Tag Archives: Camping

An Update-Janet is Camping on the Property

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Janet, walking the ditch.

I thought I would sneak into southern Colorado, yet, I knew the whole time I could not do this.

I spent yesterday and last night with a good friend. Deana was the realtor who helped Jim and I find this piece of land. Now she is a dear and close friend. After shedding many tears she packed me into her jeep and we drove to the property. It was good to have her support.

The Wetlands

The Wetlands

Oh my it is gorgeous here right now. they have had a very wet spring and early summer and everything is green and lush. The natural wetlands are high with cattails and other moisture loving plants. We were greeted by a hawk who flew out of the cedar trees. It is just a pretty piece of land.

I had lunch yesterday with Miss Carrie and Ron of Ron-d-View Outfitters. Ron leases my property to run his horses and mules on. We spent two hours talking and catching up. It was decided by the end of the meal that I needed to camp on my property. Ron came over in the afternoon with his tractor and a major lawn mower attachment and cut a section of grasses down so I could camp in comfort.

Ron carving out a spot for the RT

 

Deana and Ron

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I ran errands. I think I was putting off going there until I had nothing to stop me. Around 3 pm I drove over here and am happily ensconced on the land. I was greeted by the summer monsoon thunderstorms. They remained in the distance yet put on a beautiful display. Then I took a nap.

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I am sitting outside at the moment and am enjoying the early evening. Elsie has seen her first deer. Boy did her eyes get big.

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Tomorrow I am going to walk the property and say hello. It is not the most emotionally comfortable I have been on this trip. In fact I find it hard to be here. There were so many plans involved with this place. They were Jim and my plans. I am not feeling yet whether these can become my plans. I miss my buddy.

I am planning to be here tonight and tomorrow night and then I will be on my way to San Diego. It is hard to believe that next week I will be back at work. Thank goodness I enjoy my work.

I want to thank everyone for their support. I am so glad that I have so much support on this continuing journey.

Mom and Nova Scotia

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Cape Breton

Cape Breton

When I was much younger than I am today, I remember talking to my mother about travel. She said that she always wanted to go to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. For several years this subject would arise now and then. We talked of traveling there together. It seems it was one of those dreams that was a dream, until this past week.

I arrived in Nova Scotia at the end of July. Although I don’t know if my mom and I would have seen the part of it I have seen so far, I feel like I have brought her along in memory.

I decided upon arriving at the island that I would travel the Cabot Trail to Cape Breton on into Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I love National Parks. This one was amazing. For three nights I camped right on the ocean. Both campsites were a little piece of heaven. I hiked, saw waterfalls, wandered the grounds of Gompa Buddhist Monastery Retreat, and have yet to see any Moose. Everyone but me seems to have seen a Moose. Sigh.

IMG_5161I am also enjoying the people I meet along my travels. People seem to talk to each other in the National Parks. For two nights I camped at Corney Brook Camp Ground. Kathleen and Gary my neighbors invited me to dinner both nights I was there. The second night They had bought some king crab that was in season. Kathleen took me and the neighbors down to the oceanside to learn how to shuck crab. Oh my was that crab delicious.

Crabs for Dinner

Crabs for Dinner

Kim and Jim were on the other side. We kept meeting on the trails. When I moved up to Meat Cove Campground, well there they were again.

Petra and Udo were my neighbors at Meat Cove. They had brought their RV from Germany with them. They started their travels in Uruguay. They have been traveling for a year and are getting ready to go back to Germany in 10 days. I had the best evening with these two. We talked about travel and Germany and the USA (even skirted the issue of politics). I enjoyed laughing and drinking with them and getting to know these two remarkable people.

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Petra in the Fancy Vehicle from Germany

 

 

 

I am including pictures of their vehicle. Man that ride could take on almost anything. It was big, and comfortable and has been their home for a year. I wish I had met them sooner. I could have followed them as they saw different part of South America and North America, including Alaska and Canada. If you are interested, here is Petra’s blog. It is in German so you might have to use Goggle Translator to interpret it for you. That is what plan to do.

When the three of us said good-by I felt like I was seeing a good friend depart. Their next tour is the Silk Road. They, of course, are driving it in their mighty vehicle.

At a time when I am starting to miss my San Diego friends, it has been nice to meet up with good people who were willing to include me in their lives, if even for a short time. I enjoy the depth of knowing my long time friends yet there are times when a chance encounter can enrich my life and make it deeper. The other good thing about meeting people while you are traveling you sometimes find out about places and events that I might have missed otherwise. We are all a great source of information for each other.

I am camped in St Peters, on Cape Breton tonight. I am in a Provincial Park and like state parks in the USA, the camp sites are quiet and separate. I enjoy camping where Elsie feels safe going outside. If there are too many people around she runs for the blankets.

I know my mother is not with me in person. I know she is traveling with me in spirit. I think of her often and know she would have enjoyed seeing this part of the world. The ocean on the Atlantic side is even warm enough to swim in. My mom loved to swim. I have yet to swim but have dipped my feet. I hope mom is enjoying her trip. I know I am.

Tomorrow, on to Halifax.

Meat Cove

Meat Cove

Moving On With Elsie and the Roadtrek

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Elsie directing traffic

Elsie directing traffic

I just realized that it has been a while since I have posted. I think I was a bit jealous of the responses Elsie got to her post. Heh Heh.

I have been traveling. I left North Carolina about a week ago and had been steadily moving north to Kitchener, Ontario. I am here today. Yay. All issues Roadtrek are hopefully being addressed.

Before I tell you where I have been I want to tell you where I am. I am at the Roadtrek factory this morning. I have been taken on a tour and met Leo who is helping me with the issues concerning my RT. I am so happy.

This is a family run business and they are treating me well. Each concern I have they have taken seriously. I like being respected and honored for who I am, the owner of a Roadtrek.

While I am here Miss Elsie is hiding under the bed at the Radisson Hotel. At least she is safe and happy. The do not disturb sign is on the door, along with  a Cat in the Room sign. She is back in the dark. Poor baby. It does make her feel safe.

After leaving North Carolina I began to travel first west and then north. I spent a night on the Pigeon River in TN. It would have been a nice place except that the traffic noise was pretty heavy.

Camping at The Horse Farm

Camping at The Horse Farm

I have had a lot of favorite places to stay on this trip and I found another one outside Lexington, KT. It is called The Horse Farm. It is a beautiful place with beautiful horses and a bit of money. It does give one the flavor of the Bluegrass Country. Being a horsey (meaning I love horses not that I am horsey) kind of girl I really enjoyed the chance to tour the farm. I camped at the Horse Farm Campground and was able to ride my bike on beautifully kept trails over to the barns. I even watched  a dressage competition. Have I told you yet that I love horses? If it hadn’t been for the heat (93 degrees) and the humidity (75%) I would have stayed longer but I have to admit that by that day the heat and humidity was becoming old and I was ready to move on.

Dressage at The Horse Farm

Dressage at The Horse Farm

Camping at William Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI

Camping at William Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI

Next stop was William Sterling State Park, on the edge of Lake Erie, south of Detroit. After the oppressive heat further south, it was nice to be back where it was still humid but the temperature had dropped by 20 degrees.

Elsie and I were camped on the edge of the campground and El felt brave enough to come out and sniff along the edges of the tall grasses.

It was at this state park that I noticed the feeling of vacationing in my RV left me. I began to feel like I was living in my RT rather than just being on vacation. One afternoon Elsie and I laid in the back and she napped while I read. All the doors and windows were open, a breeze was blowing and the book was good. Sweet

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Eating May Flies. If you look close you can see them in the gulls mouths.

IMG_2911Have you ever heard of Mayflies? Neither had I but there was a hatching of May Flies while I was at the Park. They were everywhere. They look a little like eeny teeny tiny reptiles. I guess they are good for the fish. The seagulls loved them. It was interesting to observe the gulls behavior. I have never thought of gulls as being a group kind of bird. These gulls worked together. Every morning I would hear them calling. They would almost methodically work together in the same section of the campground eating many flies in the grass and then would fly en-mass to the next section. It was fascinating to watch. It reminds me how when almost any species works in a group, collectively, they are smart. Hmm is there something we humans can learn from this?

flying to the next section

flying to the next section

Sunday morning I drove north of Detroit and drove along Lake St Clair in the mist and fog to Marine City. I crossed over to Canada on a little ferry with 3 other cars. There was no wait time at that border crossing. A look  at my passport, a few questions and I was on my way. I rode across a river that connects Lake Huron to Lake Erie. Cool country up here.

Waiting for the Ferry

Waiting for the Ferry

On The Ferry

On The Ferry

The Ferry

The Ferry

I am in Kitchener for a few days before I head toward Niagara Falls  and New Jersey.

Where my cute RT came into being.

Where my cute RT came into being.

I am feeling grateful to my friends, today who are so lovingly watching my home. Without them being there it would be much harder for me to be here.

Feeling thankful. Really thankful.