Land Between the Lakes Rally (TN)

 

One week ago we are in the middle of the LBL rally.  We are first timers to this gathering but it does not feel new as many long time friends are already there.

The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area was created by the federal government in the 60’s.  It’s the area between the Tennessee  and Cumberland Rivers before the rivers flow into the Ohio.  There are 170,000 acres, 300 miles of shoreline and 500 miles of trails between the rivers.  This link gives a 15 minute video of the area.

Piney Campground, located near Dover, TN is a 5 plus hour drive for us, mostly on I-24 W.  Our only problem is Nashville traffic which is worse since our last trek through town. 

It’s a huge campground!  We back in and see no water hookup…after another tour of the loop, we settle in with a full tank.

Soon after arriving I discover my Nikon camera is not functioning!! The Sigma lens is not telescoping.  Resorting to the Canon point and shoot, I find it’s not cooperating… telling me to charge an already full battery.  Frustrated, I do the best I can with photos.

View from our friends’ campsite.

This rally has a variety of trailers attending…one even pulled by a model T!  The group has many activities to attend including a raffle and Dutch oven demonstration.

Notice the jackets!  We went from running the A/C to running the heater in just 24 hours!

Took a drive up the Trace to see the buffalo.  This herd is on the main road close to the Homeplace, a 1850’s farm.

It’s raining off and on during our visit to the old farm.  Enjoyed seeing the old buildings.

Loved seeing this old farm.  It’s the only attraction we managed to squeeze in….lots to do in the campground!

Next week we will be journeying to the Cherokee, NC rally.  This is our fifth year to attend and my first year as a rally host. 

Will see how it goes….this may be my first and last encounter with rally leadership!!!  Meanwhile I must go find a new camera lens!

Passages

 

A few weeks ago I was talking with a friend who had just retired telling her to decide what’s important in her life and figure out how to make it happen.   It was a phone call and I was happily sitting in my camp chair gazing at a blue Kansas lake.

Today we spoke again, this time I was the one lamenting a feeling of emptiness, and she repeated my words back to me.

And so the search begins!  Actually it started before we got back home from the trip, already wondering,  “what’s next?”

Going to Alaska and staying gone for over three months was the biggest accomplishment that I could imagine for this retired part of our lives.  Now it’s done and we have the tee shirts to prove it!  So what else do we want?  How do we want to be living?  What brings joy into our life?

Traveling in the Casita brings us joy.  Spending time outdoors biking, hiking or kayaking brings us joy.  And sharing activities with friends brings us joy. 

And simplicity brings me joy.  I can’t speak for the husband here as he seems content whether the house is organized or in chaos!

Upon returning from these extended trips, I find myself needing to discard possessions.  This time I successfully parted with over half the clothes in two closets!  But it seems to be never enough!

It’s almost an obsession to rid myself of everything I own.  Would love to just pay someone to come get it all….house included!  Lucky that I’m married to someone who would object to giving it all away. 

But I know and crave the freedom that comes with getting rid of everything; I did it 25 years ago!  Everything was sold or given away except the pickup truck and my life changed. 

Real ready for another big change! 

Passages are always happening in our lives.  We returned from our trip in time for David, a 1955 graduate, to say “goodbye” to his high school.  This school, a landmark in our community dating back to 1937, served as a grammar and high school.

 

Unsure of what will replace the old school.  With the exclusive North Shore encroaching on Red Bank, it will be prime real estate!

Another passage tomorrow as summer will turn to fall….here’s hoping for a long beautiful autumn!

Cat-flicted! & happy birthday to me.

 

“Go away!  This is my house!”

My heart got lost a couple of days ago after discovering this critter in the back yard.  After two nights of intermittent sleep and two trips to the vet, it looks like I have a new baby!

Although my heart is in a good place, my head is reeling!  What have I done?  We have worked so hard to eliminate the obstacles to traveling….. quit the part time job, turned the rental property over to a management company and found a part-time home for the two cats we already own.  Why can’t I just be logical, pull up a cold heart and continue simplifying our lives?  I did try….closed the door on him at least twice!

Been so distracted….could not even remember if I put on the rinse while shampooing my hair, missing my turns while driving.   Completely lost my piece of mind, going crazy, letting the little cat’s presence disrupt my flow.

Now, four days into this process, I’m slowly feeling sane again.  It will all work out somehow as the compulsion to rescue him was just too  strong. 

Princess, our 9 year old rescue

New cat…still unnamed…9 months to a year old

I’ve had a birthday during these upsetting few days….now 64 years old!  Can’t help but think….if the new cat lives 20 years, I’ll be 83!  Hope I don’t turn into one of those COCL…(crazy old cat ladies!)…….who am I kidding, I’m already there!

Proud to report that the reflectix project is completed and hope to have a dark trailer while sleeping in Alaska.  I cut out the material larger than the windows and bound it with metal tape.…hope to hold it in place with curtain pins and cubicle clips.

The long one will go above the side dinette tucked behind the overhead lights. (That’s Sheba, the Siamese, caught in the picture.)  The reflectix has great insulating properties but hope we won’t ever need it to protect us from cold.

Besides working on the windows, we have been enjoying the spring weather and playing in the yard.

New bird feeder!

New figs and leaves forming on the fig tree.

Thrift on the driveway wall….

Lots of our flowers came from the former owners.  This looks like a ruffled jonquil…name unknown.

It’s been a week full of birthdays.  Ice cream and cake this afternoon at my mom’s  celebrating 3 generations of birthdays: stepfather, age 87, niece, age 5 and yours truly. 

We should be on the road by the middle of next week heading to the Townsend rally.  The weather forecast looks troublesome but it could always change.  Looking forward to catching up with everyone and seeing the spring wildflowers.

 

 

Maybe I’ll call him Sir William.  He needs to be of royalty to co-exist with a Princess and a Queen Sheba.

 

I’m not the only one smitten.