Hangin' with my family...

Well, here I am camped at my sister's house in Alabama. I got here on Thursday, May 28Th. The trip here was only a few hours and without any issues, I didn't even need Vicki to map it out for me...(love you Vick!) So, the first day I got here, my niece and her boyfriend and my four month old great nephew showed up. We all hung out for a bit before my sister had to go to work for a few hours. I was instantly in love with little Samuel. He has no neck, he looks like a little sumo wrestler! He was five weeks premature, but in just four months he is huge! He was born at 4 pounds 8 ounces and now weighs 14 pounds! He wiggles A LOT! So I spent the evening with family, it was great!

On Friday my niece took me into Jasper and we did some shopping for food and supplies, had a good time together, when we got back to my sister's house my 31 year old nephew came over. He is my most favorite person in the whole world, I just adore him! He is quick witted, funny, smart ass and good looks all rolled up into one. So we sat outside for awhile and he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. Heck yeah! So, we got in his car and started driving, don't really know where, but about ten miles down the road he looked at me and said "I done went and took you aunt Monkey" (that's what he came up with for my name when he was a baby), I was so damned happy to be spending time with him! We went by his house and I met his horse, he is beautiful, saw his pond and checked out his pad, he needs to clean it. Then he took me to his friend Mike's house where we had some drinks and I listened as they played music, both of them are amazing! We stayed the night at Mike's and got back to the house around noon, by then my other, six year old, great nephew was here...Dillon. THAT is one precious boy! He says I am from "Califunga", he can't say California, lol. He talked my ear off!! Asked a gazillion questions. He even talked to Vicki for about ten minutes on the phone, they had a great conversation. Apparently she could understand everything he said, I couldn't...lol, he has that Alabama accent and all, some of what he says just doesn't sound like a word to me. I got lots of hugs and kisses and love. I watched him and Sammy for a few hours that night, I had a good time. Dillon and Goof played and wrestled in the yard, Dillon kept trying to ride her but she was having no part of it and kept shaking him off. They rolled around in the grass for hours.

One of the things here that is just amazing are the frogs in my sister's pond. In the evenings they make music, it is so loud and harmonious. I have never heard anything like it...oh, and the lightning bugs! I had never seen them before, it is so cool to watch the woods light up at night. I am going to have to watch tonight and see if they may be in harmony with the frogs, now that would be cool!

My sister finally had two days off to hang out. We cooked, she made some goulash for dinner, I had been craving it and didn't quite know how to make it. It turned out really, really good! The next morning I made fresh salsa and scrambled eggs with mushrooms and green onions in them and some sausage patties for breakfast. We ate a lot over her two days off. Last night we went through our pictures, some old from when we were kids and some new stuff. It was really good to get to finally hang out with her all day! We got caught up on a lot of stuff!

So, here I sit, in Alabama for the next few weeks. I hope I get to see my niece and all my nephews again this weekend. I figure they have lives of their own and they don't really live too close by, so hopefully they can make it out this weekend. I may take my trailer out to my nephew's house for a few days before I leave Alabama and just hang with him when he isn't working, we shall see how that goes.

I will update later! Thanks for reading...Me

My adventures since leaving Texas...

I know it has been a couple of weeks since I blogged, but I had to accumulate some adventures to relate here ya' know...LOL.

Okay, so I left Livingston, Texas on Saturday May 16th. I was headed ultimately to Tennessee via Arkansas. I hit the state line at Texarkana, AR right about the time to stop for the day, at about 5:30pm. I had picked two different State Parks to stay at in case one was full, it being Saturday and all. Well, I figured this was my best planning so far. I gave myself a backup just in case, right? The one thing I had been lacking up until then was a good plan, I was flying on luck, truck stops and my friend Vicki's help at the last minute. This time, I was set, ready, prepared...or so I thought! Guess I am still in the learning phase, well because, um...both parks were closed due to flooding when I arrived...aaarrrggghhh! So, I turned to my handy dandy Escapees member park guide for assistance. I found the Sunrise RV Park...I called, they had room, I headed straight there.

Upon arriving I was less than impressed to be frank. The park was "parking lot" style, all gravel with some soggy grass between the loops of gravel, no trees...and I was in Arkansas! Well, since my well planned plans failed me, I went in and paid a whopping $30 for a gravel lot, with full hookups, thank goodness I was only staying for one night!

So, after the long drive, my more than perfect dog had to go potty. I was being patient walking her as she had been cooped up all day in the truck when I was approached by the woman who checked me in. She asked had I had dinner yet, well "no" I said. She said to come on over to the office, they were having their first potluck that night. I let her know that I wasn't packing anything fit for a potluck, just some sandwich stuff and she told me "Oh honey, don't you worry about it, you just get yourself over there!" Okay! So after my dog had finished being a dog and I had cleaned up her dogness, I changed my t-shirt and headed for the office potluck, empty handed, looking ragged and feeling out of place. Well, that changed the moment I arrived at the office. Many guests were arriving from the park with dishes of food. We all stood or sat around outside on the little patio for awhile and got aquianted. I felt VERY welcome. The meal was awesome, the dishes were a variety, and the people, stories, and conversation was all very interesting and very fun! I learned that the new owner, an elderly woman who owned several trucking companies (I met her, wonderful woman) had just purchased the property and converted it from swamp land basically, they had just opened a few weeks before, hence the lack of trees, etc. I had a GREAT time, the people were awesome! I left overly stuffed with two additional plates of left-overs and a great feeling that I had experienced a truly wonderful bunch of people from all over the U.S.

So, all in all, I have to say that this was one of my better stops in the end. After complaining to my bestest buddy, Vicki, about the cost of the place and the lack of foliage, I came away in wonder at the extent people go to to make you feel welcome, very much worth the $30 in the end! I highly suggest this park for those passing through, not for the scenic beauty, but for the warmth and kindness of the folks who own and run it, they deserve your patronage!

So, I packed up the next morning and was all set to head out to my next well planned destination, I even called ahead to make sure they were open! Woohoo for me, right? Well, you know the saying "The best laid plans..." Well...I stopped by the office to convey my utmost appreciation for the previous nights hospitality when I was once again sucked into eating left overs and listening to some very interesting stories. Basically, we had a second potluck! So, once again, my well laid plans were way layed due to me deciding the experience was more important than the mileage. I finally said my final goodbye's after 1:pm. Very much enjoyed my time there, but now I was off schedule by nearly two hours. Then, once again, Vicki to the rescue!

I called her as the evening time got near and she steered me in the direction of the Village Creek State Park in Arkansas. Thanks AGAIN to Vicki being my mapquest hero! It was a beautiful park! Once there I realized I had no cell phone coverage and no internet, but the park was too pretty to stay only one quick night. I decided to stay two, I wanted to hike some of their trails and see the TWO lakes there. I did not regret my decision. Without cell phone or internet, I had to find new ways to occupy my time. I wrote out 10 postcards, played solitaire with real cards and fixed me two great dinners over the campfire. Oh yeah, and hiked the great trails they had there. By the time I finished my fire cooked meals, my dog and I were pooped out and slept very well! I don't mind so much being without the "comforts" of technology after all!

On Tuesday May 19th we headed out, another campground planned out and all was well there, no problem, except...there was a problem, or more like one whole days worth of problems! I decided to take Hwy 64 through the lower part of Tennessee, faster, fewer miles than any interstate, NOT! I ended up going through a perpetual construction zone. When all was said and done, I went 190 miles in seven hours, that averages out to 27 miles per hour...joy!

BUT, like I say and my little brother likes to remind me, everything happens for a reason! Once AGAIN, I relied on my dear friend Vicki's mapquest abilities! She was being sneeky at work to help me out on this on, believe me, I had planned on at least another hundred miles that day! She found me David Crockett State Park! Turns out this park is only 50 miles from my younger brother (for those who don't know, he is in prison in Alabama, this will be my first visit) and I have paid up through the three day weekend so I can go see my brother on Sunday. He is so excited he is speechless!

Anyhow, once again this park is beautiful. Me and my Goof (the dog) went down to the creek today and spent several hours near the small falls they have here. Okay, now here is where I learned soooo much from my doggum! She is GREAT with children! I had NO idea she was so good with the little ones! She spent four hours playing with these little tiny people, she was so gentle, so good, I am sooo proud. The little girl in the pics asked her mom "Momma, can we take it home?" I have never had such a great compilment on my doggum until that moment! Here are some pics, please look at the kids faces, they were in amazement of her, as was I...



So, that is where I am now, hope all is well in the rest of the world because truthfully, I have no idea other than that mine is going great! Another blog later! Thanks for reading...

What a difference a day makes...and some after thoughts...

Well, I got A LOT done yesterday. I basically figured out much about how to organize, select, and throw away. (Sorry Vicki, but the party hat had to go!)

Anyway, I got the trailer done, I still have to do the truck, but we had some seriously awesome thunderstorms here today...and...well, not today. Just enjoying and learning to live on my own sense of timing. What do I mean by that? Well, what I have learned from this whole experience since the beginning, a little over a year ago when the planning started, is to just go with my gut feeling. Wait, think, figure it out...

So, I will do it "all" when it is meant to be done. I do believe that all happens for a reason. Tomorrow I plan on getting my truck sorted and reloaded. I am saving my "trash", all those things that I have decided I can live without, in a pile so I can take a picture for you all. I think it will be most impressive. For those who don't know, downsizing is the hardest part of "going full time" in a small travel trailer.

What have I learned, for those that have asked, get rid of boxes. It does not matter the size of the box, from a Q-tip box to a box of tea bags, put in in ziplocks, it saves space! Also, organize your refrigerator every other day, you can add bottles of water/soda out of cases (you buy cases to save money) faster than you think. Also, finish what you started! Do NOT leave half opened anything anywhere. Do not have a half full bottle of water outside and one inside, throw away as much as possible as soon as possible. On paper towels, do not buy super cheap or super expensive. A middle of the road will allow you to reuse if necessary and will cost way less and be way less bulky. Ziplock baggies are your friend...buy lots of them, buy them...buy them. Ziplocks save storage space, easy open, easy close and are disposable when need be, but again, take them out of their boxes and put them in a larger Ziplock baggy, saves space.

Smaller is better in some instances...say bottled water. I was buying by the gallon, have a space in my fridge for that, BUT, somehow one got a slight pucture, water all over the floor when I got to my next stop. I now prefer 16oz bottles of water, I can load them into the fridge at six at a time. Doing this also helps "stablize" your refrigerator contents when moving, you can pack them in and help the "shift" syndrom. Same goes for my diet sodas, a six or twelve pack rather than a two liter bottle for example. I have found them much better as to resealiancy in the refrigerator while moving than flat two liter bottles.

What else...

Well, I can bet you all, that no matter how much I think I have "downsized" and no matter how proud I am of my "packing abilities", I will do it again in two months and find I have done a lousy job thus far...but I am learning and getting better. It is amazing how much "stuff" you think you "may need", when in all likelyhood, you will never. My biggest worry is being broke on the road and not having basic needs...therefore I have a couple years worth of motel soaps and shampoos and lotions sitting in a bag, but I will either use them or toss them eventually.

I am proud of tossing my hair dryer and curling iron...I have naturally curly hair, I will live with it, but putting too much effort into how my hair looks (no matter how much of a pain in the ass curly hair is) while I am camping, just seems stupid. Why do I care? I am me, I can look perfectly decent with the way I am naturally, why try so hard and keep so many unnessary "tools" to look "just right" with me on the road? I have accepted it, I have curly hair...period!

Now for the difference between "nessecities" and "conviences"...well here we go...

On a day to day basis, I utilize my computer for many different things. Weather updates, travel ideas/goals, repair/modification info, RV items, etc...but what I do not do is take the time and effort to set up my printer. I have found this to be a daunting task...although I do have several "country folk" who do not entertain the idea of internet, nor would know how to use it. Soooo, I am far behind in updating them all...shame on me! Now that I have organized my trailer (aka, home) better, I am more equiped to print these blogs and mail them...yet...okay, I just have to.

On another note, I have to tell you all that being from Southern California has inhibited me some...some stuff just does not apply to living, or traveling elsewhere...so here is one instance...

Upon arriving here at Escapees (highly suggested) RV park, the guy who checked me in said he had found me a spot that was "easy" to back into as I had mentioned that I am a novice at backing in. So I find my spot is at the "intersection" of two "streets" when I get here. Okay, easier than normal I can see, BUT! But there are some limitations as to width, etc.

As I am ever so slowly trying to maneuver my "rig" into place, a nice gentleman offers his services as a guide. GREAT! I can use all the help I can get! Well, he says...to a former Californian...

"Just pull up onto the grass there..." What? The grass? You cannot pull up on the grass, the treee huggers will kill you for that! So... after him assuring me repeatedly (four times) that pulling up on the grass is okay (totally against EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED MY WHOLE LIFE), I do it, then he tells me....okay, now...turn your wheels all the way to the left, BUT, that will turn up the grass, OMG!!!! No way!!! I threaten him with the wrath of all the environmental Gods of California, but he assures me that they do not reign supreme here...so I do as he says...after much assurance that the grass will be fine! He successfully helps be back in, after a truly "environmental" breakdown, AND no grass was killed, WHAT DO YOU KNOW???

I just wanted to point out here how anal Californians are about EVERYTHING that will be alright. I killed nothing, no matter how it was bred into me that I would. I did no harm to anything, no matter that 37 years of threats had predicted I would. AND, I did not get in trouble, WOW!

I am slowly but surely and greatfully learning something I had always known. California is a freak state run by freaks and the rest of the world does NOT revolve around them! Thank YOU!

Anyway, still in Texas, but got some plans to move on soon...hope you enjoyed all this and I will update you when I feel I have something to say...Me

My first 18 days on the road...what an adventure!

Okay, I am not going to start this off by saying ALL was wonderful, I still have a lot to learn, but here it is, great times and some others...

Let me start off with April the 2nd, my first official day as a full time RVer. I have no home other than my little 16' Scamp trailer.

From Descanso, CA to the Superstition Mountains where I stayed from April 2nd until April 14th. While I was there I had no hook-ups (known as dry camping), no water (exept what I had in my tank and got from my ice chest), no power (except from my battery on the trailer, not much power) and no way to empty my tanks. The wind blew hard most of the time and when it wasn't blowing it was about 95 degrees, HOT! The upside of this part of the plan was that my man come out to see me about every other day and showed me all about how my trailer worked. One of the propane tanks was full, so I had a refrigerator and could cook inside on my stove. He taught me about how hook ups worked (hard line electric, water, etc) and how to light the propane on my refrigerator. He built me a cool step as my trailer did not come with one, and brought ice, alcohol and steaks. The down side was, every other day or so I would have to drive and hour into town to my friends house to shower and do laundry...good thing that was only temporary.

So...on Tuesday, April 14th, I left CA headed in a fury to get to Livingston, TX. Livingston, TX is where Escapees is ( www.escapees.com ) , Escapees provides a permanant address for RVer's on the road and domicile so we can vote and all that. They forward mail, etc. So, I was die hard to get there and get "settled", register my vehicles in TX, get a TX driver's license, effectively becoming a Texan (so ashamed of CA right now!). Well the first day was very windy and I had some sway problems with the trailer (never felt sway? very freaking scary!). I stopped in Eloy, NM and stayed the night in my trailer parked in the parking lot of a Motel 6, not a bad night at all. The next day, the 15th, I drove all day and stayed the night in Van Horn, TX in the parking lot of a Super 8 motel, another windy, tense day on the road. On the 16th I was heading to San Antonio when I kept hearing storm warnings on the radio. I was tired, in dire need of a shower and scared to death to be towing my trailer in a bad storm in the middle of TX, so I stopped in this cute little town called Junction, TX. I pulled into a Motel 6 and got me a really nice room, nicest Motel 6 I have ever seen. I showered and got a good night's sleep. The next morning I left my trailer in the parking lot and decided to see this really cute town...the storm had blown through overnight. As I was cruising along, I saw a sign for South Llano River State Park and decided to check it out. ABSOLUTELY beautiful park! Now, just for those of you who do not know (I didn't know!), TX has some beautiful "Hill Country" (that's what TX calls it). I fell in love with this State Park! I decided it was time to slow the hell down and enjoy my retirement, so after my dog and I spent the afternoon (Friday), hiking and swimming in the river, I stopped at the front desk (soaking wet from the river) and paid for two nights. I headed back to the Motel and picked up my trailer, hit the liquer store and grocery store (where I bought two steaks that were "manufactured" right in Junction, really fresh), and headed out to claim my spot.

As I arrived at my site I noticed (to my great surprise and facination) a Casita directly across from me. Casita is another brand of molded fiberglass travel trailers (a rare breed) and the type that was my first choice actually, but a Scamp (my second choice) came up for sale at the right time, in the right place and for the right price. So, as soon as I got settled (successfully backing up my trailer for the first time), I went over and introduced myself to Renee. She is also a single female traveling with her two dogs, Honey and Harley. She was stoked to check out my Scamp and me her Casita. After checking out her Casita I was really glad I ended up with my second choice, my Scamp. Not that her Casita was bad, but I really just liked my Scamp better. The refrigerator in my Scamp is twice the size, I have way more storage space and many other minor things. So...Renee, Honey, Harley and I and my dog, Goof, became fast friends. We shared stories and ideas regarding camping, campers and being on the road in general. It also turned out that she owns a 280 acre cattle ranch near Livingston, TX (where I was headed and have planned on staying for about a month). She invited me to camp on her ranch once she gets back on the 28th. Way cool, can save a lot of money and hang out on a real TX cattle ranch, I will be calling her around the 28th!

On Saturday (yesterday), Renee and I took all the dogs down to the river to go swimming, we all had a great time, but had to head back kind of early because she was "checking out" and had to be gone by 2pm, bummer, she was way cool!

BUT, we exchanged info and I am sure to be in touch with her again. After she left, me and Goof went into town, got more ice and headed back to go get one last swim in in the river. We finally got back to camp about 6pm, all was going very well, I felt really good about slowing down and my decision to take my time in getting to Livingston after all. Then the one minor problem...

As evening approached I realized that my outlets (I had power hook-ups) were working fine, but my lights were dimming greatly...what? Well, earlier that day I had met the guy camped next to me when I was on my way back from the restroom, he has a daughter living in San Diego County and wanted to know what part of CA (license plates on my stuff) I was from. So, before it got too late, I decided to go ask him if he knew something I didn't, maybe I hooked up my trailer wrong??? Turns out he was an electrician (seriously, lucky me!), he brought his stuff over, spent about 45min checking out my electrical and finally figured out that I have a bad converter (about a $200 fix), okay, cool! I got really lucky that this nice man took his time and figured out where my problem is, easy for me to switch out once I get a new one (almost like switching out a fuse) and I didn't have to pay to have the problem figured out, another great person I have met so far! So I cooked my steak, potato and onion that night by lantern light, no big deal. Thank you to that nice, nice man!!!!

So comes this morning! I am finally learning how to load my trailer where all my stuff does not end up on the floor (due to basic travel conditions) and did a great job of packing in my stuff. Very proud of myself! Soooo....I get to where you empty the tanks (both grey, sink water, and black, toilet water, were pretty full). No matter what I tried, my black water (the grossest one) would not empty. I have a clog or a bad pump, not sure. Upside to that, lots of tongue weight, no sway. Down side is pretty obvious, I have to get something fixed. That's fine, I can do that, will learn stuff in the process as I plan to watch how they fix it so I can do it all myself later if need be. So I head out on SR 290 for ????

I stopped in Fredricksburg, TX, a small, cute town and had lunch and looked over my map. Yep, there was the perfect campground on Lake Sommerville, TX that I would hit right about sundown, perfect! My goal has been NOT to be on the road too much at night in case of a break down or flat tire, etc. Well...

I ended up getting to Lake Sommerville about a half hour after dark, after driving down a long (15 mile) road to an empty, creepy campground. Only creepy, I am sure, because it was dark and empty (Sunday night). So, my gut feeling was to move on and not stop there as I would be completely alone and there was no cell phone coverage. I got back to Hwy 290 about 9pm, way after dark....I called my friend Vicki who has been tracking my progress on line, living vicariously through me, and she got on line. She let me know that (me being all freaked out by the creepy park and that it was getting close to 10pm) there was a Best Western Hotel coming up soon, my next choice for camping was 100 miles away. So...hating the fact that I was once again going to stay in a Hotel when I love my trailer, for both our good, tonight I opted for the Hotel. I feel a bit guilty, but I am still new at this and just did not plan well. I thought I would be in Livingston today, but the route I took was slow, not a freeway, but a highway with lots of stop lights in little towns...I took longer than expected and ended up in a pickle. Being as I, and Vicki, were already freaking out a bit (dark, late at night), I chose to get a room...again!

So, here I sit, more learned about planning and the time difference (and many other differences) between Freeways and Highways, in my room. I am self disappointed, but safe, that is the most important thing I suppose.

I have to say that my dog, Goof, has been quite the troooper! She is sleeping soundly now and I am about to get a shower and get to bed. Hopefully by the time I write another blog, I will have better stories of adventure, but for now, just a bunch of learning and meeting some cool people...thanks for reading!