Anticipation

We learned Saturday evening that our new RV has finally made it's way across the US from Elkhart IN to Merrimack NH. Today we received word on when we're scheduled to take delivery and ownership of it - a week from Friday. The dealership says they won't be able to have it prepped and ready for us before then because they're really busy with other deliveries.

Of course when we heard "Friday", somehow I got it in my mind that it was THIS Friday, not a week from Friday. And I was sitting right next to the calendar as Mark our salesman was saying Friday the 27th.

I'm just getting very anxious for this unit. Whether that's because it's new and exciting to order a unit to our specifications, or if I'm tired of looking at storage tubs in the middle of the living space in our current trailer, or even a combination of both, I don't know. I just know that by nightfall on the 27th, my new home will be our Cameo Carriage (35sb3). There is a lot more storage area to fit those things we just weren't able to part with when we sold our home.

I only packed a limited number of shirts and pants in the RV, leaving the rest in storage boxes with the hope I'd be able to say "what should I wear today" within 2 or 3 weeks. That was 4 weeks ago and I've got one more week to go. And like a typical woman, there is clothing I've got in the RV that I haven't worn, and don't expect to between now and next weekend. I've got nothing to wear!

Add to the clothes dilemma are my knitting supplies are packed away. The weather has been on the colder side and wet. Lots of damp dreary days without sunlight which makes one want to knit (at least me). But the needles and yarn are in storage boxes in the "basement" of the RV or in the utility trailer. Although the box is marked, to get to it will mean moving other boxes about and I'm not about to move 10 to 15 little items that are out of boxes to get to the box for one or two items and then have to put it all back.

One of the throw pillows on my bed sums up my thoughts about getting in to the new RV - it says "God give me patience - but please hurry"

Let the fun begin....

A day about Birds and Bees

No, not a lesson that will make our grandparents' blush. Today was one of those beautiful spring days when we saw and heard lots of bumble and honey bees buzzing around. And we saw some beautiful birds soaring in the skies.

The bees are everywhere right now. We had 3 days with rain at the campground and today, with the sun out bright, the dandelions are in full bloom, dotting the grassy field where we take the dogs to run. Naturally the bees are out collecting pollen from these and other flowers in bloom.

Earlier today we went to some box home ware stores and looked at the various plants and flowers they had for sale. On some Heather plants we saw several interesting bees. There were lots of yellow and black bumblebees, but these bees had an orange strip across their bodies. Nothing either of us had seen before. In looking up what this was, we discovered it's a tricolor bumble bee. Neat.

As for the birds, although we didn't see it today, we heard the knocking of a pileated woodpecker that lives in the woods around the campground. The only times I can recall seeing a pileated woodpecker has been while in Maine.

This afternoon, while sitting near our fire pit, we heard the scolding of a crow and noticed a bird with a white tail circling over the trees. The crow kept darting towards this bird, and as the soaring bird turned, we realized it was indeed a Bald Eagle. After watching it for a few minutes we decided to grab the binoculars - sure enough, by the time we had them in hand, the eagle had moved on.

An hour later we saw an Osprey flying over the campground. These sites and sound are reinforcing for us our decision to become full-time RVers. We are truly happy campers.

Day 2 Ramblings

We finally have started our full-time RVing experience. The original plan was to be out of our house on Thursday (we stopped calling it a home back in February when we put it on the market). Tuesday both of us were feeling very stressed about how much we still had to sort through and clear out. That night we accepted that we didn't really have to be out on Thursday and that if it took an additional 2 days, that would be find.

The goal of Thursday was originally planned for as I was scheduled to work in Bar Harbor on Friday. We decided I would go to Bar Harbor Thursday evening, spend the night and work Friday. When I finished working, I'd drive back to SoPortland and we'd finish up clearing out. A new departure goal of Saturday morning was set.

By 9am on Saturday we still weren't quite there. It was 4:30 when we pulled away from the house that had been our home for 10 1/2 years. I wanted to cry about the potential of lost friendships and acquaintances, but I also didn't feel this was the final time I'd see some of those folks, and I had a 180 mile journey ahead that I needed to stay focused on to drive. We arrived at the campground a bit after 8 pm and took a pull-through site for the night, awaiting morning to pull in to the site we had selected last fall. As we went to sleep, the tears finally overtook me.

Sunday we awoke with new energy and brought the camper to the site we wanted. We unhitched and then decided we wanted to reposition the rig. That's when the fun began. The site we chose was a pull-in, better geared for bus campers. The ground under our truck hadn't been driven on and packed down, and there was still some frost in the ground. Although we have 4 wheel drive, we were spinning tires trying to get the truck back under the trailer.

After a bit of time between ourselves trying to get things moved and then calling in some of the workers at the campground, we were able to get the trailer moved - off the site. We then walked around the campground discussing the pros and cons of other potential sites for us to move in to. We ended up returning to the site we had used the previous year, but instead of pulling in (hook ups generally dictate which way you face) we backed in and are passing some of our cables under the rig to get our services.

Now that we're plugged in and settling in for the wait for the new trailer, we're walking about talking to each other about how great this site really is and how we should have turned the trailer around last year, the new positioning of the RV is so much better.

Two days down and things are going well. Of course, starting our adventures at a campground and in a community we already know is making the adjustment much easier.