Carolina Snow

Have you ever seen Carolina snow? It isn't what you would normally see up north and it isn't the type of snow that you want to be out playing in. This snow is a lime green color and usually starts to fall from the sky in the spring time. We had never heard of such a thing much less seen it. Well, it all started off at a normal pace. The Pine Trees that cover this vast area are starting to bud and produce this little flower on the ends of their branches. These little flowers also produce pollen and as the wind kicks up it gently stirs up the air with this lime green dust.

The locals tell me that this is just the beginning and that in a week it will be at its peak. Last night as we walked around the campground with our flashlights we noticed in the beam of the light being cast from the flashlight it looked as though it was snowing. I tried to take a picture to give you an idea of what we saw.

Over night the pollen continued to fall and by the time we woke up this morning everything had a fine layer of this lime green talc.

This afternoon the clouds rolled in and a few sprinkles fell and mixed with this talc creating a nice goo green past when you would try the windshield wipers on. Over the next couple of days they are calling for more rain so it should wash away the dust for now. The bad news is that next week should be the peak for pollen around here and I didn't bring our snow shovel. I may have to call on our RoadSide Assistance to come shovel us out. Hopefully Road Hazard will get traction in this stuff.

So now you can say that you've heard about Carolina Snow.

McCormick

I haven't been able to upload anything to the blog in awhile since we arrived in a small city in the southwest corner of South Carolina. Land of the Palmetto Tree and Crescent Moon. Just 50 minutes north of Augusta, Georgia. Tucked in between the hills and shore of the Savannah River lies the city of McCormick.

The temperature is still quite chilly when I wake up in the morning. Around the low 30's with the low laying mist hugging the ground until the sun warms up enough to burn it away. The campground is away from any busy roads and your only neighbors are the deer and raccoons that come by the campsite to look for anything we may have left out.
The other night we built a nice fire and sat enjoying the heat while talking about our past year on the road. What is it about a campfire that just relaxes you. Is it the crackling logs or the warm heat against your legs? Is it the smell of smoke or the dancing light across your partners face? We burned all the wood we had and then picked up what ever we could find around us not wanting the fire to die.

I have been working this State Park with my new job. Today, my first day, I spent in the small town of McCormick. I say small because there is a Main Street with a few side streets. The railroad tracks go right down the middle of town and still see quite a bit of traffic today. As I walk this Main Street and look into shop windows I can still imagine how life must have been back in the days that these small towns were so important to the Railroads. It used to be that the trains wouldn't run at night so they would stop here in McCormick for the night. Travelers would walk the block down to the local Bed and Breakfast to stay overnight. The local restaurants would be full of hungry travelers. The streets would be a hive of activity. Today, as I look around I am the only one walking around with very few cars passing by. Yet, these old buildings are still standing and telling their stories of years gone by. The faint musty smell gently hits you as you enter through the big tall glass doors. The squeaky worn wooden floor bends under your weight as you walk down the isles of displayed wares.
I am glad to be able to see yet another side of this country. Just when I thought I had seen it all I realize that there are these small communities tucked away like little gems waiting to be found.

Truck Stop

Tonight I am sitting in a huge parking lot filled with tractor trailer trucks all around us. Their big diesel engines running, the constant popping and whizzing of their air brakes and purge values going off. You might be wondering why? We are in transit to our next job site and decided to pull into this truck stop for the night. Since we are only here for the evening and will be on the road first thing tomorrow morning why spend money on a campground. We are headed up to the southwest corner of South Carolina. About 50 minutes north of Augusta, Georgia. The place we will be staying and working is called Hickory Knob State Park. It's more like a resort since they have an 18 hole golf course along with hotel and campground. We'll be there for the next two weeks as we work the area. I hope to get some golf in while we are there or at least go to the driving range a bunch of times.
For now I am entertaining myself by watching these truckers pull up in their big rigs. Maneuver them around, back them up between two other trucks with the ease of a two year old picking his nose. No thought at all.
I can only hope that the weather will continue to be hot as we move north. I think we got a little spoiled being by the ocean for the past couple of weeks. We really had forgotten how much we missed just hanging on the beach all day. Reading, sleeping, watching the waves roll in and people watching. We hope to be on a shore again soon. For now, here we come South Carolina!

Lift Off

After getting settled into our new location Sunday afternoon, here in Fort Pierce, we watched the clock closely and had the news turned on. This evening at 7:43 the Space Shuttle was to try and lift off after its three previous attempts were scrubbed due to faulty equipment. A small crowd started to gather at the swimming pool which had an unobstructed view of the northern sky.

As the clock got closer people would shout out of their rig excitedly with the time remaining. It was almost like waiting for new years with the countdown. Then as the small crowds started the countdown in unison chills started up my spine. Is it true? Was I going to witness the 128th Space Shuttle launch?

Then, as a silent star shooting across the dusk sky we saw the rockets fury as it pushed the space vehicle upwards. Too far to hear or feel the power of those engines, left to only imagine it.

Slowly the Shuttle continued to ascend. Even though it was going straight up, with the earth spinning at close to 900 miles an hour, the Shuttle looked like it was going at an angle.We were slowly moving away from the shuttle as it continued its journey to weightlessness.

We could see the two rockets get ejected off the Space Shuttle and slowly separate from each other and start the decent back to earth to be recycled and used for another launch. All that remained was a small white glowing star that got smaller and smaller. Soon all that remained to show that something spectacular had happened was the smoke left lingering in the warm Florida night sky. As the last rays of the sun bounced off the smoke it cast beautiful colors. All this took place in a matter of a minute since the Shuttle is moving at close to 16,700 miles an hour to get out of earths gravitational pull. Once it reaches 150 miles above the earths surface it will begin to orbit around the earth like another satellite.

Ruins in Florida

Not too far down the road from our campground sits a Sugar Mill Ruin, once a highly functional sugar mill. This area was once surrounded by acres and acres of Sugar Cane fields. An investor borrowed money from several banks to buy machinery and to build this mill. It was built and run by slaves.

Around 1835 the area was also home to many Seminole Indians and this plantation was right in the middle of their grounds. Soon the Indians began to attack this mill and with the help of the slaves they burned it down.

Today, all that is left are a few walls and scattered machinery parts. The large metal drums that were used to cook the sugar cane to extract the sugar and molasses are still here. The place has been forgotten and very few visitors venture back into this park. Its a part of history that doesn't get any attention and is never spoken of. We always think of Indian battles taking place out west but there were many bloody wars that happened here in Florida.

The Sugar Mill Ruins evoke a time long ago when the Seminole Indians fought the settlers, ending the area's molasses and sugar industries.

Scrub

How lucky can we be? That's the thought the kept racing through my head yesterday as the anticipation of the evenings events were drawing closer. I had seen it on television and watched with awe in movies and now I was going to get my chance of a lifetime. The Space Shuttle is going to launch tonight and it is only 40 miles down the road. We planned the entire day around this momentous event. We even left the beach early so that we could get ready and drive the 40 miles to pick our site for the launch. We wanted to get as close as possible. I wanted to feel the rumbling, the jarring deep within my chest when this space vehicle took off. If we could feel the heat and get a few hairs singed from the flames it would be a bonus.

We had our plans set and were executing them perfectly. I called ahead to the restaurant to book our reservations for a perfect view of the launch pad across the Indian River from Cape Canaveral. Instead of someone answering the phone a message came on. It informed us that the Space Shuttle launch had been scrubbed. Oh no! This can't be happening. Don't they know that we are in place for this once in a lifetime event? Don't they know that we planned the entire day for this moment. How can it be? What could have possibly have happened to scrub the launch? We found the restaurant, Paul's Smokehouse, and decided to go in and have dinner anyways. While seated at the bar downing our sours and waiting for our table we heard on the news that there was a fuel leak. They wouldn't be able to inspect the bird until Friday and the tentative launch date is set for Sunday evening at 7:43.

We were told the wait was only an hour for our table. After an hour and a half we checked back with the hostess. She said we were next. Another half hour and we finally got seated. When I asked to speak to the manager it took another hour for him to materialize and just hear excuses why their staff was doing such a poor job. Just when we thought the night was lost our friend Janice looked out the window and saw the perfect shot. The full moon had risen over the Cape and cast its light across the water.

So we didn't get to see the rockets red glare but we did witness one of natures nightly launching and its celestial show. We'll have to wait and see if our plans work out for the next attempt but we did learn a valuable lesson. Space Shuttle launches are unpredictable. That's why if you ever get the opportunity to witness a launch it truly is a once in a lifetime shot.

Going UP

The other day we discovered one of those weird oddities that you see on television sometimes. If you remember last year when we were in Oregon we visited an area believed to contain vortexes. Strange things happened while we were there that we still can't explain. So, when we heard about this one and it was only about 45 minutes from where we were, we just had to go. The story behind this location in the heart of Florida goes something like this. Years ago when the Indians inhabited many areas of Florida an Indian tribe found this great location to set up camp. It was located next to this fresh water lake that was stocked with all types of fish. Setting up camp on the hill side looking over the lake the tribe was happy with their new location. Months went by until one day a huge alligator took up residence in the very same lake. Soon, one at a time, villagers would disappear. They discovered that this alligator was coming into the camp at night and taking a victim. The chief, upon hearing of this, decided that it was time to confront this alligator. He took the blessings of the witch doctors and set off to find this alligator. After a few weeks he finally spotted this beast dragging another victim into the lake. The story goes that a huge battle ensued that took over a month. Every day the villagers would look for the chief until finally one day he emerged from the lake victorious. He had slain the great alligator. What they realized later was that during the battle the chief and alligator had formed a huge depression next to the lake that eventually filled with water. Years went by and the chief died of old age and was buried next to this smaller lake that he had formed. The legend says that the chief is still protecting this area and his power can still be felt.
Fast forward...today if you arrive next to this smaller lake and stop your car in a certain spot, your vehicle will mysteriously began to move on its own, up hill.

We stopped our car on the designated spot, put it in neutral and sure enough the car began to roll backwards up this small hill. I don't know how to explain this but we did this several times all with the same baffling results.

The chiefs powers were felt that day and I don't know how it is possible. Yet another mystery that we have been witness to without any logical explanation.

Paint a New Picture.

We have been traveling for a little over a year, a year and 4 months to be exact, and the one thing that has been a constant throughout our travels are dogs. That's right, dogs. Doesn't matter in what part of the country you are in you will find dogs traveling in motor homes and trailers. At first we thought that it was only the really small ones but we soon realized that people like to travel with huge four legged animals that almost look like horses. Now don't get me wrong. I do like dogs but I have to admit the first time I meet a dog we are both sizing each other up. We stare each other down and both sniff the air as if we could sense the fear omitting from the other. All the wrong things to do, I know, but I had a really bad experience when I was growing up and it has always stuck with me. A German Shepard got loose from the neighbors across the street. There I was playing with my hot wheels in the dirt when I heard this animal coming towards me. All I could do was throw my precious cars in an attempt to slow this four legged mouth full of teeth now closing on me. I screamed and ran faster than I ever had. Closing the glass storm door behind me in time to see this hairy animal launch himself against it. Thud, plop and piddle were the only sounds I heard as the dog hit the door with a thud, fell to the stoop with a plop and piddle was the sound as I wet the foyer floor. Not a proud moment but one that has stuck with me.

So now you know why I am always apprehensive of meeting a new dog. To be honest the little ones scare me more. They tend to bare more teeth than the bigger ones.

Dogs are supposed to be our companions. They are supposed to make our lives much easier. Why then does it seem that we humans are the ones doing all the work and these pampered dogs just sit around licking themselves all day. In the cave man days, dogs were by their masters side when they would go hunting. The dogs would actually do the hunting while the caveman would just collect the booty. Dogs are the ones that should pick up after us. Once, I wanted to get a dog and my wife tried to talk we out of it because it just didn't fit our lifestyle. She convinced me to dog-sit my sisters 125lb bull dog. This thing snored, farted a deadly death cloud and slobbered everywhere. The part that totally convinced me that I never wanted a dog was my first walk with him. It was a cold morning and the grass was wet from the evenings dew. A light layer of fog hugged the ground as the sun started to heat up the morning air. The walk started of nicely as we both enjoyed the crisp morning air. Then without warning he stopped and started to sniff around. Next he got into the position that he was ready to drop a load. With his hind legs shaking he strained to push it out. Finally there it was. The dog turned and inspected it with a sniff and then looked at me as if to say he approved. I knew that at this point I had to do something but I found myself unprepared mentally. To actually see it really scared me. As I leaned over and proceeded to pick up this hot steamy pile of waste and processed dog food he just sat there and watched me. As the hot slurry oozed between my fingers I quickly tried to end this assault on my senses and hurriedly picked the area clean. Folding the plastic bag over itself I tied it up and thought I was done. Now we had to walk the many blocks back home while I still carried this 3 pound bag of still hot doggy play doe. What's wrong with this picture? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't the dog be there for us? The picture below is the one we should have in our heads.

That experience convinced me that dogs are fun as long as you don't walk them and they don't bite you. If only they would tend to me and let me be the true master. If only I could erase my childhood memories. Maybe paint a new picture where I took that dog that wanted to eat me and instead make him part of my playing experience. Maybe something like this...

Maybe I'll never understand why people like traveling with their pets but I am sure I'll continue to see them in all sizes, colors and shapes while we travel around this country.

Full Moon!

I have been putting my thoughts together ever since my good friend told me that he finally got engaged and asked if I would be part of the wedding. It has been a couple of months now and I think I have put together enough words of wisdom to give him but I thought that maybe I should share them with you and get your ideas on it also. I expect plenty of comments and your thoughts as well.
Lets go back to the very beginning and analyze what is marriage and why it came about. We know that Adam and Eve were the first couple but do we know if there was a wedding? I don't think there was because who would they have invited? The animals? Sure, God would have presided over the ceremony but was there a best man? And, where did that role finally come in? Don't worry because these past few months have kept me busy with answers to these questions and more.
Yes, Adam and Eve were considered Husband and Wife but there wasn't any wedding ceremony that took place. Instead they went right into the reception and partook of all the wonderful fruits in the Garden. OK, so Eve got carried away and took the wrong apple. Is she to blame for the downfall of man? That's better left for another blog. Right now lets concentrate on Weddings.
So we know that it started from the very beginning this thing we call getting married. The first mention of it in history, that I can remember, is the wedding ceremony that ran out of wine. The story goes that it was a huge wedding ceremony and the guests were enjoying themselves and partying with their togas swaying to the music. They were drinking wine like a siamese kitten downing milk for the first time. Soon the wine reserves were dry and the party goers started getting mad. Not to worry because one of their guest was able to make more and the party went on. The important part of this story is that even back in those days people got hammered at weddings. They drank the place dry and had to "make" more. So now you don't have to feel bad because of that one time you got wasted at your friends wedding. It happens all the time.
Now the big question is why get married? Why not just "shack up" if you will. A wise man once said to me "Why buy the cow if you get the milk for free?" Wow! Makes you think a little doesn't it? The answer is quite simple really. The reason we get married is so that we can share our days on this rock with someone and, more importantly, you can always blame the other person whenever something goes wrong. They are usually right there when poop hits the fan. You can slowly turn to them and blame them. Convenience, you see?
Now, in the old days the brides family had to pay a dowry to the grooms parents. It usually consisted of goats or cows. I never did discover how the price was set. Was it based on looks or production? Now a days we just make the bride pay for the whole darn thing . After all she is the star of the evening and the groom is just there as a supporting actor along with his groomsmen. That leads us into the title of Best Man. This all came about when the term "Shotgun Wedding" was popular. They would get the best marksman to make sure that the groom wouldn't disappear before the I doe's. It eventually became "Best Man" because he was the best man for that particular job. Why do you think he holds the ring during the ceremony still today? If you leave it to the groom he would probably lose it on purpose. Can't get married it there isn't a ring. Thus the Best Man holds it now.
The Honeymoon came about from an interesting beginning as well. It usually only lasted about 10 minutes before the groom would appear smoking a cigarette and sporting a smile. The term Honeymoon wasn't always used. It had many names in the beginning, like: First Quickie, Titty Titty Bang Bang, Romper Room, Making Whoopee, Taking a peek behind the curtains, Ringin' the Cowbell, Stemming the rose, Role in the Hay and the most popular, Hanky Panky which was an actual couple that had 23 kids. The term Honeymoon referred to the period of time right after marriage when love is sweet and full like the moon. It didn't become associated with romantic "vacations" until the 18th century. Then, Jerry Springer discovered it and put it on his show.
Once the dust settles the couple have to learn to live with each other. They discover that there are so many little tendencies that their partner have that just makes them crazy. Sometimes you just want to rip your eyes out so you don't have to see them. It could be something simple like not wiping the knife clean of peanut butter before you put it in the sink to get cleaned. Or maybe not drying around the sink after you finish using it instead leaving it looking like a flock of ducks have just left. You learn to pick your battles because you quickly learn that if you were to speak up for every little thing it would just be one big "discussion" all the time and we all know how much fun that can be. Anyways, it always ends up being the guys fault somehow.
Marriage is something special and when you look at these couples that have been married for 50 years you wonder what is their secret. I guess the answer has always been right in front of us and put to music and poem. The answer my friends is that Love is blind. Sometimes you have to pretend that you are blind to keep the peace. Sometimes you have to be blind to what the other person has done.
Enjoy your wedding and honeymoon my friend and lets hope the wine doesn't run out and that the moon will always stay full over your house.

(Your thoughts and comments are welcome at this time.)

The Untold

There isn't one thing in life that doesn't get worn or never has to get maintained and replaced. I think it has all been designed to fail at some point in order to keep commerce alive and thriving. If you think about it everything has a shelf live or a life expectancy label on it. Even the bare essentials and basic ingredients in life, such as water, don't last forever. The obvious ones are, of course, the human body. We all know that it fails. Sometimes in a predictable manner but other times it takes everyone by surprise. Houses are notorious for always having something to repair or replace. So it shouldn't be any different than our home on wheels. For some reason when something breaks down on your car or motor home, in our case, you begin to have that tight feeling in your lower extremities. You are bracing for how many digits will appear on the bill and how long it will take. Everything has a cost and it seems that when you purchase an expensive home on wheels those costs are just as high to maintain and replace.
We find ourselves sitting in the back parking lot of a Cumins Service Center. Nothing like waking up in the morning and taking that first deep breath to awaken the senses and be greeted by the smell of grease and diesel fumes. You look out the window and see the back of a huge warehouse filled with stadium lighting with the bright white light spilling out the windows at all hours of the day. Soon the orchestra begins to warm up and within a half hour the sounds of air ratchets whizzing, metal hitting metal, engines running, and members of the orchestra shouting to each other to be heard above the chaos fills the air. The sight of these men and women moving these huge trucks and motor homes around the yard, almost in a choreographed fashion, seems dizzying at times. You're expecting the huge crash at any minute but thankfully it never happens. Here we sit as we wait for the estimates to be tallied up and parts to be ordered. Crossing our fingers in hopes of not breaking the bank and getting out of this environment before the smells become impregnated into our rig.
In our first evening in the lot, after the workers left for the evening to get reinvigorated for another day of making noise, we had the chance to meet other RV'ers that have chosen to spend their Florida time in the back lot as well. Some of the horror stories we heard sent chills up and down our spines. Stories of how they were on the highway cruising along and all of a sudden lose all power without warning. Then, spend an entire week of camping in the back lot while their rig is worked on everyday just to hear the technicians tell them that they still don't know what the problem is can make one a little upset.
We were promised that our work would be done tomorrow so one can only hope it turns out to be true. Regular routine maintenance and replace the Fuel Injector Solenoid is all that is on our docket. I wish our fellow campers a speedy recovery.
Just another part of owning a motor home that no one really talks about. Instead, one usually has images of an RV parked along a sandy beach with shadows of a palm tree blanketing the rig. Maybe an image of a RV surfing along the black ribbon of a scenic highway while rolling green hills try and swallow it up. No, no one talks about the nights spent in back lots across America, waiting for your number to be called and hoping the fumes don't kill you before the digits on the bottom of the bill does. Maintenance and repair has a price to pay and it isn't just with the money in your pockets. You pay a toll with your mind, sanity and patience. Just remember the next time you find yourself in a position like this that you are doing this to lessen the time and money you will spend down the road.
At least that's what they sold us on.