LIFE BEGINS ON THE ROAD

Today was all about nature and exercise.  After seeing the signs for Dingman Falls and Bushkill Falls each time I have visited the Delaware Water Gap in PA I made time to visit them.  When I arrived at Dingman Falls this morning it seemed deserted except for one lady just returning to her car.  We started chatting and we decided to walk into the falls together.  It was a good distance to the falls, but so enjoyable for us both.  She was on her way to Washington DC to visit her daughter and decided to take a break and work the kinks out.  There was a sign that said no pets allowed except for service dogs.  Well let me tell ya,  Duncan became a service dog this morning cause he went with us.

The first picture was of a small but very pretty waterfall and then on to Dingman Falls which was really lovely.

 

 

 

Then on to Bushkill Falls -  And of course I forgot the entrance picture.  Now this was quite interesting in that it seemed more for hiking than for just viewing the falls.  There are 8 in all and it is mostly up hill to get to them. Now call me chicken, but this old lady did much more today than she has in awhile.  The ranger at the entrance told me that the blue trail would be the least strenuous for Duncan having the least amount of stairs.  The terrain is rough and rocky so very natural. 

 

Then of course the wild life caught Duncan’s attention and here he is in the “lets get it mode”.  He saw a chipmunk.

 

A glimpse of the first falls on the trail. Then I will call it a night and do another post tomorrow after I make the move to Lancaster. PA .  All in all it was a great day and though tired I was amazed that once I hit the shower I felt great.

LETS GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!!!!

Good Morning  - the day has finally arrived for me to leave the northeast to live out my dream.  I have been calling it D-day.  My departure this morning is a culmination of many years of planning and dreaming of traveling around our great country to see what is over the next hill.

I was awake at 2AM and made myself stay in bed until 3 and that was as long as I could stand it.  Up with coffee in hand I filled my wonderful claw foot tub for the last time this year anyway.  I have truly treasured the hours I have just spend soaking in that tub and I know it will be a long time before I get to do it again. 

Packed up the last of the " I HAVE TO HAVE" things now will have to spend time putting or I should say finding places to put them away.  I left home at 7:20 and arrived in PA 2PM.  Put on 256 miles today.  I was ready to call it a day having only had about 3 1/2 hours sleep last night.

All in all it was a good and bad day.  Somewhere I lost my bicycle.  We thought we had it secure in the bike rake, but alas it was not.  I have no idea where it ended up but appears to have come loose from the rack.  LUCKILY IT WAS USED AND NOT AN EXPENSIVE NEW ONE!!  But still I liked it because it was just a 5 speed and only had rear brakes on the handlebar so there was no danger of sending me over the handlebars. LOL  Ya gotta remember I am an old lady and hadn't been on a bike in over 30 years.  No new fangled one for me.  AND IT WAS PINK :-((((

We are set up at Outdoor World Timothy Lake campground in East Stroudsburg, PA until Friday when we move down to Lancaster for 13 days.  Tomorrow I plan to hike up to Bushkill Falls so will have some pictures to share of them.  There are a series of 8 water falls and we can walk along and over them so it should be a good day and Duncan can go with me so that is a plus.  He definitely does not like to be left alone in the camper which could be a problem he will have to get used to when I start working at Quail Run.

I am done in for today and hopefully I can stay awake long enough to get a good night sleep and not be up running around all night again.  Gonna take Duncan for a walk and wear us both out completely.  He has been a sleep all day and absolutely no conversationalist at all today other than to bark at other dogs he saw.

Until next time.............

AHHHHH RETIREMENT !

Today was the third day I didn't have to wake up before daylight to get ready for work - SWEET!!!!
But it was also the third day I was awake before daylight.  I don't think old habits will die easily.

Packing continues to go well and the camper is filling up.  I am already rearranging things to suit and am rethinking things, that are or I should say, I thought were important to take.  The excitement is building and I can not believe that I am a week away from leaving.  It seemed in January that this time would never get here.  Making lists and posting notes everywhere is the order of the day.  Today is the day we stock up on Duncan's food and treats so we will have time to search out a store that carries it when we get out to Arizona.

First leg of the journey is to the Delaware Water gap and a day at Bushkill Falls with a stop to pick up my senior pass for national parks and such.  It gives me free entrance to parks and also half price camping.

Yesterday I learned a very valuable tidbit of information from a friend I was talking to online.  We were talking about the native Americans and tribal laws when it popped up that you can not leave a state or county road traveling through the reservations and wander by yourself without a Native American with you.  Good fact for this tenderfoot to learn before hand not that I would be tempted to wander alone in the desert but Just Sayin.  I can just see me off on the hunt for minerals and get locked up for being where I am not supposed to be.  Think I will wait for the gem show in January at Quartzside.  Have the jewelry supplies in the camper already.

This will be short today and I will get some pictures of the changes made to the camper posted before I leave very green New England and head for the  dryer climate of the Southwest.

Let the Journey Begin!!!!

Home for the next year!  

Retirement will be a reality in one more week.  Then I become a gypsy for as long as I am physically/ mentally capable and have the desire to do so.  Over the past year I have divested myself of many (about 80%) of my life long collections and material goods.  It has long been my dream to travel the highways and backroads of our country seeing all it has to offer.  This journey becomes reality on August 28, 2013.  I have been researching and gathering up lists of things and places I want to visit, essentially creating a bucket list, if you will, to start checking off.  Over the first two months the plan is travel from New Hampshire to Florida and then on to Arizona where I plan to spend the winter.  There are stops along the way starting with two weeks in Pennsylvania.  Then on to Asheville, NC where I will spend a few days with a granddaughter and visit Biltmore Estate (checking off the first thing on the bucket list) and other area attractions.  

Then I am thinking that Charlestown, SC or somewhere along the sea coast will be nice with some time in the warmer salt water.  On to Orlando, FL and a somewhat solitary visit with Mickey and Minnie.  I am looking forward to just wandering through the parks at my leisure.  Then comes time with a friend from my military days whom I have not seen for 43 years.  This will be one of the highlights of my trip and one I have long looked forward too.  It is my hope that I will meet many of the women I have become friends with over these past few years online through groups that are made up of strong independent women who have been or are planning to live the gypsy life as well.

I am allowing two months to get to winter quarters in Arizona where I will be playing in the activities department at Quail Run RV Resort in Arizona, City, AZ for the winter.  I call it playing because it is right up my alley working with people to have fun.  I love watching others have fun and maybe along the way I can share some of my talents as well.  

So how do you decide what you can NOT live without for a year.  I am very limited on space not having a motor home or bigger trailer so really have to make hard decisions and decide what I absolutely have to have not what I think I have to have.  Do I take jewelry supplies, do I take cross stitch supplies, oh what about miniature flower or hat supplies, none of which I have used in over two years.  But, then again I will have more time and they do not take up that much space or do they?  Is it cheaper to clear cabinets of food and take it with me paying the extra for gas with the added weight or give it all away and buy new when I get there.  Spices will have to go with me and from there ????? Big TV, smaller one or both??? Pie plate, roaster, muffin pan and the list goes on!  I think I will drive myself crazy over thinking everything before I pull out of the yard.. And there are stores along the way, yard sales abound to find things I didn't think were necessary.  So what the heck am I worried about it is not like I am going up the Amazon or to the top of Mt Everest.

I have added a used 5 speed bicycle to my collection along with a rack to carry it on.  I thought at first I was going to have to add training wheels as I had not been on one in more than 30 years but I think with a little more practice I will get the hang of it.  Put in a new sleep number bed, added new storage removing a couch that never got used for anything other than to put everything on that had no other place.

OK the week is done and the weekend is here.  Packing to proceed with caution and a thought of how much weight I am adding.  Time for a little R&R before bed.  Enjoy my claw foot tub while I still can.

Posts to come more frequently now that life is moving in a new direction again.

Until nex time..............