After celebrating my son Luke's graduation the weekend of May 5-7, I returned home to Whitewater and began packing for my EAST COAST SWING!
SECOND CAR CAMPING TRIP - May 9 - 26, 2023
May 9: Packed up, gassed up, got an oil change, then hit the road. Kept feeling like I forgot something. I DID! My dressy clothes for Grace's graduation! (Not on my usual camping checklists.) I was only 15 minutes out of town. Drove back, threw the fancy clothes in the rooftop car carrier, hugged Josh again, and pulled out. Drove to Illinois and car camped at a quiet, safe Loves Truck Stop.
May 10: Drove to Knoxville, TN and met my sweet friend Alma at an Applebees. We caught up on old times when we worked together at Bluff Lake YMCA Camp (CA) and YMCA Camp Benson (IL). She kindly invited me to stay on her couch. She was Luke's best friend when he was a baby and toddler at Camp Benson, so the timing was good to chat about how grown up he is, and to pull out photos old and new. (Sorry, Luke-too cute!)
May 11-13: Graduation weekend for niece Grace at Duke University. See post "Summer of Graduations"
May 14: After saying goodbye to family in Durham, I drove to Carolina Beach State Park - tent site. It's warm out - maybe 80 degrees and muggy. Definitely an "uh-oh" moment for car camping on this swing. It takes more Bluetti power to keep my car fridge cool, and it's tougher sleeping in these temps. I didn't bring a fan, and my window coverings are holding in the heat. Learning as I go...)
May 15: Woke, charged battery at an electric site, then went to the beach. Walked for 2+ hours watching a Carolina sunrise. Drove to Curtis A. Perry Public Park in Beaufort, NC for overnight car camping. Used bookstore, grocery store, reading, journaling, planning my next moves.
May 16: Plugged in at the marina in the morning while reading and having my coffee. Bought 9am ferry tickets to Shackleford Banks - island with wild horses. LOVED my time on the island. Visited Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitor Center and chatted with ranger. Drove toward Shenandoah NP. Stayed in a Cracker Barrel parking lot.
May 17: Drove into Shenandoah NP through the south entrance - Rockfish Gap at sunrise. Suddenly giddy - the sunrise is orange and the Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful. Old Rag trail was highly recommended by family - so I headed there. Hiked from 10am - 4:30 pm - rock scramble, climbing, clambering - gorgeous views at summit. Super fun and amazingly challenging. Definitely harder than Kannara Falls out in Utah - but differently challenging. Drove to another Cracker Barrel parking lot for overnight stay.
May 18: Drove north through Brightbill ancestry country (Berks County, PA). Very temping to stay and do family research, but both my boys are in New Jersey now, so I head there. Checked on Josh and his buddy Jonathan who are in Saddle Brook with friends. Great dinner w/ Luke & Anha in New Brunswick.
May 19: Laundry, workout, reading and writing at the hotel in Saddle Brook. Restocked the car fridge.
May 20: Drove north to Western Massachusetts - taking the long way through New York for more picturesque countryside. Stopped at Bear Mountain SP. Attended concert in Turners Falls, MA called SparkleTown - a tribute concert for Signature Sounds artist Kate Lorenz. Stage full of amazing artists including Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault, Hayward Williams, Chris Smither, Peter Mulvey, Caitlyn Canty, Matt Lorenz, David Goodrich and more. Audience was standing room only - a reflection of the sparkly Kate. (I wish I'd known her.) Car camped in beautiful spot - River View Picnic Area in Northfield.
May 21: Explored western MA. Hiked the Poet's Seat in Greenfield, meditated below the dam at Turners Falls, crossed the Bridge of Flowers connecting towns of Buckland and Shelburne Falls. Dinner with friends at great restaurant - Hope & Olive in Greenfield...tremendous!
May 22: Helped with a family emergency - tough to be at a distance. Almost flew home. Instead, the news improved and I stayed. Went to the river to pray and give thanks.
May 23: Drove back to hotel in Saddle Brook. Read, rested, checked on Josh, ate NY pizza by the slice.
May 24: NYC day with Josh! Uber and train, Central Park, K-town, NBA store, shopping - aaaaaand that's enough big city time for me.
May 25: Drove home with Josh and Jonathan in one shot! Boys kept me company, and we were all highly motivated to get home. Paid the tolls for the fastest roads, ate the junkiest food, and by 3:47 a.m. on 5/26 we were kissing the cat in Whitewater.
With my two big car camping swings over, I look forward to enjoying summer a little closer to home. I am committed to writing more, making progress on the household "To Do" list, and planning ahead for future sojourns. May all your summer sojourns be safe and fun - and may there be moments that make you feel like you are on top of the world!
Comments