RVing

Roll with the Changes and It’s Time for Us to Fly…Again.

Posted by Barbara Techel
Our R-pod nestled in the trees on top of the hill in this beautiful KOA in Trenton, GA

Two song titles are bouncing around in my mind as we have one more sleep in this campground in Georgia tonight — Time for Me to Fly and Roll with the Changes — both by REO Speedwagon. I realize I’m showing my age, but I will always love REO!

We are leaving a day early as all-day rain is expected here tomorrow…again. Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama have certainly had their share of rain this spring season….and we rolled with the changes rolling between all three states to get the best weather we could. Alabama was never on our radar to visit this trip, but it all worked out. I’d not have met Harley the black Lab otherwise!

Another view of our campsite in Trenton, GA

One thing we know for sure…we are no longer big city people. Well, I suppose to be fair, John never really was. I thought I wanted to be when I was younger. But I’ve definitely changed in that department. I’m yearning for my quiet and peaceful Joyful Pause Cottage and to be within four walls again with a solid foundation. This campground in Georgia has been awesome though with quiet and beautiful rolling hills and the one in Blue Ridge was also lovely in a different kind of way.

Traveling certainly gives you a perspective on life. And traveling during Covid times has offered that as well. One disappointment was not being able to get tickets for Rock City Gardens in Chattanooga. They only sell a limited amount each day and were sold out for the week.

Traveling you are witness to more poverty and the homeless also. One day driving through Alabama I noticed a woman walking up the hill to the underpass. When I looked further up, I saw another woman re-arranging cardboard box sides in an effort to what looked like more privacy.

I was moved to tears. I just can’t imagine being homeless. So many thoughts rolled through my mind. Then compassion flooded my heart followed by deep gratitude for the life I have. 

I never thought I’d say I lived out of a camper for three weeks, but by golly, we did it. And John and I only had one short-fuse moment with each other. While I’m ready to head back home and we have two sleeps yet in Kentucky, we are already giving thought to next year’s travels. Right now, something in one spot for three weeks and not as much sightseeing, but even more relaxing.  Will see. But it’s fun to dream about another adventure.

We will leave sunny skies and 75 degrees to a low of 24 degrees overnight tomorrow evening and arrive home in Wisconsin in time for weather in the mid-60s. What a roller coaster with the weather which included moving as we did to avoid the tornadic weather that broke out around these parts.

Roll with the changes…at home or traveling…it’s all part of this big experience called life. I’ve definitely learned to roll with more ease and patience on this trip.

XO

Barb

Have Van Will Travel: What Living in a Van Taught Me

Posted by Barbara Techel

Have Van Will Travel: What Living in a Van Taught Me

Over two years ago we began converting one of John’s Chevy Cargo work vans into a camper. Though we still need to install the kitchen, it was good to go that we felt it would serve our needs. We lovingly refer to her as our “vamper” and also named her Second Chance. 

After the 2008 recession we had to make some tough financial decisions, like I know many others did, too. We thought traveling wouldn’t be part of our future…until we discovered a whole world of others converting vans to campers, whether to live in full time, or like us, to travel and explore on a budget!

Recently, we took Second Chance out on her first big excursion! Our plan was to visit South Carolina for six days, then head home through Virginia with a day or two stop in Charlotte, North Carolina. But as our weather here with the unusual snowstorm and cold, in the Carolina’s we encountered everything from flurries, sleet, a severe thunderstorm (which made for one muddy campsite!), followed by the low 80’s for one day to plunging to 34 degrees and crazy wind the following day.

The one day in low 80’s in Columbia, SC

I share with you a few things I learned while living in 84 sqt. ft. with my hubby, John and our ten pound dachshund, Gidget.

Gidget hanging out inside the vamper watching as I get ready in the morning. Always the inspector!

  • I’m going to start with the most important lesson and not leave you in suspense…my most important takeaway was to be open to adapt. Adapting meaning that when circumstances are less than favorable I had a choice to be frustrated, or go with the flow. Hmmm, how interesting that coincides with understanding when one is going through a transitional period in ones life – something part of my mission is about – and one I swear I’m tested on more times than I wish, and especially on our last stop before we headed home. Our last night in Indianapolis, we came to find out they had a record of ten inches of snow the day before, with about four inches still on the ground when we arrived at the campsite.

Making the best of it. Wine helped!

  • ​Being in a “hotel” that is on wheels meant being able to adapt quite nicely and travel to a warmer climate, which we did when we had chilly weather in the Carolina’s, even though it meant we had to backtrack and to a different state to visit was not planned. But we had set the intention that this was going to be an adventure – and that it was!

In Madison, GA outside historic home, Rose Cottage. Hugging Crape Myrtle tree over 150 years old!

  • The blessing of not so favorable weather in the Carolina’s landed us in Georgia. Here we fell in love with the quaint historic towns of Greensboro and Madison. Not to mention the KOA campground we stayed in on Lake Oconee. It was gorgeous! While I’m not a big shopper, we discovered some eclectic, artsy and unique shops. I came home with some lovely treasures that make me smile when I look at them because of the memories I now have from our trip.

And this…made the backtracking so worth it. Sunset on Lake Oconee.

  • I realized even more what a wonderful man I’m married to. I swear John’s patience has gotten better over the years, while mine lacks more than I care to admit at times (I blame it on hormones!). But I soon came to realize how thoughtful John was about my morning routine. Without saying a word, he just adjusted to allow me space in our teeny tiny temporary home. I had more than one heart swoon for his tenderness of attention during our time away.

My Prince Charming having fun by a waterfall in Madison, GA (and he was okay with me snapping and sharing this shot!)

  • I overcame my fear of tinkling outside! Being in my mid-50s, my bladder not what it used to be, plus one campsite where the bathroom was far, far away, I learned quickly the value of having a porta-potty along. My once shy kidney was more than relieved (no pun intended!) to have this option even if it meant tinkling out behind the vamper. Well…as long as it was very, very dark. In other cases, John lovingly placed one said commode inside the vamper, closed the doors, and allowed me my privacy (worthy of another heart swoon!).
  • Lastly, but most special, we were able to pay tribute to our dear, sweet Kylie, who as you may remember, we laid to rest the day after Thanksgiving 2017. We planned to scatter part of her ashes in Tennessee as that is where we brought her home from over twelve years ago. Traveling by van meant we could follow our intuition and find just the right place that called to us to scatter her ashes. And that we did. The backdrop to where we released her? The Great Smoky Mountains.

Great Smoky Mountains

Looking forward more adventures ahead!

XO,

Barbara

Other Blog Posts About Our Van Conversion

The Adventure Has Begun. New Home on Wheels. Who’d of Thunk?

The Conversion Begins

Inspector Approves of Phase One Conversion

She Gets a Name

First a Name and Now Mascots

Cozy Comfort

Flooring is In (video)

Cutting it Close

Slow and Steady Wins the Race (video)

I Married a Creative Genius

Cicadas, Vango Airbeam Tent, and Excitement Building

My Favorite Treasures Found While Visiting Georgia

Posted by Barbara Techel
Hugging a Crape Myrtle tree (a favorite!) over 150 years old outside the historic home Rose Cottage in Madison, GA

It wasn’t part of our plans to visit Georgia while we were on vacation recently. We set out for Gaffney, South Carolina with plans to also visit Charlotte, North Carolina and drive through Virginia.

But the weather wasn’t on our side much of this trip. We ended up chasing after the sun and warmth. This brought us to Georgia after experiencing storms, winds and cold in both North and South Carolina. Though we did have one beautiful day in the low 80s while perusing Columbia, the capital of South Carolina.

The blessing of traveling by van converted to camper is we could roll with it and move on. And that’s exactly what we did! But isn’t this how it goes? You are busy making all these plans of how you think things will turn out and then life throws you a couple of curve balls. But as my blog and mission is about, it’s about learning to roll with those changes and letting go of expectations.

Learning to adapt brought us to the cities of Greensboro and Madison, GA. So quaint and so full of charm. From the historic homes, to the lovely southern architecture of homes, an abundant array of blooming shrubs and flowers, to the antique and unique shops, I was happy we were open to adventure, which brought us here.

While I’m not a big shopper anymore, I do love to support artists and look for artisan marketplaces or shops when visiting a city or state I’ve not been before. And so I share my favorite treasures with you.

Candle holder made out of beeswax with insert of dried, pressed flowers. It glows beautifully! From Genuine Georgia – An Artisans Marketplace in Greensboro, GA.
Leaf shaped night light made out of clay. So pretty in my bathroom! From Genuine Georgia – An Artisans Marketplace in Greensboro, GA.
Clay tea cup with top for steeping found in a shop in Madison, GA (the name of shop escapes me!)

Did I really need any of these treasures? No. But it does my heart good to know I’m supporting artists. I imagine them in their studios lost in their creative world, doing what they love best…just as I love to do with my writing and what makes my world go round, and why I see these items now as dear treasures.

And to think I almost left the tea cup behind as I was trying to talk myself out of it telling myself I have more than enough of them. But as I headed toward the door my hubby said, “Aren’t you going to get that mug?”  Well that was all the enticing I needed! 🙂

Twist my arm and open my wallet. I’m glad I did.

XO,

Barbara