great outdoors
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Me and the Mice
I don’t hate these little critters. In fact, in dealing with them the past couple of years I’ve become sort of fond of them. This is not to say I want to share our home space with them or support their free-loading ways in our RV either. But over time I have come to see how they all have different personalities and respond to the stress of being captured in a variety of ways. And I have spent many hours researching all the different ways of repelling mice…I will get to all those methods in a short while. Using humane traps to capture and then release the mice was something…
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Being Home
There had been discussions about staying socially distant by remaining in Arizona for a while, traveling away from cities up the west coast, just enjoying the spacious outdoor living that RV’ing was providing us. But eventually we heard reports of closings to RV parks in the eastern part of the country and the decision was made to get home ASAP. So, pedal to the metal, 2,800 miles (5,200 km) covered in 6 days of driving with one day of rest in the middle. It was really hard on the dogs, and Charlie had to be strongly encouraged back into the RV after each walk. We traveled from ideal weather conditions…
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Aaah Arizona!
It’s a bit like coming home. Arizona offers a winter experience that has been more than worth the long drive from Maine. Moderate temperatures during the day, cool evenings, dry air, blue skies with little white puffy clouds, and blooming desert flowers. We have loved the vast open spaces and the dusty trails that reach far into BLM lands, giving the dogs places to run free. But what I think I love most is resting my eyes on the horizon at midday and in the evening as the sun colors the sky and clouds in oranges, reds and pinks. It all just takes one’s breath away. Tucson offered all the…
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The Other Side of Nowhere
We were amused and dubious as we pulled into Loma Paloma RV Park. There was no apparent official entrance, and no apparent office to go and check in. We stopped in front of an RV where a woman was sitting in a chair, enjoying the warm afternoon sunshine. “Where do we check in?” we asked. She just laughed and said to just pick a spot and that the owner would find us. As she finished telling us that, a woman named Maxine pulled up in a golf cart and repeated exactly what we’d just been told. And so we looked around the very large, mostly empty dirt lot and picked…
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A Secluded Winery
The hubbub of Houston and it’s sprawling reach took us over an hour to drive out of. We had enjoyed 5 nights just north of Houston and now it was time to get out into the Texas countryside. Our next destination was Big Bend National Park. We looked at the distances to be covered, keeping in mind stops for pup walks, people walks, and gas fill ups, and planned our next 3 days of driving. Three days! Albeit not full days of driving, but still, Texas is a huge state to drive across. Our first one-night stopover was in Vanderpool, TX and the second was in Fort Stockton, TX. Vanderpool…
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The RV Life ‘feeling’
No matter how much research we did, how many YouTube videos we watched, how many articles we read and how much information our RV’ing friends shared with us, there was no way for us to really understand what RV’ing was really about or how it works. I’m not referring to plotting next destinations on the map, researching campgrounds and jotting our plans on the calendar. What we have discovered is the flow that is part of life on the road. It ebbs and flows, it has a feeling, and it informs us on when we are to spend a single night at a campground or extend our stay to either…
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Florida to S. Carolina to N. Carolina
Our last day and night in Florida was full again. Visiting old friends, meeting new friends, watching a rocket launch (!) and then the evening collapse into bed. Our good intentions of getting on the road by 9:30 am went straight out the window as our very chatty RV neighbor shared all sorts of tips and hints about RV living. And then as I was about to pull forward out of our parking spot, she ran over to share just one last tidbit of information. It was much less stressful driving this time. Everything was a bit more familiar and and we were keen to get ourselves up to our…
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Moodiness
Oh dark and moody clouds,Hanging heavy in a burdened sky,Winds darting across the sand,Pushing hair across my face. What splendor in the dark and lightof these floating wonders,How they turn my face skywardas my awe is stirred from sleep. The blanket of clouds is whipped awayOh my! What a clear blue!And over my shoulder I see rain fallon the horizon. A cyclist on his broad-tired bike, A small pack of excited dogs,Gulls soaring and playing in the updrafts,and people…faces alive with wonder.
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Mud season
April, the worst and best month of the year. Rolling into winter in Maine is fun. It’s a time for cozy clothes and snowy days. Walking the dogs on the beach, even on the coldest days, is quiet and magical, and okay…sometimes just damn cold. But we dress for well for it. When we hit the middle of March we tend to be done with the multiple layers of clothes and heavy boots. We are thrilled at the first tiny green sprouts of daffodils that keep the promise of spring alive. Night time temperatures stop going below freezing every night, and because of my enthusiasm for wearing less layers, I…
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Turkey Vulture
Popped something in the oven, turned around and saw a large bird land in tree on our property. Turkey Vulture: I see you have spotted me, and I see you ran outside without shoes. I’m not so easy to photograph behind these branches…would you like me to fly to a better spot?Me: Why yes…yes I would, thank you. Turkey Vulture: Would you like me to spread my wings and make you gasp.Me: Why yes, yes I would…gasp…click, click, click. Turkey Vulture: Would you like me to turn around so you can see the front of me too, with my wings spread.Me: Why yes, yes thank you I would…(screaming in my…
