July 14, 2021 Morrison Trail

Dewdrop Campground Allegheny National Forest Warren, Pennsylvania Day 3

We slept in and then I took a short walk in the campground while Tim did his morning workout.  After breakfast, we drove up to Jake’s Rocks to post the blog and check the weather.  We wanted to hike the Morrison Trail today…but it was raining…of course it was raining!  The weather forecast indicated that once this rain passed over it was going to be a nice day…hallelujah!

The Morrison Trail is a 5.8-mile loop.  Our original intention was to walk in for 2 miles or about 45 minutes and then retrace our steps and return to the Jeep.  This trail was so pretty though.  It followed Morrison Run.  We were feeling good, and having an adventure and so we decided that we would hike the whole loop!  Everyone knows that it is NOT a proper adventure if there isn’t an element of challenge…we found ours!  The trail followed the stream into dense forest with lush ferns and tall hemlocks and white pines. 

There were several stream crossings.  The water was really rushing due to all the recent rainfall.  We had made about a dozen or so.  As we made progress the stream became wider and deeper.  It became trickier to find a good place to cross.  At this bend, there was no good place to get across and keep our feet dry.  We finally took our shoes off and looped them around our necks.  We tucked our socks into our pockets and we forged our way in the icy cold water.  It was fun!  We were on an adventure after all…if we wanted an easy walk, we could have found a sidewalk or a treadmill…this was a challenge!

We got to the second place where the water was wide and we removed our socks and shoes again.  The third time we found ourselves contemplating whether to take our shoes off yet again, then the heavens opened and it started to pour.  We stood against some bigger trees and we were protected from most of the rain.  We knew that taking our shoes off at each crossing was taking a lot of time.  We still had 3 miles to walk!  So, at that third crossing, we slogged across the stream in our shoes.  It turned out to be a good choice because there were six other deep and wide crossings after that!  We just hiked with water oozing out of our shoes.  We were still having fun!  We were in a beautiful place by ourselves and we were adventuring! 

We saw a frog.

Flora of the day.

This fungus was about 18 inches in diameter and about 2 feet high. 

I have more than 21,000 steps today.  I feel tired but I feel good! 

July 13, 2021 Rimrock Trail

Dewdrop Campground Allegheny National Forest Warren, Pennsylvania Day 2

It was raining again…I put on Tim’s raincoat and when the rain slacked off, I went for my walk.  I think that we are going to start mildewing or sprouting moss; it is so very moist here!  It did stop raining and I was able to walk my three miles after all.  Sometimes, you just have to make yourself!

A campground host with a sense of humor….soft tacos…hahaha!!!

Later in the morning, we hiked the Rimrock Trail.  It was rated easy to moderate.  Although the climb was initially gradual, it was 1.3 miles up the hill.  We saw several deer.

So many moths flying about today.

And a chipmunk that was very brave and quite close to the trail.

The last quarter mile was particularly steep and there were small steps to climb to get to the overlook.  It was pretty albeit cloudy. 

Breathtaking views from the top.

We were standing on the rocks at the top and Tim considered climbing down when he noticed a ball of snakes.  We think they are ribbon snakes.

Tim caught me peering over the edge at the snakes…such a cool thing to find!

Lots of cool mushrooms…wish I knew which ones were edible…neither one of us wanted to be a taste tester!

We went back to the RV and packed lunch and took it back to Jake’s Rocks.  This is the only place that we have phone service.  We needed to make reservations for the weekend and we had other calls to make as well.  We also posted the blog.

It was late afternoon when we got back.  We had wanted to have an overnight tent camping experience but the forecast was for rain and we decided to try on Wednesday instead.  We were very glad that we changed our plans.  At 5pm there was thunder and lightning and heavy rain.  It rained all evening. 

We have been lucky to spend at least part of everyday outside.  Hopefully tomorrow we will have some sunshine!

July 12, 2021 Happy 65^th Birthday Tim!

Dewdrop Campground Allegheny National Forest Warren, Pennsylvania

It rained most of the night. At around 8, it was only occasionally dripping so I went to go for my walk.  Everything was soppy and damp but I was able to get it done.

It was a soggy morning as we headed out.  We were headed into Allegheny National Forest and we hoped to find camping.

On our way, we stopped at Kinzua Dam. 

At Dewdrop Campground, there was an open, first come first serve, non-reservable site with no hookups.  It was a large wooded site and it was perfect…and the best part…$10.00 a night with Tim’s senior discount!

We packed a lunch and left to go and see Jake’s Rocks.   The view of the Allegheny Resrvoir was gorgeous from the overlooks.

What kind of bird is this?  We have no service so I cannot use my app.

We hiked at the rocks. 

Ghost pipe.

A bird flew right out of its nest from the hole in this rock.

We took a few forest roads; we were looking for a tent camping site for an overnight adventure.  When it began to rain again, it was time to go back.

Tonight, we celebrated.  First, we got an email from the cardiologist.  She and I have been playing phone tag since Thursday evening.  I knew that the preliminary report for my arterial CTA scan was “fine”.  What I did not know, is what that meant.  I had lots of questions and when it became apparent that the doctor and I were not going to have an actual conversation, I sent her a list of my questions.  My scan really was fine!  My calcium score was 3 and there was no narrowing of vessels.  The doctor doesn’t think I ever had a silent heart attack!  What an incredible relief…I feel so grateful!

Secondly, we celebrated Tim’s birthday.  I am so very fortunate to be doing life with this good man.  Everything good in my life begins with him.   

The Best Part Of The Day

July 11, 2021 Chapman State Park Clarendon, Pennsylvania Day 2

We knew that the forecast was for rain.  I walked the perimeter of Chapman Lake, 2 miles all the way to the end and then back.  Good rolling hills and beautiful views of the water made it a really great way to start the day. 

Canadian geese are park residents, much to the chagrin of the rangers and the people who come to use the beach.  The geese really like it here and consider this their home.  They can apparently become quite aggressive.  There are flyers posted in the park encouraging visitors to be “Goose Busters”.   The rangers have tried several legal ways to get the geese to leave.  They have used pyrotechnics, trained dogs, and other aversive methods.  Each works for a while and then, once the geese become accustomed to whatever nasty noise or visual disturbance, they go right back to it…frightening guests and claiming the beach.  Rangers want people NOT to feed the geese and instead to harass them, by clapping, waving arms, and yelling at the geese.  People are also welcome to return during hunting season…

The geese like to sit on the overflow dam.  Yesterday every step was filled with geese.   Today, only the top step was occupied.

As I got back to the campground there were a few drips of rain.  Tim finished his workout and then hopped on his bike to cycle around.

We decided to drive into town which wasn’t very much and then we drove a little further into Warren.  This is the home of a large oil refinery.  We found a small grocery store that had decent produce and we found a wine store and our shopping was done.  It started to really rain.  We debated having lunch in town but we knew that we could eat a lot healthier if we went back to the RV instead.

It rained all afternoon.  A nice day for reading and embroidering and napping.

Hearts Content

July 10, 2021 Chapman State Park Clarendon, Pennsylvania

I had an energizing morning walk in the woods.  The healing and restorative powers of nature allows us to leave the worries of the past several weeks behind…and breathe.  Tim has always sworn that we will live longer because we spend this time outdoors, traveling the way that we do.  It must be good for blood pressure and I know that I feel better when I walk someplace lovely.  Oh, and these hills are going to be really good for the gluts!

The state park campgrounds were very full this weekend.  We did plan ahead and reserve a site at Chapman State Park before we even left home.  We made the short drive from Cook Forest and had lunch by Chapman Lake while we were waiting for our campsite to be ready.  We had picked up sweet cherries from a produce stand along the way and we ate them with tangy goat cheese and rosemary flatbread.

After some quiet time, we took the Jeep out to explore.  We took gravel forest roads and some muddy dirt roads as well…old logging roads and roads that led to defunct oil rigs.

We stopped at Hearts Content Scenic Recreation Area, aptly named because it certainly makes my heart happy when someone long ago decided to preserve something for future generations.  This 120-acre parcel was given to the state by a logging family.  Here 400-year-old timber stands undisturbed for “inspiration and scientific study”.  The forest was dense and dark and almost chilly and smelled of earth and pine.  The logs and rocks were covered in thick layers of moss and fungi.  The trees were white pine, hemlock, and hardwoods. 

We hiked through, in awe of the size and majesty of these big old trees. 

The tiniest orange mushrooms stood out in stark contrast to the lush greenery.

We learned that the ferns in this forest are abundant because the deer do not eat them.  The deer population here is large and the deer eat the new shoots, shrubs, and new saplings.  There is concern that as old trees die, new ones will not survive to replace them.

We grilled Mediterranean chicken and ate it with fresh corn on the cob and cantaloupe. 

This evening a volunteer gave a lecture on the timber rattlesnake in the amphitheater.  He was an excellent teacher and we learned a lot. 



Into The Woods

July 9, 2021

We spent Thursday night at Little Buffalo State Park.  Neither of us had much energy and we spent the afternoon resting.  It rained in the early evening and we listened to the patter of raindrops.  We were able to grill our mahi under the awning.  We enjoyed a nice glass of red wine and later a walk to the dumpster!

The morning brought with it a different kind of energy.  I walked 3 miles down the giant hill and to Little Buffalo Lake.  After weeks of walking in our neighborhood…it was a nice change.  The walk back up the giant hill was a challenge but one I easily mastered!

We pulled out fairly early and stopped for breakfast along the water’s edge.

The drive to Cook Forest State Park was pretty.  The road followed the river for awhile and then we drove through hilly, green country dotted with farmland and quaint, small towns. 

At Cook Forest, we met a ranger who asked us where our site was.  He recommended that we walk down to the lower loop and take a walk before we decided to take our rig down the hill.  We had reserved the only spot big enough to accommodate us.  It was a rustic site with no hookups.  It was more isolated than the rest of the campsites and we rather liked the looks of it!

We sat outside enjoying the breeze, the coolness, the smell of clean fresh air. 

The chipmunks were entertaining.  They popped from the center of this stump like popcorn and then darted off into the leaves before popping up again on a log.

We spent a peaceful evening by the campfire, relaxing into the rhythm of this thing we do…just us…happy…and that is more than enough!

Hit a Stump

April 13, 2021 – July 8, 2021

When we last signed off, we were on our way to Atlanta.  We got our first COVID vaccine through the Emory Friends and Family Program.  We were so incredibly grateful to get our shots.  While we waited for our second round, we had a wonderful visit with David and his family.  The boys are growing up so fast.  We celebrated Austin’s third birthday.

We played and played.

And we cooked and ate.

And we worked.

Ollie taking care of Pop Pop.

We took hikes at the stream nearby and also at the lake at Stone Mountain.

We had sleepovers in the roof top tent, camped right in David’s driveway, with sleeping bags and pillows and lovies and snacks and books and finally some sleep!

We had our second vaccines on May 12th…no side effects and we were ready to head for home.

We left Atlanta on May 13^th.  We stopped overnight at Tucker lake in Benson NC.

The following day, we drove through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and stayed at Kiptopeke State Park.

We spent the weekend at Delaware Seashore Park and had a great visit with our good friends Walt and Lisa.

We arrived home on the 17^th of May with plans to stay for 2 ½ weeks. 

We were in a big rush to get a long list of chores done, maintenance on the bikes and the Jeep, and the dentist and the dermatologist, and a hair appointment and a mammogram.  We had lunches and dinners with friends and family.  We had Allison’s graduation from University of Maryland, School of Social Work.

And a beautiful graduation/engagement party for Allison and Kyle.

We had planned to leave June 3^rd for a family wedding in Kentucky and from there we wanted to go to Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.  Sometimes though plans go awry… Toward the end of the second week, we each had a physical.

We each got some news that we didn’t expect.  Tim is dealing with newly diagnosed high blood pressure.  My EKG showed a change that indicated possible heart damage.  A subsequent nuclear stress test showed that I had a silent heart attack.  I never knew…

We spent weeks waiting for one test and then another.

In the meantime, I still went to Kentucky for Ian and Krista’s wedding. 

I was also able to be there when Allison found her perfect wedding dress.

Brood X cicadas were in full force while we were home. The noise was incredible. We read that in places there were 1 million cicadas per acre…that means we had 4 million cicadas! They were thick under the trees and they had a peculiar odor.

We have been traveling so much that we haven’t been home much to enjoy the beauty of our own place.

We went to Crisfield for several days while we waited.

And to Rock Hall while we waited again.

We celebrated 4th of July with the D’Amato family…with a bushel of crabs….fun and gracious people…and soon to be family!

An early birthday dinner for Tim.

We helped to put in a garden and the first vegetables, carrots, beans, cucumbers, and zucchini are just now ready.

Test results have revealed that I have a strong healthy heart muscle.  The infarct at the bottom of my heart does not interfere with my heart function…I am extremely fortunate.  We had been eating mostly healthy and we had increased our physical exercise and activity over the past year…but now we are more determined than ever to take better care.  I cleaned out the pantry.  We are mostly following a Mediterranean diet but we are really focused on clean, whole, healthy foods, limiting cheese and processed stuff.  We have increased our exercise and Tim bought me an Apple Watch.  I am on day 30 of closing all three rings.  If you haven’t had a recent physical, please go.  If you haven’t been taking good care of you, I urge you to make your health a priority…all we have is time… We left Maryland today.  We still don’t have final results from my arterial CTA scan but preliminary results looked “fine”.  So, we are traveling north into Pennsylvania, not the trip we had planned, but one we are happy to be able to take.  It is cooler here and we haven’t seen much of this area.  We are thankful to be able to Enjoy the Ride!

January 4, 2021 – April 9, 2021 Our Winter Adventures

We spent much of January and February trying to stay warm.  We were reluctant to move north because of chillier temperatures. 

Yuma, Arizona was our home base for a while.  Though we had some windy days, it was warm and sunny most of the time.  It is nice to be in a place where things are familiar.  We loved riding our bikes in West Wetlands and along the canals.

One of the best decisions we made was to purchase our Roof Top Tent.  We know there are a lot of sceptics out there…we have heard from you!  Some of you think that we are crazy and a few of you think it is cool.  We have really enjoyed our off-road, overlanding trips.  This adds a new element of adventure and has allowed us to experience the wilderness in a whole new way.  We can really take our time and explore in natural, undisturbed, and isolated settings.

#1 Ajo, Arizona – This was our first RTT experiment.  We were 5 or 6 miles from people.  We were so excited and had so much fun!

#2 Ferguson Lake, California – We had incredible views over the lake, part of the Colorado River.  So quiet. 

#3 Sandstone Canyon Ocotillo, California – One of our favorites…to be out in this canyon all night by ourselves. 

#4 Sheep Canyon Borrego Springs, California – This was a windy, party night.  We learned a lot during this trip.

#5 Hawk Canyon Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Borrego Springs, California – This was a great, secluded spot where an owl hooting all night was our lullaby.

#6 Echo Canyon Death Valley National Park California – Tucked away in a tiny box canyon just us and the bighorn sheep on the ridge,

#7 Shea Road Parker, Arizona – We were sheltered from the wind.

#8 Parker Dam Parker, Arizona – This was a neat little canyon that turned out to be a wind tunnel.  The hike was great!

#9 Whitmore Canyon Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument Arizona – It will be difficult to find another spot as stunning as this…but we are going to try!

#10 Wolf Hole Grand Canyon National Monument Arizona – A quiet, remote place after a long day!

The town of Ajo was a really pleasant surprise, we liked the vibes of this place.

We got to see a lot of the Colorado River from the Mexican border in Yuma all the way to the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. 

Colorado River in Yuma.

Colorado River at Blythe.

Ferguson Lake.

Colorado River at Picacho State Park.

Lake Mead at Cal Nev Ari.

Colorado River in Parker, Arizona.

Parker Dam.

Colorado River below Hoover Dam.

Colorado River at Whitmore Point Grand Canyon.

Lake Powell.

We really liked Picacho State Park and we loved sharing an adventure and dinners, and wine with our good friends, Lee and Claudia.

Mountain Palm Springs Campground in Julian, California was a gem.  We had the place to ourselves and loved camping in the desert, under the stars.

Borrego Springs in southern California will always be a favorite stop.  There is so much to do in the surrounding area – Jeep trails and hiking.  It’is also a great campground in an artsy fartsy town and it is just really fun!

We have been to Death Valley National Park 3 times now.  There is so much to do and see that we have to go back.  We already have a list of things for the next time.  During this trip, the drive in Titus Canyon was a highlight.

We had a lot of fun in Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, California.  The rock formations were super cool and the Sierra Nevada Mountains were breathtaking.

We have worked really hard to stay active and we took some amazing hikes.  Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon was both challenging and beautiful.

We hiked up and into this dormant volcano at Amboy Crater in the Mojave Desert.

Walking in Golden Canyon in the bottom of the Death Valley Badlands was another terrific hike.  It was difficult to get to the ridge…but so worth it!

Our trip was certainly impacted by COVID.  We had to take extra care to keep ourselves safe…but what better way to be socially distant and still have the luxury to travel.

We are always on the lookout for wildlife.  No snakes, no tarantulas, no scorpions.  We did get to see bighorn sheep,

and burros,

and jackrabbits,

and lizards,

and javelina,

and coyotes.

And so many beautiful birds.

Writing this and reviewing all of our thousands of beautiful pictures makes us grateful all over again.  We are immensely grateful for our health and we are appreciative of this opportunity to get out and see the country. We are free and having fun!

We have planned this summer to travel north to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.  In the meantime, we hope to visit friends and family in Atlanta, Maryland, and Kentucky.   The blog will resume in early June.  Signing off…

April 8. 2021 40East

Cedar Point Campground Foss State Park Foss, Oklahoma

Laps and laps around the campground.

On the road again, 40E, all the way across the rest of New Mexico and into the uppermost, narrow portion of Texas.

The landscape looked like this all day.

Lots of signs of spring 😊

We arrived in Oklahoma late in the afternoon. 

We decided to get off the highway to camp at Foss State Park.  We had a lovely waterfront site.  It was windy but warm.  Tim rode my bike…his has another flat.  I walked.

Fish tacos for our dinner. 

April 7, 2021 Eastward HO!

Blaze In Saddle RV Park Tucumcari, New Mexico

It was 26 degrees this morning when I took my walk around the Home Depot, Walmart, and mall parking lots.  Honestly, there was no wind and there was no humidity so it really wasn’t that cold.  The sun was quickly warming the world around me.

We drove today on 40E for 315 miles.  The drive was a little easier than yesterday, Tim could actually use the cruise control.  My navigation skills are not being utilized…just drive on 40E and keep going!

We passed mesas and cliffs of colorful sandstone and lots of red rock country.  We passed the lava flows of El Malpais National Monument.  This is another area that we would love to explore someday.  There is so much to see…we will never see it all!

A bunch of casinos along the way.

We haven’t explored too much of New Mexico.  The prettiest parts are at higher elevations and in the northern portion of the state.  It is on our list to come back when it is warm here. We could still see snow on the mountains!

Right now, our days are about chunking away the miles.  We are hoping to have our slide-out covers repaired in Red Bay, Alabama and then we need to be in Atlanta by April 15^th.

I walked speed laps at the rest stop while Tim ate his breakfast.  It is hard to get all my steps in when we are driving all day.

The trees around Albuquerque had bright green buds and pretty pink blossoms.  Spring is my absolute favorite time of the year.

The city has some of the prettiest bridges.

I took another walk once we were settled at the RV Park…I don’t want to lose all my positive momentum!  The park sits right on Historic Route 66 and so I walked along the road for nostalgia…because I could!

I don’t have that much to say today but I am under intense pressure from my partner to summarize this trip with a montage of pictures…look for that in the days to come.  That’s a project I can work on while I am riding.