All the Way Across (and other stuff)

June 20, 2015

One pill makes me sleepy and the other makes me shake … 

To back up a little, remember the beautiful pool I mentioned in the last post? In that little town in Nebraska where everything was pleasant, a danger lurked that I did not fully understand for two more days when I began to itch. 

First a few spots on my upper thighs appeared, then a spot on my right palm. While driving in Ohio I noticed that the back of my neck not only itched, but was swollen and hot – even my ears were hot. In a smart move I removed my rings and pendant. This turned out to be very smart, because in about an hour the itch on my palm had spread to my whole hand – and then across to my left. That night, I could not sleep for the itching and swelling and welts that were now all over my body. 

A trip to the pharmacy early in the morning recommended Calamine lotion and Claritin. Mild relief only – the welts were on the march – ebbing occasionally and then rushing in again. I really am not sure of the cause of the reaction, but the chlorine in the pool seems to be a likely culprit though it might have been unfamiliar pollen or grasses in any of the lush green parks where we stayed, or it might have been something in the food we ate … I may never know, and neither did either of the doctors I saw on two visits to Urgent Care in Ohio. 

 

Thank goodness for H, who, after noticing that the knuckles in my hands had disappeared, located an office close to Mosquito Creek Park where we were camped. And, thank goodness for modern medicine.  On Tuesday night I was given a shot of a steroid and I told to expect results in a few hours. I was so relieved to think this was over, but I was MUCH worse all night and returned to Urgent Care in the morning for another shot, and a prescription.

 Now, though I am much better, if I am moments late to take my drug cocktail of Prednisone and Benedryl the itching starts again and the welts raise their heads. All of this points to the fact that when traveling anywhere, especially to new, unknown and remote locations (as we like to do) it is important to be aware of the location of medical facilities and be prepared for emergencies. Exactly what this preparedness should look like is an unanswered question, but this experience has reduced my sense of security a little bit. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On the plus side, while I rested and reclined on the camper couch, H drove, and yesterday, day ten of our trip, we arrived in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, our number one destination. It is such a pleasure to suddenly be in a familiar location, to turn off the GPS and head to H’s favorite place, Cohen’s Bakery.  Then (and only then) did we head to his mom’s home.

Now we are ensconced with family and old friends, and enjoying some needed down time among the trees and birdsong. Family lunch today, fresh berries for dessert.  Also, phone calls to plan for our time and visits while here. Next week we will continue to adventure, adding more states to the 18 we have so far visited in our trusty camper Shelly.  However, this will be home base for the month.

Yay for us, we made it across the country, back to the very place where H and I met and began our adventure together, a cool 41 years ago this week.

PLEASANTVILLE

Aurora Nebraska  June 14, 2015

So far this trip can be best described as a drive-thru flyover. We have stopped for nothing; not the Pendleton Mills, not a photo of the stunning red rocks in Utah. We ignored Wyoming for the most part, missed the great Salt Lake, did not stop and see Victor, and passed under the Great Platte River arch  at 62 miles per hour. After all the miles of open land and farms and the occasional mall, we had no high expectations of Nebraska.

We were wrong, at least here in Aurora. after 1500 miles of travel, five states in five days. Serendipity has deposited us, down a long road lined with corn fields as far as the eye can see, road weary and saddle sore in Aurora, a classic American town that looks and feels like the location of the movie Pleasantville. 

 This town well-kept  Best of all, the campsite, in the park, behind the fabulous water center, welcomes campers for free, for up to four nights.  That’s where we are today, day six of the trip.

The streets here  are paved with red brick and lined with. mature trees in full summer leaf. The houses are in the Victorian style, or bungalows. Fresh paint, large lawns, flower filled front gardens. A beautiful, large and important building in the center of town is rich red clay and brick. There is an old bandstand, of white marble, that I think was where George made an impassioned speech in the movie, Its a Wonderful Life.

We spent a peaceful night sleeping in the quiet park. I spent the early afternoon swimming in the perfect pool at the edge of the park. $3.00 for the pool and the showers. The water and air temp both 84 degrees. My dishes are washed, we are both showered, the dogs are happy. All is good here so we are staying another night, relaxing and refreshing for the next leg of the journey. As I said, this place is truly … pleasant. It gives me that slightly hypnotic sense of having stepped back in time (which I do not consider a bad thing.)

 There's an Old-fashioned ladies dress shop with mannequins in the window. The bar and grill is exactly what you'd expect, and closed on Sunday.The people seem genuinely nice, such as the old gentleman watering the flower baskets on the lamp posts who pointed us in the right direction, or the couple who admired our dogs,  or the lovely lifeguard at the pool who told me about her home town– in glowing terms. 

Even in the course of these few days, we have established a travel rhythm. H drives two hours, I drive two, then H takes over til we camp. In this way we have been traveling more than 300 miles per day. The usual schedule is 9 – 4:30 on the road, and then the long evenings to enjoy in camp. We prefer parks, state or otherwise to RV parks. Most nights have been without services (and two were free), but we did spend one night in a KOA in Wyoming (for the showers) It was surrounded by enormous white crude oil tanks. There is a boom in this area because of all the oil coming in via fracking. Its been great for the local economy we are told.

Later, we drove through a wild storm in Utah, watching lightning flash and the storm approach across the vast open sky. And we drove across lots (and lots) of vast open land – referred to by family members variously as “the big nothing,” and “the place where America stores its “empty.”  (Thank JZ) This is not exactly so. There has been lots of rain this season, so the vast stretches of land along the roads is filled with life, wildflowers, grasses, cattle, antelope. The fifty shades of green we are seeing is in strong contrast and lovely to the dry grey gold of our southern travels last winter.  I do recall that this was the scene of the Dust Bowl, so, even the rain squalls that keep arriving are vey welcome.
And of course, seeing the Rockies appear on the horizon has never failed to thrill me.

Early on in our trip we determined that our primary goal is to get back East and see family and friends and eat lobster. All the things in the middle are less important. So we are hauling. But we are really glad that we have stopped our eastward tear long enough to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful place we are in now.Tomorrow it back on the road.

A note about finding serendipity (AKA Aurora Nebraska) – we found this using an app called AllStays that showed it on the map along I-80. There were no signs on the road, so without our technology, we might not have found it. 

Time to Go

Today is 6.9.15, a pleasing number. My son was born on 3.18.81 so I have always considered these multiple of three dates good luck. I hope so, because we are taking off again this morning. As exciting as it is to leave on another adventure, I am writing at 6 am because I can't sleep.I can attest that the birds started singing at 5:30 - but not at 4:30.

Prepping for this trip was easier than last time simply because we now know what we are doing and what needs to be done. As we traveled last winter, H and I developed a great rhythm for taking care of what needed to be done, quickly and efficiently. This has carried over so that packing and planning is fairly seamless.  I am also pleased to note an advantage to total home leaving means that my refrigerator gets cleaned several times a year. This in itself makes travel worthwhile.

Traveling in summer will be different in many ways from snow-birding. One thing for sure, especially once school is out, there will be more competition for camping spots, more people around (no parks to ourselves seems a safe bet), and higher prices for camping and gas. On the plus side, longer days, lots more light ...though if this morning is any indicator, based on my previous tendency to rise with the sun and sleep when its dark, I will be getting lots less sleep.

It would be nice to say that we are traveling lighter this time, but traveling cross country, even in summer requires that we carry clothes for heat, sun, rain, swimming and potential cold. Also, we are going to a wedding so party clothes are included in the mix. Now that we know how much time we have for reading we are carrying an impressive library of books to read and trade. We also know that it is fairly easy to cook great meals in the camper (Shelly in case you forgot). Once again I have packed the pressure cooker, and this time, mostly basics to be rounded out by local produce to be found at farmer's markets along our route.  (Mmmm lobster, raspberries, home grown tomatoes.)

My  art supply kit IS lighter this trip. I learned that in spite of my most creative intentions, I have little time and less focus for making art. My camera is my creative companion. The pictures I took last winter have provided endless inspiration for me and for my students.

Speaking of which - the time we have been home has been as busy and as full as my time on the road. I like this idea of interweaving travel and teaching, making art and thinking about the art I will create. Since I have been home my teaching schedule has been full, and my studio filled with work in progress. I hung a show of my own work last week, as well as a display of student art at MAC. I entered my senior's work into a contest, and got juried into a new show set for the fall. Not bad for three months. Now I will have some fallow time before I return in August to teach several workshops and prepare for the show in October. I like this ... keeping busy keeps me happy and focused.

So, to quote my dad once again ... We are off, the Captain shouted (and the oars began to leak.)

Wish us well .... and follow our adventures.  By the way, I have fixed this blog so that YOU (dear readers) can respond directly to me in the comments below (at least I hope so.)  Happy summer.

The Last Part of the First Adventure

We were back at the beach where we planned to spend the rest of our time before returning home. The weather was almost constantly beautiful. Every day and every night provided magnificent sunrises and sunsets and long walks in the sand. The days were growing longer, and we enjoyed every moment.

Staying in one place for two week allowed us to make friends with other regulars - especially the three couples we met from Oregon. Hank found a great buy on the bread machine of his dreams. We drove to Santa Barbara to get it. On return, he dazzled our campsite neighbors with the smell of baking bread and babka. We learned that sharing babka (a sweet bread made with vodka, orange peel and raisins) is a nice way to make friends.

Much as we hated to leave, it was time to return home. To my surprise, the trip back took only three days (two nights). This means it only takes three days to get back !!!! if we stay on the highway.

We stopped at a roadside market on the way out of Carpinteria and bought citrus and strawberries to sustain us. I had been told that the route along I-5 was ugly and boring. Not so. We were amazed by the huge stands of almond trees in full snowy bloom that lined both sides of the road. Of course seeing these only reinforced the potential harm of the terrible California drought. Nonetheless, they were beautiful and fragrant and highlighted by beautiful sky.

We drove about 350 miles the first day - following the rainbows that stayed all day (and started our day as well.) Dinner at the Harris Ranch was not as good as we remembered from an earlier visit, but our randomly selected camp ground was a beautiful surprise - lush with soft, dewy green grass - which we were told become the "Golden Hills" later in the season and stays that way most of the year. On arrival, we spotted herds of elk on both sides of us. Very nice.

The next day brought us almost to Oregon, past the heartbreakingly low lakes at Mt. Shasta. We spent a very chilly night at a campsite that appears to be someone's backyard property, grabbed breakfast at a diner, and were home before dinner. What a trip.

Happily - all was well at home. Our cat was thrilled to see us, and and our bed was a comfortable as we remembered.One thing we knew for sure, we were home from this trip, but we want to go again.

So - tomorrow (June 9) we head out again. I am sure that a summer trip will be different from winter travel - longer days on the plus side, the heat that has descended so early this year, on the down. As Hank says, we will see.

Back to the Beach

Note: I am posting this after we have returned home, as we prepare for our next adventure.

MARCH 2015
Now, back in glorious Carpentaria, lolling on the beach and reveling in sunshine, surf and spectacular sunsets, it is hard to believe how much we did and saw the past few weeks.

That’s the thing about travel, the days tend to be rich with new, or at least, different experiences. A week can fly by with a month’s worth of stuff having happened.  So briefly to catch up:

After we left Clovis, NM we drove over 300 miles, climbing in elevation all day, and arrived in Tijeras New Mexico , not far from Albuquerque.

Nearing the RV Park we had selected, we noticed snow on the ground in shady areas along the road. But it was warm and sunny – tank top and sandals weather. 

I am always surprised at how different RV parks can be. Some are parking lots with a bathroom, service hookups and laundries, others are communities where many people live full time in their RV's.  And lots of things in between. This place,  just off the main road, behind a gas station, was a community, at least in winter when there are fewer travelers.

Here, the campsites stretched up a mud and gravel hill, woods stretched out in two directions. The office was large and inviting, and had a varied collection of books and CDs. The price was good and we were tired.

As we walked the dogs we met a park resident who reminded us that we were just miles from Santa Fe, and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. He also said something about the park being kind of muddy when it rained, but we were standing in full sun ….

We awoke to 21 degrees, a frozen water hose and SNOW!Not a day to travel up to even colder temps and higher elevations. So, the lobby library worked out well.

We spent the day cozy in our camper, reading, eating, napping and watching a video.  As the snow melted, the dirt turned to mud, so thick it was almost impossible to walk around – the mud clogging the soles of my shoes (don't even ask about the dogs).



The next morning was so cold that the mud had frozen.  The sun was shining. We were able to head  up the Turquoise Road 40 miles to Santa Fe, climbing so high we were above the clouds. 

But first, Trader Joe's appeared on the horizon. From there, knowing that our larder was once again full,  I spent the morning at the wonderful Georgia O'Keeffe museum. I loved seeing the paintings, looking at photos of the artist, and especially, seeing her actual tools, view and work space. Mine is much messier.

We had a great lunch, and walked around the shops and galleries, and admired the architecture against the cobalt blue sky. Then, though I'd have loved to spend more time here, we were both hating the altitude and dryness.  It was time to head south to warmer temperatures.

That night the park on our route was Red Rocks State Park in Gallup New Mexico. Once more, we were awed to just wind up in a place so awesomely unique and beautiful, and just in time to see the incredible color of rock formations before the sun set. 

In the morning, our map showed that the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest was just ahead.  This was a site I have always wanted to see. I was not disappointed. What moved me the most, among the stunning shapes and colors and the sheer empty enormity was the rock with hieroglyphics from an ancient native American..

This stunning scenery did not even begin to prepare us for the magic of Sedona, which we arrived at on a Saturday morning. The place was so crowded that lines of traffic stretched for miles on the road coming in from both directions. We spent the day, fighting for parking, crowded among people, and finally drove on - it was hot and we were ready to get back to the beach.

Driving out of Sedona heading east took us along more stunning and terrifying roads at the edge of cliffs, but we made it to a campsite by dark, and were back on the road in the morning. One more night, back at the desert camp near Joshua Tree National Park, and a half day more on the road, and we were back at the beach.

 See the next post for the final installment of Snowbirds Winter Adventure 2015.

Then I will have to begin the next adventure - Cross Country Summer . ... coming soon