Trippin' with Susan Straley

My van died. After arriving in White Springs, FL, I had to drive back 1.5 hours to Green Cove Springs for my DMV appointment.  That is a story in itself, which I don't have time for at the moment, so we will skip that saga. Just as I pulled into my campground where I am attending the Suwanee Bicycle Association's Annual Pedal and Paddle event, my van died.  I was pulling to a stop by the ranger station.  And it sputtered and quit.    I suspected the transmission because I could start the van just fine, but when I put it in drive it would jerk, sputter, and then silence. I called my friend Mari Towle who until a few days ago was my next door neighbor.  She is here at the festival and she was very supportive and came and helped me take the important stuff out of my van and transfer it to hers for transport to my camping spot. It ended up to be the transmission.  I would have fixed it to get a few more years out of the van, but due to a shortage of parts and labor, the time line f

 Dear Friends and Family, What sights!  They take my breath away. After I last posted I searched for a trail near me and found one only three miles away.  Wow, was it ever a pretty trail!  It started out going through a tunnel through Mountain Laurel. Then steps down to a falling creek (or "run" as they call them around here). The ground covered with colorful leaves and some snowing down in front of me.  There were trees and mosses growing on giant rocks. Golden leaves  were floating on a crystal clear stream. There were lots of pretty and interesting fungus/mushrooms. And the walk was just the right length. I hooked up my trailer that night and on Sunday I pulled out of my site 63 at Chestnut Ridge Campground by seven a.m. Google said it would only take me four hours to get to my destination.  I knew better.  I gave my next campground host in Fries, VA and estimated arrival time of two or three p.m.  As it turned out, I didn't even make that.   Why?  Well there were lots

 Dear Friends and Family,  I have liked this camp spot.  Though on a cold day it was too much shade, and no sunlight in which to dry my rags. But today I move on.  I sure hope to return to this part of Pennsylvania again some day. *** On my last evening with Jean and Keith, Jean offered to me some cloth holders for taking stuff out of the microwave.  Her sister makes them and Jean had gotten a big stash from her to give away as gifts. I thanked her by declined saying I just can't add more stuff to my stash,  It was awkward refusing such a pretty gift.  I told her I use rags and towels for that task, stuff that does double duty.  She then mentioned she loves them and puts them between pots and dishes to reduce rattling.   OH!  I took two and could have taken more.  Thanks Jean!   I will see Jean and Keith again in a couple months, they may be in their Florida home by the time I get home in Florida. With Jean and Keith I was riding my trike, but now I have less than two weeks to my b