rest when I needed, work when I
wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was seeing different parts of
the country and best of all, family for the holidays!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still using my cane quite a bit and
having lots of vertigo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were back in New Jersey for about a month, during which
time we purchased our motorhome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit
of a stressful time, but leading to the next stage of our life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7UrU9cXV8APfOg0n9cmMRLrQ0qf1pKP82bPSHnFXzDkKO1OQHDGhyO1TGmEBY9dH4xiQ6NwCSSz8NjpeunGrJIxNjnBEHpisD2ywInd9NfkV3ILmeaSdSh5Ecat6YrOTypvH0wr8U1kB/s640/blogger-image-1466444890.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7UrU9cXV8APfOg0n9cmMRLrQ0qf1pKP82bPSHnFXzDkKO1OQHDGhyO1TGmEBY9dH4xiQ6NwCSSz8NjpeunGrJIxNjnBEHpisD2ywInd9NfkV3ILmeaSdSh5Ecat6YrOTypvH0wr8U1kB/s640/blogger-image-1466444890.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our inaugural trip left NJ on February 15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our plan was to come back when Winter ended
and prepare our house for sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During
this trip, I was improving, slowly but steadily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lack of stress really seemed to agree
with me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we arrived back in NJ in April, I was feeling pretty
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took longer for the dizzy
spells and pain to do me in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew we
had a lot of work to do in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>emptying our
house of 17 years of "crap".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two month trip in the motor home showed us how little we really
needed to get by; a true simplification of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time we spent cleaning out the house and
preparing it for the market was some of the most intense stress of my
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we left on our next
trip in May, I was back to barely being able to walk and suffering from
complete exhaustion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtCSdSiugppmUKFTOAh_kYBMe44CeEd6rdyGpcLN4rKb9xzg0sTEGPAqNFrYtpgqpkse6bs36lYvUvel0APh0g-_EUkguf_r_TvVvryYdL5iIh1hNXgAuBpnVZsXj8mqN2b_4ge8va2gK/s640/blogger-image-123330657.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKtCSdSiugppmUKFTOAh_kYBMe44CeEd6rdyGpcLN4rKb9xzg0sTEGPAqNFrYtpgqpkse6bs36lYvUvel0APh0g-_EUkguf_r_TvVvryYdL5iIh1hNXgAuBpnVZsXj8mqN2b_4ge8va2gK/s320/blogger-image-123330657.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL53cmuC2BYNeVqdALtbbQl0B1nRo_I4BfkTppBIC479YRVxN5ay9vBBrjwXFN82QOaF1aZvTJtP_qMdWhOLNGCqsb6qO7evJ6zRB-MowpVPSaObbnSazk0b9WZecA8zSy7D2rmeJzxks/s640/blogger-image--1151879003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL53cmuC2BYNeVqdALtbbQl0B1nRo_I4BfkTppBIC479YRVxN5ay9vBBrjwXFN82QOaF1aZvTJtP_qMdWhOLNGCqsb6qO7evJ6zRB-MowpVPSaObbnSazk0b9WZecA8zSy7D2rmeJzxks/s320/blogger-image--1151879003.jpg" width="239" /></a> <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We knew that we needed to return in September for a couple
weddings, so our trip was planned to that end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn't bounce back as quickly this time on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was tired most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain was still pretty significant, the
dizziness still pretty prevalent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
day it would get a bit better, but any day that I did sightseeing or something
else significant, I would need at least two days to recover. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent four months on the road this time,
including a lot of time with the family this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MC36Tplw_yu1a3O8nBXYLM3rKM9SSjpYNqFYrZXz0-p3L33w8Au5rCCqxtnfzIIT3rbtGMGTZs6qL-aLKlE08EHd_f4l7-BSCz3jyZ0PbapBfDTaQl7Zj6OV8HfbMnckocokBt2FoT-r/s640/blogger-image-1430675799.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MC36Tplw_yu1a3O8nBXYLM3rKM9SSjpYNqFYrZXz0-p3L33w8Au5rCCqxtnfzIIT3rbtGMGTZs6qL-aLKlE08EHd_f4l7-BSCz3jyZ0PbapBfDTaQl7Zj6OV8HfbMnckocokBt2FoT-r/s640/blogger-image-1430675799.jpg" width="478" /></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we were in Northern Minnesota, on our return trip to
New Jersey, there was a couple around our age next to us in the
campground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wife had many health
issues similar to mine and told me how going gluten-free had changed her
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had dabbled with the idea of
going gluten-free for a couple years, but I was scared.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have often heard that one should "Eat to live, not
live to eat."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's not how I was
reared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food meant so much to me; no
wonder I was so obese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being diagnosed
as a diabetic may have been an inevitability, but I managed to adapt and change
my diet; dropped a good amount of weight and definitely enjoyed that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the idea of having an even more
restrictive diet terrified me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
some friends who have restrictive diets, but I didn't think I could do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn't think I was strong enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food was too much a part of my personality.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYRDWB9YKFi8eYE-xADclUeqoMsrrf2qOGnlhJn09KH9oFhTTZg5g2pSxKJMnslzR3O0QyXEfxjmBrgCxltEkKFYLHlHlO3H8Q9b5TuHZgOBlogL3-1wTF8tQrEU-At45fcw_TsvCyxLZ/s640/blogger-image-187608317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>But I thought back to the concept of "eat to live"
and decided to give it a try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a
few days of eliminating gluten from my diet , I was bouncing back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had so little pain and so much more energy
it was astounding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely would
not say I was "cured", but I am in such a better place now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pain is minimal and while my energy is not
comparable to most people's, I can do so much more than I could a year
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year I was in a wheelchair for
any sightseeing encompassing more than a couple blocks of walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would be so tired and have so much vertigo,
I was afraid to go anywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, I go mostly where I want and do what I want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to remain aware that I probably
have to rest for a day or so after something strenuous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can even ride my bike again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On flat trails, I am good for around 8
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeff has started taking me on
some easy singletrack and a mile or two will pretty much wipe me out; but boy,
is it worth it!<br />
<br />
<img alt="Photo" class="Bea" height="479" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yvr-OZxIUzYq_enCKYsWMG9FDe27ZCZ0DgaQOHwE3Qc=w279-h209-p-no" style="height: 209px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 279px;" width="640" /> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I quit blogging over the summer because I was feeling so
"crappy".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was doing a little
sightseeing, seeing some friends and family, but crying myself to sleep most
nights because of the pain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point
this summer, things were so bad I was scared that the end was coming and it
would be the last time I would see my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZqPXMZlhc9pOak51YAYK4kDgrmvDUZaS9mN96sxdZYiMz3rjrM5DkE1IQL982vzFCa810i-OXcTJ9ohG7mYH23xnr7fRY93SRjklfs1xpKOtsnWsvcgzoX_yCvjmjAuND_rRNUPt0PnM/s640/blogger-image--1024186612.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZqPXMZlhc9pOak51YAYK4kDgrmvDUZaS9mN96sxdZYiMz3rjrM5DkE1IQL982vzFCa810i-OXcTJ9ohG7mYH23xnr7fRY93SRjklfs1xpKOtsnWsvcgzoX_yCvjmjAuND_rRNUPt0PnM/s640/blogger-image--1024186612.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been unable to
pick up the blog again, because I was "reinventing" myself and trying
to figure out what direction I want to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know I still have the same health issues; cancer, Hashimoto's disease,
diabetes, but I don't feel like a patient or victim any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of dying with dignity, I am now
focusing on living life on my own terms.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, at this holiday time of Thanksgiving, I am grateful,
more than I ever knew I could be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
grateful for the life I have,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the
friends and family I have and the future I see, however long or short it may
be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I am ready to resume blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I know where I want to go with my
life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So to all my friends and acquaintances, I am grateful for
you all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most especially, I am grateful
for my infinitely patient, amazing child-like husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is always there to pick me up when I fall
and make me laugh when I take life too seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He puts up with all my nonsense and comes
back for more.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn77g_Fz1rYIjRDbu5EzESUQc-TBR5XBJnnO5PQcuUSlz8jYWAY-egZj7ykbKPzkXw5AJqIMHe-gJbiM8Yoc3jWi0ww0-7TRUeSTmfPPvFNE-B96k8GvO1PHSHKFuuT7yL_-ADAbZXpnA5/s640/blogger-image-84480860.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn77g_Fz1rYIjRDbu5EzESUQc-TBR5XBJnnO5PQcuUSlz8jYWAY-egZj7ykbKPzkXw5AJqIMHe-gJbiM8Yoc3jWi0ww0-7TRUeSTmfPPvFNE-B96k8GvO1PHSHKFuuT7yL_-ADAbZXpnA5/s640/blogger-image-84480860.jpg" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So now, I present the new me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More to come...</div>
<br />
<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-81407048605750960432013-11-01T18:49:00.000-04:002013-11-01T18:51:19.791-04:00Tammy Rides! VideosYou may need change to the 1080 setting, if it is blurry.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLb4f81GeovTy8KWbLcbfxx8xu1YWXK3Fz" width="560"></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-56897825344428653452013-11-01T00:51:00.000-04:002013-11-01T01:02:06.115-04:00Tammy Rides!I am so ecstatic! Tammy's good days are winning out over her bad ones. When we started our journey, last winter, we did not even bring her bike. A stay at Santos FL, changed that with a successful ride on a rental bike. She has never been into the <a href="http://www.mtbepicrides.com/" target="_blank">self abuse</a> that I inflict upon myself, but she use to have giggle rides at easier trails at the Torne, near Boonton NJ, the Switchback trail in Jim Thorpe, PA. She has built up to 8 plus miles at a time. Not long ago, we found a rail trail in West Virginia, half paved half dirt.When I asked her, she said she prefered paved paths. I was just glad she was riding. Here in Brevard there is a 4-5 bike path, with a over a mile off the pavement, It never gets crazy, but it gets more and more mountain bikie as it went along. Last week, we started at the paved end and she rode a good part of the dirt. We stopped by the river, on a small rapid and to a small foot bridge. She had a giggle ride on the dirt, but was pretty tired with the entire out and back. So this week we started nearer the dirt, just enough for a warm up. This maximized giggle time and did not leave her exhausted. While there was little climbing, it got a little twisty, with roots and moderate bridges. She then decided to work on her climbing and did a some hill repeats at basecamp at <a href="http://www.theadventurevillage.com/" target="_blank">Adventure Village</a>. Videos will follow as bandwidth allows.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://www.strava.com/activities/91129333/embed/d647919946a20873be2c08dfade3c5660fab8a12" width="590"></iframe>
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://www.strava.com/activities/92287842/embed/cec97367a25b31ea8eedc32a84aad62a15a3503b" width="590"></iframe>Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120127030562394108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-63593268790657388252013-06-29T23:09:00.001-04:002013-06-29T23:26:12.654-04:00I Love Caves! Grand Caverns, VA.I love caves; they are dark and cool and usually pretty calm. When Jeff and I first moved to New Jersey, it seemed that we went to lots of caves and caverns on the weekends, especially in Pennsylvania. They were nice, cool and we learned a lot.<br>
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As you may remember, I am not fond of bats. I am referring to my post from April entitled "It's Kinda Like Camping". However, even though the cave is a bat's natural habitat, it still doesn't scare me off. I know that they are an integral part of our ecosystem, but they still creep me out.<br>
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Nothing we had seen prior to this trip prepared us for the Grand Caverns in Virginia. We have passed through Virginia a number of times and seen the signs for the Grand Caverns as well as Luray Caverns but never stopped. We were always too busy. So glad we have stopped "being busy".<br>
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Jeff and I try to split the days fairly evenly between his riding days and my sightseeing days. It is a little painful for my soul that I can't go sightseeing without him, unless it's a guided tour with minimal walking. I checked out a number of things that I wanted to see near Harrisonburg, Virginia and the Grand Caverns kept popping up on my radar. I looked into it and the tour was about an hour and a half of walking, but they would allow me to use my cane. Even though there were quite a few stairs, there weren't too many at one time. I figured I'd better go for it while I still could.<br>
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I am so glad we did this tour. I understand why Grand Caverns is the #2 show cave in the country (second only to Carlsbad Caverns). Not only are the caverns exquisite, they have been established so that you can have the cave experience without crawling on your hands and knees or being squished between the walls. We already knew quite a bit about stalagmites and stalactites, but now we learned about draperies, shields and cave bacon! I also love anything to do with bacon!<br>
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There is a pool that reflects the stalactites above it that looks like the Manhattan skyline. Unfortunately, it doesn't photograph well. it is amazing to see. There is a stalagmite in the middle of one of the rooms that from a distance appears to be George Washington. Grand Caverns is also known as the oldest show cave in the country. It has been available for public view since 1806 and was a place for Civil War soldiers from both sides to take their RNR. Many of them signed one of the walls in the cavern.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQV_KL4kNwpMd8g1ugju7ZamU-KbHX0rVdQjYWId2nc0ZAiqauGmZs_5383HTzeFnhi_58XuSBC42vYIkpuq3Ol_Wyg6AMvekJMIBkJs4GzkU512bUI_rnu_Ej-Bi44ZEsfksiqzeJSUf/s640/blogger-image-2027549252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQV_KL4kNwpMd8g1ugju7ZamU-KbHX0rVdQjYWId2nc0ZAiqauGmZs_5383HTzeFnhi_58XuSBC42vYIkpuq3Ol_Wyg6AMvekJMIBkJs4GzkU512bUI_rnu_Ej-Bi44ZEsfksiqzeJSUf/s640/blogger-image-2027549252.jpg"></a></div><br>
The "ghost" of George Washington...not very scary close up.<br><br>
In the 1800s, dances and soirees were actually held in the section of the cave known as the Grand Ballroom. There are smaller anterooms adjacent to the ballroom where the women would change into their finery. The room would be lit with candles, a table with food and drink laid out and the highest levels of society would be invited to these events. Me, I would get a little claustrophobic in that kind of situation, but the romantic in me loves envisioning it.<br>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDs0dDleke6qiMBbtMOpuGSHXm_x3A2Sp6ifxjNSN7F4ecEatATGkNWnz9pFp8R2WNZ6AhJ7pxHqer9GOMdoAA-mOAvv3elJPdswsACpqt5EcfdzhPC-tVnyL4A6sFknmIt49iOtJlz2K/s640/blogger-image--15952962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDs0dDleke6qiMBbtMOpuGSHXm_x3A2Sp6ifxjNSN7F4ecEatATGkNWnz9pFp8R2WNZ6AhJ7pxHqer9GOMdoAA-mOAvv3elJPdswsACpqt5EcfdzhPC-tVnyL4A6sFknmIt49iOtJlz2K/s640/blogger-image--15952962.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The changing room for the Grand Ballroom.</div><div><br></div><br>
My pictures cannot do justice to the beauty of this cave. However, the ipad definitely takes better photos in this environment than many of the others in our tour group.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCyAnZWcRmc11ofCJtfHANqO5cVZmyfhwynH0Al_TPuxcACGwuUkdu9CXacWA70WLl36sNJb1aCCtsmqwj91UtF7r1O8BTAdKlSGDLivsEPLFEz0FtLXg85tX9bmekt8sf_73xT52Vdcb/s640/blogger-image-1895154732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCyAnZWcRmc11ofCJtfHANqO5cVZmyfhwynH0Al_TPuxcACGwuUkdu9CXacWA70WLl36sNJb1aCCtsmqwj91UtF7r1O8BTAdKlSGDLivsEPLFEz0FtLXg85tX9bmekt8sf_73xT52Vdcb/s640/blogger-image-1895154732.jpg"></a></div><br></div>The Bridal Veil is on the right. I think every cave system has at least one of these, lol.<br>
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At the end I was tired and struggling to walk, but it was most assuredly worth it. Amazing natural beauty.<br>
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<br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-57978573694473621032013-06-17T20:55:00.002-04:002013-06-18T01:57:02.756-04:00Shenandoah River Valley - Amazing!!!Jeff wanted to ride the Southern Traverse IMBA epic, located in the amazingly beautiful Shenandoah Valley. We stayed at the Shenandoah Valley campground which was filled with nice and friendly people and located alongside the Middle River. They had all the amenities for a non-camper like me, including cable TV. And best of all...they had bunnies!!! There were bunnies everywhere!!!<br />
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The campground also had tubing along the river, with a nice waterfall at the end. I didn't go tubing, but it was so nice to walk along the river, seeing the bunnies and squirrels frolicking. I wished my daughter and her family were there; I know my granddaughter Deanna would go bonkers for the bunnies. Jeff and I had to Facetime his sister Colleen from the waterfall. We wanted to share that with her. If you look close, there is a turtle sunning himself on the log in the middle of the river.</div>
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The campground was also close to Staunton, Virginia, the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson, one of our most cerebral presidents. Jeff and I went on a tour of the Wilson birthplace and his Presidential library and drove around Staunton. The town had so many buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s in the Federalist style. I started learning a bit about US architecture and feel a need to learn a lot more.</div>
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I have always been fascinated by Wilson, especially as President of Princeton and Governor of New Jersey. He may have been before his time in that he really was a man of thoughts and not only a politician. I wonder how he would fare as a politician in today's environment.<br />
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We found the cutest art in the middle of Staunton, Virginia. As we were driving to the Farmer's Market (a weakness of mine) we passed a huge flowerpot and watering can display on the median at an overpass. It was a garden dedicated to a local woman, Barbara Hunter Grant, absolutely gorgeous and a great surprise in the middle of a commercial district.</div>
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There is still so much to see in the Shenandoah Valley, it is on my list of repeat trips. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-75744733546646739762013-06-17T19:40:00.003-04:002013-06-17T19:48:57.254-04:00Historical Iron and More Iron!We felt pretty isolated in Pennsylvania; odd since we were so close to our home base of New Jersey. The campground was so cool, though. Tall beautiful trees and hardly any other campers. There was not water at each individual sight, but we were close enough to a spigot to fill up as we needed to.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx_rXeZ279i0v6jAu9auAYAzO2km6S85Ovh854CAZ4Ueqwx9qrJE1NMVv7JOJ2ohUMslO10FWOIEcQSccg3gjXPAtt706C67dp6yG7V2LAPR-KyFImCV01c_E_zb0wW2wPlO-GEzUK-pm/s640/blogger-image--1316681499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx_rXeZ279i0v6jAu9auAYAzO2km6S85Ovh854CAZ4Ueqwx9qrJE1NMVv7JOJ2ohUMslO10FWOIEcQSccg3gjXPAtt706C67dp6yG7V2LAPR-KyFImCV01c_E_zb0wW2wPlO-GEzUK-pm/s640/blogger-image--1316681499.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx_rXeZ279i0v6jAu9auAYAzO2km6S85Ovh854CAZ4Ueqwx9qrJE1NMVv7JOJ2ohUMslO10FWOIEcQSccg3gjXPAtt706C67dp6yG7V2LAPR-KyFImCV01c_E_zb0wW2wPlO-GEzUK-pm/s640/blogger-image--1316681499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv1sgOn3VRQ-9fJMN93rLs70sb4uAPi19LuG9VJHYx7y92pqVj7aCNjtz6w7zfRVIFP5DFxurNhtKp3vVNDrjo4hrV8Ri6XG7FT5wK1memAg26-1ulK4h1dmPbk0NLzzRQvi2yJaUgIv0/s640/blogger-image-1440840777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgv1sgOn3VRQ-9fJMN93rLs70sb4uAPi19LuG9VJHYx7y92pqVj7aCNjtz6w7zfRVIFP5DFxurNhtKp3vVNDrjo4hrV8Ri6XG7FT5wK1memAg26-1ulK4h1dmPbk0NLzzRQvi2yJaUgIv0/s640/blogger-image-1440840777.jpg"></a></div></div><br>
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For me, the best part was that once again, we were actually staying in a historical park; oddly enough, another ironworks. I have learned so much about iron blast furnaces and can even tell you how "pig iron" got its name. I LOVE HISTORY!!!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GZV8REtZeCE3_gkRG4RWxITVaP4NnJLh-3hhcqsR4bDDrSCRMRy4kTYivzUhLc6_BAq_xnJWsrqbNEu5vD-jTyebdLXzq9K_OgQJMuUPNo0n_t75qgeeesiNc2qIXEzcTKZfy2AOyv5q/s640/blogger-image--1569628305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GZV8REtZeCE3_gkRG4RWxITVaP4NnJLh-3hhcqsR4bDDrSCRMRy4kTYivzUhLc6_BAq_xnJWsrqbNEu5vD-jTyebdLXzq9K_OgQJMuUPNo0n_t75qgeeesiNc2qIXEzcTKZfy2AOyv5q/s640/blogger-image--1569628305.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f1qkpbRn2gUKft-yVrtqYx83VUcpgOJSa_KzEhzp03NATaj7V-KLeZWLWDX7gAKN49gAjcXRSl3LAwVCnwVdwYzdaKueRw6vZnjLYzTlOg8a9fO6jKdId0ABdZJMnH0eUSqL6Nekuf2h/s640/blogger-image--1511020036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f1qkpbRn2gUKft-yVrtqYx83VUcpgOJSa_KzEhzp03NATaj7V-KLeZWLWDX7gAKN49gAjcXRSl3LAwVCnwVdwYzdaKueRw6vZnjLYzTlOg8a9fO6jKdId0ABdZJMnH0eUSqL6Nekuf2h/s640/blogger-image--1511020036.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOGAjacR9jQK6lYPSg7vGr7Qzdx703_cAdEanCxNSMzhU5vepY_ov3y0V3bJt1EPGZ5-ghHVrPGOhAn-ub2A4BxZNY_7BJUGUvYwZagG6DYpqOqelvUGgPjXlXp-EBg3hGTdkvGfA6R7g/s640/blogger-image--1023146697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOGAjacR9jQK6lYPSg7vGr7Qzdx703_cAdEanCxNSMzhU5vepY_ov3y0V3bJt1EPGZ5-ghHVrPGOhAn-ub2A4BxZNY_7BJUGUvYwZagG6DYpqOqelvUGgPjXlXp-EBg3hGTdkvGfA6R7g/s640/blogger-image--1023146697.jpg"></a></div><br>
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We stayed at the Greenwood Furnace State Park. Our sightseeing was done within the confines of the park because all the history I needed was there! We saw the iron furnaces, one of which had had a significant portion restored. We also toured the iron master's house as well as the bookkeeper's. These are usually the two nicest homes within the ironworks. Who knew a bookkeeper could be so important? In the late 1800s the glow from the blast furnaces could be seen for miles around.<br>
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If you look close enough, in the picture below, you can see a black snake outside the blacksmith shop. I don't like snakes, I am very much a sissy that way.<br>
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Hmmm, I wonder if I will see more iron forges on our journey?<br>
<br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-80293388083931049202013-06-11T17:59:00.000-04:002013-06-11T17:59:09.420-04:00The First Real Mechanical ProblemOriginally this post was going to be about State College, PA and how it probably would not exist were it not for Penn State. When we left NJ, that was the first place we headed so Jeff could ride Roth Rock (IMBA epic). We had a beautiful campground, but it made me really nervous. We had no tv, radio, internet and not even a touch of a cell signal. Our hot spot couldn't even get us communicating with the outside world. I wanted to check in with my boss and my daughter so they wouldn't worry if they heard nothing for several days, and I found out pay phones don't really exist any more either; at least not as pay phones. A calling card is now needed. I was SOL.<br />
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So, since I need the internet to work, we went into State College. Truly a beautiful college town; hustling and bustling with all the end of the school year parties and activities....and only 20 minutes from our wilderness campground, lol.<br />
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Needless to say, I spent a lot of time at the Dunkin Donuts getting my work done. Jeff managed to hook up with some locals for a good ride. We will be back!<br />
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Currently, (as I am waaay behind on my blogging) we are in NW Arkansas. One of the major goals of this trip was to meet my sister-in-law in Eureka Springs for her vacation. She is much hardier than I and rode a motorcycle down here from Minneapolis. A couple days before we were to meet her, the electrical system in the bus started acting up. We only had power on one side. Jeff spent a couple days diagnosing where the problem was and it turned out that our inverter/converter had gone bad. Boy, for once am I glad we paid for the extended warranty! Those things are expensive. The catch is that since it's so expensive, an adjuster needs to see it before we can get it fixed. We are currently guests of the Camping World in Lowell, AR. They are letting us be hooked up to their facility while we wait for insurance approval.<br />
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This is not fun for Jeff. He has been staying with the bus, learning everything he can about the electrical systems. By the way, did I mention it is in the 90s here? Due to the electrical problems, the air conditioning is sporadic. Fortunately, his dad worked for Northern States Power for many years and taught him a thing or two so he is keeping us in as much comfort as possible.<br />
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This is also not all that fun for Colleen. We met here so we could do sightseeing and spend some quality time together; she spent yesterday sitting in the showroom at Camping World with me. She got smart today and took her motorcycle out into the Ozarks. I saw some amazing pictures posted on Facebook, so I know she had a good day.<br />
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Me? I'm a spoiled diva. I had breakfast with Jeff this morning and then convinced him I was well enough to drive to Starbucks to work, and of course drink coffee and sit in the air conditioning.<br />
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I am amazed at Jeff's patience and determination in figuring out what was wrong and what needed to be done to fix it. I could never have the great life I have now without him.<br />
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I am indeed grateful for the family I got when I married Jeff. His dad has been a huge help to him and his sister keeps me as sane as I will probably ever be. She is always great company, in good times and bad. I tend to forget she is Jeff's sister and think she is mine.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-21256612209863302192013-05-24T21:02:00.002-04:002013-05-26T01:13:16.455-04:00And Yet Another EndingWe were back in New Jersey from the 17th of April until Mother's Day. For those of you that we didn't catch up with, we're really sorry. This was a trip with a purpose. We will be back in September for a couple weddings and Cycle Craft's Hillier Than Thou. We should have a lot more down time then.<br />
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The trip had brought about some amazing changes in my health. I was able to walk farther with less assistance and had less pain, in general. My lungs felt stronger than they had in a long time and I was sleeping better than I had in decades! I was ready to tackle the tasks at hand.<br />
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In three and a half weeks, our house was emptied of most of the things we had accumulated over 30 years together. We lived in this particular house for almost 18 years; a small converted summer cottage in Budd Lake. Boy! Did we ever have a lot of stuff jammed into that place! Our shakedown trip showed us that there was really very little else we needed on top of what we initially brought with us. However, there were some things we still wanted. Even more, there was a bit of stuff that had a lot of sentimental value. Thanks to my daughter, Teresa Christensen and Jeff's sister, Colleen O'Hara for helping us preserve those memories. There were a lot of pictures that just digitizing wasn't enough. Who would have thought we could fill up a 20 cubic foot dumpster?<br />
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Jeff and George Schaberg (Grounded Consulting, LLC) did most of the hard and heavy work. I am really good at being bossy and following behind them doing the clean up thing. Unfortunately, the clean up thing and the heaving of stuff into the dumpster, made me sick. I also ran out of the herb that I take for pain management and had to try a substitute. The substitute actually seemed to make me sick, also. So, for the last 10 days or so that we were home, I was pretty sick, off and on.<br />
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I spent at least one day each week at the bike shop. I love almost everything about my job; the owner (Brendan Poh), the employees (most of them are family to me) and the shop itself. You won't find a finer shop or a more dedicated group of folks anywhere. People think that running a bike shop would be a pretty, laid-back job to have. Not if you want to do everything you can to inspire and support cyclists! The amount of work it takes is incredible and the months of April and May are the most extreme. I have worked in a number of industries from mom-and-pop grocery stores to being a mid-level AT&T manager. In many ways, this was the most challenging. Unfortunately, I am like an addict about the shop. I love it so much but I cannot endure the challenges like I could when I was younger. The stress is too much for me. What once gave me so much joy and pleasure, now causes me pain. That's really depressing for me.<br />
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While we were in NJ, one of our good friends, Rich Hobbie (Hobbie Heat & Power), let us set up camp in his parking lot. His mother has an RV similar to ours so he has a full set of hook-ups for when she comes to visit. You will not find a kinder host than the Hobbies! Not only did they keep us supplied in fresh eggs from their chickens, Rich fabricated a bumper for us in his shop. The front end of the RV is all fiberglass, so if we were to hit a deer or other critter, it would really mess up our front end. Not with this bumper! Rich is also a mountain biker and he added an arm so that Jeff can have a repair stand for his bike wherever we go. If any of you NJ folks have heating needs, Rich is the guy to see!<br />
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All of our big stuff was either sold, taken to auction, or given to friends. Probably the hardest thing was to see Jeff's truck go. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was old and rusting but we both loved it so much. The 5-inch left that I pretty much demanded he put in 15 years ago now kept me from riding in it much. I had a power recliner that seemed to have healing powers. It's good I wasn't there the day that left or I might have thrown myself on it sobbing. The house was put on the market with American Country Real Estate (once again, thank you, George Schaberg). Jeff and I had one last pizza and beer (with our wedding champagne glasses) and said good-bye to that part of our lives. It's kind of funny, we have been together for over 30 years, but only got married when we bought the house.<br />
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Settling up our life in NJ was so hard, even though our new life is so wonderful. We are leaving behind a lot of wonderful friends; I know I could never list them all, but in particular the Kruse family, Brendan Poh and Cathy Brennan, Kim Hawkswell, Kevin Eng, Rich and Cheryl Hobbie, Jon and Megan Sellers, Nick Paglia,<br />
Eric DeSanto, Adam Wolf and all of the Bulldog Mountain Bike team. We love them all and will miss them all. Even though you stay friends, it's never quite the same<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last cup of coffee with the best of friends, the Kruses.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Time for the new life to start in earnest!!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-58320161342294120752013-05-20T11:50:00.001-04:002013-05-20T11:50:51.722-04:00The End of the Shakedown TripIt has been so long since I sat down to write, that I am kind of embarrassed. The last part of our initial trip just kind of sailed by me. I learned how to relax, and then couldn't stop doing it.<br />
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The first trip with the RV was our shakedown; we wanted to try a variety of campgrounds and make sure we could really commit to this lifestyle. While it is definitely not a traditional way to live, I think it will work splendidly for us.<br />
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We spent the last week of this trip at Douthat State Park in Virginia and the Happy Traveler campground in Maryland, huge contrasts. Douthat State Park was beautiful, in a bowl of mountains. Our campground hosts, Rich and Pat Armstrong were warm and friendly, like going home to your parents. Amenities were not plentiful. We had no sewer, no tv, no radio stations; but we had internet!!!<br />
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The contrasting Happy Traveler had all of the amenities; including cable tv. It was nice to be able to do the laundry on site, but I missed the beauty of Douthat.</div>
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Our choices appear to be having modern amenities and being packed into campgrounds like sardines or the more rustic campgrounds which have space and the majesty of nature all around us. I know the name of this blog is "This is Not Camping" but more and more, I am liking the rustic campgrounds.<br />
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It was now time to head home and prepare the house for the market!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00757680419882693630noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2699100560674991064.post-76532513212763436372013-04-16T17:09:00.000-04:002013-04-16T17:09:53.153-04:00OK, So it's Kinda Like Camping...Before Jeff and I embarked on this adventure, we traveled by car and cheap hotel for a couple months. One of our trips was through the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. It was absolutely amazing; up and down the mountains, back and forth through the switchbacks. At that time, Jeff said he wouldn't want to drive a big RV through that route, the switchbacks were so tight he would worry about it fitting.<br />
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Well, we came pretty darn close to that with our trip to Big South Fork in Tennessee. There weren't quite so many switchbacks, but there were enough to make Jeff pay attention. Once we arrived at Big South Fork, he could breath easy because we were going to stay for a full week; he didn't have to think about leaving for a few days.<br />
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The area was beautiful!!! Completely amazing and the campground was at the top of the mountain. A few TV channels and great internet signal. This was all good, because I really couldn't leave the campground. There was no way I could navigate those roads in the PT Cruiser, so even though Jeff could ride right out of the campground, I couldn't go anywhere. Also, the nearest town was 15 miles in either direction down the mountain...and they were verrrrryyyyy small towns.<br />
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The campground did not have sewers, so we had to be especially conservative in our water use to avoid filling our tanks too quickly.<br />
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The campground showers were OK, not great (remember, I am a citified, spoiled brat). They were clean but the walk back to the RV got a bit chilly.<br />
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There were signs warning us about bears everywhere, but we actually saw far less wildlife here than anywhere else we had been. I did, however, have a close encounter with a bat. lol.<br />
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On the days Jeff didn't ride, he took me to town to do laundry, have a nice meal and a date. What do you do in a teeny, tiny town for a date? You go bowling!!!! It was a lot of fun, just a long drive. He also drove me to the parking lot for an amazing overlook. <br />
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One of the last nights we were there, we decided to go to dinner at a restaurant we had passed on our way to one of the small towns. The place was named "Baraca's" and is a true jewel in the middle of nowhere. They do no advertising and are tucked back out of the way. The building is pretty unassuming and they have no liquor license, but are happy to pour your wine or beer for you. This is probably the best meal I have had in years as well as a great value. The chef should be on the Food Network. There is soup, salad and rolls served with every entree and everything is freshly made. Salad dressings and bread made daily. The butter was blended with orange zest for a great citrus complement. The soup was a cheesy potato that was so light with citrussy overtones, to complement the butter. I had no idea potato soup could be light!!! Jeff had cedar planked salmon with fresh Parmesan and I had the wienershnitzel with homemade spaetzle. We were stuffed, and it was so awesome!!!!<br />
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I was kind of isolated in Tennessee, but I loved it. It was so beautiful. I could spend the afternoons sitting outside reading, we cooked on the open fire and I got some work done. I also spent some time playing the psaltery that I picked up in Alabama.<br />
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It was almost like camping...I might eventually be able to camp...nah, not me! <br />
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