We have been in places where it is dark at night.  Really dark.  Like Schoodic Woods.  Fantastic for star gazing.  Yet, during the day there was plenty of light.  You knew for a fact that it was daytime.  Same for Racoon Valley.  With no trees anywhere in sight during the day it was bright and hot.  Now we come to Suwannee River State Park.  This

place is dark as dark can be.  Nighttime and daytime.  We are surrounded by old growth oak trees that envelope Graybeard.  They say that sunrise is at 7:30 am or something like that.  Yet you can’t prove it by us.  That hour of the morning it is still, really, really dark.  Moving through the day it isn’t much different.  Great for napping, sitting in a corner reading a book, or whatever.  Not complaining just saying it is different.

Off to the chiropractor again today.  I believe one move visit will do it.  At least I hope so.  Time will tell.  But if I continue to feel the way I do, so as long as I take it easy the next week I should be OK.

Next, we went looking for answers with the problem with Barbara’s right leg.  A day ago where the bruise had been it was now red and hot.  Something was going on.  We first went to Baya Urgent Care.  They were polite but explained what was really needed was an ultra sound of her leg, something they were not equipped to do.  So they sent us to

the emergency center at Lake City Medical Center.  It was just down the road from Baya.

As we entered the emergency room we were prepared for a lengthy wait.  Imagine our surprise when Barbara was taken immediately for processing.  One ultra sound, some blood work, all together just abut two hours and we were done and on our way.  The result, no blood clot rather a nasty infection.  The ER staff was nothing short of fantastic.  I can’t say enough good things about them.  Next, to Walmart for antibiotics and with those in hand we were now off for home.

Amazing, we’ve been here since Sunday and we’ve been on the go since.  And we thought we’d be sitting around with nothing to do.  Ah, maybe tomorrow will be the day we can and will stay home.

OK, the day is gone and night is all around us.  Yes, it is dark, oh is it dark.  Good for sleeping as long as one wants in the morning.  We’ve had a full day and we thank you for joining us once again on The Road of Retirement.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,

the last few weeks have been rough in many ways.  Yet, all things considered God has been good to us and our whole family.  My mom is out of NC and ready to move into a new apartment.  Considering all that could have happened to her God held her in the palm of his hand and brought her through safely.  Barbara and I have had some medical issues but we’re coming around.  The trip down here with my back issue seemed impossible yet we made it.  We even found a chiropractor here who is the greatest.  And the care Barbara received at the emergency room today was fantastic.  Through it all we’ve made it the only way we know how, hand in hand, traveling along, singing our song.

Now it’s time to say goodnight.  But before I go a thought for all of us to ponder:

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 eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

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

 

Better night last night.  Both of us were able to get some sleep.  As did Marti.  Whatever was going on has stopped.  No more sneezy  dog.  Yea!  It’s amazing the difference a day – or in this case – a night can make.

Some of have said that if you go full timing then it’s often a good idea to have a theme.  We started out with the idea of visiting as many National Historical Sites in the US that we could find.  Still seems like a good idea.  Lately, though, we have a new theme, chiropractic care in every state!  Yes, we found a new one here in Lake City by the name of John Workman.  What a character.    He came in on his lunch hour to treat me.  And

what an entrance he made.  He literally roared into the parking lot in a pickup truck that had seen better days, spun it around and shot it backwards into a parking spot.  Impressive.  Then came the man himself.  Jeans, plaid shirt and cowboy boots.  Yet, this man in one visit has done more for me than the other two did in two weeks of visits.  Did I say I like him.  I look forward to returning to him for several more visits.  Thanks to him I’m beginning to feel human again.  I’m beginning to feel like getting back up and getting in the game again.

So now that I’m beginning to get back to normal there are projects that need attention.  Nothing major but things that do need immediate looking after.  Install the hold downs

for the new blinds.  Install the new blind in the kitchen.  Check for water in all lockers and closets after all the rain we’ve had and are anticipating.  Reorganize and clean the outside lockers.  Clean and treat the tires with 303.  And if I get real ambitious I may even take my first peak at the new awnings that arrived over two weeks ago.  As to installing them?  Time will tell based on how things go this week with my chiropractor.

We thought we had left them behind.  The rain that is.  Torrential rains.  First, we had to deal with them in Racoon Valley.  But they followed us here.  Once again the rain came

one wave after another.  Guess what?  The ground here takes a wee bit of time to soak it all up.  Result?  Standing water all over the place.  Oh, it does eventually drain but until it does what a mess.  Plus, according to the weather report there is more rain on the way tomorrow.  What fun.

So, that brings us to the end of our day.  As we continue to travel along hand in hand on The Road of Retirement things are beginning to look up.  So we’ll call it a night now and head off to get some needed sleep.  But before going, as always, a thought for each of us to ponder:

 

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 eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

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

 

Last night none of us got much sleep, not even Marti.  Barbara and I just couldn’t get to sleep,  We were up, we were down.  Marti spent the whole night sneezing, yup, sneezing.  Poor dog looked so pathetic.  He just did’t know what was going on.  Suffice to say it wasn’t an early morning nor an early start.  We finally got on the road around 11 am.

Today was a much better travel day all the way around.  Though my back was still a problem, at least today, I could manage it.  Then the funnest thing happened, about half way through the trip the pain for the most part went away.  Just like that.  It would come  back from time to time but not to the degree of the day before.  Even Barbara started feeling better.  No explanation but no complaints from either of us.

Traffic was also light and the roads were for the most part clear.  No delays for construction anywhere along the route.  My kind of trip.  Smooth sailing from beginning to end.

Entering Florida we of course had to stop at the visitor center for our free glass of juice.

Just what the doctor ordered on a long trip.  A refreshing glass of juice for a quick pick me up.  Juice down the hatch, we were back on the road with just under an hour to go.

So we are now home for the next two weeks.  And where is home?  As we always say Home is Where We Park It and we are now parked at Suwannee State Park in Florida.

Located near the Suwannee River, the campground offers 30 oak-shaded sites with electricity, water, sewer, picnic table and fire ring.   This is the entrance to the park itself.

Here is our site.  Wide, level, FHU with 50 amp and with lots of shade.  Really nice.

So we’re getting settled in for the next two weeks.  We have some minor projects to do.  And we’re going to give ourselves time to mend.  Bottom line, we’re looking forward to just kicking back and taking it easy.

Thanks again for joining us on The Road of Retirement.  The last two days have been a bit rough around the edges.   Not the way we would have scripted them.  Yet we made it.  And once again we made it as we always do, hand in hand, traveling along, singing our song.  So you will get no complaints from us.  Life is still good and holds the promise of even better days to come.

Time now to say goodnight but before I go a thought for each of us to ponder:

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 eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

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

 

So we packed up and set out.  I knew immediately it was going to be a long day.  The pain kept coming in waves.  I finally found a way to sit that at least made it some what bearable.  But not for long.  Within less than an hour we had to stop so I could stretch and ice my back.  This was obviously going to be a long day.  But we pressed on.  Nothing else we could do,  But at this rate this trip was going to take a really, really long time.

We began to make good time but then came Atlanta.  A major five lane highway reduced to two lanes due to construction.  OK, it means jobs and better roads in the future.  But I just couldn’t see that feeling as I did.  It took us over an hour to go just three miles.  And it was almost the end of the trip because of the pain I was in.  We had tried everything.  Pain killers.  My little electric machine on my back.  Stopping to ice my back.  But now nothing was working.

But then Barbara had an idea.  To the freezer she went.  Grabbed a frozen bag of carrots

and stuffed them between my back and the seat.  Ah, not the perfect solution but it cut the pain down considerably.  And that is how I made the last two hours,

We both agreed this was the worse trip we’ve made since we started full timing.  My back, her back, the traffic, the uncertainty of whether we would make it, the heat and smog.  I know one thing I will never in a million years ever come close to Atlanta again.  I can’t think of a worse place to have to drive.  I can only imagine what it is like on a weekday during rush hour.  Absolutely crazy.

As for tomorrow?  We’re going to keep those frozen carrots handy that is for sure.  The final leg of the trip is also much shorter than the trip today.  One way or the other we’re going to make it.

Home is Where We Park It.  And that for the night is Atlanta RV South Resort.  Why here?  Because local ordinances  prohibit parking at a Walmart.  Nice.  But what a really neat

place.  Excellent customer service – an escort to your site.  Reasonable price.  Pull through.  Hard packed gravel.  Perfectly level.  Room for the rig and the car.  So nice not to have to jump through hoops when we got here.  Plug in.  Hook up the water.  Turn the AC on.  Turn the frig’ back on.  And collapse!

Well, thanks for coming along with us again on The Road of Retirement.  Today’s journey was a rough one.  But together, encouraging one another, we made it.  As we will tomorrow.  Before saying goodnight a thought for each of us to ponder:

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 eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

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