I wonder if I still know how to write, it’s been so long since I last posted. Well, there have been a lot of distractions since my last blog post in May from California (we are now in Virginia by way of Colorado and the Black Hills of South Dakota and a delightful month near grandkids in southern Ohio), and there has been a general lack of inspiration to blog. Somewhere, probably in the blogosphere, I read a Churchill paraphrase applied to blogging that sure hit home with me: something like…never have so many words been written about so much insignificance by so many for so few. Only a few of my closest friends—the kind of dear souls who probably would not tell you the truth if they thought it would hurt you—communicated any concern over my blogging hiatus.
For two years and two months, as we traveled the country, we literally turned sideways as we met in the aisle/living room/dining room/bedroom of a 25-foot travel trailer—the living area was actually a 23’ by 7.5’ aluminum-framed fiberglass box—but, boy, did we enjoy ourselves. We came to the conclusion that we really like this fulltime RV traveling lifestyle in God’s magnificent creation, and we’d like it even more if we had a little more space. And now it feels like we live in a palace, though still on wheels. The pic above reveals the difference in size between to two. The new one is a 35.5’ 
by 8’ split-level (a fifth wheel) with three slideouts that literally double the width and significantly extends the length to include a separate bedroom with full size walk-around queen bed. On these cool mountain mornings in the Blue Ridge an electric fireplace knocks the chill off in our expansive living room.
Of course it required a bigger truck to tow it, so for the first time in my life I’m a diesel trucker. This workhorse 2011 F-250 can’t tell a steep mountain road from level land, even 
though it’s towing 6 tons of fifth wheel. I’m pretty sure it could pull a bigger plow than the John Deere A I learned to drive on 60 years ago. I’m still marveling at how it lets me climb any mountain now and enjoy the scenery without worrying about whether or not I can make it over the next ridgeline without redlining some critical engine or transmission function. It does that with 30 per cent better fuel mileage than my half-ton gasser towing 2.5 tons of travel trailer. There is one new thing to watch out for: overpasses, tunnels, and overhanging branches in campgrounds. So my co-pilot has added a new checklist reminder in addition to “swing wide.” “Look up!”
The new fifth wheel is made by the same folks who made our travel trailer—Warren Buffet’s Forest River, Inc. He earned our continued business with that little entry lever white-walled throwaway that never let us down in some of the remotest places in America. The new palace on wheels is called a Sabre and I am as passionately in love with that inanimate object as I was the swept-wing supersonic version I went to war in—an F-100 Super Sabre.
God is so good to this unworthy sinner and I’ll try to regularly remind you, dear reader.
August 20, 2011 at 12:47 pm |
It’s been a magical ride to see glimpses of the world that your eyes are seeing. Thanks for carrying us along and feeding us crumbs. Lovely, tasty crumbs.
August 20, 2011 at 12:53 pm |
You’re still a sweetheart! Thanks.
August 21, 2011 at 2:42 pm |
Even though I do not know you and stumbled on your blog through Monergism, I have enjoyed following your travels and descriptions of God’s wonderful creation. I am also a birder and was amused at how birding has become one of your interests. It can easily become an addiction, but an enjoyable one. I would love to do what you have done, but will probably have to fulfill that dream through your blog. I was about to email you to ask if you had somehow been derailed, but was glad to see this post. Enjoy the rest of your tour.
August 21, 2011 at 3:16 pm |
If you found me thru Monergism, I suspect we also share a passion for God’s amazing grace. Thank you for the kind words.
August 21, 2011 at 3:20 pm |
Ryk, if you do the facebook thing, shoot me a friend request, if your wish. I post shorter more occasional blurbs and pics of our travels there.
August 28, 2011 at 10:00 pm |
Looks like a BIG improvement! Can’t wait to take a tour when you get back to the Black Hills.
August 29, 2011 at 1:31 pm |
It’s a date, Pam!
December 25, 2011 at 10:37 pm |
Merry Christmas from TN to the Wetterlings! I will be on my way back to DC tomorrow and the crazy political world epicenter of politics. I am so pleased that your year ended better than it started. My year has also been a challenge, having lost several dear friends (one of which is my tango teacher for the last 4 yrs. and another who was a multimillionaire in the middle of a divorce who left me as executor of her estate-Lord help me), but I have survived with God’s grace and guidance. Your scripture from Corinthians spoke to me personally. On my way to TN when my Mom was critically ill in Oct., I was literally ran over by a reindeer, made it there with God as my co-pilot and fragments of my car missing, and my Mom was diagnosed that day with terminal stage 4 lymphoma (a surprise to us). Since then Mom has made a miraculous comeback and the doctors say she is cancer free now. Nothing short of a miracle and a spiritual lesson for us. After a challenging year at work ending in a 6 week leave of absence, and all that has happened, I am looking forward to a new year. I love the idea of your traveling palace, and I cannot think of anyone who deserves it more– to be king of such a palace. Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a wonderful new year ahead of you. It is good to be back in touch.