It has been a full summer with house remodeling and time with Willa and Hazel as Mike and Tracy try to fit in their work schedules while Willa is off school for the summer and Hazel plays the typically demanding infant.  It is a gift; rewarding, fulfilling and joyous, to be able to share in their lives.  Beyond the everyday, we fit in a trip to the Fair, some hiking, concerts in the park, tried a few new restaurants, plus shared a week in July with Brian, Johnna and RJ.

Today is the day and at 3 in the afternoon we load up.  Kent in the motorhome and I in the car we head out in a flurry of waves and shouted goodbyes from, and back to, the front porch at 18 1^st Avenue.  We are excited to get out on the road on our own for a bit; but still, tears well up in my eyes as we pull away.  We will stop back for Hazel’s birthday in just a few weeks before we actually head out for the winter.

Today, stop 1 is less than an hour from Kingston at a quiet campground in Kenneth Wilson SP near lots of trails and some lovely Catskills scenic drives.  Enroute, I stop to let several flocks of turkeys cross the road.  Just as we settle in our site we are greeted by a handsome buck.  Nice start to the wildlife viewing.  Camp is nearly empty and the air filled with the sounds of the forest…and the occasionally passing car.  We are still in NY after all!

Work this summer focused on the newly vacated apartment, the first floor bath and the kitchen.

Apartment work is mostly fix-up and some work to absorb the previously rented out space into the kids living space.  Work included changing the locks, repairing the inside bedroom and bath doors and window latches, replacing the stove, light fixture repair and a thorough cleaning.

The first-floor bath was a complete gut and redo.  It started with lots of hammering and chisel work to tear out drywall/plaster and old tile.  There was plenty of dirty work for everyone who cared to get some swings in. Lots of clean up, wiring work, then insulation followed by the finish work: ceramic tile floor, wainscoting, new and relocated vanity and sink, new lights, fan and a radiant heat panel.  Wall color is a muted grey blue with a rich dark blue wainscoting.  All agree, it looks great.

Kitchen renovations were limited as we ran out of time.  We did manage to reorient the island square with the other appliances.  Tracy has been looking forward to that since the day they moved in.  It does make for a roomier feel with two or even 3 cooks in the kitchen possible.   The floor got a cool paint job.  That was lynn’s job.  She sanded, scraped, and cleaned all the gaps (it is original plank subfloor).  Filled gaps with epoxy and re-sanded.  Painted an amazingly good looking 2ft square pattern in a diagonal from the living room entrance.  It was definitely more work than anticipated but it came out great.  Now we will see how it holds up.  Countertops will wait for another time.

I head back to TN and pick up the rig then on to WV to catch up with family.

Had a good visit with Wayne and Aunt Doris.  Dementia continues to make life a struggle for Doris and family.  It would claim her in June.  I also enjoyed time with Aunt Arlene, Charlotte, Marilyn & Mark, Lisa, Mary & John as well as Aunt Louease and her oldest Mike who was visiting from Virginia.

There was a minor equipment problem.  As I unhooked from the trailer in Pt Pleasant, I noted the hitch ball was no longer tight and had worn the bar so tightening was not feasible.  Luckily the part I needed was readily available at Tractor Supply.

Had a scrumptious Easter dinner Bill and Cyndi Gibbs, we shared travel tips, discussed their upcoming Ireland United Kingdom trip and the possibility of a high school class reunion.  We will see if interest develops in a reunion.

Checked the forecast prior to my departure for PA and found 8-10 inches of snow forecast for I-68 in the mountains of MD, so I delayed departure by 1 day and watched on traffic cameras as tow trucks pulled tractor trailers up the mountains.  Good choice.

Travel to PA then on to NY

In PA my stay was at Codorus State Park. The Garmin sent me to the office parking lot, which was a bit of a challenge getting turned around.  I met the ranger, who later stopped by camp to check in.

Guardhouse ranger very helpful, had me drive to site and unload near site since it was a mile to the front parking lot.  Called a campground host to help me back in the overflow parking lot.

Travel on to NY was uneventful with the trailer drop-off at storage in Kingston going without a hitch.  Stopped by Mike and Tracy’s house and picked up Lynn for the trailer drop and car unload.  She is much better at getting into and out of the car in the trailer than I am.  Took the motorhome back south to Sylvan Lake for a few days prior to moving to Mike’s driveway for a while over the summer.  We will be staying in their basement apartment while we help with the continuing renovations.

New Years in PA.  We stay a couple nights at Bob and LouAnn’s this time through PA.  Carol is in the area and Molly, Clark and Harlow spend lots of time at Nana and Grandpas for the Holiday so we join in the fun.  Harlow is almost exactly one year younger than Willa and its fun to see her going through all those familiar phases.  Her Nana and Grandpa obviously enjoy it too.  More good food and fun hanging out.  We even stay awake long enough to toast in the New Year.  Traditional pork and sauerkraut round out the celebrations.  Time to move on.