So, you know, one thing leads to another and here we are one week later. Happy New Years, BTW :-) <3 God has been good to me this year but more about that later. I am currently sitting behind the gate house inside Ocala National Forest, Salt Springs, in Florida. I arrived here 12-26-21 and really enjoy it. I opted to take the 14 days maximum while I explore the area and become more familiar with it. There is lots to know and experience and I've been talking to many helpful people. Just ask Elisha ;-) There we were having an excellent conversation when my camping neighbor approached me. He ended up being a wealth of information and I was loathe not to engage him further as they were packing to leave within the hour. I now know 3 additional areas to check out regarding camping that I will investigate 'next year' ;-) I know, it's corny to enjoy the old elementary giggles we used to indulge in ~ I still enjoy them. Anyway, here I sit in order to get some wi-fi in order to post the past week of my journey. I would have originally posted one longer blog but as I never know exactly how the wi-fi will hold out or if someone may call me and take up some of my time, I figured I create smaller ones. I hope you enjoy the photos! I left Sumter SC [thanks again, Teresa & Lloyd, for your most excellent and welcoming Godly hospitality!] Christmas morning. It was one thing after another why it took so long to leave there but leave I did and onwards I traversed. I had thought that I could spend the night right on American Beach in Amelia Island; this being just a bit south after crossing into Florida. Did I mention how nice it is to be actually inside DeSantis's 'we-aren't-mandating-anything-here' Florida? It's nice! I still see so many walking around with masks on but that is on them and not pressured anywhere! I see very few signs posted on the door while I'm out and about but it really isn't a thing here. Refreshing. I hear my old stomping grounds are starting to crack down again. Anybody ready for an escape? Come join me in Florida! If that doesn't entice you, perhaps the 80 degree sunny days will. The entrance to American Beach, furthest northern point on Amelia Island. Did I actually drive out on the beach with my truck and trailer? Nope. One had to show proof of residency along with having four wheel drive and some other stuff. The guards at the entrance, however, did allow me briefly walk out there and put my feet into the ocean. I told them I was coming from the cold North and this had been my destination. Here are some unclaimed shells with the tire tracks of the day. My feet in the Atlantic Ocean on Christmas Day, 2021. Boardwalk to Burney Park Beach, Amelia Island, FL. I walked the coastline for about an hour and spoke with my mom's two remaining Canadian sisters and a cousin in Edmonton; all were happy to hear I was enjoying Florida. The place I spent Christmas night. It was actually very nice, considering. I knew I was safe and to me much better than a big box parking lot. The flush toilets were an added bonus ;-). See, Nancy UK, this is where I did end up, not long after we hung up the phone.
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Greetings to all ~ wherever you all might be. Me? I'm in Sumter, SC! Are you surprised? Not really? Yeah, me neither. However, there is good news. The trailer is all hitched and ready to leave first thing in the morning. I was waiting until today for a part that I needed for the hitch to be shipped and delivered. It arrived and now I'm prepared to leave. It'll be different, yet again, being back on the road but I'm extremely excited to move further south. I'm heading to Amelia Island in Florida where I'll likely spend a day or two. One can officially boondock for a night or two right on the Atlantic side beach. By the afternoon I'll be sitting pretty with my trailer door open or my lounge rocking chair in the sand and listening to crash of waves with sand under my feet. Come on, admit it, sounds like a splendid way to spend the day. I'm planning on cooking a steak, from Duma Meats (of course) along with some red cabbage and small yellow potatoes. Tonight's fare was also pretty tasty ~ walleye and a can of French green beans warmed up in bacon grease. Yum. I finished the meal with Tate's GF ginger zinger cookies. Here are some fun pictures you might enjoy. Fair warning, the last two will show what day 21 looks like on my finger wounds. Definitely going to lose the middle finger nail; especially since the cuticle is already removed from the finger. This is the step going up into the trailer. I wanted something to wipe my feet off with before inevitably dragging debris into the trailer. I took one of those rough surfaced outdoor area mats and cut it to size for the step and literally screwed it down to secure it in place. So far, so good. I like my handiwork ;-) The temperature here this morning. Bur, chill will!! The sun did come out later and warmed up, not like yesterday's 50s something, so that was good. I took my computer outside and worked in the sunshine.
Ok ~ fair warning; here come the finger pictures. Bail now if you are squeamish. And it's very obvious that I'm in need of coconut oil on my fingers. In my earlier post, I showed a picture of the Uriah Electric Jack that I purchased in order to stave off the continual mangling of my fingers. Follow up regarding my wounds incurred on 12-3-21. Tomorrow it will be three weeks. I am finally able to type so that is a good thing (just discovered that today). The index finger looks like the nail will remain intake, however, the middle finger nail will definitely fall off. It's just a matter of time. I will probably get a metal finger splint from a drug store to place over the finger after it does come off as I'm assuming it will most likely be very tender w/out a nail until a new one does grow back ~ right? I mean, after all, it should, I would think... I've digressed. The install went fairly uneventful and I enjoyed standing in the background watching the work unfold. John is a certified something something welder and he was even kind enough to place my initials on the plate when he was done welding. The major hiccup that occurred was the actual powering of the electric jack. Apparently Ford, in one of their brilliant decisions, decided to cut back on some of their wiring so that the truck did not recognize the power cord when it was plugged into the back of the truck. Several different options were thrown around and it the end (this took many days to come to this resolution) it was decided to run the wiring through the bottom of the trailer in the front which then came up in the area where the solar batteries were housed. Clips similar to battery charger cables were added at the end and will be placed on the battery when I actually need to operate the jack. I experimented with that yesterday when it was a 60 degree sunny day (don't hate me, you Clevelanders. If it helps, last night low was 29 degree and today only reached mid 50s, albeit sunny skies) and it worked very nicely. I just have to remember the correct order and to disconnect it when I'm finished. ;-) I'll post some pictures now and as they are pretty self-explantory, I probably won't add much verbiage. Hope you enjoy. Here is Teresa and her friend Diane, the wife of George who owns this business and the buildings. They hung out inside and pow-wowed while the work was being done in the back building. Here is George expertly maneuvering my trailer front end into the building. John cutting the steel plate for the stem portion of the jack to fit through. The picture above is where the electrical plug should fit in and have it recognized by the vehicle. Mine did not; thanks, Ford, for chimping out on the wiring and cause me so much distress!! This picture with all the little fuses in it houses the fuses for the F150 system. This, of course, didn't really match up with the owner's manual 'schematic' of what was supposed to be what. I labeled this photo in my computer "My three amigos ~ John, George and Lloyd". Thanks Guys!! Found my welding photos from October 2014. It was Family Day at Lincoln Electric where my daughter worked and we were invited to weld. I enjoyed it. I am the one in the blue welding hat. My youngest, Victoria, welding. My eldest, David, is also a welder. [or better stated, has worked as a welder in the past] 10-4-2014. Good times during Family Day at Lincoln Electric on October 4, 2014 with my daughter, Victoria.
Yes, Sumter, SC, is home to Swan Lake. Read more doubt it here: https://www.sumtersc.gov/community/swanlake I just fell in love with this place! Serene and very peaceful and a great place to see the eight different varieties of swans. This post will be mostly pictures. Here's a website to identify the different swans: https://pondinformer.com/swan-species-guide/ The male swan is a 'cob', the female a 'pen' and the young ones are 'cygnets.' Black swans will usually hatch twice a year. Forefront is a bewick swan with a trumpeter swan opening its wings. The first time I went there, I was able to hear the trumpeter swan vocalize ~ no wonder it's named trumpeter!
It's been one week ago today (almost to the hour) since 12-3-21 when I sustained a pretty substantial wound to my left index and middle fingers while re-hitching the trailer and truck after getting weighed at the commercial weigh station. <Resolution! This photo is what I will use moving forward ~ an electric trailer jack that is to be installed 12-11-21. I will attempt to make enough space before actually posting pictures of my wounds. I have deliberated if I should and I feel strongly that I should. For two reasons: 1) demonstrates the tremendous healing power of the human body [thru Jesus] and 2) demonstrates what homeopathy can do to assist the healing. From the beginning: 12-3-21 arrived and as it was a Friday I knew I would need to weigh the trailer that day or wait until Monday, 12-6-21 when the company resumed their business hours. For clarifications, I've remained in Sumter, SC, since my initial arrival 11-22-21 ~ exactly one week after my Ohio departure. I chose to stay here based on at least two facts: 1) the hosts were leaving to go out of town and were comfortable with my presence on their site during their absence and 2) upon their return, he was going to leave again in another day or two for an out-of-state trip and she preferred I stayed. It's been wonderful here. Relationally the three of us have bonded [more than just the common denominator of Jesus; Teresa refers to it as a spiritual adoption into our family]. So, here I've been. All good. No conflicts. I've enjoyed the warm sunny days sitting in the sunshine reading, studying, communing. However, and who coined it, 'all good things must come to an end'? ~ so even, too, this time must come to an end. I figured I'd be prepared and weigh the trailer on a Friday which would then allow me to leave yet that afternoon or Saturday or Sunday. As Francis Marion National Forest remains my next destination, and I wanted to stop in their District Office, for area maps, before entering and hunkering down instead of setting up and leaving again (w/out the trailer) to find the office etc. Generally speaking, from my vast array of experience ;-), I just prefer to stay in one place, if possible. Unless, of course, the wanderlust bug hits hard and I need to expand my surroundings. Back to the wound story: when weighing a trailer, the tongue weight has to be taken off the truck hitch. This all went smoothly. I return to the truck elated as the trailer came in under weight! The maximum weight is 3500 and I weighed in at 3260 ~ PTL! I really can't explain how it occurred, I just know that I had lowered the trailer as much as I could to connect with the ball on the truck yet the two wouldn't pair. I hadn't moved either ~ obviously. I placed my left hand in that general area and before you knew it, I found myself roaring out loud like a lion. Next, I saw my left hand up in the air above my heart and me grasping my wrist. Blood was streaming down. I looked quickly and I didn't really like what I saw. My middle finger's nail bed had been popped off at the cuticle level. I walked across the yard 100% concentrating on exactly what my actions were. I knew between the actual physical trauma to the hand, and therefore my body, on top of the psychological trauma of seeing the injury itself, that I was in shock and needed to focus. I went into the office being mindful that I was dripping blood and headed straight to the sink. I ran water over the area and grabbed some paper towels to catch the flow in my hand. God bless Donna, office staff, who assisted me in initial wrapping in order to stop the continual blood flow. Later I realized that the skin on the middle finger had also split around towards the back. BTW, it would have been good to know at the time that lavender oil stops blood flow as this wound didn't really stop bleeding until the next day. This photo is the initial wrap and back at the house. Again, knowing I was in shock, I couldn't focus on the injury so I called my good friend who had begun dabbling in homeopathy with me prior to my departure. Can you imagine getting a phone call and someone asking you, "What's the best homeopathy remedy for an open bleeding wound?" ?! Thanks, Elisha, for talking me through that ride home. I stayed on the phone with her until I pulled back in the driveway; having called Teresa first to inform her I was returning, albeit wounded. Didn't want to shock her either by just pulling in unexpected and dripping.
During Janet's birthday celebration at the end of October, I met a nice lady whose profession is homeopathy. I had arranged a sit-down meeting with her to develop a first aid kit of homeopathic pillules that one might need living the camping lifestyle. She knew exactly what I had on hand so she was my next call. Actually, the first thing I did was come into the living room and lay flat on the floor with my arm elevated. Within one hour I had taken three different remedies: Hypericum (30c) & Calendula (30c) and Ledum (200c). I did this every few hours through Saturday evening and haven't taken anything at all since. I've applied cold compresses, sprayed colloidal silver on the wound (first two days) and doused in coconut oil (keeps the bandaid from sticking). I neither used nor applied any traditional forms of western medication. Had I gone in to an ED, I would have had to navigate through the ridiculousness of our current times not to mention the pressure of getting a tetanus shot [totally worthless; conduct honest research such as at vaxxter.com]. They would have wanted to stitch me up and I wasn't into that either. Between washing out the wound initially, spraying with colloidal silver, I also applied some organic oregano oil to the open wound. Apparently it has antibacterial properties. Didn't realize then it may counteract with homeopathic methods so only did that the first 24 hours. All that to say, the wound is healing very nicely, no infections are currently present and I never took any pain relievers other than the hypericum. I am extremely pleased with my outcome and humbly grateful. I know that homeopathic will be the way for me to go. Incidentally, I sent both Elisha and Jennifer a picture of the initial view as well as days 3 and 5 displaying progress. Jennifer, true to mother-form, assured me I was fine, not to worry and these were the best steps to follow. Thank you as well, Jennifer. Both Elisha and Jennifer walked me through a very trying time to which I will be forever grateful! Blessings... I purposely made the following pictures smaller so they wouldn't be too graphic. The top row is Day 1 and the second row is Day 5. Stop reading now if you don't want to see them. This is Lake Marion in SC (find it on the map for a better understanding of it's location). I crossed this body of water driving from Sumter to Yemassee which should have been about 1 1/2 hour trip. I knew it was going to take me a bit to do this drive but I really wanted to go there. I figured that on a Sunday morning the major highway would be fairly empty. HAH! For whatever reason, I left later than my original 9 am intended departure time (now it's 9:30 am which puts me at the door at starting time) on top of drinking a coffee type that I am not accustomed to. Sometimes drinking coffee makes my heart really pound and sets my nerves on edge; I bypassed the former and went into overdrive on the latter. Had I not been in a 'rushing mode', never a good thing and I highly recommended avoiding it at all costs, I don't believe the traffic and driving styles of the freeway would have had such a negative impact on me. All I could think of was these people needed to have driving lessons on Cleveland's 480! If there is a gap, fill it! Why does traffic come to a complete DEAD stop for NO apparent reason? I saw this occur on the northbound side as well and experienced it myself at least twice. If the posted speed limit is set for 70 why is left hand traffic crawling along at 60 mph?! Flabbergasted and flummoxed, I say. Moving along and away from that subject... I follow Lin Wood on Telegram ~ love that guy! He has been so unjustly maligned by mainstream media trying to silence his truthful message of fixing the stolen 2020 election [DJT is my President] and saving our children from torture for their adrenochrome [not familiar? research it! IMO (in my opinion) we should all be aware of this by now] and sex trafficking . [Not sure about that? Research DUMBS (https://www.grassrootshealing.org/2021/03/special-ops-soldiers-killed-in-cabal.html) and what takes place there] Folks ~ can I just say that we have to start thinking for ourselves and not allow the mainstream media or our 'government' (which are really career-controlled politicians doing the bidding of those controlling them) to dictate how and what we believe? Ok, enough on that. I hope some of you may be inspired to do some deeper research and for the love of Pete, do not use Google as its algorithms are dictated. Off-side question ~ why did FB Zuckerberg insist on donating $400M to the 2020 election? Google is owned by FB as is Instagram, SnapChat and Whatsup app. You are being censored and tracked if you choose to use any of these software designs. Even MeWe, it was designed for/by CIA. I guess since I've already ripped the bandaid off on some thinking, you may as well know that CIA and FBI were designed for their nefarious endeavors all under the guise of sanctioned and legal. What were John F Kennedy's words regarding CIA right before he was 'assassinated'? May as well just throw any three lettered agency in there: CDC, NIH, WHO, IRS ~ find more on your own. Yes, there is more, far more, but not for here and now inside my travel blog post ;-) All the above was to say that since I follow Lin Wood I wanted to attend the church that he recommends so I drove a 3 hour-round trip to do so. I'm glad I did. See my truck, third back, along the road? It was nice to worship with other like-minded believers. Those who fear God over man and his dictates. Stuart Guthrie delivered a challenging message in Helpful Hope. He began his advent series with the question ~ 'in what am I hoping for?' I had hoped to eat here but they didn't open until 4 PM and by that time I could have been back in Sumter so I figured I would just eat my left-overs in the fridge. Although I did stop for something to drink, a soda, and found my favorite brand, Sprecher, in the cooler. They even carried the ginger-ale, much to my delight. I love to sit in view of, if not in, sunshine. I was happy for this view :-) Teresa is such a gracious hostess! She uses what God has given her and shares warmly and openly. "This is God's house so you just make yourself comfortable and stay as long as you like." Today (12-2-21) she and I made this delicious chicken in her Ninja Foodi. Thanks to Rebecca who introduced me to Aldi's 'Never Any' food products, I was glad to eat this chicken knowing it was 'clean' of the garbage that most meats are pumped with and processed in. It was extremely moist and tasteful. Yummy to our tummies! Our side was mashed cauliflower. Teresa purposes to eat healthy [reminded me of Nancy, Cesli and Janet <3]. She is an inspiration to me. I've been introduced to this product and really enjoyed it as I did substituting cauliflower for white mashed potatoes. Now I can forgo the carbs of white pasta (wheat pasta is not now, or ever, an option!). I have one jar left of my favorite spaghetti sauce that I discovered two Fall seasons ago while in Pittsburgh w Dorthy ~ Penn Mac's Artichoke Sauce in Strip District.
The thing about the campsite in Pisgah National Forest ~ no cell phone coverage! I was absolutely ok with that. It's good to unplug from the external and really allow oneself the silence to self-reflect. It was the morning I was to leave the area and I was wondering where I would be heading to next. That may sound scary or unresponsible (my word) to some but this is the way I was rolling. I say, "Ok, God, where to now?" and my phone makes a chirp sound like it received a message. At some point during my stay here and unaware to myself, I was being sent texts and phone messages. THE very first message I see is an address from Dorothy. She has friends in South Carolina where I might be able to stay for a bit as they also had a camper and 4 acres of land. This really isn't my kind of thing to just call someone up and say "Hey, I'm to southern SC and wondered if I could stop by" to a total stranger. However, because Jesus is our common denominator, in the end, that is exactly what took place. Dorthy, of course, made the initial introduction and Teresa and I took it from there. Off to Sumter, SC, I headed. Can you see the top of their white camper peaking behind my black trailer? God is so good! My hosts are such lovely people :-) I eventually arrived, again in the dark - ugh, and they even had a home-cooked meal prepared that they invited me to eat with them. As we chatted and got to know each other, I was even invited to spend the night in their spare bedroom. I'm not going to lie, flush toilets were very appealing. Don't hear that as complaining; what I am/was doing was working just fine. As the temperature was going to be pretty cold again that night and I hadn't yet settled into the spot you see above [I had arrived in the dark and it's very dark in the country] so I graciously accepted the invite. A warm bed with flush toilets ~ yes please and thank you. Case in point. Nice days but cold nights. The night temperatures have improved a bit (but chiller than I would like them ;-]) and the day temperatures are also warming up. Today it is to reach into the seventies. 90% of the skies have been clear blue ~ with no chem trails in site nor the other 'clouds' that keep God's sun off of us. Vitamin D is very healthy ~ is that why they like to place a few layers between us and health? As a side note, I have now taken up the entire morning composing these blogs so I can share my adventures with you ():-) I've taken advantage of two facts: a washing machine and a warm sunny day by doing a load of laundry. Back in my family-of-five days, I would meticulously sort colors etc. These days? Everything goes into the same load; LOL. The gray tarp is covering my electric assist bicycle. I have been a very excited and proud owner of this new two-wheel invention. I have officially retired from riding one of my favorite loves in life ~ my Fat Boy Lo 2013 Harley Davidson. This was my final motorcycle of the six I had owned over the past twenty years. I've done my time on the road riding hard and long; loving every minute of the approx 200,000 miles traveled ~ well maybe not the snow and rain so much. I've gotten so wet that when I took my boots off, the water just ran out of them. I've also been that wet and kept riding until I was completely dry. While riding in the snow &/or very cold I had only one thought in mind "I hope I can make my hands work so I can shift and brake when I need it." Well, it was time to sell my final HD as I was being prudent of the fact that I had a college loan to pay off ~ I hate debt! I am blessed that I have lived debt-free for over a decade, until the truck came along that is. There was a nice used KYMCO 250 Grand Vista on the show floor which I picked up reasoning that at least getting out for some sun and wind therapy would be beneficial. I had that for about a year and I don't think I even put 1000 miles on it. It's really hard to downsize into something that doesn't roar and rumble under you and willingly flies along at 80 miles an hour for hours on end. I am saddened that this particular season of my life is over yet I relish in the fact that I have 20 years of wonderful memories. In the end, I gifted this scooter to my amazing son who is a delight to my heart ~ I love that boy. When our initial phone connections are made, I say, "Hello favorite son!" This kid floors me by what he knows and can do. I purchased this 6x12 off-road Colarado Trailer and asked him, since he is a wiz at electrical things since this is his profession, to install some solar panels. I had researched this lifestyle and knew I could make living in there very simple but that I would need an energy source. I was prepared to and preparing for (purchasing a propane camp stove and cyclinders, titan cooler and leakproof plastic containers to store food inside, charcoal and lighter fluid) this type of lifestyle. Before you know it, his creative juices get flowing on overdrive and he has designed, fabricated and installed his mother's mini retirement house on wheels. Isn't he cool?!! I love this kid with all my heart and I am so very terribly proud of him and the man he's become. Thank you, son <3 These flowers were outside the welcome center in South Carolina. They just made my heart happy to see the vibrant colors. I actually have a tattoo of the purple and yellow pansise. Colors are life-giving to me and I appreciate them even more so in their vibrant splendor. I am grateful. My goal is to always stop at these welcome centers for the primary reason of obtaining a hard copy map of the state. Nothing like having a piece of paper in your hand rather than the digital GPS or phone version. I'm never sure what kind of response I will receive because I choose to not live in fear. That means that I walk boldly forward knowing that I am healthy and immune. I was pleasantly surprised to engage in a fairly meaningful conversation with the attendant who is retired law enforcement to which I promptly thanked him for his service. He was very helpful and good at greeting guests and working on accommodating what they were looking for. I think it's because my middle child had her MOS in the Marine corp working on air craft that I have enjoyed seeing them fly overhead; it reminds me of her and her service ~ thank you, Rebecca! <3 And I'm also glad that you found your soulmate there and have given me two beautiful and dear grandchildren whom I love dearly.
I did a job once at an air show in Wichita, Kansas. I was standing on the runway with Boeing's B-1B aircraft. Not only did I get to see it up closer and personal (as close as they would allow the workers to get), I also had the privilege of feeling the roar and rumble and volume when it took off. I can really get into that :-) I just stood there and allowed the vibrations to travel up my feet and into my body. Anyway, this residency here in Sumter, SC, is located not far from Shaw Air Force Base and many of these aircraft fly overhead. And if you can't see them, you can still hear them. Reminds me of when we lived over the flight pattern along Brookpark Rd in Parma. The constant air travel sound can get annoying after a while. The sky is usually crystal blue around here, very enjoyable to see. Sad to see the chem trail here and the other garbage polluting the air. Not sure what I'm talking about? Do some research on HAARP. haarp weather-controlling Made it!! PTL [Praise the Lord] Let me tell you ~ you do not want to miss a turn when hauling. And, yes, I can follow GPS; sometimes it's just not that simple always being mindful of surroundings and other moving objects. Speaking of which ~ God totally spared me the other day when an elderly lady started merging right into my lane from the parking lot. With heavy traffic all around there wasn't anywhere to go or stop so I did the next best thing hoping that her ears worked ~ they did and she stopped just inches from hitting me. Whew. Reserving this spot took a lot of work! Since the insanity of 2020 hit full stream it is very difficult to find a live person anywhere. One needs to register on a recreation.gov site which showed all to be taken and it was difficult, not knowing the lay of the land, where a good spot would be anyway. Eventually I was able to connect w a live representative and after a lengthy discussion regarding my dilemma, with me explaining all the attempts I've already tried including calling different phone numbers I had access to, she gave me the direct line to the campground manager. When he returned my call I was able to secure a spot. The next two photos will show that spot. This was a great spot for a few days. It was the first time I would be in one area longer than a night. I had basically kept what I thought I needed from my remaining earthly possessions, toted and loaded them and left. Now was the time to organize and put things in more meaningful order that made sense for this particular lifestyle.
I took out a four foot table and using the existing picnic table began going through what I had. BTW, all my earthly possessions that I've freely donated I've prayed over and asked that God would bless the person who is now able to enjoy what once I held as valuable. Some items were attempted to be sold on FB Marketplace through a business that I had hired (so everything that did sell that money was used to foot their bill; I just needed help really downsizing and getting out of current residency and this was their speciality to which I am eternally grateful). One story in particular: a 30 something man came to pick up a purchase and during the discourse of our conversation I learned many things about his choices and sacrifices he's made for his family. They have younger children and recently moved into the area from out of state and attempting to settle house. I had showed him the $900 custom piece of furniture that I had the Amish had built for me and he really fell in love with it even taking pictures to show his wife. Long story short ~ I practically gave that piece away because I knew they would be blessed with it and I verbally told her that I was blessing that piece of furniture in the name of Jesus and to be used as a remembrance as she enjoyed that piece of furniture. As I am being released of many things that I held as valuable, I wonder at the esteem we might tend to place on earthly possessions that are here today and gone tomorrow. We are called to be stewards of what God has allowed in our lives ~ was I being a good steward when I over-accumulated? I confessed and repented and purposed to ask prior to purchasing to see if this item fulfilled a need or a desire. When I took this photo, the sun was shining brilliantly and the fall colors of reds still showed their magnificence. Obviously this photo does not translate what my natural eyes beheld. I remain in awe of God's handiwork and how He chooses to provide us with colors when He could have created the world in black and white. Northeast section of the Smokey Mountains taking the round-about rather than going up and over the Smokey Mountains. I have taken the only road that goes through the Smokey Mountains several times already and I didn't want to add the stress to truck/trailer with the up and down and braking. Between the cap on the truck and the longer tongue on the trailer, there is a lot of drag and fuel efficient it is not. On that note, I've asked around to see what I could do to alleviate this drag but to date no resolution has been discovered. That Passport America waterless campground that I still paid a good buck for is just 'down the road a piece' from this photo. Douglas Lake, TN. Larger bodies of water and trees are my grounding source. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for what You spoke into being. Again, 2 dimensional just can't capture what my natural eye sees in three dimensional. Fun fact on the note on my window. My dear friend N sat in that seat and wanted to leave that behind for me. It's a few months old now. Thanks N <3! Another observation in this picture that I'd like to point out is the fact that the trailer sits exactly aligned with the truck (except the wheel wells) so I didn't need to get the extended mirrors. I highly recommend 'A Better Cap' located on Rte 18 just west of Rte 94 in Medina. Rick and Lori are extremely helpful. View from my window in the morning. Quiet serenity.
It had rained a lot during the previous day (as I was retreated ground back into Knoxville and back again) and even in the night, hence a previous statement of "things being wet that needed to dry off" was posted in a previous blog. The night sky had also been covered so I was unable to observe the large moon event. Hope someone else was able to observe it. It would have been nice to see, however, just the night before I was able to stand in front of a lunar rainbow and be in awe. God is good ~ all the time <3 From here I left and headed to North Carolina's Pisgah National Forest. I've made it to Cumberland Falls! This has been my ultimate destination when I left Ohio. There would be a full moon tonight and therefore a moonbow. This phenomenal occurs regularly in only three areas of the world and Corbin, KY is one of them. But before I ever reach this point, and mind you, without realizing it, as I stopped to take this picture, the cars behind me were beginning to back up ~ oops! I find the correct road the nice lady at the district office told me about for boon docking near the falls and turn off. I suppose for a national forest off-road road that this was a decent one. Gravel and not too many potholes. Nothing but trees all around. Only one way to go and that is forward; so forward I went. I hadn't decided yet if this area was something I was sold on and the deeper I went in, the more I thought I didn't want to be here. Mainly for the reason of finding the spot, unhitching, driving back out again and then back in again once the moonbow event was over in whatever light the sky had to offer. So, five miles in and a crossroad presented itself, I managed to turn the rig around and back again I traversed. It would have been nice to have grabbed a picture from that drive but just like the Daniel Boone National Forest sign came and went without a photo, so this road was left in my rear mirrors. Here's my spot in the parking lot at Cumberland Falls. I've been here before and the lot has been full so I was grateful for this space. When I would be ready to leave I would just pull forward and onto to the road there as seen in the right corner. There really wasn't a place to stay around there so after the moonbow event I started heading towards to TN. Here's an opportunity for mining. The buildings were already closed by the time I started walking around this area. Not sure if this is seasonal or not but apparently it's a big hit with the tourists and probably pretty lucrative for the park. Good to know ~ roger that ~ I'll keep my eyes open. There are so many trails that branch off that without a good map of them, one could easily become an endless wanderer. Here is the scene that I referenced in my 'lost' blog. Around 7 PM it filled up. I was cold and got colder as the evening progressed. This is dusk as there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we were all excited that the moon would be visible. This lady in the blue coat reminded me of my dear friend Elisha and her sweet photography skills. Thank you, E <3 The moon is beginning to peak over the tree line and eastern sky as seen in the middle of the picture and not the 'street' light lamp on the right. Some disappointment was mounting as clouds were beginning to roll through. The moon rays did illuminate the falls and the rocky wall. Did the best I could with my little phone camera. Starring hard into the center of the photo one can see the moonbow. It reminded me of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as it just ended there.
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AuthorHelen ~ who is on a journey discovering. Archives
February 2022
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