“…It’s close to midnight, and something evil’s lurking in the dark…”

Hello from Holtwood, PA. This is our LAST night on the road. And boy – can I pick ’em! Campgrounds, that is. Oy.

We left Candy Hill in Winchester, VA about 11 a.m. I was just saying to Rich how lucky we were regarding the lack of rain on this trip – and, it started to rain during the night. Hard. My night was a pretty sleepless one. Rain on a tin box was not sleep inducing at all. Luckily, the rain stopped by the time we got on the road in the morning.

Our drive today was a relatively short one – I think less than 3 hours total. As I’ve shared, I had a very hard time finding a campground in Pennsylvania with a vacancy for tonight. After an exhaustive search, I found Tucquan RV park (pronounced Tuck One). Their website looked amazing! Wonderful! Family fun! Um….

We followed the directions, and the road that led into the campground was long, windy, hilly, UNPAVED, and awful. I should have known. When we arrived at the registration office, it looked less than inviting. We were in the system- but they had us needing 2 campsites. Huh? And when I asked if there’s cable in the park, she didn’t know. She didn’t know? I mean, she was nice – but not too knowledgeable on the reservation. We got a campground map with our site circled, and headed out to find our site. We’ve done this every time – but here, it was really hard to figure out where the actual roads were. It seemed as if there were many rv’s in the park – but very few people. That’s never great.

We finally found our site, up a hill. We are the ONLY ones here. In this particular campground, that’s not romantic, or charming- it’s freaking scary! It is pitch black when night comes, and seriously one of the scariest campgrounds ever. I am totally spooked. Rich isn’t too thrilled either. And, once again, the website deceived me.

We were set up by about 3. The weather morphed into a cold, drizzly, foggy, uninviting day. Rich and I made omelets for lunch, and then just settled in. There are only 4 air channels- as there definitely is no cable. The wifi is fair – it was ‘good enough’. We decided to embrace a lazy Sunday afternoon and evening inside. I spent quite awhile with my needlepoint project. Rich spent hours watching football (thank goodness the signal was strong enough for that). Unfortunately, Rich’s Giants disappointed him.

Roxy was definitely getting antsy – she wanted to be outside. But there was just a limited amount of time either of us wanted to be outside. 24 hours can make quite a difference in the weather! Luckily, we are out of here early tomorrow morning.

Yesterday’s trivia answer was.. zero – and I think Jodie was the only one to get it right. Matt Perry appeared in every single episode of “Friends”.

Okay, LAST trivia question for this trip: Tomorrow night is the 30th. Many people call it Mischief Night. What was it called in Clifton, New Jersey? Answer in my last post, hopefully tomorrow night.

A few pictures from today. Thanks for reading. Please, stay safe.

Marla and Rich

Roxy got to ride shotgun today – she was too uncomfortable climbing all over me. I was moved to the back.😕

Pretty scenery as we entered Pennsylvania.

“…Good day, sunshine, good day, sunshine… We take a walk, the sun is shining down, burns my feet as they touch the ground…”

Who would have thought that the final weekend in October would be filled with temps in the 80’s? This was a great day here in Winchester, Virginia, at the Candy Hill Campground. We woke up after 9 (after 9!!!), and headed outside to enjoy breakfast and the beautiful weather. Seriously, today was a 10 out of 10 in the weather department. Ya know, pre-Roxy, Saturdays were all about eat, read, sleep, read, eat, sleep – and repeat. There’s a lot less sleeping – and no reading! – with our 4 legged family member.  And so, shortly after downing breakfast, we took Roxy for some soccer play in the beautiful dog run. And then, we took Roxy back for some water. And then, we took Roxy for another walk. And then…you get the picture. So now, it’s less sedentary, less relaxed – but more meaningful.

This campground is really beautiful. It’s spotless, picturesque, inviting – and has many surprising perks. For instance, there’s a chicken coop – where they collect and sell freshly laid eggs! There are many camping games – corn hole, shuffleboard, horse shoes, etc. There’s a fitness center, playgrounds, a pool and hot tub (in season), and a camp store with lots of things I didn’t buy but would love to eat. And, during Rich’s umpteenth Roxy walk he discovered a golf course – right next door! This would be a fantastic campground to spend a weekend with other camping friends. The sites are nice, the staff even nicer – and there’s lots (or nothing) to do. It’s so surprising to me, as their website is so low tech that I really was hesitant to book a site here. The website usually speaks volumes about the campground. In this case, I was very wrong. It is just lovely here.

We enjoyed a great campfire this evening. My only complaint is the placement of the campfire ring behind the RV, on a hill. Not my favorite placement, for sure. Rich went to finish all our laundry at the facilities right near our site, and I took over keeping Roxy out of the firepit. We now have one less load of dirty stuff to worry about when we get home. Oh – and to finish a perfect evening –we roasted marsh mellows! That was the first time on this camping trip. We never even got to s’mores – and that’s sad to say.

As I was on the phone touching base with daughter #1 (after speaking to daughter #2 earlier, and son #only yesterday), we learned that Matthew Perry, ‘Chandler Bing’ from “Friends”, died earlier today. This hit me so hard. Matt Perry made me laugh so hard, so many times. When we are on the road, or when I can’t sleep at home, “Friends” is my go to rerun. I can quote dozens of Chandler lines, with the exact intonation that Perry used to deliver them. It saddens me so much that he is gone. He had many personal demons. According to his autobiography, he cheated death many times. I only wish he cheated it once more. And so, I leave you with a “Friends” trivia question. In how many episodes of “Friends” did Matthew Perry NOT appear? The answer will be in tomorrow’s blog.

The answer to yesterday’s trivia question is Jimmy Stewart. He is the actor who starred in “Shenendoah”. Debbie (a new reader) and Lisa guessed correctly. Good job – just proves you’re almost as old as me.

Thanks for reading. Be kind – there’s a serious shortage these days. Stay safe.

Marla and Rich

“….Oh Shenandoah, I long to see you….”

Hello. Quick post this evening – I don’t have much time. More tomorrow night. We left Madison, Va. this morning, and drove about 30 minutes to an entrance to Shenandoah National Park. Although I purchased a Senior Park Pass weeks ahead of our trip – and kept it in a safe place, it is no longer with us (due to my stupidity). Just so you know – if you buy a National Park Pass or Senior Park Pass, and only have the receipt and the hang tag when you enter a National Park – you aren’t entering without paying. So there’s $30.00 we didn’t need to spend. Oh well.

We decided to drive the Skyline Drive route as far as we were interested. The views are beautiful, the pulloffs along the side of the road were plentiful and spacious. We had a great time. And Roxy LOVED getting in and out of the RV repeatedly! She was really excited. We met some nice people, and had an unexpectedly great day. Just so you know, there’s a tunnel in the park with a 12′ 8″ clearance. We KNEW we weren’t that tall – but with the way our luck has been going, we figured we’d sheer the roof off! No worries – we cleared it with ease. We drove over half the actual route. We were in the RV, remember – this was another test of nerves. Everything went fine, thank goodness.

We were a little more than an hour from our RV park – today’s driving was markedly shorter than it has been. We pulled into the Candy Hill Campground, and were immediately impressed with the grounds, the amenities, the levelness of our site – it was very inviting. I am glad – as I was very unsure of this particular booking. I am glad the low tech website does not reflect on the campground itself.

So, I’ve got to go and prepare for Shabbat. Not much left to do – but still a little to be done. Always something to be done. Oh – trivia! No one attempted the pie question – cherry pie was 15 cents at the Woolworth lunch counter in 1960. And the surrender was on the McClain House Front Porch. Lew was closest to this answer. Weekend trivia question: Who starred in the great movie “Shenendoah” , from the 1960’s? I loved this movie. No googling. Take a guess. Hint. The actor is no longer alive. You’re welcome.

Stay safe. Be kind. Thank you for reading. Shabbat Shalom to all who celebrate. A great weekend to all.

Marla and Rich

“…Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me – Virgil, quick come see – there goes Robert E. Lee!…”

Hey, friends. Sorry for not writing last night; both Rich and I literally passed out with the lights still on, TV on, still dressed – I guess we’re just old! In any case, I’ll catch you up.

When last you heard from us, Rich shared his golf story. I’m glad he and Rick caught up and had such a great day. Oh – and speaking of golf – the trivia answers were: getting the ball into the hole 3 below par is called an Albatross, or a Double Eagle. Lisa and Jen P. got that right (although Adam’s answer of it being called “Lucky” cracked me up!) Rich reports he has shot an Albatross – once – par 5, 4^th hole at Rutgers Golf Course. (He’s still giving me the details – I’ve just stopped listening.) The second question – from Rich’s blog – also answered by Lisa – is that you are allowed up to 14 clubs in your golf bag at any 1 time. (And even with 15 – I still can’t hit the ball!)

Wednesday morning we were out of 4 Paws Kingdom by 9. It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny morning. Our first ride that day was 90 minutes east, to the outskirts of Charlotte. I realized about a month ago that my cousins live near Charlotte, and with a little re-routing, we could say hello. In addition, we needed to pick up kosher chop meat for Roxy. We have PLENTY of meat and poultry in our freezer that we’ve yet to eat (we ALWAYS overpack) – but we misjudged the dog’s needs. There were 2 places to pick up what we needed in Charlotte. My cousin recommended Trader Joe’s. I called ahead, and they couldn’t be nicer. They put aside 3 pounds of kosher meat, ready for when I arrived.

We got to Charlotte at our expected time, and my cousins Lisa and her Dad Stuart were waiting right outside Trader Joe’s. We had such a nice reunion! Lisa’s grandma and my grandma were sisters. So, Stuart was my Dad’s first cousin – but they were way closer than cousins. And that makes Lisa and I second cousins. I don’t think I’ve seen Stuart since 2014 or so – and Lisa – I can’t even remember when we saw each other. I am SO glad we made this reunion happen!! We caught up, gave them a tour of the RV – got the chop meat  – and headed up to High Point.

Another 90 minutes or so, and we arrived at our campground. The Oak Hollow Campground is a pretty, no frills place that was perfect for our needs. We ate lunch, settled Roxy onto our bed, and left to meet our Lyft Driver. This was only the 3^rd time in 3 weeks that she was alone. And we ALL needed a break.

Our friends Stephanie and Marc told us about a museum in Greensboro – and ever since they told us, I couldn’t wait to get there. This is the 2^nd North Carolina recommendation from them – they have a perfect record! The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is in the heart of Greensboro – on the site of the old Woolworth’s Building.  This is the exact site where, in 1960, nonviolent protests and sit ins took place at the lunch counter. The reason? The staff would not serve the customers of color – due only to the color of their skin.

The museum covered the story of inequality, racism, brutality and the movement to combat prejudice from 1776 to present day. The multi-media displays were so interesting, and sometimes hard to watch. The actual preserved lunch counter was chilling in itself. I have said before that my education about the Civil Rights Movement was so limited, so sheltered – and I was growing up DURING the movement! It just wasn’t taught where I lived. It’s incumbent upon me to learn. The docent, Darren, was a descendent of one of the children protesters of the 60’s.  He was excellent – knowledgeable, engaging, and riveting in his delivery. I am so glad we went.

We returned to the RV and Rich made homemade 2 ingredient crust pizza – always delicious.  For the rest of the evening, we watched TV, did laundry, and cooked chop meat (don’t be jealous!).  We did get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time– which also explains why we passed out. With the early morning wake up that day, a long drive, family reunion excitement, and the pressure of Lyft/Uber pickups and drop offs – along with a 90 minute museum walking tour…g’night.

Rich woke up this morning feeling lousy. He has a cold (a man-cold, friends) – and today was our last long drive of the trip. So, we got up, and he did the tea/honey/airborne/meds/hot shower/warm clothes kinda treatment. He felt much better after a little – but we stayed put and left a bit later than we would have.

Today’s drive was from Greensboro, NC up into Virginia. Our lunch picnic stop was at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.  It was peaceful, interesting, dog friendly, and a nice place to walk and learn after a 2 and a half hour drive. The buildings have all been restored from their original conditions – but the restorations took place 50 or 60 years ago. They looked great. It was a nice break to step back into history.

The last leg of our trip took 2 hours more. The scenery was breathtaking – the leaves are just so colorful and gorgeous. And, once again, we were on some windy, hilly roadways. I just gave up, and gave Roxy my seat – and went and sat on the couch in the back. Her 57 pounds leaning directly on my chest for over 3 hours was starting to become an issue.

We pulled into Madison Vines RV Resort in Madison, VA. about 5:15. It’s been a long day. The weather suddenly changed – and we went from using the heat this morning, to almost needing air conditioning this evening. The temperature has changed over 30 degrees. It’s crazy! This is an upscale RV park – lots of guests, a BIG Halloween weekend coming up, lots of groups camping together – and yet, no working cable at our site. Oh – there’s cable…it just doesn’t work. That IRKS me. They knew that this part of the park had no working cable this morning. Why then, did they put us in this non working section? Now, in addition to everything else, I have to remember to ask at check-in, “Does your cable WORK at my site?” We’ve been affected by this far too many times this trip for it to just be a hit or miss thing. And yes, I know that we should be unplugging and everything. We just can’t do that. It is what it is.

This evening, we made brownies in advance of the weekend, and I made a big pot of vegetable soup to feed Rich’s cold. Rich built one of the last campfires of the season. It’s legitimately been too cold many evenings on this trip to sit outside at a campfire. But tonight was a really good night.

There will be 2 trivia questions tonight – one from yesterday, and one from today. Question 1: The Civil Rights Museum displayed the lunch counter from the first sit in, on February 1, 1960. There were lots of posters advertising food. One that caught my eye was a piece of cherry pie. According to the poster on the wall, how much did the piece of cherry pie cost in 1960?  Question 2: Where EXACTLY did Lee surrender – ending the Civil War? Hint: “At Appomattox” is incomplete.

Today’s song title is from “The Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down”. The version I know is from 1971, sung by Joan Baez. I learned this song in Chorus Class – and I just love it. In case you were wondering – that’s where it’s from.

Hope you are well. Stay safe. Be kind. Thanks for reading.

Marla and Rich

Family Reunion with Lisa and Stuart!

Greensboro Civil Rights Museum

Appomattox Court House.

McClean House at Appomattox

Mariah Right House at Appomattox(Rich calls this his Bob Carroll pic!).

Virginia Campfire

“In good times and bad times I’ll be on your side forever more! Oh, that’s what friends are for!”

Good evening from Rutherfordton, NC.  This is Rich writing tonight’s blog.  

I got to spend the afternoon today with one of my oldest friends, Rick Humiston.  We met at age 6 and were pretty inseparable for the next 6 or 7 years.  As we got older we floated in different circles, but we always stayed connected.  After high school we lost touch, but thanks to Brick High School Class of 1988’s great organizers, we got back in touch in 2008 and have stayed connected since.  

Yesterday, we met up at Chimney Rock State Park with our wives and had a great visit and hike.  Marla and Donna hit it off and the conversations were great.  But today RIck and I went to play golf.  For those of you who know golf, it is a 4+ hour commitment on a good day and can be longer on other days.  Rick graciously came to pick me up at our campground and took me to Apple Valley Golf Course near Lake Lure, NC.  It was a mountain golf course with some of the most picturesque views I have ever experienced on any course anywhere in the country.  I will share some of them tonight.  The golf was great, the vistas were better, but the conversations were the best.  After almost 50 years of friendship and experiences, RIck and I had so much to talk about that it felt like no time had gone by since our last conversation.  We discussed every topic under the sun, from family to sports.  From politics to culinary preferences.  We laughed a lot and took a lot of pictures.  

When our round was over, we got back in RIck’s truck and drove back to our campground.  He could have just dropped me off, but he didn’t.  He wanted to talk with Marla and pet Roxy for a bit.  We continued to talk and laugh and discuss possible future visits.

Just to tell you a little more about my friend, Rick is the guy who tries to get everyone to keep in touch.  He is the guy who puts out his phone number on Facebook and tells others to call him if they need to talk.  He is the friend that wants to know what is happening in your life and wants to know about your family.  He is a great friend and I am lucky to still have him in my life.  

Roxy had another incredible day at 4 Paws Kingdom and will probably be sad to leave, but as long as she is with us, she will still be a happy and playful girl.  Our trip is in its last third and we are going to work our way back north starting tomorrow.  We still have some fun and interesting stops to make, but I am starting to look forward to getting home and seeing family and friends.  

This trip has been a much needed distraction from the craziness of the world.  I am a news junky and when I get connected I can’t stop watching.  When we are camping, sometimes our connectivity is limited and that has actually forced me to stop following the national and world news.  I hope everyone out there is giving themselves space to breathe and find some peace.  Even if for just a few minutes each day.

I’ll take a lesson here from my friend Rick and close with this:  If you need to talk, please feel free to call me.  This is a crazy world, so I am not including my phone number here, but you can private message me through Facebook or email, or smoke signal, or just open your window and scream “Hey Yo” (random Rocky reference).

And in Marla style, tonight’s trivia question is…..

How many golf clubs are you allowed to have in your golf bag at any one time during a round of golf?

The answer will be revealed tomorrow – in addition to the answer for the previous trivia question – right after I tell Marla the answers!

Rich

“…I love my dog as much as I love you, but you may fade – my dog will always come through…”

Dog RV Resort, Day 2. Hi, everyone. It’s sunny and a cool 65 degrees here in Rutherfordton, NC. Rich and his friend Rick are off golfing for the day – and it’s me and the dog holding down the fort. I have to tell you about this place – it’s very cool. But first – the trivia question. The correct answer is French Bulldogs are the current number 1 best selling dogs in the U.S. Robin got that one right. But good guesses came from many other readers! Today’s trivia question is from Rich – as he peacefully takes in a round of golf.   “What is it called when you get a shot in the hole three below par?” (I don’t even know what those words mean – let alone an answer!) Good luck, readers!

4 Paws Kingdom RV Park is peaceful, beautiful, woodsy, expansive, and filled with dog lovers and dog owners. And dogs! Our friend Sharon asked why this park is so good for dogs. So, let me explain. First, there’s a dog friendly attitude. Dogs are welcomed here – in fact, you can’t be here without a dog. Next, the sites are designed with dogs in mind. There are sites that are totally fenced in, so a dog can go outside and be protected and safe from wandering. Or, there are sites like ours – with a fenced in patio and a separate fenced in firepit area right next to our rig. That way, you can be outside with your dog, and they can be off leash and relaxed. As a matter of fact, that’s where we are right now – Roxy and I, on the patio. She alternates between snoozing, and trying to eat flies and bees (ew). And there’s a person somewhere nearby, playing guitar. It’s very healing. 

Then, there are the dog activity centers in the RV Resort. There’s a little dog park, a big dog park, a ball dog park, a pond dog park, a private dog park, a dog bath station, dog friendly trails – and dog cleanup stations allll throughout the grounds. The dog parks are divided by size, by activity, and by non-socialized /socialized dogs. So many places do not welcome difficult or unfriendly dogs. This place welcomes all dogs. The owners just have to know their dog. So, Monday evening, Rich was walking Roxy by the “private dog park”. The sign on the door either says, “Join Us”, or “Occupied”. The owner inside the park said her dogs were unfriendly and did not interact well with others – and would attack Roxy. And Rich said, “Okay”! There were plenty of other dog parks from which to choose. Responsible dog owners make or break a situation. 

And so, Monday was our exploration day. We went to the big dog park. Roxy ran and chased Rich and caught sticks and enjoyed the freedom. Then we walked to the ball dog park. Roxy loves catching balls that Rich throws high in the air. (When I throw them, she LITERALLY stares me down, as if to say, “Loser!”) But, after a while, she walked over to where we had her leash. She got up on her hind legs, nosed the leash, looked at us – and “told us” – “I’m done”. She communicates rather well.  As the weather got warmer in the afternoon,  we went to the pond dog park. We don’t trust her to go swimming into a pond – and come back. So, Rich has her on an extender leash when she’s in the water. And she had a blast! She jumped, swam, ran, rolled, shook – all the feels. We stayed there until she literally looked cold. And then, we had a long walk back to our site. 

After the pond, we thought it was a perfect time for a dog bath – right? There’s a great bath station in the park – for large and small dogs. Roxy loves the bath, and did very well. Rich got a great bath too!! We returned to the RV as the weather was changing – the temps were dropping as the sun went down. Roxy was still damp – so we snuggled under a fresh towel until she fell asleep. It was…”yummy”.  

Rich and I streamed “The Morning Show” and “CNN” during the evening. The park has cable – but it’s less than fantastic. Fortunately, the wifi is excellent. I worked on my needlepoint project – hoping to complete it before my SEVENTIETH birthday!! I love it – but it’s so labor intensive. I started this in the summer of the pandemic – and it’s STILL not done. So, as they say, slow and steady wins the race. That must be me – the turtle. The entire time we were relaxing, Roxy was sound asleep on our bed.  When she stretches out completely, it’s BARELY big enough for her alone. So you can imagine HOW comfortable (hint: not!) it is to sleep with her in our bed at night. We’ve trained her to sleep on her own in both our New Jersey home and in Florida. But, the RV is a deal breaker. She will not spend the night on any other surface other than our bed. And it’s not worth the argument. 

And so today, we are relaxing on the patio. She went for a walk with Rich this morning, had a game of soccer as well, went for a walk with me just a little while ago, and is currently crashing in the sun. We will visit another dog park later this afternoon. And, when Rich gets back, we’ll head back to the ball park – or some other fun place. This park, by the way, is spotless. And, other than dogs barking (but truly not unreasonably) – it is so far removed from the world – and so peaceful. I wish you who are heart heavy could feel the peacefulness here for just a little while.

I do want to address the fact that I’m not addressing the world going to hell in this blog. We planned this trip months and months ago. And, for us, the world as we knew it changed on October 7th. The pain is always palpable. The tears fall regularly. The fear and anger and outrage are at the surface every day. My Facebook posts often address my broken heart. But this blog was created in 2009 for a different purpose. And, just as I find solace and relief in writing, there are some readers who take a break from their horrific reality to read this travel blog about my RV, my husband, my dog, and my old lady body. So I will leave the reality of war out of my RV posts – for the most part. But I’m never very far from the pain.

Here are some Roxy pics from Monday. We are packing up (again!) tonight, and heading Northeast early tomorrow morning. More adventures, more meetings, more miles. Catch you then. Thank you so much for reading. Stay safe.

Marla and Rich

Site #41, with fenced in patio, and relaxing dog.

She never travels without a toy.

Such a peaceful afternoon.

Water!!!!

Drying off in the sun.

Loving the bath!

“…Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough, baby…”

Sunday was a very busy day – made even busier by very little sleep Saturday night. That’s not really anything new for me; and thankfully, not a repetitive event for this trip. Our day started early as we left Pigeon Forge. I slipped a note to our neighbors before we left, leaving our contact info – if they would like to keep in touch. I would love to keep in touch with them. I don’t leave our contact info very often; this is only the second time. We stopped for gas, some fresh produce – and headed east.

After 3 and a half hours, filled with gorgeous views, traffic, and V-E-R-Y windy roads, we reached our first stop for the day. I haven’t had many problems with motion while riding in the RV in the 10 years we’ve owned it; I read directions, google driving options, etc while in motion and have been fine. HOWEVER, these particular West Virginia/Tennessee/North Carolina mountain roads are giving me a run for my money!  The twists and turns and inclines and declines and switchbacks – UGH!

At 1 p.m. we reached Chimney Rock State Park. Our RV was welcomed warmly; we were given a safe place to park. We met Rich’s LONGTIME friend Rick and his wife Donna for a fun afternoon hiking. Note that I used “fun” and “hiking” in the same sentence – that doesn’t happen often. Chimney Rock has several different hiking trails available. Some are strenuous, some easy, some dog friendly, some not. We chose the “Hickory Nut Falls” trail. Rick hikes quite often, he posts pictures all the time of his beautiful hiking accomplishments. Donna is a very athletic person as well – she would have little to no trouble hiking. Rich, as you know, is very athletic – and was excited to do this trail. Roxy loves anywhere that she can pull humans up a hill. And then, there’s me. This is the description of the hike we chose to do:

“This moderate hike is 1.4 miles round trip. It is an out-and-back hike and takes the average hiker 45 minutes to an hour to complete.  It is recommended for families with small children; however, we do not suggest strollers or wheelchairs. The trail is gently rolling but has several moderate uphill sections, some rocky terrain and a small set of stairs at the base of the Hickory Nut Falls. Picnic tables, benches, and resting areas are conveniently located throughout the trail offering a great opportunity to catch your breath, relax, and take in the ambiance of Mother Nature.  At the base of the falls, you can find a rare and unique ecosystem. The cool and damp rock face provides homes for many rare plants and amphibians. Cooling off in the waterfall mist and taking in the spectacular view at the end of this trail makes the journey totally worth it.”

So, in my language, NOT moderate! I don’t know how long it took us, but we made it to the base of the falls, took pictures, met nice people, and made it back down. The loose gravel on the path bothered me the most; I often felt I didn’t have a solid footing. And, as the path was SUPER steep, I had trouble catching my breath. The one saving grace was Donna. We were engaged in conversation the entire way, and our discussions distracted my lack of athletic prowess. Additionally, all the others in our hiking party (except Roxy!) kept checking in with me to see if I needed to stop, water, etc. Overall, and surprisingly, I did pretty well. It was great to catch up with Donna, super nice for Rich and Rick to catch up, and amazing to have a perfect autumn Sunday afternoon. We said goodbye around 4 p.m., and headed for our final destination for the day – and the real reason for this entire RV trip in the first place. 

So, let me share a little back story, if I can. Roxy was a belated 50th birthday present for Rich. It was the only pandemic possible gift I could give him. After all, for my pre-pandemic 60th birthday/ retirement, there was a trip to Vegas, a Vegas concert, several New York concerts, a humongous surprise party, several small celebrations, a subsequent trip to the Keys, and more. For Rich’s 50th in April of 2020, there were: balloons, dinner, zoom parties – and that’s it. There’s not a lot of equity there, right? So, as Rich’s fifty FIRST birthday was approaching, with no real sign of the pandemic getting better, I reached into my soul – and came up with the idea of getting a dog. It was just about the only thing Rich ever requested and to which I said no. It was also one (and still is) of the least understood decisions of my life. 

The first 9 months of Roxy’s life were very difficult for me, as I had NO prior experience with a dog. I didn’t speak “dog”. And Roxy was not an easy, no worry puppy. Roxy was the MONICA of puppies. She was High Maintenance 24/7. She didn’t sleep, wouldn’t crate, pulled on leash like an elephant, had stomach issues constantly, couldn’t eat any “dog” food, wouldn’t listen, wouldn’t calm down – and wouldn’t stop growing! 

As I’ve said many times, on paper Roxy was a mini labradoodle. I asked Rich to compromise with me with a small dog. And that he did – on paper. But in real life, she was not mini and was not doodle. So, I had a high maintenance, sick, BIG, misunderstood puppy. And that was very, very hard for me. There were lots of tears. There were lots of decision regrets. There was a lot of frustration. There were hours and hours of late night googling for suggestions, cures, and answers for unusual dog issues. I pretty much earned my Bachelor of Dog in 12 months’ time.

It was discovered over a year after she came into our lives that Roxy had significant Congenital Kidney Disease. Her numbers were bad, her stomach issues may have reflected her condition since the beginning – and things were only going to get more complicated, more expensive (don’t even ask), and more depressing.  The shitty vet (pardon my French) saw alarming kidney numbers at 6 months – but just never told us. Oops. So, bye, Doc.

As time progressed and we learned more, we started treating her with healthy supplements, a very healthy, specific, and work intensive diet, and expensive hard to get medication. It became abundantly clear that, although we might slow the progression, we couldn’t cure the disease. That tugs at my heart strings every single day. And, with time, the options became even more disturbing. The Vet suggested we look into dialysis. The holistic Vet suggested we look into acupuncture. Both vets suggested that the future will include subcutaneous fluid administration. Neither Rich nor I can even discuss this – because, unbelievably, this 4 legged high maintenance canine has grabbed hold of our hearts to a level I never would have or could have predicted.

Dialysis and acupuncture are not in our wheelhouse – emotionally or financially. Sub Q fluids might be a future discussion. A special diet, healthy supplements, symptom relieving medications and the like are where we are right now. We check blood work every 3 or 4 months, and we reevaluate then. And, above all, we decided to just love on her, and give her the best life possible. We want Roxy to live her best life – for however long that life is. Since no professional has an answer on that depressing thought, we take things as they come. Roxy has visited 16 states. She has lived in 3 different cities, in 2 different states. She has camped. She has hiked 2 national parks. She has met countless people and dogs who love her. She eats gourmet, homemade foods and sleeps in a queen size bed. She’s spoiled as hell. And, Sunday, at 5ish, we arrived at the Number 1 RV Park for Dogs in the U.S.  “4 Paws Dog Kingdom” in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains holds the distinction of being the top RV park for dogs of all sizes, types and ages. I have known about this place for quite awhile – and planned this entire trip around coming here. So, you can add this destination to the list of ways Roxy is livin’ her best life.

We set up and had a nice campfire – but it gets mighty chilly at night here. We headed inside, and Roxy curled into my lap and snuggled to get warm. I LOVE that. She was exhausted from a long drive, a long hike and lots of stimulation – and was passed out cold. There’s a lot here to enjoy – and we will explore for the next couple of days. Because, whether she knows it or not, this part of our trip is for her.

I can’t leave this topic without mentioning that, for 62 years, I wasn’t any kind of a dog person. I was afraid, I didn’t know how to interact, and we certainly never had a dog. My parents weren’t pet people. I didn’t dislike dogs; I just didn’t understand them. There was a person on Facebook that I knew from childhood; we reconnected when Roxy came into our lives. This person is a lifelong dog lover; their dogs are their entire life. As my FB posts became more in depth with dog problems, dog frustrations, dog questions, and high maintenance dog “bitching”, this person told me what a horrible human I was, and how I should never be allowed to have a dog. When I tried to explain how difficult this was for me, and how I had no clue what the hell I was doing, I was repeatedly chastised for being a terrible pet owner. I eventually gave up, “unfriended” and blocked said person. Adding insult to the situation was not necessary. I would like this person to know what I’ve brought to this dog’s life – and what she has brought to mine. THAT is the most unexpected part of this entire journey. So, the frustration will continue – as will the intermittent leash pulling, the unrelenting stranger barking, the overwhelming medical interventions, the time consuming food preparation – and the 24/7, unconditional, heart wrenching love and compassion. And that, is the most unexpected emotion of all.

Yesterday’s trivia answer was Tennessee played Alabama in college football on Sunday – and Alabama won. I don’t think anyone weighed in – or cared. Today’s trivia question: What do you think is the current, number 1 selling breed of dog in the United States? Just guess, don’t use Google.

More dog stories tomorrow. Thanks for reading. Stay safe. Be a kind human.

Marla and Rich

“..Lazy Day, just right for lovin’ away. Lazy Day, made for a stroll in the lane – baby, you and me….”

Just a quick post – as I’m having trouble sleeping. Today was a beautiful, lazy, camping day. This campground has busy festival weekends quite often. And this weekend was a country craft fair/southern barbecue/ pre- Halloween celebration. Now, 2 out of 3 of the above mentioned activities do NOTHING for me. But…a craft fair? Hello! Fortunately, for Rich, today was Saturday, and I took neither my phone nor my wallet when we walked by the fair. But, there were some gorgeous handmade items to be found. People are so talented- and super friendly. And I love that.

We had Roxy with us, of course, and she attracted attention because she was carrying one of her toys in her mouth while we walked. She loves her toys. She could be an add for Benebone dog toys everywhere we go. There are so many dogs here – and every interaction was a good one. I was very glad.

Later in the day, Rich took the dog for another walk. Apparently, it was during the ‘trunk or treat’ portion of the day. We didn’t participate- we just didn’t know how big this event was. But, as Rich walked, there were folks throwing DOG treats instead of candy. Roxy was in heaven! She also laid down for belly rubs from as many people as possible. This behavior beats her other common behavior – when we’re sitting in front of the RV, relaxing, and a person walks by from Roxy’s peripheral vision. She becomes a lunatic. No amount of correction seems to help. I believe SHE believes she’s ‘protecting’ us. I much prefer her other behaviors.

We spent time outside with our neighbors also – just talking, laughing, and comparing camping stories. The man next to us shared that he is in treatment for cancer. He was diagnosed 5 years ago – and they gave him 5 years. So now, he’s completing items on his bucket list. I mean – what do you say to that? He and Rich shared a drink, and some laughs – and he said he wants to learn pickelball. G-d bless him and his family. I really feel blessed that we met them.

We cleaned up this evening and got things in order – because we’re on the move tomorrow. Stop #7 – and, really, the location around which this trip was originally planned. We are also due to meet Rich’s old childhood friend tomorrow. It’s going to be a busy day.

The trivia question was answered correctly by…everyone! Maybe Robin was first- but I’m not sure. Yellowstone is bigger than both The Great Smoky’s and Acadia. Nice job! Today’s question: there was a big college football game today, between Tennessee and…who? And who won? (And who cares??! – oh, didn’t mean to say that out loud!) Answer in the next post.

No pics from today – but I will find something. Thanks for reading. Stay safe.

Marla and Rich

Posing for pics at The Island.

Contemplating jumping in the stream.

“…Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!….”

Today’s title is less of a song, and more of a tag line. In fact, it seems to be the tag line of this trip. We’ve had to pivot so many times so far – and Thursday and Friday were no exception.

Thursday started with a full plan. We were going to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with plans to hike, sight see, foliage frolic, and more. We packed our lunch, loaded the dog in the rental car, stopped for coffee, and drove the 30 minutes or so to the park. Traffic was quite heavy – it definitely seems we picked a very popular time to visit Tennessee. We wound our way to the Sugarlands Visitor Center, finally finding a parking spot way in the back. And, then, through a series of unfortunate events that I don’t want to recall here, we had to leave the park and return to the Enterprise office with our rental. We needed a replacement car. We were told to return the current car. So, before EVER having seen anything – we were out of the park. I know this cryptic, but that’s the best I can do right now. The event caused NO physical harm. It did, however, trigger a panic attack, shaking, crying, anger, and disgust. And it involved no one but ourselves. Let’s leave it at that.

On our way out of the park, the traffic slowed to a crawl – and we finally saw why.  A baby bear cub was climbing up and down a tree by the side of the road. The cub was so cute. I know that’s a strange comment, but it was. Roxy was barking at the cub – but from the comfort of our car. I think she thought it was a new playmate. As I sometimes question why stupid things happen to us, I can also see that if we hadn’t left the park at that time, we wouldn’t have seen the cub. There’s the cup half full.

Rich dropped Roxy and I off at a dog park that was 5 minutes from the Enterprise office. Although it looked shady at first, it turned out to be a place with really nice dogs, lovely dog owners, and lots of room for Roxy to run. It was a great option rather than sitting outside an office, in a parking lot. Rich returned within the hour – with the SAME car. It seems that there WEREN’T any replacement cars available – and our car was deemed completely drivable. So, other than Roxy making friends with some dogs, that was 90+ minutes gone forever. We got in the car, and decided to go BACK to the park.

The traffic was much reduced at this later time of day, and there was more parking available. Cup half full again. We parked, ate our packed picnic lunch by the car, and headed out to hike. It was 3:04 p.m.

There are 2 trails in the National Park that allow dogs. We were near the trailhead for the Gatlinburg Trail -the closest dog friendly trail. Here’s the information on this trail. “It travels 1.9 miles one-way from the Sugarlands Visitor Center to the outskirts of the city of Gatlinburg, TN. It is relatively flat and runs through the forest alongside the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River…”

From our car to the beginning of the trail was about a quarter-mile walk. Remember that.  And so, late Thursday afternoon, we headed out. There were many other families, dogs, couples – it was a hoppin’ place. The trail was beautiful. It was relatively flat. And I was prepared with my walking sticks, hiking shoes, layered clothing, and water. We had JUST eaten lunch, so no need for a snack.

I started to get tired as we were approaching the Gatlinburg end of the trail. The hardest aspect was the rocky surface of the trail, as it really bothered my feet. I guess next time doubling up on socks will be the way to go. There were no “leave me here to die!” moments as have occurred in the past – and I was fiercely determined to finish this hike. I’ve had a multitude of back, leg, hip and pain issues recently – and I told myself that I could accomplish this. I was right.

All the people on the hiking trail were very nice, and loved interacting with Roxy. There are several places along the way where the River is accessible. Rich took Roxy in the water. She was in doggy heaven! The other hikers loved watching her jump and swim. Suddenly, word came from those ahead of us that a bear – a big, Momma bear – was coming down the path. They said she looked agitated – and we should move off the path and move Roxy away. Well – ya don’t have to tell me twice! We moved – and almost immediately we saw the bear. She was not super close – but we could clearly see her. She crossed the river, and headed into the woods away from us. Rich got a great shot – and we shared our pictures with those not lucky enough to see her.

We reached the end of the trail – one way, of course – and headed back. My feet were killing me, and I was exhausted with each step. There was a lot of self talking motivation to get back. And get back we did – at about 5:30. That’s 2 and a half hours hiking. Rich was exhilarated. Roxy was happy, but tired. I was…done.

A word about Roxy – she is living her best life. She is living the best life we can give her. She had a play date at a dog park, a 4 and a half mile hike, swimming in cool mountain water, and a picnic lunch – who could ask for anything more? She is EXHAUSTED today – but it’s a good kind of exhausted.

We left the park, and headed back to the RV park (about a half hour drive). Once back, we took care of the important stuff.  I immediately took Advil, Rich immediately made Roxy’s dinner, and Roxy ate and passed out. Rich decided to let Roxy rest – and the two of us went out to grab a bite to eat.

About 10 minutes away is a tourist destination called “The Island at Pigeon Forge”. It is a huge outdoor mall/hotel/amusement park/food paradise all jammed into one place. Rich calls it a spectacular extravaganza of over stimulation! There is a tram from the parking lot to take you to where the action is. We found a restaurant at which we could eat, and had dinner. We ALSO could have had fudge, cinnabons, ice cream, candy, cookies, brownies – and enough different kinds of alcohol to make a frat boy blush! But – we stopped at dinner.  Admittedly, it’s a very unique place, quite unlike any we’ve been to before. It reminded me most of “Clifton Hill” at Niagara Falls, in Canada.

We headed back to our campground, and had a wonderful conversation with our neighbor Robin. I can’t believe what a special person she is – and how kind she is. I needed that kindness this evening. G-d works in mysterious ways.

We had a whole plan set for Friday – but “pivot, pivot, pivot”!! It was POURING when we woke up. Our plans were outdoor plans…so, we stayed in bed and went back to sleep. With time, the rains ended, and the day was improving. We decided to salvage some of the day. We started at the “Moon Pie General Store and Original Book Warehouse”. It was a great store – dog friendly! – that sold just about everything. Roxy was great, and we did some souvenir damage. We visited another few places, and then headed back to “The Island”. During the day, it is just a busy as at night. We weren’t looking to buy anything in particular – or eat anything at all. It was just nice to walk around. Roxy once again got plenty of loving from kind strangers.  She continues livin’ the life.

Rich returned the rental car, got a ride back home from Enterprise, and we are settling in for a Pigeon Forge Shabbat (Sabbath). It is very nice to NOT be racing to reach someplace by sundown, as last week. The weather is supposed to be nice, and there are activities at the campground the entire weekend. So, we’ll see what there is to see.

Wednesday’s trivia question was answered correctly by Lisa, and Lew – and Maureen said she knew, but would pass! Tennessee is the Volunteer State. Today’s trivia is a multiple choice: Out of these 3 parks that we have visited, which one is the largest: a. The Great Smoky Mountains, b. Acadia, or c. Yellowstone?  No googling – just guess.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the photos below. Shabbat Shalom to those who celebrate. We are wishing everyone a very peaceful and healing autumn weekend. Catch you soon.

Marla and Rich

“…Wish that I was on ol’ Rocky Top, down in the Tennessee hills, ain’t no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top, ain’t no telephone bills..”

Greetings from Tennessee! It’s a crisp (read that as cold!) clear, starry night here in Pigeon Forge. We are at Claborgh’s Campground – a very large, very popular RV resort. We will be in the area for a while – and we’re looking forward to being in one location for more than 24 hours. 

Our drive today was 4 and a half hours of pretty scenery, clear skies, and changing temperatures. It was a very typical October day.  Roxy has grown fond of sitting ON me when I’m in the passenger seat. She will alternate by curling up in between Rich and I on the floor, on her blanket – but she prefers being on me. I think, in reality, she would love to sit on Rich’s lap while he’s driving the RV – but that’s frowned upon by most policemen.

After 2 pit stops – one to stretch and one for lunch – we arrived at the local Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch at 4:30. I picked up a car, and, 20 minutes later, we were at the Campground. The road into the campground that the GPS suggested was another roller coaster, hairpin turn road. I was not a fan. I am hoping there is an alternative way outta here. 

As we were setting up, our neighbors greeted us. Robin, Roxy and Tony – and their 2 tiny dogs – were super friendly and welcoming. They hail from North Carolina, and have the BEST accent! It was nice making small talk with genuinely friendly people. We spent the evening walking around the grounds, introducing Roxy to new dog friends, and eating a delicious dinner. The news of the world today continues to be rough and hard to handle.  We de-stressed with an episode of “Survivor”, a campfire, and a look at the star-filled sky. It was a nice and relaxing evening. We are getting ready for our sightseeing days tomorrow and Friday. 

Yesterday’s trivia question was partially answered by Lisa. Zachary Taylor was the last president to own slaves DURING HIS PRESIDENCY. The last president to own slaves in his lifetime was Ulysses S. Grant. Grant freed his last slave in 1859. And, that answer was actually in some of the pictures that Rich posted on social media on Monday. Our friend Lew caught that one.

New trivia question for today: New Jersey is the Garden State, Florida is the Sunshine State, New York is the Empire State, so What’s Tennessee’s tag line? NO GOOGLE ALLOWED! 

The only picture attached is the view along the drive. It’s very pretty here. Thanks for reading. Stay safe.

Marla and Rich