Fall Colors

What a trip! Hard to believe we started this two weeks ago. So many states, towns, back roads, sites to see and the endless amount of road kill. Ya really can’t prepare for that. One day it’s nothing but raccoons. Next day it’s possum looking things. Then back to raccoons. Deer. Lots of deer. There are signs to tell you about the deer, but road napping is what happens. Then there is always the critters you really can’t be sure what it used to be. There was a turtle. Yep, I was just as confused. He never made it across the white line. It’s the kind of stuff that makes the drive less drivie.

Gettysburg took our breath away. To walk where history took place was special. 

Saturday has us in 4 states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Ohio. We crossed into WV twice.

Thursday night we stayed in Farmington, New York. We got parked next to a raucous young family. They had so many Halloween decorations that we could barely extend our slide.

On Friday, we drove south into Pennsylvania around Harrisburg to the southern part of the state to Gettysburg. We were able to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park museum and visitor center that afternoon and walk some of the trails. The monuments are prolific. The commemoration of the events of those three days in July, astounding.

Rene here. Thursday morning we woke to 32 degrees. We visited Fort Ticonderoga. It was windy but the temp rose to 50. (You recall how much Darc hates wind.) It was amazing to see the construction of this Revolutionary War fort. The variety of cannons, munitions,  and firearms was something to see. The foundation does a great job of demonstrating daily soldier life showing meal preparation, shoemaking, brick building, and their musket demonstration was something. Due to our travel schedule, we were not able to stay for the afternoon’s cannon demonstration. But I bet that would have been very loud.

This is Rene. Wednesday was drive day across four states. We left the KOA in Maine around 7:45, crossed into New Hampshire and then Vermont , and eventually made it to New York. It rained heavily for approximately three hours, and then the sun burst through. The mountains were glorious, the fall colors vibrant.

Jeanne Garmin, however, was not great. We pulled off for a gas stop and needed to turn around. She led us through a parking lot and then said to go 7/10 of a mile down a road that didn’t exist. Darcy found our way out and we went on down the road.  We planned to arrive at the campground around 4:30. At about 4:20, we came up to a ferry site that was closed. Jeanne had led us down to a ferry. She wants us to die.
There was a small area in which to turn around and backtrack. 20 miles back up the coast of Lake Champlain. Words were said.  Frustration was rampant. It took us another hour to get back up to a bridge and then to the campsite. Brookwood RV Resort is beautiful, just off 9N. We plan to go visit Fort Ticonderoga today.

Playing a little catch up this morning. Two nights in Bar Harbor were spectacular to say the least. The weather was perfect. Our campsite was about 50 yards from the ocean. We walked on the rocks and looked at all the shells and just took a deep breath. Dusty figured out quick that ocean water tastes gross. The sounds of the waves just calms everything inside.

Acadia National Park. We, I, thought it wouldn’t be busy. Packed!! It was fine. We did the 27-mile drive loop and stopped at as many points as we could. Parking was a challenge. Once again, the colors leave you speechless.

Yes, we ate seafood! Lobster roll, clam chowder and 2 pounds of steamed clams.

On a personal heart note. This trip was planned at one point with Candy leading the way. It was our goal after chemo. She wanted so badly to go one more time. When the news came in August that our time was short, she insisted we make the trip no matter what. She gave us all her notes on her trips. Even surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, my soul aches for my best friend. To hear her voice or her laugh as I came up with a word I thought was real. I hope she is proud of me for pushing forward with tears, laughter, frustration and my soulmate, Rene.

We left VT around 8:20 a.m. and were in New Hampshire by 8:35 a.m. I drove the whole day while Radar O’Reilly, I mean Rene, ran the directions. Thing of beauty on her end. Drive 9 miles turn right, her right, turn left at the circle thing, head due north by ten clicks then crank it hard right. Okay, it just felt that bad. NH is gorgeous right now. 84 freaking degrees I might add. Driving the state highways with the different trees on both sides takes your breath away. Not one picture will ever do it justice.

Bar Harbor is packed with people. Those people drive. Most not very well. Some even thought since I was from Idaho, I wouldn’t understand how the slow lane works going up a hill, and what to do when that lane ended. I’ve pulled a trailer to McCall! These fools here wait until there is 5 feet of slow lane left before trying to pass. Nope. Horn honking and the bird flew. They looked stunned. Weird.

Looking forward to Acadia Park to get some hiking in. Then eat as much seafood as possible.

Watching the leaves change reminds me of that drippy, sappy saying about seasons change, everything has a reason and shit just happens because. Okay, you get my point. Candy always said she wanted to live to be 100. I guess we don’t really get to decide. When our season is over and our leaves start to change, it’s okay. There will be new growth of some kind to take its place in some form or another.

Beautiful day here with a high of around 85! We did wake to fog but then someone fanned the forge.

Drove to the Vermont Country Store and it was great. They have everything, including, but not limited to, large quantities of English Leather and Jean Nate’. I did pause to open the JN to take a good sniff. My grandma used that. Also, everything and anything you can think of to put maple in, they have it. Insane! Rene made the mistake of handing me our store bag. That bag got heavy 😳 Outside the store was this perfect bench. I sat for awhile and had a chat with Candy. Little bit of her will always be right there.

Drove next to Hogback Mountain lookout. Nothing but a sea of colorful landscape as far as the eye can see.

About Dusty. He has been the best travel dog, but he is weird. Stuff freaks him out and he never forgets. Example, small light on the power stand light under our trailer. Dusty sees this path of light and won’t walk on it. Pulls us around it, won’t use the stairs to the trailer so he jumps in. All day in the daylight, he walks around the area where the light was. Head shaker.

Day late again. Beautiful drive to Vermont yesterday. The tree colors along the way are nothing short of spectacular. Orange, reds, light and dark browns and different shades of greens. The raccoons seem smarter out here. Not as many dead ones. Every town we go through, seems like everyone is selling mums and pumpkins. The mums are huge! We are still trying to figure out how to bring some back. My suggestion of bungiing them to the top of the trunk was met with a strong no. Folks around here also live Halloween! They don’t mess around with decorations! They go all out, including their vehicles.

Today we head to Candy’s second favorite stop, The Vermont County Store. She gave us a bag from there to fill up with goodies. Tears started at 7:30am for me. Miss her very much today.

Easy drive to NY today. Absolutely beautiful. So many colors in the trees right now. The KOA where we are staying is over 100 acres of amazing.

This trip is about so much more than seeing the colors. The last year, and especially the last 3 months, have been rough. But in that rough have been lessons in unconditional love, support and being in the moment. Candy was teaching me these lessons until the end. I’m now learning to make time for my new friend, Grief. As uncomfortable as it may be, we are learning to coexist. When I make time for Grief, she doesn’t tend to smack me when I least expect it. I still start crying at all different times because I’m so hurt and sad. But making time to feel the feels and not fight them makes a difference. Some days are still harder than others. Raw. Being in nature is so healing and centering for me right now, and walking it with Rene is beyond special.