15 states and counting!

Blessings everyone! I am playing a little catch up here on the blog again. Sis Kris, Skyler and Jack already came :-D and went :-( and during our grand time together my birthday came around again. But that is the NEXT blog!
So... after leaving Tennessee mid July I headed straight North through Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and into New York!
Kentucky... Horse capitol of the world! Heaven for me! I stayed three days at the Kentucky Horse Park campground in Lexington. The day at the horse park was fabulous. I saw so many different and unusual breeds and many gorgeous retired champions. Loved it! The next day I went on a "Bluegrass horse farm tour." These luxuious farms are unbelieveable even when you see them! Did you know that a stallion who sires a Kentucky Derby winner can get up to 1.2 million bucks to impregnate a single mare? And he does it four times PER DAY!!! What a life... but the truth is, the whole racing/breeding world is frought with practices that weigh heavy on a true horse lovers heart. But it was still an overall great experience to be there. The only thing that could have made it better was if my momma had been with me! Miss you Mom!

























Ohio was unique on this trip so far. The scenery alternated between postcard perfect farms with huge barns and fields, to quaint old looking towns with huge coal refineries dotted along the edge of the Ohio River. I took side/scenic roads along the river and enjoyed viewing lanscape completely unlike any I've been through so far. I even happenned upon this ideal spot to sleep one night right on the river bank and woke to the sound of canadian geese flying and honking through the fog and mist. Very cool!

Look! A tiny town with the nick-name I've been called in my family my entire life - Duff(y)! I had a good long talk with my sis Kris parked right in front of that sign with the house right across the street being almost completely reclaimed by Mother Nature.
Pennsylvia is gorgous too. I've always dreamed of living on a farm to experience the way of life, maybe just for a season, and relished the opportunity to see so many big beautiful working farms. Between the farmed fields, animal pastures and open forests there is so much soul restorative open space!










I even found my way to an old genuine mill complete with covered bridge! It was SO pretty I just had to go closer to the river to get the perfect shot. I ended up slipping on a mossy rock and WHAM - ended up on my hip, back and elbow with the wind knocked out of me! As I sat there making sure nothing was broken and trying to regain my ability to breath, I simultaneously noticed two things; one - I was steadily soaking up water from a puddle into the seat of my shorts and, two - there before me was the ideal shot of the covered bridge. So despite my wet butt, bloody elbow and questionable oxygen intake, I got out the camera and captured the scene. Nice perspective don't you think?

The best part (almost) was finally finding my way back to the RV just as it began to rain and then seeing a sign on my way out that I missed on my way in. The name of the park... wait for it...! "Slippery Rock State Park"! Ah the humor... but I'm fine, continually grateful and all is well.

Huge love and hugs. I am missing you all, so please stay in touch!

Stef

S. Carolina and Tennessee - Fabulous Family Times!

One trip highlight after another continues to unfold. South Carolina had my second most favorite campground right next to the ocean - Edisto Beach. Turtle nests, open shoreline, and by far the most appropriately local named "Whoop Ass" storm to date! SO glad no branches fell on me with the 70mph winds in my tree cove. Others were not so lucky. But even with flooding and no electricity for two days, I LOVED IT!



But that was just the beginning so many wonderful gifts this state had in store. Cousin Jim and Saundra (pictured below) live here and it was SO good to see them and rest again in the sanctuary they provided for me last year, after a different kind of storm. Lake Keeowee. Huge, warm, crystal clear and a perfect playground for me and ....

Zach and Susan!!!

Our incredibly generous and gracious hosts not only gave us the entire downstairs with two rooms, a kitchenette with a full fridge, and our own private deck complete with view and waterfall(!!!) but they also gave us the keys to their jet ski AND jet boat! Boy were we thrilled and in such a blissful state of amazement and gratitude. I think it shows! What an incredibly perfect good time we had. Rope swings, waterfalls, endless coves, wake boards, jet skis, naps... ahhh... Zach mastered every form of water sport we could think of with style! And Hey Sue... such great form on that rope swing! (Mine was, shall we say.. less so. Hence, no picture. But I loved the jet ski, and there is a special treat at the end of this blog to honor one of Zach's many superpowers!)

Sue left for home a few days later and then Zach and I said our goodbyes to Jim and Sandra (THANK YOU -YOU TWO ANGELS YOU!), and headed out over the Smokies for a few days of great camping on our way back to North's home and family in Maryville, Tennessee.

It was so special to me to have this time with Zach, especially in this place most beloved of all by his Dad and my husband. I relished sitting creek side watching and listening to him play guitar. And I'll always remember the squealing excitement (even if the camera wasn't ready) when we saw that black bear cross the road!

Spending the 4th of July holiday with Mother Mary, Brother Bill and Sista Alison was another special treat. (I just LOVE that picture of mother and son!) We went to some caves, the boys fished, we BBQ'd at Misty Glen cabin and I spent one night alone there again. (No one else wanted to join me, least of all Zach. I am sure it had something to do with those enormous wolf spider legs emerging from the tub drain!) The rest of the time we either stayed at Bill and Alison's, or at Mary's (with my RV parked and plugged in at her driveway!) Brother Bruce was/is doing his acting thing up in New York and we missed him. But I can hardly wait to see you in that film on Lifetime in October!!! And my camera was not charged when we visited with Dr. McKinnon and Wanda. But I got some classic video of grandpa telling stories. I never knew he was a pilot before he became a doctor! We had a great time with them too.

So, obviously, this was a very special and important part of this journey for me. It was good yet strange and hard yet happy to be there. I missed my sweetheart something terrible at times. But being amongst his family did my healing heart good too. Even Barnie made some new friends in Mayfield and Bubba (Mary's dogs). I miss them all already!

So thank you Bill and Ali for taking time off and entertaining us so well. I loved our time together. Mary, thanks for letting me linger in your driveway and taking me shopping and feeding me after Zach left. I enjoyed just being with you, watching movies, etc., and that birthday dinner and chocolate cake was out of this world!

Next stop - Kentucky, then Ohio and Pennsylvania, and finally... upstate New York and Sis Kris and my nephews for my birthday in Buffalo! Oh, I can hardly wait. But don't you go until you watch this clip below. I am smiling with you!

Love and more love,

Stef