2024 Comes to end
After the fun filled ending to October at the Keenland Horse Races Ty and I meandered slowly south/eastward making our way to our winter habitat. Planned to make at least 3 stops to visit with the Ouellette side of family. Travel was extremely easy, lots of campgrounds to choose from and most of them only had a handful of people in them, so we were really on our own. Makes Chet nervous when there is not a lot of activity and being the guard dog, that he is breed for, he didn’t sleep very well at night as he had to growl at every leaf falling, every bit of breeze and the occasional night creature that wandered through.
The fall weather was spectacular, for the most part we were just on the beginning cusp of the leaves changing color, however, with the dry season that fall was this year not sure just how much color there would have been. Spent most of the month of November in South Carolina, choosing state parks (unusual for us) since it was so easy to get into. I wonder if the “RV craze” that hit during Covid is finally on the downturn.
Spent our time taking a lot of walks, visited a lot of reservoirs in SC, small towns and historical sites. Good way to spend a fall.
Finally, we get off the lazy track and start to see family:
Aiken, SC, Aiken State Park – brother Will and bride Pam was our first stop with added treat that my oldest brother, Fred, came up for a visit from Waco Texas. Did a lot of eating at some great restaurants, touring museums, playing Euchre and just enjoying each other’s company. Even cousin Jerry and wife Ann joined in for a day of fun!
Weather – we all talk about it and I do mention it occasionally but while in Aiken for the 12 days we saw the sun once. It rained or sprinkled most days and one day it rained for 12 hours! Thank goodness our campsite is sand because during the height of the rain it was about a foot deep. Took these pics before and after rain – you can (can’t) see our ground rug. We cozied inside for the day and watched stupid movies. Poor Chet, he held it for as long as he could, and when the time came he rushed under the camper, stood in the water and let loose. He was mighty glad when the water receded and he could do a proper squat.
Moving on is now an annual visit to see the Ouellette boys – well at least 2 out of 3.
Charleston SC to be with Denny, Allison, and Mariann (ex-sister-in-law). Since we have seen Charleston a couple of times and only there for short stay, we spent our time visiting at a great brewery that served $20 pizza with a pitcher of beer! Can’t beat that price. Next day everyone came to our place and we never seemed to run out of things to laugh and talk about. They all are in good health and that is what counts.
On a hike we came across a gravesite – This is Matthew Sandford place of rest 1859. Notice there is a head stone AND a foot stone.
Picked up and headed for Savanah to visit with Jason, Lisa, Connor and Ethan. Now here are some interesting boys – Connor who is just 16 has learned to fly a plane – which he was doing BEFORE he got his driver license. And Ethan, 11-12, is into robotics and is winning all sorts of awards. Must be hard to keep up with them as parents. Another very wonderful visit.
Now we needed to skip along and hurry down to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with John and Sandy. We overnighted in a rest stop in Florida that allows 10-hour parking, although us and a few others stayed more like 14. Popular place with the truckers – must have been over 75 trucks and maybe 15 campers all resting over. Ahhhh, the hum of diesel engines running all night.
Thanksgiving was a feast presented by Sandy – all delicious. Put Wanda in their side lot, stayed a couple of days then off to Boulder, CO.
NOTE: Sandy is a great cook and everyone knows that her kitchen is her space – DO NOT ENTER. I could hardly do the dishes – and the guys, well, they took full advantage and only got off their butts to move from couch to dining table. Mental note to self not to let Ty continue that habit.
December
All of a sudden it is December and it seems like the rush is on. Showed up at Amy’s on the 2nd and it was non-stop movement. Dentist appointments, Ty had doctor appointments, played cards with Janis, Lois, Connie and Sharon, Chet had a vet appointment, saw Anthem friends, Kenyon’s, Nelsons and Brynteson’s (haven’t seen them since we left – they looked GREAT!), helped decorate Amy’s house, went to a couple of parties with Amy and Scott, took young Ty to work a couple of times, walked Chet, briefly saw Dakota and Olivia – rest of kids still away at college….then we flew back to FL. WHEW.
Left Chet to winter with Amy until March. He doesn’t like the heat very much and Scotty and Amy love him so; his little legs probably won’t touch the ground when kids get home for holidays as everyone carries him everywhere.
Winter Home
Pulled Wanda into the winter spot, set up our Christmas decorations, celebrated that we are “camping” with our customary hit of schnapps and called it a wrap for the season! Everyone here is wondering where Chet is.
The other day we had our first casualty – frog got into our overhead fan and took the spin of his life. Cute bugger – too bad.
2024 in Review
- Wanda traveled 5855 miles, only repairs was axle alignment and new brakes
- Truck traveled 10,000 plus miles – that is a lot of sightseeing
- Highlight activity of the year was being camp host at Estes Park East Portal campground – so much so that we signed up for next year.
- Highlight sightseeing of the year (at least for me) is Aiken SP had an artesian well. The water was just coming out of the ground into this fountain. Been that way since the 30’s when park was developed during FDR New Deal when so many parks and natural areas were developed. The water from this well was so sweet and clean tasting that every day we would hike to it (3 miles) and fill our water jugs with it to use for the day.
- Sadness of the year:
Sister-in-law (my brother Fred wife), Hilde, passed away in January after a long illness.
Our friend, Denise McGuigan, suddenly passed in July.
What is Next
This will be the last blog till April 2025. It was another wonderful year for us, we count our blessing that we are able to be on this Great Adventure for so long and that we are still talking to one another.
How much longer? That is the big million dollar question that we answer: “as long as our health continues and our strength to hook up and unhook and lift things – we don’t see stopping just yet.” Although, we are slowing down a bit, summering and wintering in one spot is appealing and seeing the sights we haven’t seen yet we still have to get to.
As our motto says,
If we were meant to stay in one place
We would have Roots instead of Wheels
Wishing all of you a wonderful wintertime…until the spring!
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