Making a good appearance

I'm amazed at how many folks, especially neighbors, have asked me, "Where's the coach? We saw you had some trouble coming north with it but we want to see it!"  My answer is pretty much the same for all.
-Quo's  in the body shop, then to McGrath's Auto, Truck & RV Garage for a new set of LED light bulbs throughout and an electric fireplace wall mount heater in the living room, etc.
-She doesn't want to be seen without her new 'coat' of paint in this cold weather.
-Soon! Soon!

And now we know that State Farm has approved all the body repairs on the coach (see top pic- basement doors and the radiator grill) so perhaps even by the end of this week Paul at D & D Collision will have her all done (see the next pic for how she WILL look!) and ready to head over to John & Kim's for the inside work.

I've had some helpful advice from many good friends since having this, and the TOAD, accident.
-Take a CDL license course.
-Just don't hit anything.
-Drive safely and stay out of my drive!
Thank you all for them!

And along with the advice we've gotten some other cool stuff.
-Prayers
-Some great driving tips from RV and Trucker pros
-More prayers... mostly for Mona, for some reason.

Today Audrey Dunekack, who upgraded our garage 30 amp exterior RV electric hookup to 50 amp while we were down south asked me when the coach would be here and hooked up.  I had to tell her it will be a couple of weeks yet. But I could tell her it won't be long.  Then anyone who wants a peek can come on over to 100 Holly Drive, Douglassville, for a look.  At least until we move into her and leave the house for good.

She'll be at the house on the corner hiding behind the RV.

PS:  The house lists with Brian Kelly Realtors, Gilbertsville, February 1st.  And the auctioneer, Cathy Pennypacker, comes to value the house contents for sale on the 4th.  But Mona is hoping we have till April at least to move.  Have I mentioned that she likes winter camping less than she likes winter?

-Ken

Camping?

In 1970 Mona and I traveled in style.  We had the latest 'camel' brand canvas umbrella tent and dining fly.  The folding chairs and table were of the finest aluminum. The Coleman ice chest was insulated with state of the art fiberglass. And it all fit neatly in the trunk of our Plymouth Valiant V8.

But there were several who declared in our hearing that such extravagance was decidedly NOT camping. A dining fly? We might as well have stayed at home and taken our meals on the porch.

In 2014 this, our new home come Spring (it's in the shop now, remember?), is one I would never dare call camping myself. While hardly the largest 'land yacht' on the highway, it's not the smallest, either.  But then, this is not a weekend, or even a weeks-long habitat, but our permanent home (once the garages are done with her).

Interestingly, Mona and I do catch ourselves calling it our 'camper' from time to time. I mean, you can stay in a campground with it. And there is a 'dining fly' that extends over the lawn, or patio, when you wish it to. But a camper?  Hardly.  All the images of roughing it under the trees, waking to dew coating the roof of your tent, or walking to the public washroom at 2 am disappear with any motor home, or most towed trailers. We both look forward to looking out at new vistas each morning after driving to a new parking spot, but not true camping.

In the 1950's my dad took my brother Jim and I to a spot along Sherman's Creek in Perry County, PA, that he once frequented with his boy scout tent in the 1920's.  We had to bounce through two rough farm field roads in our 1954 Ford Fairlane to get to it and not only was there no cell reception, Netflix decidedly did not come in on the tent wall screen. But then mosquito's didn't get in, either.

We fished, cooked what we caught on an open fire, and swam in the cool flowing stream for a full weekend without seeing, or hearing, another soul. This was camping. And when the evening meal was consumed, and the the dishes washed with gravel, not soap, at the water's edge, you could lie back and look up at the stars and along with our dad say, "this is the life of Riley." Another time, a distant place. But then neither I, Jim, nor dad were in our sixties. Retirement camping doesn't have to include sleeping on the ground, does it?

I hope not. Otherwise our Tempurpedic mattress will create just too much guilt.

A welcomed HOME

Today we arrived back in Douglassville, PA, after over 2,000 miles of trekking to pick up, learn how to drive (and turn corners, and NOT to back up with TOAD in tow) and return.. Our home, and the two of us, were welcomed as we made a stop in Lancaster's Park City Shopping Center (BIG parking lot) by our daughter Jennifer's family (with her wife Chris, and sons Tristan and Kaream. Khalif was at Hempfield High School drumline practice) and Mona's sister Loretta and her husband Larry Crum.

They were all waiting in the FREEZING cold wind as we rolled to a stop in front of their cars. They were all there to see the new home Mona and I will be living in full time come June. And they were all there to have lunch with us at TGI Fridays, but isn't food a part of all good family gatherings?

They were welcoming us home, and our new home was made welcome. Though the latter means we will be taking our home with us and away from them all for long periods of time. Sweet and sour thoughts, as the Pennsylvania Germans say.  But mostly sweet.

The internet, and unlimited phone minutes in Canada and the US make staying close together at a distance more possible than ever. And pictures, bot in our BLOGS, and on Facebook, work even stronger magic. Still, nothing says 'Welcome' like a solid hug from a loved one, and that, as any overseas deployed service person will tell you, is what makes home really home.

So we are back for four and a half months.  Then we truly depart for some places we know, and many as yet unknown.  Not to stay away, but to tell tales electronically of where we've been as we travel, and meet back here again at some future date, for hugs, food, friends and family.

PS:  The TOAD is running like a champ. After all, she's nearly 1/3rd brand new now! And the Coach drove smoothly and well from Jacksonville FL to Baltimore MD on the busy I-95, and home from B-town even in some wind just fine.

We dropped the coach off at D & D Collision in Pottstown this evening to receive it's new basement doors and radiator grill, then we take it to our RV shop to give it a full set of LED light bulbs (they use alot less battery power), and a few other touches as we prepare it to 'dry camp / boon dock / live rent free' all over the US and Canada, between stops in campgrounds and the occasional hotel.

Now I have the last touches to put on tomorrow's sermon, and Mona has finally completed her two week mail pile. Not answering it all yet, but she made a solid dent!

-Ken