No 3 Day Weekend For Me

This weekend is/was Victoria Day for us Canadians.  Which means a 3 day weekend.  Since l am in New York, l have to work today, the Monday of that 3 day weekend.

Next weekend is the US 3 day weekend.  Memorial Day, and guess where l will be?  Back in Canada.  So again l miss out.  Now don't go feeling too sorry for me.  A saying we use in Canada is "oh, you're so hard done by".  I know some of the USA don't have a clue what that means.

When l lived in Virginia, people would look at me like l had 3 heads when l would say that.  They had not heard that saying before.  I think it comes from England....or at least the UK people l know, know it.

It kind of means.....Oh, you have it so ruff....with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

So, yes, l am " so hard done by".  Working and missing out of a 3 day weekend (twice) surrounded by beautiful sights and working out of a campground.  Life Sucks (heavy sarcasm).

 

Huricanes in the Adirondacks?

Yep, not a direct hit, last year Hurricane Irene came through this area.  Drenching the area in rain.  As the rain ran down from the mountains it whipped out roads, lifted houses off foundations and flooded rivers.

Here are a couple of pictures l snapped for your viewing pleasure....

 

[caption id="attachment_994" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Water line of Irene"][/caption]

 

This picture is just outside of Jay, New York.  The guy who owns this property marked on his cinder block wall how high the river swelled that day.  Pretty impressive, isn't it!  The river was on the other side of the road and about 50 feet beyond that the day l drove through.

 

[caption id="attachment_995" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The peaceful river"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_996" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Bridge on the Au Sauble River"][/caption]

This bridge with the river meandering under it actually had trees and debris lodged in its' structure from the downpour.  Mother Nature is not to be messed with.  She took out roads in the Adirondacks that day, everything is repaired now.  Although a couple of cover bridges in this area are no more. :-(

Uphill Battle

I was over at a blog that l follow on a regular basis http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/, the author Rae has just gone through an experience that l hope never to go through, she was rear ended while travelling in West Virginia with her Class C and toad.  The toad was a write off, and the RV suffered some damage too.

She is heading home to Quebec on a trip planned before the accident, and has just arrived, safe and sound.  She made a comment today about the consideration of other drivers, or shall we say lack of.  And l have to agree with her.

I was driving yesterday, in the Adirondack Region of New York, in my Class B Falcon, traveling from Wilmington to Lake Placid.  The terrain is hilly, and lets face it, my old girl is a wee bit slow on the uphill ride.  I've actually figured out that l can go faster if l am on cruise control (who ever invented cruise, l will forever love you!!!) then if l just jam my foot on the gas peddle.  I pretty much go to a crawl if l am not on cruise when l hit a hill.  I don't know if the Falcon has a guvnor on it restricting it from switching to high gear when not on cruise when climbing a hill, or if it is something else(anyone know - feel free to chime in).

So yesterday l was going 45 MPH uphill in a 50 MPH zone, when l was passed shortly after, which is fine with me.  I understand, l can lumber along and usually just stick at the speed limit.  What l don't understand, is about 150 yards after this guy passed me, he put on his brakes to make a right hand turn.  Really?  You couldn't wait an extra 30 seconds to get there, you had to pass me???

I always get out of the way of traffic behind me if l am going slower then posted speeds, l always stay in the right lane, and l am putting it out there, that if you are stuck behind me and l am going to slow for you, l apologize in advance.  :-)

Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA

[caption id="attachment_965" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Our home for the next two weeks"][/caption]

This is the troupes' home for the next couple of weeks.  Not too shabby if l do say so myself.  I finally have arrived at a campground that IS a campground.  There are no seasonal sites here or any long termers, it's rustic and very naturally beautiful.

To get here l had a really tough time putting up with the scenery.

[caption id="attachment_966" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New York State ....of mind"][/caption]

The roads were quiet, and every once in a while l would get a good view of the moutains up ahead.

 

[caption id="attachment_967" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Peace and Quiet"][/caption]

This is the view that l have from my van....l wonder what it will look like on the weekend?  There might be a trailer or two blocking my view :-(

I had been up since 5am, and was starting to fade really quick around 6pm tonight, so l threw on my running shoes and went out exploring the park.  It's pretty empty right now.  It is the Canadian long weekend this weekend so they expect it to be very busy.  They are only 2 1/2 hours from Montreal and Ottawa.  And us Canadians LOVE our May 24 (pronounced Two-Four - like a case of beer) weekend.   It is the official kick off of our summer....and we LOVE summer!!

 

[caption id="attachment_968" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Len-to"][/caption]

On the site map l had seen an area that said Lento, and this my friends is a lento.  The sign you can see inside says that it is against the NY law to pitch your tent inside the Lento.....so are you just supposed to be in your sleeping bag in this thing?  With the side open to bugs, and BEARS?????  I will have to do some fact finding this weekend.

 

[caption id="attachment_969" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Au Sable River"][/caption]

Past the Lento's l could hear these rapids calling to me.  We has just had a short thunderstorm, but l am sure these bad boys run this fast all the time.  Very pretty!!!

 

[caption id="attachment_970" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Very Cool Staircase"][/caption]

This cool staircase is part of  the lodge at the campground.  Very unique.  It is made out of trees harvested right here from the campground.  Too bad pictures never do anything justice!

 

 

 

Nothing Like.....

 

A nice hot shower with endless running water after 6 days of Sponge Baths.

I always remember when l would go camping ....in a tent.....one of the best things was coming home and having the first hot shower in days.  It seems like such luxury, and so many of us are so use to it, we take it for granted.

I guess l am just like our ancestors having sponge baths, when it was only a Sunday event to have baths.  Actually l remember my Dad would have a sponge bath every other day when l was a kid, at least in the beginning.  He grew up in Holland, and when l visited there when l was 15 (Yoowzers - 30 years ago), l remember how much of a chore it was to have a shower.  It was in the back porch, which was very cool in the winter time, and they would have to fire up the water heater, then wait.

Kind of like what l have to do now.....lol

Rest Stops

The last two days l have been making my way slowly to the Lake Placid, New York area.  It's enjoyable not having to drive bad out of hell to get somewhere.

I spent last night at a rest stop in Michigan, and tonight will be the same.

Last night my neighbours, two different ones where sleeping in their cars - goodness knows in my past l have been just like them, cuddled up in their seats against the cold, running the car intermittently to stay warm.  It was nice being in my van, stretched out comfortably, with blankets, a toilet within crawling distance.  I definitely have the most preferred way of staying in a rest stop.

Evening Swim

The Geese were across the pond, minding their own business, foraging for dinner when two kids on bikes started harasses them.  Of course it's the weekend so the kids are coming to the park.  The geese were having nothing of it.  So they guided their young into the pond and got away from the peace disturbers.

 



So they swam across to my side.  Then a pair of them with their 3 babies were harassed by a red wing black bird.  In the picture above he is sweeping down on them, fire bombing them.  My guess is red wing blackbird has a nest nearby, so he/she is just protecting his young.



There are 8 pairs of geese in this pond.  Most have 3 or 4 babies, one pair has 12 and one pair has none.  The pair with the twelve, pictured above, are like a machine.  All foraging at the same time, either the mother or the father utter commands and they all turn on a dime and head a different direction.

All day long when l see them they are either swimming or foraging, or dodging kids.  :-)

Suprised and Pleased

I really fretted about going to this mode of travel for my cats.  I wasn't sure how they would take it.  They would not even go close to a car before l set out on this adventure.  They were even smart enough to know that if l grabbed them in my arms in the house and headed out the front door that they would be going in the car and would start squirming the minute my feet led me towards the door.

Now they just chill the whole day in the van as l run around on appointments.  It really is amazing the turn around they have made.  They are so casual about riding in the van now.  To think how many hours my mind would wonder; hoping they would be okay.  It took them maybe half a day to adjust.

Sure there was a time when Charlie made a dash for the door, once she got out, realized she didn't know where the hell she was and boogied back in the van like her ass was on fire.

They hop back in that van whenever they feel threatened when they are out at the campground, whether it is someone walking by, a loud noise, another cat (happened once- Charlie was out and  got surprised by another cat, they hissed at each other, l opened the door, she ran in.  Let's just say "scared the shit out of  ya" has truth to it.

Tommy has learned to knock on the van door.  I kid you not.  When they are out and it's nice weather, but not nice enough to have the side door open all the way (or it's nighttime), l shut the side door just so it closes, but doesn't grasp the latch.  So if you were to hit it, it would move.  Well, when Tommy is out and wants back in and the door is like that, he will paw it to make a noise so l know to open the door for him.

They have always been trained to come when l call, or whistle.  And for the most part, they do.  Best Cats ever!

They pretty much sleep the whole day away, but l guess they did that at home too, especially when no one was home to let them in and out.

So Nice

Last night it was the first nice night out since l have begun this adventure.  There wasn't any  cold bitter  wind, no snow, no rain.  I still needed a sweater, but it wasn't too bad, especially for the 1st of May.

I sat outside in the dark, listening to the bull frogs trying to attract a Misses for the season.  The bugs were minimal, not that they usually bother me anyways.  I guess my blood isn't sweet enough for the mosquitoes, which is fine with me.  I had the cats sitting out beside me on the picnic table.  My only neighbour, over a hundred feet away.  Bliss.

Across the pond all the RV's had their lights on, that's were it seems to be city center.  On my side, it's just me and my neighbours.   l haven't spied a fire yet, and couldn't smell one, it is only Tuesday.

In Michigan

I'm here in Michigan.  It was a long poky ride. I'm used to going over the speed limit by a bit.....but this baby has a bit of a challenge doing that, what with cross winds and such.

It was nice paying so much less for gas once l crossed the boarder.  In Canada it works out to $5.00 a gallon, and in Michigan it's $3.78.  ( l miss the days when l payed 99 cents a gallon in Virginia in the year 2001 - l'm sure everyone does though)

The cats fared well, they slept most of the way.  Tommy took the passenger seat in the sunshine and Charlie retired to the loft.  I had my eyes on the road the whole time, promise.

It seems like it is going to be a warm night.  Yeah!!!!!  Finally.  And it's time for bed now.  Ciao!  :-)

Got Rock?

I’m staying at Olympia Village RV Park and Campground in Waterdown, Ontario.  It’s on the Niagara Escarpment.  Which if my geography serves me correctly was left behind when the humongous Glaciers roared through Canada at a snails pace millions and millions of years ago.  It’s part of the Canadian Shield, and with good reason.

As you drive through the country side coming up to the park, it’s flat green fields.  There are horse farms, berry farms, and not too many other farms.  You see, under that greenery, only about 3 inches down, is this…..

[caption id="attachment_838" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Rock Wall in Olympia Village RV Park"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_836" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="A True Rock Garden"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_839" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Another shot of the rocks"][/caption]

It’s like someone build a stone wall, brick by brick, laid flat and then covered it with dirt.  I don’t know, but l’m guessing no one in this area has a basement.

The RV park is adding more sites to it’s roaster, and has had to dig through this with a jack hammer attached to a backhoe to make the ditches to lay the pipes for the water, electric and sewer.

Can you imagine being a pioneer a couple hundred of years ago thinking you have just staked your claim in this area, that is green and bountiful, only to find rock, after rock, after rock, after rock to infinity.

The Taste of Freedom

I was brave last night.  It was a warm night.  Certainly warmer than the last couple of nights.  So after dinner, when it was turning to dusk l let loose the hounds.  Ok, the hounds were of the feline variety.

I opened the side door to the campervan and let my cats out for some fresh air and some leg stretches.  At first Charlie the scare-dee cat, who is also the most phenomenal  hunter of the two, wouldn’t go out.  I guess she got Stockholm syndrome.  She didn’t want to leave her captor.  Tommy was braver and didn’t need any coxing.

Eventually, the thought of going out and smelling all the good scents won out.  They both came and went, in and out, over the hour that they were out there.  Which l have to be honest, l was so surprised that they willingly came back into the camper van.  It was a gamble that l let them out.  I was hoping that after 4 days being cooped up in the van, they would realize, it wasn’t so bad.

I am actually surprised that there has been no puking in the first hour of the adventure.  Usually, one pukes on car rides.  This time, no one (not even me!), for four whole days.  Today they both looked very relaxed when l was driving around on appointments.  It is a big relief for me.  And so l felt maybe it was time to try the experiment of freedom.

I am happy to report the experiment was a success.  The cats consider this their home too!  :-)

Coming Along

I’m getting used to the small space of the van.  Last night l cleaned out some extra blankets l  organized some more.  It’s getting there.

It just me and my two cats in this van,  and those little guys don’t take up much room.  I’ve got their kitty litter over the bathtub, and then two little dishes, one for food, one for water.  I am amazed that some couples full time in a camper van.  I don’t know how they do it.  It really is a tight space, l would think some blood would be shed before too long if a couple were to shack up in one of these.

I can’t imagine plunking down a hundred grand for a new one of these things and then find out it’s not enough room.  That would hurt the pocket book for sure.

Un Packed My Suitcase

Sunday l unpacked my suitcase.  It probably won't be packed again for a very long time.  And l am good with that.  That suitcase taught me a few things.  It taught me how little l need to get by.  It taught me that no matter how much you pare down, your shit is still heavy.  It taught me how to mix and match my clothes so that it didn't seem that l was wearing the same thing twice in a two week period.  It taught me l can get by with two pairs of shoes, one a running shoe or comfortable walking show, and one a dress sandals or heal to match my clothes.  It taught me l don't need as much costume jewelry as l think l might.

I'm not sure l will miss my suitcase, as much time as we have spent together, l will be glad to let it go.  If it meant that l wouldn't be travelling anymore, that would be a different matter.  Since l will still be travelling, it's not a biggie!

Now to pack up the camper van, it shouldn't be as much as a challenge (l'm sure l will still pack too much) for me as people who haven't spent the quality time with the suitcase!

Palm Springs

[caption id="attachment_775" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Entrance to Emerald Resort"][/caption]

What a beautiful area. I would  highly recommend the Sunland RV Resorts to anyone.  The resort we are staying in is the Emerald Desert RV Resort from the Sunland group. The RV resort l am at (yep, resort, not a RV Park), where the convention is being hosted is outstanding,  from the manicured lawns to the gorgeous pool area, the putting green, tennis courts, the fantastic weather, the happy people l will be working with and for.

[caption id="attachment_776" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Pool at the Resort"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_777" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Resort"][/caption]

The last couple of days have been busy, busy, busy.  I learned their new to me, and new to them, computer program that will be my virtual office.  It was really interesting to see just how well put together South East Publications is.  They have a desire to make themselves the best, and are moving at lightening speeds to accomplish that.

An error was noticed before lunch with the computer program, and it was fixed by the time we came back from lunch.

Tuesday night after dinner we had a auction where the proceeds will go to KOA Care Camps.  Every staff and sales member donated something to be auctioned off.  Then Wally the President will match all those donations and present a check to KOA Cares Camp to send kids to camp.  Over $20,000 was raised for the kids camp.

When l arrived, l was greeted with hugs, when l said goodbye for now, hugs were given to my new found friends.  Everyone was very open and sharing with how they run their little business, l got many tips, and am ready to hit the road running.

As a side note.  I did give my notice at my old job, and l have heard nothing from my boss.  Just silence.   I would have at least expected a request to "talk about it" when l get back from my "vacation".  I have made a great choice for me and am moving on to a company that will appreciate me.

 

 

On The Road Again.....

[caption id="attachment_758" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Who ya gonna call????"][/caption]

I stayed at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.  My room was great.  It was clean, very roomy, had a view of the pool.  And as you can see in the picture above, a phone by the toilet, just in case???

[caption id="attachment_756" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pool view from my room"][/caption]

 

I headed out of Las Vegas Monday morning bright and early.  It's pretty amazing how quickly Las Vegas ends and the desert begins.  It's almost like a line was drawn in the sand, and no one could build past it.

Most of the drive there were the small cacti on the floor of the desert, then l hit the big times and drove through the Cacti Forest of the Mojave Preserve.

[caption id="attachment_765" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cacti Forest"][/caption]

 

The mountains are pretty, one peak had snow.  I also saw what l believe to be a dormant volcano, you could see the black lava rock  where it flowed many, many years ago.

[caption id="attachment_759" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Dormant Volcano"][/caption]

 

Also, it looked like a dried up lake bed (in the for front of the picture).  The further l drove, l discovered it was man made, and has something to do with the extraction of Chloride.

 

[caption id="attachment_762" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Chloride Pond"][/caption]

 

I had an overwhelming urge to hold my breath as l drove through this part.

 

1 Day Left.....and Day 1 of a Fresh Start

While it is the day that my countdown ends, it also is the day that a new one begins.

I have finished my stint with CorpCom.  I was selling advertising on Real Estate folders, traveling across North America.  While l enjoyed it, as l have said before, l didn't completely enjoy some of the people l worked with, and being at the mercy of a Boss.  Also, the company didn't mind their employees stretching the truth (read Lie) in order to get the sale.  I just don't agree with it.  It's not the kind of place that l want to work.  There are enough things that can happen to disappoint your customers, but to condone and reward lying, not a place l choose to continue working.

I have been a wee bit secretive about where l am moving onto, but now, no more.  I am happy to say that l will be moving over to South East Publications.  It is a great company that has been around for 26 years printing campground maps.  So l will still be travelling around, in my camper-van, selling advertising spots to be on the campground maps.

It is work, and will require hard work at times.  A definite benefit will be that l will be staying in campgrounds while l do this work.  From my experience, campgrounds are close to nature, a relaxed atmosphere and WAY BETTER then a hotel!!!  I will have control over where l work and for which campgrounds and which projects.  If they are crappy and are not working out, l am not at the mercy of a prepaid plane ticket where l can't leave until the set date.

So follow me, l'm sure there will be some things to write about as l travel.  :-)

Last Plane Ride for Work

Well, that might not be totally true.  The plane ride tomorrow is kind of for work.  I will be attending meetings and such.  Let's say it is the last plane ride for THIS JOB.

I'm hanging out at the Saskatoon Airport, where l will fly to Calgary to catch my connecting flight to Toronto.  It will take me 9 hours from the time my plane takes off until it lands.  That's not taking into account showing up early, checking in, going through security (no customs this time).

When l was returning my rental car, a guy in the next stall was returning his car also, l offered to him a book l had finished.  It was a really good novel by Ken Follet (?sp?).  He declined since he had 3 of his own, but he offered me a shitload of candy.  So l broke the rules and took candy from a stranger.  And no, l didn't end up in his trunk going down a dirt road to the woods.

He had all this cool kind of candy and was just going to leave it behind in the car.  He was a rep for a candy manufacturer, and was in town for a trade show.  Let's just say, l got the latest, greatest sugar goodness.

Can You Say "3", Yep 3 Days Left

The great thing about my job now was that l was only anywhere for 2 weeks at a time.  So the first week was spent getting to know the town, and the second week was busy tying things up, and before you know it, l was back on a plane heading back to Toronto.  So my first week in Saskatoon was spent booting around, figuring out the town/city.  And this last week has flown by.  I will be getting on a plane Friday afternoon.  And then that't it.  Over.  Gonzo.

Actually the 30 day countdown has gone pretty fast.  Yes, the days spent in the office were long, but the week did speed by.

I just had a thought, l can check in online for  my flight home tonight.  Speeding by l tell ya.

5 Days..... So close

It's so close now.  Only 5 days left until l have turned the page in my new life.

Is it any wonder why l can only think about it?  I am constantly thinking about what changes l want to make to my van when l get home.  The downfall of that is that all l want to do it move on.  I am relishing the change.  The jitters are gone, the excitement is there, the longing is driving me crazy!!!