I surely did not intend to write an end-of-the-big-trip blog so soon, as my ToDo list is outrageously long. However, since I am sick, and having to lie low today and perhaps for a few days, I thought it was indeed a good time to write. Being under the weather provides an invitation to merely sit with my ToDo list — most of the list includes physical activity such as cleaning Vanda and running errands, etc.
I have already gone through an insane amount of mail that our dear neighbors Prudence and Jonathan collected for us, most of which was utter junk. I am washing my third load of laundry now, with one more to go. I have put away all of the food from inside Vanda, even all of the non-perishables because it will be a while before we head out again AND, I need to be home. I need to feel as though I am home and not poised to leave again anytime soon. Perhaps not feeling well has increased my longing for feeling grounded, tucked in, and quiet. It has not even been 24 hours yet that we have been home, nonetheless I am reveling in the familiarity of our big ol’ house with its everyday comforts. Ya’ know, showering without wearing water shoes, getting up in the night to pee and not having to go outside, staying in bed this morning until I could hear the coffee finishing its brewing, after John had turned on the machine…
Here are some sobering statistics: We drove 10,276 miles although it is more accurate to say that John drove those miles, as I did not sit behind the steering wheel once over our 87 days of travel. John made 101,500 photos (!!!) which will keep him busy for many months to come just to go through them all, let alone share them with me! We stayed at 44 campgrounds and enjoyed 6 nights staying with family and friends on this trip. John and I have shared endless conversations about our favorite hikes, rides, campsites and showers. There were so many marvelous experiences in so many wondrous places that I cannot name an absolute favorite, however, here are two of my faves:
I mentioned in the last travel blog that I had come to realize that 3 months out was a tad too long of a time to be away from home. What is so interesting to me is that we had such a fabulous trip, a trip of our lifetime really, with so many marvelous natural wonders, and barely a glitch along the way; we had endless fun and adventure, we savored the comfort inside our little house on wheels, enjoyed our meals, slept well, felt well, and truly could not have asked for a better time away … yet, I eventually wanted to be home. And, here I am.
Another huge awareness piece is that we will NEVER travel south again in the summer! [I recently wrote that to a friend who responded with, “Is it ok for me to say, duh?”!!] In hindsight, we see the craziness of having chosen that route — Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, into California, Utah, Colorado, back to Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, then home to a very hot Indiana. We had the best intentions when John planned this trip however, to see a myriad of shorebirds nesting along the Gulf of Mexico. As it turned out, early summer storms destroyed nesting areas which greatly limited our viewing of those adorable chicks. I will say that our Dometic air conditioner provided much-needed relief during the numerous weeks of hot weather. Numerous.
We came home to the HVAC that services the back of the house being out of commission. It is 96 degrees outside now, but at least the front of the house and the upstairs system is working. We are waiting for the HVAC guy to come out this afternoon. I am looking at 65 lemons on the tree, some the size of grapefruit, that will be harvested later this week and into the fall. One batch of Limoncello requires 12 ripe lemons and I usually make double; thankfully they are happy on the tree and can wait for me to feel better before I harvest and start the batch. There will also be lemon chutney to make over the next couple of months. Before all of that however, I have to muster it up to go grocery shopping later today…
My yard is crazy wild, overgrown and unruly as it gets in late summer. Mitchell, the young man who has diligently come over every week to keep up with deadheading, weeding, and general maintenance did a marvelous job, considering the ridiculous heat all summer long. I have barely been outside to check it all out, given my not feeling well and it being so hot out. I am actually relieved to have those excuses to not be out there, working.
Anyhow, I won’t be writing a blog for a while. Our next trip is in November to Florida for our annual family Thanksgiving, where, this year we will celebrate my mom’s 98th birthday! Before that however, I have a women’s camping trip planned in a nearby state park at the end of October. There will be 6 of us, in 3 camper vans, for 2 nights. We will hike, share meals, tell some stories, and make some art. That trip will be worth writing about!
One last photo to end this travel blog…
