The Traveling Suits

As we put in a long travel day to Tucson, this is a good time to answer questions. I mean, it is not like we have a large audience but some of you have asked some questions:

Have you bought a lot of stuff? Other than food, gas and a bottle of wine from the winery, no. We are both pretty tidy and the Rig is pretty full with our living stuff–although we just re-discovered storage under the couch/bed! Duh.

How are you getting along? If any couple was ready for this trip, it is Mike and me. We work together and live together, plus the pandemic made our world really just the two of us. Is it sunshine and roses everyday? No! The first week was an adjustment to long drive days and the learning curve of RV travel. Now we feel pretty confident and that helps everything.

Have there been mishaps? Fingers crossed, very few so far. We haven’t got lost, which would be really hard with Waze, Google Maps and the fact we are going on main roads because of bridge heights. We are getting the windshield replaced in Tucson–one of the reasons we are spending two nights there–after a small rock cracked it. In Sante Fe we parked under a tree that was too low, resulting in some roof scrapes and broken branches. If you saw the picture of how Mike had to park, you can see how skilled he has become with this 25 foot vehicle!

What did you bring that you don’t need? Make-up remover wipes! Too many shoes!

Do you watch TV ? We have yet to turn on the TV in the Rig or where we stay, except we did stream the UMass Men’s hockey championship in Amarillo (They won 5-0!). We set up, take care of dogs, work out (well one of us does), then get dinner, which we eat outside. We take a walk, read a bit–often about where we are headed– and it is lights out! We usually head out early the next day. While traveling, we are listening to the Renegades podcast with Obama and Springsteen, plus tunes of course. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson a fav.

How is it traveling with the dogs? The dogs have settled in as well. Buoy, the elder statesmen, must be able to see out an open window. He acclimates easily anywhere. With Pal, it’s complicated because he is super smart and not dog-like enough. But as long as he is very close to Mike, he is fine.

Would you do it again? If I were answering this last week, I would have said probably not. But now that I am used to it, I love the Rig and all the sights. Even ones that were not awe-inspiring give such an amazing view of the country. So yes, the Traveling Suits will keep riding–of course we have a lot of this trip left too!

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As I sit by the roaring chiminea in my robe, post hot tub, with the stars above me in the lovely private area of this tiny old house, one thing comes to mind: Hell to the YES! We had a lot of time before check in to drive and walk around Santa Fe and we kept saying: This is so different–we love it! Very relaxing day and night here. Tucson tomorrow for two nights.

The House

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Yep, that’s Amarillo! Happy to be in Texas even for a night and even in the Panhandle. It’s closer to Sante Fe and AZ and California of course. And they don’t worry too much about COVID here either! But I am getting ahead of myself.

We had another sunny drive today after exciting lightening last night. Saw a lot of fields and cows and closed up storefronts. And always churches. Played some fun country music after the soundtrack to Oklahoma (2019 version) got on someone’s nerves. All My Exes Live in Texas and Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys were a good replacement. (Hee hee)

We had a terrific time in Palo Duro Canyon Park en route to our stopover in Amarillo. Texas cannot use the word little or smaller so it is described as the second largest canyon in the country. It was an easy stop for lunch and some hiking. The weather was so pleasant, we were loving the outdoor time. Then to Amarillo to lay our heads down and get out early to Sante Fe.

Friends! Spotty internet so hopefully can download some pictures. What can I say about rural Oklahoma? They do not have COVID it seems because no masks or social distancing anywhere. Lucky. They have a lot of churches that look like they had other lives—gas stations, hotels, schools. There must be a church for every 5 citizens. Choices people! Lots of flat fields with cows.

We are staying in Chickasaw National Reserve and quite comfortable. In fact, running the AC and listening to jazz in the rig after dinner outside. A thunderstorm was rolling in and dogs ready to crash. A lot of interesting birds and great weather. We seem to be about half a day ahead of the rain. Amarillo Texas tomorrow. It really is a big country and quite beautiful. We have traveled 1425 miles so far and today was sunny, 80 and a little humid. Felt great.

Windy! That’s who–oh yes, you can thank me for the ear-worm Boomers. That describes the conditions we drove through today. Very windy–no wonder this is tornado country–so slower going and hat’s off to Mike– again. Also, who knew there was an Arkansas Derby? And it was this weekend? As in a lot of people pouring into this remote hamlet today? Not us! Traffic into Hot Springs was a hot mess–we are #blessed to have a space to stay at the Embassy Suites, as they say here. The National Park is first come, first served and we did not make that by a long shot. But we are still having fun, all of us. The glass elevator is pretty trippy for the dogs and they have been amazing.

We had a stopover at Overton Park in Memphis, a gorgeous space. The rest of Memphis was a drive by and sorry for that. Forgot their connection to Egypt–they have a pyramid that is now a giant outdoor sports store. Sadly for us, Beale Street is closed to motor vehicles which means nowhere to stash an RV. I was so torn about missing Memphis but we had to make choices for time this trip. At any rate, the park–which has a zoo, a golf course and lots of trails– was a lovely spot for lunch.

After living large in the Embassy Suites, we drive through Hot Springs National Park tomorrow and look forward to camping in OK tomorrow night. It has really become our home and we prefer it now–so may readjust the itinerary again! As of today we have driven 1425 miles. California here we come!

Nashville does not disappoint! The scent of barbecue and construction is in the air. Of course our rental is chock a block with shot and beer glasses, but quite lovely. What a beautiful city. Glad to have two nights here before we roll into Hot Springs, AR tomorrow (399 miles).

We are staying in Salemtown, about 2 miles north of downtown Nashville. It is a recently gentrified area with lots of redone homes, dogs and young people. We are the oldest people we have seen by at least 25 years. Scored some killer take out–smoky tacos and guac–last night from Butchertown Hall, a few blocks away. Went to the Local Distro (not a typo) to grab some delicious lunch just 600 yards away today. Great dinner outside at Rolf and Daughters tonight. Walkable and pretty, sunny and 80 degrees. Oh and there seems to be some kind of interest in country music here. Our tall, brick rental and area below.

Downtown Nashville by day

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The other Nashville this evening:

Another gorgeous day! We spent the morning at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. We saw some cool sculptures in the garden, like the one below. It is a wonderful place, dog friendly, with hiking trails and of course lots of plants. After a short hike we had a yummy breakfast there, cooked in the RV and eaten in a green, shady field.

Just passed into Tennessee! Should be in Nashville around 4 pm. An easy ride, especially if you are hanging out in a comfy chair blogging and not driving.

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Trying to embed a travel map, without success. The link below has a map of our trip so far.

https://buoy2008.travelmap.net/

This familiar airplane warning keeps bouncing around in my head for two reasons: I keep getting bonked in the head when I open the overhead bins and we have shifted our itinerary. Say what, three days in?!

We awoke with the sun rising over the vineyard and the Alleghany Mountains (VA) in the background. We had a pleasant 350 mile drive seeing spring well under way, 70 degrees and sunny. It was during that drive that maybe somebody had a small meltdown and the driver realized that five plus hours per day and a different spot each night needed a tweak. So we camp tonight, hit the Botanical Garden and Asheville tomorrow, then to our VRBO in Nashville for two nights. We forgo the great state of Kentucky (cough) and camping at Mammoth Cave. But I get to be a really tacky tourist, maybe taking an open topped bus tour through Nashville while Mike has a few zoom meetings. If only the Johnny Cash museum were a rooftop affair… .

After a short hike today and a good dinner, we watched the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mount Mitchell being the highest. Expecting great stars tonight as we sit by the campfire!

As we climbed Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park, we listened to the Sound of Music (original Broadway score please!). It was a perfect Easter Sunday experience–glorious nature, sunshine and reaching 70 degrees. We were not alone but the park is large enough and the drive long enough–over 100 miles–to find plenty of uncrowded overlooks. Spectacular, with buds just beginning on most trees, some flowering trees and shrubs, a few flowers. The lack of leaf canopy did give us expansive views and I would return here later in the spring sometime to see what must be spectacular blooms.

Heading south through Shenandoah, we then went southwest to stay at a winery in Fisherville, VA. Not much here (although we did pass some Civil War battlefield markers) except a lovely winery. We enjoyed some Touriga (red) wine and some charcuterie outside with dogs when we arrived this afternoon. The owner of the place gave me a good history lesson about wine making in Virginia–which did not begin with Thomas Jefferson in the Blue Ridge Mountains but here in Shenandoah by Thomas Adams. Jefferson is always getting the credit for stuff! We ate our home made dinner outside, watching the sun set.

Tomorrow we head to Asheville for another night of camping. Tonight we are the only ones here, dry camping or boon docking without hook ups. Plenty of solar to run things so far and good wifi. We are like farmers now, early to bed early to rise.

Oh what fun! Nick and Jamie have a great new house, yard, neighborhood and they have done an amazing job in just three weeks. So comfortable and moved in! What a joy to see our son and his wife, our new daughter, in their element. The four dogs got along well, providing lots of laughs. Leisurely dinners, dog walks, ping pong, and plenty of outside time in the back yard in the sun. Maryland has spring–unlike Cape Cod– an explosion of flowering trees, shrubs and green grass.

We head out early tomorrow–Easter–to drive Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Park and spend the night in a vineyard overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. We camp for the next three nights after a very comfortable stay at Nick and Jamie’s house. Our first test of the rig as we will boon dock–or dry camp–which means no water or electrical hook ups!

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