BEGINNINGS

So where does one start on this adventure? Well since Aimee’s purchase we went on a couple of very local trips,and fell in love with the Mountain Vista campground.  Who knew that becoming a seasonal camper would give us lots of get-away weekends, some pretty wonderful fellow campers to meet, share time and swap tales with, and owners that truly make you feel at home.

Back in November, 2016, well before Aimee came into our lives, Barbara mentioned how terrific it would be to find somewhere to be to observe the total solar eclipse “scheduled” to occur on August 21, 2017. Anyone that knows me knows that that becomes a challenge to put together “THE TRIP!” The first question was whether or not we were going to fly in and fly out of that somewhere or did we want to rent a camper and make a larger adventure using the eclipse as an anchor. And our decision was….”camper!” Since we love National Parks and Monuments what could we see or do along the chosen way? And can we see any of the grandkids too?

One of the predicted perfect places to see the eclipse was from Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. So the “plan” was constructed: home to Luray Caverns National Monument to Shenandoah National Park to Gatlinburg and Smoky Mountain National Park to see the once in a lifetime solar eclipse to Mammoth Cave National Park to Bloomington and Yellow Springs to see grandkids and then home. And, as it turned out Aimee came into our life and this adventure become the true maiden voyage for our dream.

So the trip was set, Aimee came along and off we went on August 16, 2017.  As we wind south on I-81 out of PA and into Maryland and then West Virginia and into Virginia to Luray Caverns and Shenandoah National Forest the traffic is moving well but heavier than I expected. The license plates indicate that some folks are, I guess, heading home; Virginia, the Carolinas and Florida, and a couple of travelers identified with Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. But then again there’s a fair share of New York, Maryland, a few New Jersey’s, a Maine, New Hampshire or 2, and lots and lots of PA drivers headed south…everyone headed into the path of the eclipse? Tough enough for this maiden voyager behind the wheel to navigate the highways and byways with just average traffic, but here we are in the midst of, well what, another wagon train heading upstate to New York, a Yazger’s farm experience?

There’s things you learn about your driving self while behind the wheel of a 27,000 pound 34 and a half foot long 9 foot wide 12 foot 6 inches tall motorized box on wheels. So for now my lessons…the weight’s behind you so be careful to not over or understeer-corrections take quite a while; don’t drive more than 62-65 mph; be cautious of the right shoulder-there’s no reason to be too close; stay on the interstates as much as possible-don’t believe GPS more than your own perception; braking takes about 5 times more distance than in a passenger car or pick-up; when turning go further into the intersection than you think you should and watch your mirrors-yeah both sides; pay attention this is a big box on wheels and wind and 16 wheel vehicles push you aside if you’re not careful…and most of all don’t panic…slow down and enjoy the ride.

August 16, 2017