Cat Tells & Dreams

We were back in NC for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2025 – spending time with Family and Friends. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Garland’s brother, sisters and family. And it’s always nice staying somewhere we are very familiar with – for a change. Going home is special. We love traveling to new places but it’s also nice when you don’t have to use navigation tools all the time! It also helps that G’s hometown is only an hour 1/2 away from Fuquay – our last sticks & bricks location. 🙂

Before Thanksgiving, we were in our hometown for our best friend’s birthday celebration – so much fun!

It was bittersweet spending time with Nathan, before he left for Boot camp / Army National Guard. We are so proud of him and can’t wait to see him at his graduation in May 2026 in Missouri! Being at his house for Christmas Eve and Day reminded us of the holidays when the kids were small. Christmas traditions like placing the baby Jesus in the Manager on Christmas Eve and George in the attic with jingle bells. Putting together their toys and of course playing with them at 1am in the morning! Wonder if anyone ever saw us riding the Green Machine in the driveway!?! 🙂

In November we ticked off another of my Bucket-list items – driving the PCH / Pacific Coast Highway in California. We needed to use some airline tickets so decided that would be my birthday present. We left the pups (and our toy hauler) in NC and flew to Oakland, CA. We stayed in one hotel and 3 Airbnb’s along the coast. We’ve stayed in houses rented with friends, but this was our first time staying in suites that people rent at their homes. All three had separate entrances and we both enjoyed the suites more than the hotel and a much better price too!

We did so much in CA, from a boat ride in San Francisco Bay (my first time seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz) it was fantastic – to visiting Muir Woods, a National Monument, right outside of San Francisco. For both of us, Muir Woods was a highlight of the trip – it’s just a magical place and felt very spiritual to me. They have signs in part of the park, asking you to be silent, in certain groves of trees. Being there makes you appreciate places like that where you can reconnect with nature and ground yourself. We learned a lot about the trees from a volunteer, of course. 🙂 Amazing how big they are and how small the pine cones are.

We drove around the city of San Fran (I think it’s a beautiful city) and ate at Fisherman’s Wharf. We had been told over the past few years that the area is just full of homeless people and encampments, but we didn’t see that much on our trip.

We drove to Pacifica / Rockaway Beach, as the fog rolled in. Just beautiful.

Visited Carmel by the Sea – what a gorgeous city/town. Walked on the beach there and saw the biggest seaweed/kelp we’ve ever seen. It’s a great place to visit, but you would have to win the lottery to live there – wow! Don’t miss the Carmel Bakery – amazing and you don’t have to take out a loan for coffee and yummy baked goods!

We drove to the Piedras Blancas Light Station on a rainy day and saw the HUGE Elephant Seals at Friend’s of the Elephant Seal in San Simeon. Spoke to a wonderful volunteer and learned about their mating and fighting rituals. It was worth getting wet just to see and “hear” the males showing off and their huge blubbering bodies. They lose so much weight (up to a 1,000lb) during mating since they are not eating – normally they can weigh upwards of 7,000lb. Just amazing. Once again, we thoroughly enjoy talking to volunteers and park rangers – they have so much knowledge and they love sharing.

While in LA, Garland booked an “Old Hollywood” tour for my actual birthday. Perfect present for me, being the movie geek I am! Only we would be in LA for the few days it rained constantly – we walked all over Hollywood Blvd in the rain with our tour guide and one other couple. It was very interesting learning about the Dolby Theatre, the Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Musso & Frank’s Grill and much more. Had lunch at 25 Degrees at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – recommendation from our tour guide and it was great. We took Waymos for our “lift” rides since we weren’t sure of parking availability – would you ride in a “driver-less” car? We highly recommend and the price was the same as a traditional ride since you don’t tip the driver. We also liked you get to set your own temperature and music.

We visited the La Brea Tar Pits in LA – not really that much to see as we didn’t have time to visit the museum. We were expecting “bubbling” tar pits, but I guess they haven’t done that in a while. Still very interesting with all the discoveries made there. We also made a quick stop in Beverly Hills. I love all the mature trees in the neighborhoods – beautiful. Unfortunately we didn’t do any shopping. LOL

Our last evening in the LA area was for Do-Overs! Two years ago we tried visiting the Santa Monica Pier, with all 3 dogs while driving a dually truck. Our first try at parking right by the pier did not work out – although the attendant on duty said “sure you will fit, no problem!”. Not only could we not park, but almost didn’t make it out of the lot! We found public parking a little further away at the beach. Plus, it was New Year’s day and the pier was so crowded we didn’t feel comfortable taking all the dogs. Santa Monica Pier is the official end of Route 66 – so we had to try again. Imagine our surprise when our Airbnb host on this trip recommended “The Lobster” for my birthday dinner. We could not believe their parking lot is where we tried to park 2 years before! And we loved The Lobster – would highly recommend. Overlooking the pier at night was very special and service was wonderful. And after dinner we finally got to walk on the pier, going to the end and seeing how they fish (with poles) for the spiny lobster there. Very different than lobster pots on the East Coast.

Our last day before our flight, we continued the Do-Overs! We had also tried (on the same day as the pier visit 2 years ago), to visit Griffith Observatory and park. Being a holiday and don’t forget the dually truck, traffic was horrible so we didn’t even make it to the top parking lot. This trip, driving our rental (which was a Tesla), we were able to find parking at the top. It did not disappoint! The views alone from the top are amazing. You can see all across LA and have a great view of the Hollywood Sign. I loved the architecture of the Observatory.

Before heading to the airport on our last day, we ate at a marina in Marina del Rey. Very nice relaxing lunch with great views of the sailing school and our future dream purchase. It was a perfect end to a perfect week.

After a week, G had figured out all the ins and outs of our Tesla rental – he loved it, even doing some programming adjustments to tailor the breaking how he liked. Driving from Oakland to LAX we definitely saved “getting charges for the car” instead of purchasing gas. Our toll bill was $40ish and the price for charging the car for the week was about $125 and rental company just billed us after the week was up. I thought it would be a hassle having to find places to charge, but the car figures it out for you and the time spent sitting still is perfect for a coffee or snack break. After all, we were on vacation! There are definitely more charging locations on the West Coast than the East Coast. Even random places, like Burger King restaurants. 🙂

In PA, we visited a “Bucket-List” place for G – the C.F. Martin and Company Guitar manufacturing facility. And no, we didn’t leave with a new guitar! They let you play multiple models of guitars and G was truly in heaven. We ate at Shady Maple Smorgasbord – what an experience! Pennsylvania Dutch comfort food in East Earl, PA. If you go, make sure to take time and visit their store downstairs – it’s huge! We spent an evening listing to Tommy Emanual in York, PA – WOW. I loved it as much as G – just a great fun concert. Definitely the best guitar player I’ve EVER heard.

In NY we visited the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park – beautiful and interesting history. If you are familiar with the shows “Gilded Age” or “Downton Abbey”, this is the type of home occupied by the millionaires of that time. Hyde Park was built by Frederick Vanderbilt, brother to George Washington Vanderbilt, of the Biltmore in Asheville, NC. Hyde Park is very different than Biltmore, being a National Historic site and not a private (self-sustaining) residence like Biltmore. Hyde Park is maintained by the National Park service and volunteers. Inside you can see paint and wall coverings peeling, carpet well worn, very unlike the pristine condition of Biltmore. But in my opinion it makes it feel more like a home. There was some initial family disapproval when Frederick married the socialite Louise, in secret. She was divorced, just the year before from his cousin and of course this caused gossip in the papers and in society. She was more social of the two, Frederick being reportedly very shy. Both were well liked and after her death there are records of Frederick eating downstairs with the household staff, rather than in a dining room. You wouldn’t see that on Downton Abbey! The mansion has a total of 54 rooms, but what I find interesting is they would host only 12-14 people for parties/events. Seems like a small amount when you consider the size, but this was just a seasonal residence for the family. 😉

And of course, while in NY we visited our favorite Saunderskill farm bakery, a couple of times. So Yummy! It’s a dangerous place for us. LOL

We will definitely be going back to our last stops in 2025, especially the Jersey shore. Love love love Sea Isle City, Cape May, Ocean City, Somers Point and all the surrounding area. We took a Victorian Architecture tour in Cape May. Had some of the best pizza EVER (Panzini’s Pizzera) in Sea Isle City and best Italian food there at A Modo Mia. We compared it to food in Italy, especially the desert at A Modo Mia. Their limoncello cake was to die for – we went back just to get more another night, along with more pizza! It was also great catching up with old friend’s of Garland’s for dinner.

First off we are so thankful that we were not injured and minimal damage was done – someone was looking out for us that day. The wild part is, G did not feel a thing and it took our tire pressure monitoring system a minute or two to give us an alarm. At first we both thought the sound came from on-coming traffic but no, it was our 3rd tire on the driver’s side. I’ve never been so happy to have 6 Goodyear tires on the rig! I don’t care how expensive they are! We are also very lucky that we’ve been on the road for over 4 years now and this is our first blowout. We recommend everyone change the tires that come on rigs to upgraded ones.

The bad part is we could not open G’s door as traffic was about a foot from him (sometimes closer) and I could not open my door because of an embankment. We were in a construction zone, just over a small hill on Hwy 78 East in PA – so none of the big trucks and other vehicles were getting over and kept us “swaying” in their wake. We had one truck swerve onto the shoulder right before they got to us – so scary! We had to wait about 45 minutes for the State Police to arrive, just to survey the damage. The Officer was great and drove behind us for 2 and 1/2 miles so we could limp at 15 mph to the exit where he recommended a large parking lot. Roadside assistance met us right after we got off the exit. He had been in the traffic we caused, it being only 2 lanes. 🙂 There was no room to change the tire on the Hwy and way too dangerous.

We don’t stress about not seeing or experiencing everything at a location since there’s a good chance we’ll visit again some day. Plus, we mostly explore on the weekends, since we both still work full time. At the end of the day sometimes all we want is to sit with the pups and watch Netflix. 🙂 We stayed at Thousand Trails Timothy Lake South, in East Stroudsburg, PA – last visit was two years ago. We enjoyed it once again – you just can’t beat the weather in the NY mountains at the end of Summer!

Once again, I loved seeing the deer around the campground and this year we met Rocky (yes we named him). A Rock Dove that our neighbors had been feeding for 3 weeks. When they were leaving I asked about their bird since he was so unusual looking and they told how he had stayed around, so they kept feeding him. He was not too afraid to get close to people. After the neighbors left we got close enough to see he has a tag on his leg – meaning he’s a homing pigeon and belongs to someone. G called a bird rescue and got some good info. They told us he will not survive the harsh weather on his own and to stop feeding him. (We thought we were helping with our fancy bird seed!) They said give him water only, which we immediately did. Well, even without feeding him he stayed at the two campsites beside us for a couple more days and we felt sad not feeding him. The experts said once he looses his “readily available” food supply he would more than likely fly home…where ever that is. He chose to move down the road and I’m sure some more campers were feeding him. But at the end of our stay, I stopped seeing him so we’re thinking (hoping) he made it home. He was so pretty – I really wanted to keep him but there’s no chance of that in our 400 sq feet with our little hunter (dachshund) and our Bella, who would carry around a baby possum in her mouth at our sticks & bricks and did worse to bunnies!

The “Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls is among PA’s most famous scenic attractions. This unique series of eight waterfalls, nestled deep in the wooded Pocono Mountains, is accessible through an excellent network of hiking trails and bridges which afford fabulous views of the falls and the surrounding forest. We had great weather and it wasn’t too busy at the end of August. Highly recommend but be prepared for all the steps! We’ve had this on our to-do list since we first visited this area. This place must be beautiful with Fall foliage.

On our last trip to Hershey in 2023 we visited the Museum (learning a lot about Milton, his wife Kitty and the area), so this time we took the free Hershey Chocolate Factory tour, which I’m sad to say does not smell like chocolate anymore. 🙁 When Garland rode this years ago, it smelled of chocolate on the ride, which I’m sure was a ploy to have you buy more in their huge store! It was fun anyway. Even though we went fairly late on a Friday night it was still VERY busy and we had to wait quite a while. I would try this during the week if you can.

In May, we were scheduled to stay at TT Lynchburg, but on arrival we found that we had no cell service or backup Wi-Fi. We could have used Starlink but our site was covered in trees and the weather was supposed to be bad for the next week or so, and Starlink doesn’t work that well when it’s pouring or storming. So…we pivoted again and moved to a private campground just over the VA/NC line in Milton, NC. We stayed at The Dotmond – a former school that’s being renovated and they’ve also created a small campground in the back.

Milton is a VERY small town right right across the VA border and near the VA International Raceway. I think their population is less than 200. We ate a few times at Aunt Millie’s and All in the Family Grill. We recommend both! For such a small town they also have a couple of bars and shops.

While in Milton we rode into Danville, VA. We recommend Crema & Vine for something to eat and drink. Wish we would have caught the Jazz on Sunday there!

Valley Forge – the name is synonymous with George Washington – we got that right. But before visiting Valley Forge, we were both thinking it was a camp and that there was also a Revolutionary Battle held there, but there was not. It’s known for the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army led by General George Washington. He picked the location to be able to monitor troops in Philadelphia, less than 20 miles away.

On December 19th, 1777, more than 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what essentially became the fourth largest city in the colonies at the time, with 2,000 log huts and two miles of fortifications. The encampment was as diverse as any city, and was made up of free and enslaved African American soldiers and civillians, Indigenous people, wealthy officers, impoverished enlisted men, European immigrants, people speaking many different languages and following many different religions. The number of soldiers present ranged from 12,000 in December to nearly 20,000 in late spring.

While there was never a battle at Valley Forge, disease killed nearly 2,000 people during the encampment. The six month Valley Forge encampment occurred during the third year of a eight and 1/2 year war. Once again, I had forgotten it was such a long war!

Baron von Steuben, was a Prussian-born army officer who trained Washington’s men and played a leading role in the War by reforming the Continental Army into a disciplined and professional fighting force. This is considered to be the “birth” of the American Army. The concepts of basic training, the professionalization of the officer corps, and the rise of the army’s distinctive branches, such as the corps of engineers, all got their start here.  On June 28, at the Battle of Monmouth, NJ, Washington’s men demonstrated their new battlefield skills, as they forced the British from the field. The Army also fought with skill in the southern campaigns that led to the victory at Yorktown in 1781. 

My hands down favorite part of Valley Forge is the Washington Memorial Chapel! I can’t imaging how it would be attending a service or a wedding here – wow!

After staying in 7 different Thousand Trails properties during the winter, we went back to Southern Palm in Eustis. Did a little more dancing there at the clubhouse. Then came Crystal Isles at the end of March – just in time for no-see-ums season! We literally could not be outside at dawn or dusk. G looked like he had chicken-pox he has so many bites on his legs. Normally we joke that I’m sweeter and get more mosquito bits then him but the no-see-ums LOVED him more than me!

In April we finally left FL (for now) and made our way to Fair Play, SC….you guessed it, another Thousand Trails. If you have a “big” rig be aware! This is not an easy park to maneuver.

We visited Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel and Issaquenna Falls, in Walhalla, SC. Easy walk/hike and well worth it even in the sprinkling rain.

Our very first weeklong stay in 2021 was in Branson, MO. This was the first Walmart we’ve ever seen liquor sold. They had this pricy boy locked up.

We both agree the most awe-inspiring sight we have seen on our journey so far was Mount Shasta, in California. It was an overcast day and I was taking pics of the side of the road, with evidence of a past forest fire and we both looked up at the same time. It was like a diamond coming out of the clouds! Very unexpectantly. Just wow!

We made reservations for the nature and ecological cruise on the beautiful and historic St. Johns River at Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, FL. What was even more exciting was seeing this sign as we entered the park that morning! They count the Manatee every morning when they take shelter in the cooler spring water. We visited in February and the day was a little chilly – perfect for Manatee!

Our next stop in the Thousand Trails shuffle was Vero Beach. A little tight to get in but we made it work.

And what do you do when you’re just an hour away from a rocket launch – of course you go! And stand on a bridge with hundreds of your friends!

December was busy for us – visiting with Family and Friends and a quick trip to NC for my firm’s holiday party.

We celebrated New Year’s Eve and our January 1st (15th) Anniversary at Rock & Brews.

A little about Sandhill Cranes – yes I did a deep dive! LOL These cranes frequently give a loud, trumpeting call that suggests a rolled “r” in the throat, and they can be heard from a long distance. Mated pairs of cranes engage in “unison calling”. The cranes stand close together, calling in a synchronized and complex duet. The female makes two calls for every one from the male. I think that last sentence CAN’T be right!

Toward the end of January, we finally made it to TTO aka Thousand Trails Orlando – one of their nicest FL parks in our opinion. We didn’t know until the day before we left we broke a rule having put up our dog fence on their new grass…oops. We were in the new/new section.

From TTO, G dropped me off for a Girl’s weekend and to watch Mack dance at the National Dance Team Competition at ESPN Wide World of Sports. That is a HUGE complex. We had a great time at Mokara Spa, lunch at Pipers Grille (on the golf course) and shopping at Disney Springs. Lots of laughs that weekend!

We finally made it to Florida for the 2024/2025 Winter Season! We did what’s called the Thousand Trails shuffle, going from one Thousand Trails park to another – utilizing our membership to the fullest. While most of the country had very cold weather and snow, we didn’t. 🙂

First stop was Southern Palms in Eustis, FL. The park is just “ok” but the location can’t be beat – very convenient to shopping and downtown. We went to the “First Friday” in December in downtown Eustis. Loved all their Christmas decorations. And they had musical acts at the campground a couple of times while we were there and we got to dance, so that’s always a bonus.

We once again “Mooch-docked” with our good friends Dwaine and Eldora in Oklahoma. Sometimes you have to take time for Dr’s appointments and such and we’ve gotten to know the area and enjoy it there.

While there, we went to their local Wild Game Feed. It raises money for their community center in Fay, OK and was established in 1894. Loved the quilts they auctioned off and G was part of the entertainment with Dwaine. Every time I go to the community center I love looking at the photos of students over the years. The center used to be the local school, so has always played a big role in the community.

We had a couple of days of bad storms – well bad for us. Our friends are used to the weather, living there! Actually had to go into their “sticks & bricks” early one day due to a tornado warning. They have a storm shelter but it would have been very crowded with all 4 of us and the dogs – plus it wasn’t that bad, just not a good idea to stay in your “movable” home with possible high winds, etc. 🙂 We were able to attend their family Thanksgiving, enjoying some really good food and G got some needed help from Dwaine’s tractor in attaching our new hitch.

It was my birthday while we were there, so G and I went to the Oklahoma Renaissance and Scottish Festival – always fun to people watch at these events. Love how elaborate their costumes are! And of course we went out to eat quite a few times with our friends!

The Amana Colonies are seven villages on 26,000 acres located in east-central Iowa. They were established by German-speaking settlers who belonged to the Community of True Inspiration (a religious group originating from Himbach, Germany in 1714).

We ate at Brau Haus and of course had schnitzel and bratwurst. It was really good but I must say, our friend’s schnitzel is better – but then she is from Stuttgart, Germany! We are spoiled!

If you haven’t picked up on it yet, we like visiting movie and television site locations – especially me! I’m a huge movie buff and love learning about the “making of films” and the actors who play in them. The original “Star Wars” was released when I was 9 years old and who can forget the “voice” of Darth Vader – the larger than life James Earl Jones. He was truly one of the most admired American actors of our lifetime.

James Earl Jones died on September 9, 2024 at the age of 93. He was a pioneer for all actors, especially black actors and one of the few people to achieve EGOT (winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards). He received many life achievement awards, including the Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. How great it would have been to see him on the live stage! (tidbit: I saw Dustin Hoffman in “Death of a Salesman” at the Kennedy Center and fell asleep during the play. Granted I was only 16, on a trip with friends and had not slept in days…but I can’t believe I would fall asleep with James Earl Jones acting!)

JEJ was a pre-med major in college and served as an Officer in the Army during the time of the Korean war. One of the most extraordinary things about him was that he had a childhood stutter, which he overcame to become one of the most well-known voices of our time! One of my many favorite movies with JEJ is “Field of Dreams”.

So of course it was a forgone conclusion that we visit the “Field of Dreams” movie site when we stayed at Riverview Ridge Campground in Cascade, Iowa. We re-watched the movie right before we visited. I could watch that feel-good movie every year!

Dennis Miarecki Stillman came to Dyersville, Iowa in 2012 with an ambitious dream to expand and preserve the famous “Field of Dreams” movie site by creating a youth sport tournament complex – All-Star Ballpark Heaven. In Denise’s words: “Reach for your dreams, no matter what they may be. Be true to yourself. And dare to make a difference in the world.” It was her wish that all who visit may share the special feelings that many experience while standing on this sacred piece of baseball history. Legend has it that by rubbing Denise’s face on her plaque, that both you, your family and the Field of Dreams will prosper, thrive and have great fortune.

In August 2024 we stayed at Top-A-Rise Campground in Falconer, NY. We stayed in a new section of the park and they told us they were still working on it with gravel and newly planted grass. Unfortunately it was very muddy from rain, but not the campground’s fault. It will be much better with mature grass and landscaping. The owners were very friendly and welcoming. We chose this campground for it’s close proximity to Niagara – little over an hour and 1/2 away.

We took a tour on Maiden of the Mist boat and it was worth it! The roar and volume of the Falls is just awe inspiring & WET. 😉 Pro tip, take a baseball cap to wear under your poncho – it helps as G found out. He was much wetter than me in the end.

Once again, we had to pivot from our original destination. We checked into Thousand Trails Twin Mills (Howe, IN) on Sunday, September 1st, but didn’t have good enough connectivity. Since Monday was Labor Day, we were able to find another campground. You have to be flexible in our traveling lifestyle. We moved to the Elkart Co/Middlebury KOA on Monday.

We were happy to hear about Middlebury’s Fall Festival very close to the new campground and decided to go Friday after work. Great food, very friendly people and a cast iron skillet throwing contest!

After leaving my home town area in NC, we traveled to WV and stayed at Summersville Resort and Lighthouse in Nebo, WV. This campground has the only working lighthouse in WV – within view of Summersville Lake. What a beautiful campground and the owners Dave & Daphne are so nice and welcoming. We immediately felt right at home with Bill & Diane and the Nomad Kings! They invited us to dinner right away and introduced us to the Tractor Bar – so much fun the whole time we were there. We will definitely go back!

We arrived in FL January 2024 – stayed at a nice (albeit expensive) campground in Miramar Beach called Geronimo RV Park. Prime season rates are up to $120 a night but they do offer monthly rates. You pay for the proximity to beaches because they have no amenities like traditional RV parks or resorts. I was so excited to visit places that are near and dear to my heart. I was born at Eglin AFB in Fort Walton. My family moved away when I was one year old, but we vacationed in the area many times during my childhood and teenage years.

I was surprised that the Gulfarium, a Marine Adventure Park is still open in Destin. If you can picture an older, slightly run-down and much smaller SeaWorld, that’s it. We saw a very cute Sea Lion show and saw dolphins, turtles and penguins. It brought back so many great memories. We bundled up and spent some time sitting on the beach at Navarre. I have pictures of me there as a toddler and people always wonder how I’m in snow with summer clothes on – well that white is not snow, it’s sand. They call it “sugar sand” and it’s primarily composed of nearly pure quartz crystals that were carried from the Appalachian Mountains by rivers and ocean over thousands of years. The only time you’ll see real waves is in stormy weather (or colder months), it being the Gulf. Normally it’s very calm and clear water, almost like a pool. I did put my feet in the water but that was it. You know it’s cold when G is wearing a hoodie! We also walked on the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier – built in 1963 / destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan / rebuilt in 2010. It is the longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico. We had some of the best fish in a long time at the Back Porch and Pompano Joes – restaurants by the Gulf with great views.

After Florida we went to Biloxi, MS. We stayed at Majestic Oaks right beside Keesler AFB. This was our first time hearing 6am Reveille / 5pm Retreat / and Taps at 9pm. You get used to it after a day or two, but bugles at 6am…hard to sleep through that but I guess that’s the point on a military base. LOL Loved the lighthouse in the middle of the road in Biloxi! Enjoyed traveling to Louisiana through areas you can’t pronounce like Atchafalaya! In LA, we stayed at a great Harvest Host – Wild Cat Brothers Distilling. Loved the beautiful peacocks they have roaming around there.

We were back in Texas at the end of January – March. Lots of new things for us! New truck due to issues with our older one. We were a “Ford” family, now we’re a “GMC” family. I like the newer one better although it doesn’t massage your bum like the Ford! But the new truck has a much better turning radius and fuel mileage. We tried Boudin balls for the first time (I loved them) and we almost bought an RV site in the Hill Country. Our thought was to rent it out when we weren’t using it…but the developing company had some issues with the town and or/county. So, it didn’t work out.

At the end of March we were in Vidalia, LA, right on the banks of the Mississippi River. Loved watching the barges travel the river and our neighbors had 4 / FOUR Doxies! Can’t imagine – but I loved watching them from my office windows! We stayed at Riverview RV Park.

In April, while in Vidalia, we visited Natchez, MS (right across the river). We would highly recommend the Pilgrimage Tours in Natchez! We visited Stanton Hall. Disneyland designed The Haunted Mansion after this beauty and the interior was used in the North and South mini series. Our guide was wonderful and full of fascinating history tidbits. We tried to visit Monmouth Inn the weekend before, but couldn’t due to a wedding there – what a wedding venue that would be!

We chose to shelter in a hotel for two nights while in Vidalia due to nearby tornadoes. Storms passed about 20 miles north and south of us, but better to be safe than sorry. Bonus, nice to have breakfast made for you for a couple of days, so all good!

Next stop was Arley, AL and another Thousand Trails – Hidden Cove. If you ever wonder where the middle of no where is, it’s in Arley, AL. Be prepared to drive a ways for any amenities. They did have a nice hot tub, which is always a plus and I put my kayak in at the lake there – Lewis Smith Lake. Very nice deck in a cove. The only other site-seeing we did was a covered bridge in Cullman. But it was very cool with the old water mill.

In May we stayed at Sasquatch Farm RV Park, in South Pittsburg, TN, another private campground. Pro-tip: make sure you call and ask which direction to come up the mountain. Unless you are close to an expert driver, you don’t want to come the shorter route. On the way up we had to cross the center line with our 45 foot toy hauler in one of the tightest turns I’ve ever been on. And I’ve been on tight mountain roads in NC all my life! You can’t see what’s coming around the curve. The office told us the fire dept has been called a few times to rescue people on that curve that have ran off the road! This campground had live music on the weekend and an area with nice seating and multiple campfires for your enjoyment. Very nice! And don’t miss the Lodge Museum in town – lots of fun and interesting history. We would also recommend having a meal at Top of the Rock in Jasper, TN. Great food and great views from their deck.

The most memorable part of our stay in TN, on May 10th, was seeing a little of the Northern Lights! We thought we would have to visit Alaska or somewhere else to see them. We were on top of a mountain and there was not a lot of outside lighting so it was awesome! We saw lots of color – can’t imagine how the Northern Lights are when it looks like the sky is moving like waves! Definitely on our bucket list!

From Tennessee, we made our way to the NC mountains and stayed at Town Mountain Travel Park, in Hendersonville, NC. Mike, the host was awesome and we had a camp-wide cookout for Memorial weekend. We met some really great people, including Eric and Kim, who we hope to see down the road. We visited Randy, Garland’s brother and went to Hot Springs, NC with him and Kimberly. Always great to visit!

It was here we lost our beloved little Orso – the Alpha of the pack, even though he was the smallest. Forever in our hearts. May 29, 2024 was a hard day. Orso means “Bear” in Italian and it fit him so well.

Garland and I finally went to Dupont State Forest in NC. Even though we are both from NC, we had never been. Definitely recommend hiking to Hooker Falls (very easy hike) and Triple Falls (up a VERY steep trail) but worth it! This trail made me realize we need hiking polls. Always thought it was just “older” people who used them but on the Triple Falls hike we saw some hikers younger than us using them. And in the Summer, I would recommend taking your suit to swim at Hooker Falls. The movie “The Last of the Mohicans” was filmed there.

June found us back in our hometown area of Fuquay Varina. We stayed at Healing Green Farms in Willow Spring, NC and also parked in front of our friends house while they were in Germany. Our first “Faux” kid Nathan (our best friends’ son) graduated from High School and we had a big celebration for him. So proud! Then I took the whole family to the airport for their Germany trip. It was nice being in a house during this HOT time – always tricky keeping a camper (of any size) cool during hot and humid NC weather. Family and “Framily” are the only reasons we will be in the South during Summer months…we were supposed to be chasing 70!

We traveled to the Gastonia, NC area after this for my family’s reunion in July. Also got to celebrate my bestie, Les on her birthday since she was back home too. If you’re ever in the Gastonia or even Charlotte area, be kind to yourself and eat at RO’s Barbeque (order the minced sandwich) and go to Tony’s Ice Cream for the best milkshake of your life! Both places are legendary in that area and I was in heaven going to both while we were there! My parents met in the parking lot of Tony’s so it’s very special to me. And two of my Uncles worked at RO’s as teenagers. 🙂

At the end of August we took a whale watching boat tour out of New Hampshire. First time for both of us seeing whales in person. So amazing! We saw both humpback and minke whales, with some babies alongside their moms. We got some really good photos of their tails, which is how they monitor whales and their movements. We even went to the website and looked up some, to see where they travel to during the different seasons. In New Hampshire we stayed at a Thousand Trails called Pine Acres. We DID NOT enjoy all the pine sap from the trees. Do you know how hard that is to get off your truck and rig?

Before moving on to Northern Maine, we spent a few weeks at one or our favorite Thousand Trails, which is Moody Beach in Wells, Maine. This was our second time here and just can’t get enough of that area: Wells, Maine and Ogunquit, Maine. We also love the Portland area and Kennebunkport.

In September of 2023 Garland and I visited one of our “New” favorite National Parks, Acadia in Maine. Like our Head-Out-Program at the Rose Bowl Parade (at the end of 2022), we took another tour with Escapees in Trenton, Maine. It was called “Leaves and Lobsta!” And wow – was it worth it! Plus, we got to catch up with friends from the road – always a PLUS. We took a boat tour of the “unbridged” islands in Maine, including Little Cranberry Island, where everything is brought in by boat. During low tide is the only time you can reach Cranberry from Baker Island, other than that even the mail is brought by boat. Not many people could live that isolated lifestyle, but it is gorgeous. It’s a conscious choice to live in a small community cut off from the mainland, where the pace of life slows in the winter and there is time to create, reflect and enjoy the natural world. When we pulled up to the dock they were decorating for a wedding at the restaurant there. The small church on the island has stained glass made from sea glass.

On the boat tour, we saw Bear Island and Baker Island Lighthouses. We watched a bald eagle in the trees and then it took flight, in the Somes Sound in Acadia.

I definitely want to spend more time at Cadillac Mountain, the next time we go to Acadia. Just an awesome sight and the huge boulders feel almost sacred with such sweeping views. We visited the Wild Gardens of Acadia and were treated to some beautiful Fall colors. Thunder Hole was an impressive sight with the loud sea sounds sounding like thunder!

Our whale watching boat tour with the group was cancelled due to fog, so this is something we have to look forward to next time! And we will definitely go back to this area!

Then for the opposite of all the wonderful nature, we spent some time eating, shopping and exploring Bar Harbor. One night Escapees treated us to a Lobster dinner and we learned the best way to enjoy lobster is with using “kitchen” shears. So much easier than cracking the shells the hard way. And we learned the smaller lobsters, around 1lb of weight are sweeter than the larger ones. Garland really didn’t like lobster that much until this trip – now he’s a fan!

After Maine, we stayed in PA and VA, making our way to NC to spend Thanksgiving with G’s family. This was the first time all 4 of the Johnston kids were together since their Mom passed in 2021. And we visited with the extended family also – great time! While in the Greenville area, we visited Tryon Palace, which was a treat for me since I had never been there. The whole area around Washington, NC was so pretty being decorated for Christmas.

We then spent some time in the Raleigh, NC area visiting our extended family or as we call each other, “Framily”. Got to attend Nathan’s last high school football banquet and our “Framily” Christmas party and of course celebrate G and GE’s December Birthdays! For the end of December, we were in the Charlotte area to visit old friends and my family. We also got to ride through McAdenville, NC (Christmas Town USA), which was always a tradition in my family.

The last couple days of the year, we made our way to Florida – next stop Miramar Beach, FL for the first time.