Tag Archives: Roadtrek

Camping the Big Sur Coast & Friendship.

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along the Big Sur Coast

along the Big Sur Coast

Sometimes I get caught up in my day to day events and feel they are so important and I don’t take the time to be thankful or grateful for this moment in time. Then I find out a friend of mine is fighting for her life and it throws everything back into perspective again. I thought I would take some time out of my morning chores and business and be thankful for this day, my health and remember those who struggle. I decided to write on the blog. After all, it is called “Journeys of Thankfulness”.  Although my trip last summer is over, my journey into gratefulness is not.

Janet & Diane at Point Loma

Janet & Diane at Point Loma

Two weeks ago my friend Diane, from Vermont (remember her helping me to drive across the covered bridges of VT and NH?), decided to escape the cold and the snow and head west to visit me in sunny southern CA. Funny how friends show up at the right times in my life. I have been mostly content with life now, although still missing Jim so much at times. I have been stressed a bit about life and then Diane shows up. People seem to arrived just when I need the company and a boost. I love friends. It is so good to have them in my life.

Beach Kind of Morning

Beach Kind of Morning

Right after Presidents Day we decided to pack up the RV and drive north to the Big Sur Coast of CA. I have done a lot of traveling alone and I really enjoy it yet it is so much fun to have a good travel companion. Diane and I have had our adventures over the years, backpacking the Rockies is one, and now we continue to find more to do together. The weather was perfect, the scenery grand and the company magnificent. And through all of the activity it also was relaxing. I think I might have sold Diane on RV camping as well.

I had to throw in a photo of a Sea Otter, They are so cute.

I had to throw in a photo of a Sea Otter, They are so cute.

One of the best things about long time friends, no matter how far apart we are, we pick up right where we left off the last time we talked or saw each other. And so we did. It was a marvelous 5 day trip of remembered times and creating some new moments along the way. We hiked into the hills, slept among the redwoods, and wandered the beaches and it was so much fun. I don’ think I have laughed so much since before Jim died. I guess I had forgotten how serious I have become sometimes. I need to stop this, really. It is good to have friends who can help you remember to lighten up (and the elephant seals mating on the beach helped too).

I want to thank Diane for coming to visit. It is good to get out of my normal routine and remember how special the world is. I am an adventurer and I love to explore the natural world, books, knowledge, my internal growth and the wisdom of others. It is good to take time to remember and value what I have. I am glad I stopped this morning to remember all of person-kind and value what I have in this day. Today I am thankful.

Today I will call a friend and let them know I remember them and thank them for loving me. Here is to good friends.

Diane & Janet Toasting Friendship & a Perfect Holiday on the Big Sur Coast.

Diane & Janet Toasting Friendship & a Perfect Holiday on the Big Sur Coast.

 

If you would like to see all the photos from this trip here is the link.

Journeys of Thankfulness

I Am Still Here

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Janet in The Slot Ready for desert season

Janet in The Slot
Ready for desert season

Wow. I just realized how long it has been since I have posted. Where does the time go? Well we all know where it goes. Life is busy and sometimes I procrastinate. there always seems like there is something that needs to be done first. I am back and my journey continues.

I made it through the holidays. I don’t do much celebrating and haven’t for years. I like the holiday lights and the music. Many years ago I gave up  giving gifts. It certainly took some of the stress away. I have to admit I am glad that the holidays are behind me.

Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona

Christmas found me traveling with a group to Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I love to drive distance. I find it a great time to be reflective let my imagination run wild. Riding for 13 hours across the California desert with a group of people was a whole different story. Our morning started early and we got to Sedona around 8:30 in the evening. Whew, long day. The saving grace was that we stayed in the same hotel for the whole 4 nights we were there. It was fun to spend Christmas day on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. At the end it was again a long drive back to southern California.

Here is what I learned from this trip. Even though I have enjoyed the last 13 years of travel, I am done. I am done with stressing about these trips. I am done being tired and not sleeping during the trip. I am truly done with people evaluating me. What does this mean…well, I retired from AFC Vacations last Friday. If I make a commitment to do an over-the road trip now it will be because I really love where I will be going with each company that asks me to do a trip. Change continues to be the theme of my life.

I am still working locally as a tour guide. I love doing the close-to-home work. After 6 hours I can go home to my quiet house and yard. Miss Elsie is waiting. I can get a good night sleep. Life is good.

one of my accomplishments, a new berry lattice

one of my accomplishments, a new berry lattice

For the last few days I have been thinking about the phrase “random acts of kindness”. I love reading about people who give unselfishly, often at a moments notice, frequently without waiting for thanks or acknowledgement. Not only do the recipients feel good and special but so does the giver. I also feel good after hearing of these moments in time. Then I began to wonder about why we can’t give ourselves those special moments. Would it feel the same? Sometimes I feel like I want to thank myself or acknowledge my own job well done. It is good to take the time for each of us to feel good about ourselves by acknowledging ourselves. I know that each time I accomplish something around the house that Jim would have done, I feel so warm and special and happy. Usually there is no one around to say good job well done, so I say it to myself and I allow myself to feel warm, proud and happy. Even months later when I remember that moment it still feels good. It is a little harder, I feel, to figure out how to give myself a random act of kindness. Even as I write this I am not sure how to do that. This will require a little more thought. What a fun thing to think about.

Sharon & David with David Jr, Judith and Taylor. September 2014

Sharon & David with David Jr, Judith and Taylor. September 2014

For those of you who have been following me I want to end this post by giving you an update on my friends in Southern Utah, Sharon and David. At the first of the year my long time friend, David finished this earthly journey. He had been sick for some time and after a short time on hospice he moved on. It has been a unique and hard experience for all of us who loved him so. He lived a long and good life and was a mentor to many, including myself. I am so glad that I had a good visit with him when I visited in September. I value him in so many ways and he will be missed. Sharon is doing OK. She has a very strong community of friends to support and love her. And her adult children are amazing. I have been honored to know him for more years than I can count. I ask you to wish him well wherever he is now. Soon it will be time for me too load up the Roadtrek and go visit Sharon.

Happy New Year Everyone.

 

Roadtrek Versus Chicago

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Driving into Chicago

Driving into Chicago

Wow, a week ago I was in Vermont. Yesterday afternoon I drove into Chicago. What has happened here?  Yes, I am traveling west. I am missing the big open spaces and feeling the urge to move towards home.

Pauline, Nugget at Salmon Falls

Pauline, Nugget at the brink of Salmon Falls

Where have I been?  I spent 2  nights on Lake Ontario camping in a huge camping park. I have found that owning a small Class B RV immediately adds you to a group of devoted followers. Pauline has been following my blog and invited me to meet her at her camp in Pulaski, NY. I met her and her hubby, Harris and Nugget the dog. I was shown around the small town of Pulaski. This town is known for fishing fresh water salmon. We did an easy hike into Salmon Falls. A few nice features about this area is its proximity to the 1000 Islands, the Finger Lakes and the Canadian border (1 1/2 hrs north).

From New York I headed south and west. I camped for a night in a cornfield in NY state. This night I became a full time RVer using all my bathroom facilities for the first time. I will not say more. LOL

Tripp & Brittany

Tripp & Brittany

I  traveled to Ohio to visit my niece, Brittany and her husband, Tripp. Tripp has started his first job as an assistant Presbyterian Minister in Granville which is just outside Columbus, Ohio. Brittany is successfully employed at another Presbyterian Church in Columbus. I did not know my two nieces when they were growing up. I have had the opportunity to get to know them as adults. I enjoy both of their company very much. Britt and I explored Granville. On Sunday morning while they both worked I got on a bike and did a 12 mile ride through the country-side and explored the Dennison College Campus.  What a delightful town this is. We also attended the local polo matches and had the opportunity to stomp the divots. Remember that scene in “Pretty Woman”? I am thankful to have relationships with both of these ladies. I am glad I finally got to know them. They have been lovingly supporting me and Jim with e-mails and cards and prayers. I am glad they are in my life.

Polo in front of the Bryn Du Mansion

Polo in front of the Bryn Du Mansion

Stopping the Divot

Pretty Women Stomping the Divot

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was concerned about driving my RT into the big city. with some encouragement from my good friend, Helen I finally braved it and drove into Chicago during rush hour. This was not good planning on my part. Even then, it was manageable. When I got Rogers Park I drove down and alley and successfully parked my RV behind the building and even found a plug to keep my house battery charged.

Here are my tips for driving a small RV into a big city.

  • Pick a lane and stay in it. Don’t change lanes until you have to.

    Driving down a Chicago alley

    Driving down a Chicago alley

  • Be nice. If there is a merge area slow down even more and let people in. I purposely let a motor scooter in so the driver was not behind this huge vehicle. I have a scooter and trust me everything looks big.
  • Be assertive not aggressive.
  • Watch the signs so you don’t have to turn where you don’t want to.  Get out of those right turn lanes.
  • Remembering it takes longer to stop, I made sure there was enough road space between me and the vehicle in front.
  • if I was too close to a light that was changing I just continued to move along with many others.
  • Go with the flow.
  • Take pictures out the window when sitting at a stop light. (wish these posts had smiley faces)
  • Be Courageous. This saying has been up on the wall of our house since Jim got diagnosed with metastatic cancer. It is now in the Roadtrek. It Is often a good reminder to me.

My adventures, so far have been large and small. What I do find is, that with a plan, a little bit of courage and a great sense of adventure I am up for almost anything. If I am nervous about something it helps to talk with someone. If no one is around making a plan, remembering to breath and just taking one step forward will get me to my destination, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

One time Jim and I had taken our snowshoes to Palm Springs. Yes that is right, Palm Springs. We took the tram to the top of San Jacinto Peak and went snow shoe hiking at 10,000 feet. The trail we decided to hike was steep, with sections of it being very steep. We started pointing to a tree a little way up the trail and made it our goal to reach that tree. When we arrived we looked toward another tree further up the trail and that was our next goal. By dividing it into small, manageable pieces we finally made it to the top of a saddle. after that when something would come up that was challenging or difficult, our motto became “just one tree at a time”. I have remembered that motto often over these past three plus years.

Today, I am thankful for my friends and fellow readers of this blog for their loving support and interest in this journey.

Snowshoeing at the Top of The Tram

Snowshoeing at the Top of The Tram