Warranty work at Wilkins

Today, "G" and I drove up to Wilkins RV, in Bath, NY.  If you've never visited Bath, don't worry.  You're not missing much. There is not much to do or see, other than a few cheap motel chains and a couple of fast food restaurants. This trip, we actually found the "hot" spot in town. It's the soft serve ice cream stand just down the road-a-piece from the RV dealership.

We were afforded the most beautiful day to drive up this scenic area of rolling, green mountains, lush valleys and the occasional river meandering alongside our route. Unfortunately, every once in a while, I noticed dead animals along side of the road.  I always turn my face away, because I can't bear to look at the poor things just lying there. "G" always reassures me that they have met their end due to old age.  It seems that they happen to die along the road after a long and happy life.  It makes me feel better knowing that.  I turn my face back to the road and life is beautiful again.

Along the way, we happened upon an accident that had occurred just seconds before cresting a slight incline. Although two vehicles were involved, only one was visible on the road, and facing in the wrong direction. The other car, we discovered, had veered off and down an embankment. Traffic came to a halt due to the wreckage strewn across the road. I had my handy-dandy first aid kit, so I got out to see if we could be of any help. I went up to the car and inside was an older woman, I'd guess to be about 80, cut and bleeding behind the wheel. I asked her what her name was, and she told me, "Helen," and she proceeded to ask me what happened.  She couldn't comprehend the fact that she was in an accident. Apparently, she was in shock. I told her my name and said I was pleased to meet her, and that everything was going to be fine.  She asked me a few more times what had happened before a paramedic and an EMT showed up. I gratefully turned over my place beside her window to the experts who could be of more help than me. I can offer kindness, but not much else in an emergency.

With just a couple of more non-emergency stops, we made it to the exit of Route 17 where I was allowed to take the wheel. I drove a whopping two miles to the dealership and except for a a tiny episode of not being able to find the break, it went well. I discovered that "G" is not the best person to teach me how to drive the RV. "Mr. Patience" is anything, but patient, while I am behind the wheel.  We will both need lessons.  Me for driving and him for holding his tongue while I learn! A future entry will reveal the quickest learner!

The rig is locked up, the shades are drawn, the couch is comfy, and we are both ready for a good night's  rest.

Deep thought for the day:  Always offer help to someone when they're down. You never know when you may need a kind word from a stranger.  What goes around, comes around.

Top Ten List

Well, here, in no specific order, is the list of the 10 things I forgot to bring on our first RV adventure:

10.  Folding Table
 9.   Folding Chairs
 8.   Plastic Cups
 7.   Bath Mat
 6.   Sugar
 5.   Crock Pot
 4.   Table Cloth
 3.   Plastic forks
 2.   Cash
 1.   Litter Scoop

What impressed me, in my planning and packing efforts, was the fact that all, but one item (litter scoop), could have waited or been purchased at a local Walmart.  Two points for my stocking ability.

On Monday, "G" and I need to head up to the dealership, in Bath, NY for them to repair/replace two problems. The "inverter," which powers the fridge while we are traveling, is not working and the shower drain was leaking.  "G" seems to have solved the shower drain issue, but the inverter may need a bigger fix.  This will be the first time utilizing our one-year warranty, so we shall see how good the service is at Wilkins' RV.  One of the reasons we chose to purchase through Wilkins' was their great reputation for servicie and repairs. Since we are planning and preparing to head up to Vermont in 3 weeks, we need to have that baby ship-shape and ready to roll.

My next entry will be sometime in July, as we get ready to hit the road again. Right now, I'm getting ready to hit the skies to visit three little girls in Colorado.  Thinking about the rigors of flying: going through security, boarding the plane, sitting for hours on a plane full of germs and strangers, and eating salty snacks makes me long for the comforts of traveling aboard Gracie.  Maybe the next trip out west will be a road trip...

Deep thought for the day:  Try to think of your life as an exciting adventure with the next spectacular event about to happen the following day....even if it's only in your mind.  Your Life: A cliffhanger - to be continued.

The end of our first adventure!

With a bit of sadness we packed up Gracie Thursday morning, in an intermittent drizzle, to return to 223. The ride was a bit bumpy for Miss Lucy Lu, so we needed to stop along the route to put her in her carry bag. From that point on, and with her bag sitting atop my lap, she was happy to look around and observe.

Ironically, the last photo I snapped during my last walk was of the old, dilapidated entrance to the Bath House. Complete with blue metal ticket window and rusted full-length turnstile, it reminded me of the ones I had passed through as a child, thus making me feel quite dated, as well. 

Ticket window and turnstile to the Bath House

Packing up the site took longer than we anticipated and the drizzle didn't help to make things any easier. Freshly cut grass and mud were sticking to our shoes, as well as all the outdoor items, but we managed to cram everything in my Sentra and Gracie's "basement" area until we can sort and better-arrange back home.  

Once we did finally park in front of the house and engaged the emergency break, we knew we had a lot of work ahead of us. There were numerous trips back and forth to empty the fridge, unload packaged food, dirty laundry, clean clothes, medicine, gadgets and electronics.

"G" somehow found the energy to get Gracie's roof washed off.  It was caked with pine needles and tons of pollen. By bedtime, we were both exhausted.  Today, we are still not quite settled as we each had our household errands to complete in addition to attending to Gracie. We are hoping that, with practice and planning, we will get a system down that will enable us to load and unload less items on our next venture.

Speaking of "next ventures," we are booked for a one-night stand at Lone Pine Campground, in Colchester, Vermont (July 15, 2014). Click HERE to see the campground. That is the location we will meet up with about nine other RV's and join the caravan to Essex Junction, VT, for a five-night stay at our first Northeast Area Regional Rally of the Family Motor Coach Association, of which we are now proud members.  

The best part of being a member is listening to the other member's stories of past trips, favorite parks, roads to avoid and things to see and do. I can't wait for us to be able to tell of our experiences, our favorites and tick-off all the states we've explored. 

The next blog entry will contain my Top 10 List of Items I Forgot to Bring. This entry is way too long already.  

Lucy Update:  Someone is very happily rediscovering all of her secret hiding places and sitting on our laps more than normal. I think it's her way of expressing her joy for being back at 223.  

Deep thought for the day:  No matter where you go or what you do, don't overlook or forget to appreciate the "constants" in your life. Surroundings change, adventures vary, but love remains the same. Each person's "constant" to love can be different, such as a person, a belief or a dream.  

Final days at Croton

I am beginning to feel like time is passing by more quickly lately.  From counting down "G's" days to retirement to the day of picking up Saving Grace and our first excursion, I have now begun the countdown to when we leave this wooded paradise.

We have only three days left and I want to squeeze as much relaxation, hiking, entertaining and fun into a dwindling amount of days.  It was agreed today, that we don't want to go home, but, home we must go on Thursday morning.  Unfortunately, more rain is expected tomorrow, but that won't deter me from enjoying some quiet time, reading a book while curled up on the couch watching it pour down from the windows of the coach.

We met many new people this weekend from the "Hudson Islanders" chapter of the Family Motorcoach Association.  We will be meeting up with many of them in July when we trek to Vermont.  So many plans, so many places, so little time.

I will begin to make my lists again and see how well I do this time.  My next post will most likely be generated from our home base.  We are running out of internet time.  That post will include the "Top Ten List of Items I Forgot To Bring Along On Our First Trip."

Deep thought for the day:  Be grateful for what you've got, because you will miss it once it's gone.

Life is Beautiful

I'm sitting on the couch in Gracie and across from me is the beautiful plaque "G's" parents gave us last Christmas.  It reads, "Life is Beautiful," and the illustration of an RV is skillfully painted below, resembling Saving Grace. It is my constant reminder that life, indeed, is beautiful, but sometimes, you need to look beyond the ordinariness that makes up your surroundings.  It can be as beautiful as you believe it to be, as I have discovered during my stay here.

Many people have older, well-worn units, yet they beam with pride when talking about when they got it, where they've been, and the experiences (good and bad) that they have encountered.  Everyone has stories about the mistakes, missed turns and mishaps that inevitably turn out to be the most entertaining.

We moved, for the last time, yesterday, and Gracie is now parked in space 12 and we will reside here for the next week. I actually drove her from space 40 into 12 and think I did a spectacular job. I can't believe "G" let me drive this big baby.

Thanks to my step-mom, we have a couple of new handy-dandy items that turned out to be much needed necessities, opposed to much wanted goodies.  We now have a carpet under our Clam, which will keep insects at bay and comfortable folding chairs.  It is so intimate and cozy now.  Gifts of solar lanterns add to the ambiance and I now prefer my coffe outside, looking up at our big girl.

A ride up to Camping World in Kingston this afternoon seemed to have gotten our Man of Honor bitten by the camping bug. He met us up there and found a small unit we all loved.  Click here to see the Winnebago View

"G" has continued to surprise me by trying new things and expanding upon his wry sense of humor.  It is one of the things I love most about him.  Spending so much time together is better than I had imagined.  We have fallen into certain routines and enjoy a fair give and take.  Of course it's not a total bed of roses, but even when it's just a handful of dandelions, I find it delightful..

Tonight we spent the evening at our neighbor's in their screen room.  We, along with a couple of friends of theirs, played the game, Mexican Train, a new adventure for both "G" and I.  We had a lot of laughs and fun, and got to spend the time with old, as well as new, friends.  Before breaking up the game, we heard coyotes howling and fighting up on the landfill.  That has been one of my favorite walking paths and hearing the ferocious sounds made me wonder where they go during the day....

Lucy update:  She has handled this last move much better than the one previous. We believe that she has accepted the fact that we live here now and she needs to make the best of her situation.  I wonder what her little brain will think once we get back home.

Deep thought for the day:  "Home is where our cat is."