May 3rd, Thursday – Nope, We Haven’t Given Up Full Timing

Despite rumors to the contrary, we are still full-time RVers.  It’s just that we’ve been a bit busy lately.  I’ll try to catch everyone up in this blog.

So Tuesday.  Barbara had a cardiologist appointment in NJ and we were going to have dinner with some  friends, Alan and Peggy, who we hadn’t seen since we left last December.  Barbara received a clean bill of health from the doctor and he asked her to make an appointment for next year.  That may be hard to keep since we will probably not be back in this area again.  Before we met our friends for supper, we were able to do a number of other things on our list.  Our old NJ plates were dropped off at Motor Vehicle.  We met with my case worker for VA benefits who let me know we are going to push forward with filing a claim toward the end of the year.  Barbara had a number of items she had to drop off at Centrastate Hospital.  Then it was time for dinner.  It was great seeing Alan and Peggy again.  Alan and I spent a lot of time together running around the Eastern seaboard on motorcycles.  He still has his, mine has morphed into a motor home.  Yes, times have changed and there is no going back now.  The long and short of it is, in one day we traveled close to 600 miles and spent approximately 7 hours on the road going from Maryland to New Jersey and back.

What happened to Marti you ask?  Marti was with our daughter,Amanda, for the day and she spoiled him rotten.  She gave him a much-needed bath, and treated him like royalty.

Thank you Amanda for taking such good care of our four footed friend.

So Wednesday.  This was a day of all kinds of stuff.  Amanda was off so she brought Marti back home.  I think her 5 dogs done tuckered him out because once he got home he crashed on the couch and refused to move!  The three of us, Barbara, Amanda and I went to a local historic site that I had never been to before.  It was this park

which commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862.  It is hard to believe that on this day some 23,000 individuals lost their lives during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War.  What’s even more gut wrenching is the fact that most of these men did not have to die.  Unfortunately, the commanders in charge of the Union forces were absolutely incompetent and time after time they ordered their men to march shoulder to shoulder, one abreast of the other into fortified Confederate forces.  In one battle alone 196 men of a unit of 200 were killed in the first 15 minutes of fighting.

In addition, the residents of the area, though none were immediately killed, lost homes, crops, and livestock.  In addition, many became sick following the battle from the diseases carried by many of the soldiers who fought that day and within a year or so many passed away.

Below are some of the picture we took of our visit.  This is a picture of the carnage that the residents of the area returned to after the battle was over.  Bodies strewn everywhere.

This is a painting of the Union charge across the creek in the area against superior Confederate forces.

This is a typical drum carried by a drummer boy during the battle.  The youngest person to be killed that day was a teenager carrying a drum who was only 13 years old.

These are some the monuments that have been erected on the battlefield by different states to honor those from their states who fought that day.  This is the state of New York.

This is the plaque at the base of this monument.  Oh, the little animal?  It’s called a buddy bison which Amanda bought for us and asked that we include in at least one picture of wherever we travel.  For Amanda, you bet I will!

This is from the state of Maryland.

These are the typical artillery pieces that were used in the battle that day.

There is so much, much, much more to be viewed.  One could literally spend days here viewing all the monuments, the various plaques, the displays in the museum.  We only had a couple of hours so we crammed in as much as we could.  Someday perhaps we will return for more.  As I left, I must say, I was overwhelmed with grief at the senseless loss of lives that day, as well as, the futility of waging war as a way of settling disputes.

Once we were done here Amanda treated us for lunch as a local pub that she had been to before.  What a wonderful place, great service and the food was out of this world!

It’s called Captain Benders after an old C & O canal boat captain who was the original owner.

And here is Captain Benders with a model of his barge and mules.

This is a picture of the inside of the pub

Day now over, we returned home to have a barbecue with my son Adam, his wife Alison and our grandchildren – Tori, Mikey, and Jarrett.

By the way, they double dogged dared me to post this picture that they took, Well, don’t ever double dog dare me because you just might get your wish!

So that brought Wednesday to a close.  We came here to spend time with family and that was a great success.  We are leaving with memories a plenty of good times had with all.  We miss them all already.

So Thursday.  Moving day.  Goodbye Maryland, hello New York.  We’re on our way to New England and the first stop is Cape Cod.  But to get there in one day was too long so we’re now stopped for the night at a Wal-Mart in Fishkill, NY.  What a rough day this was.  We spent 1 hour just sitting in stopped traffic on Interstate 81. The roads were abysmal; full of pot holes and small craters.    When we got here it was amazing what had either fallen down or already worked its way lose.  Ah well, plenty of projects when we finally stop in New England at the Escapees park for two weeks.  And mountains to climb, just when you thought you had gone over the last of them, another one popped up.  Graybeard handled them all singing its way up them in full voice at the typical Ford 4800 rpm!    Knowing this was coming I left my hearing aids out this morning.

So,that is what we have been up to for the last couple of days.  Together we’re on the road again, singing our song, going to states we’ve never visited before, boldly going where we’ve never been before.  We’re still having a great time enjoying each precious moment of each new day that God gives us.  In closing here is a thought for each of us:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.  Thanks again for sharing our day with us.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before