Living in a Vacation Land

There is something about spending vacation in the mountains, especially these mountains. If anyone thought they were coming for a restful vacation, they were dreaming a misguided dream. I noticed in the Walmart parking lot, recently, that the vast majority of license plates were from other states. In fact in the row I was walking down, there was one other car from this county. There is a reason for that. This is a vacation land for most people! And vacation we did.

When I was a child, my family went to Connecticut for a couple of weeks where we had cabins. There were lazy days, occasional outings, and always a picnic at Kent Falls and swimming and a picnic at Mt. Tom. But all in all, it was relaxing. (There were probably a few days we were bored, but I don't remember them.)

When the kids come here, we try to plan a couple of days off, where the kids can chill and the grownups can catch their breath, but there is a lot to do and it's hard to figure out what to skip. I wonder if my parents were as tired when they went home as we all are? I don't think so. But we do have a good time.

Jan, Mike and kids arrived a few days before Jen and her kids. Dave had to work so they came without him. The first three days were water days: Tubing and MiniGolf in Helen, Fishing, and Rafting.in Lake Nottely.

Larry took the kids fishing for their first time. Fortunately both kids caught one! (with help from daddy of course)

Look at Warren's right hand. He is holding his fish!

After fishing we all met for a picnic lunch and quick swim for the kids. 

On Monday, Larry tied our 2-person raft to our boat for some fun!

Jen arrived on the Fourth of July in time for dinner and fireworks.

Fun ensued: A picnic at Meeks Park and playing in the creek, Rafting, Horseback Riding and a visit to an Alpaca Farm.

Hotdogs, Roast Corn and S'Mores! All a picnic needs.

On Wednesday we rented a pontoon boat that would fit all of us, and tied our raft behind it for some thrill rides. No sooner did we hit the water than the clouds formed and we heard thunder, so we tied up to someone's dock and hoped they wouldn't mind while the storm blew over. 

Waiting for the clouds to clear

 Finally it was time for some fun.

Nicholas and Mike got a little 'air' time!

We all took time for a swim.

There are several Alpaca farms in our area. We were able to visit one and the kids got to hold the babies and help feed them. When we first told them they had to "get ready to go somewhere" we heard the usual moans. Once they got to the farm, we couldn't get them back in the car to go home. 

On the last day we stopped at TrackRock Stables for some horseback riding. They have a well run program and the ride was just enough challenge to be fun.

Jen took Nicholas for some Aerial Adventure. 

And a visit to Sleepy Hollow Fairy Houses

Even at home the fun kept going, from chasing bubbles to chasing each other...

Baseball was new, but Nicholas turned out to be a natural at it.

 Mike helped the kids make paper airplanes. They tested them for days. We found paper airplanes everywhere.

The Wrap-Around Race Track!

 And the Hangout Hammock when the races were over.

 At the end of the day, a quiet moment with ipads and ipods.

And yes..... even time to settle in with a good book.

We have so much fun when the whole gang is here. We're busy. We go. We soak in the quiet moments, take a deep breath and brace ourselves for the next round!

The kids have gone. The house is quiet once again, And that's not a bad thing! They'll be back again.....next summer.

Back in the Mountains

My last post had me still in Idaho watching people jump off bridges and parachuting to the road below. We are now home. The Great RV West Trip has come to an end, but there is still so much more to tell. I will save some of the final sights of our trip, (the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Little Big Horn, Buffalo Bill Cody and Custer as well as a great visit with our daughter in Iowa) for later.
Instead, I will catch up on what's been happening here!

We ended our trip four weeks ago, coming home to a cabin in the woods yellowing under a thick layer of pollen coating everything. When we left in April only a few brave trees had ventured to put forth a leaf or two. Now the woods had come into full bloom and the wide open vistas we had enjoyed from the seat of the RV were gone.

When I open my eyes in the morning and look out the window of my second story bedroom I know I am back in my 'treehouse', for that is what it feels like as I gaze through the tree tops and glimpse the sky beyond.

Our last night out had been spent at Dale Hollow State Park in Kentucky camping with our RV club. As we said our farewells to everyone, a friend said, "I hope you can rest up from your trip, now." Larry and I looked at each other and thought, Rest Up? For the last 10 weeks we had moved at our own pace, waking up when we wanted, driving as long as we wanted, and staying in places as long as we wanted. All in all, it had been a very restful trip. Getting home would be a whole different story. We had family coming!!

The next 12 days were a flurry of unpacking the RV, hosing off the house, scrubbing pollen out of windowsills, reclaiming the yard from all the unchecked spring growth, and in general, cleaning everything in preparation for the arrival of our two daughters and their families. My fitbit was going crazy. After sitting in a vehicle for 10 weeks, it was suddenly back on duty and being put to the test. So were my legs. The first day home I worked like a dog emptying everything out of the RV. 25 trips from RV to house, 14 flights of stairs and 13,000 steps later, I crawled into bed. Day two saw 10 trips from RV to house in the morning, and me stuck to the couch by lunchtime. My legs had disowned me. Day 3 I took it slower. The RV had finally been cleared and cleaned. We hosed off the pollen, cleaned the porch, washed windows, weeded flowerbeds, planted flowers, filled the birdfeeders and changed the wreath from Easter to Summer. And when the first car rolled in the driveway we were ready.

Next Post: Vacationing in a Vacationland!