It was a rainy day on the Fourth of July where we live. Helen (adorable wife) and I had planned to attend a concert and a fireworks display being held in one of our downtown parks, and then share it with Easin’ Along readers. However, the threat of showers (and the lingering effects of a summer cold) kept yours truly holed up indoors. This wasn’t the most glimmering illustration of an active retirement lifestyle, but I had to take a rain check and sit this one out.
Television was filled with Fourth of July celebrations, including the one we had planned to visit, and each of one of them featured orchestras and bands belting out lively patriotic tunes. There is nothing like patriotic music to get me fired up…almost to the point of curing my cold. If John Phillip Sousa has not yet been granted sainthood, surely he is on the list. Every time piccolos are played in the Sousa marching tune, Stars and Stripes Forever, I get chills, and I’ll wager that others do also.
There were some hymns being played during these celebrations as well. I love hearing The Battle Hymn of the Republic, especially when it is sung slowly in parts and builds to a resounding finish. The hymn America, which we sang in church last Sunday, is also a favorite, and who has not shed a tear when listening to Americathe Beautiful beautifully sung. I’ll admit to being caught up in the lyrics many times.
Listening to those hymns on America’s birthday serves as a warm reminder of how fortunate we are to live in such wonderful country and one that is richly blessed with staggering beauty. Each line in the hymns America and America the Beautiful brought back memories of some of the places we have visited on our Easin’ Along travels. Therefore, since I was homebound and could not share our local festival with readers, I thought I would post a few pictures from those trips to illustrate the lyrics of those two hymns.
Here goes…I hope you enjoy them. Be grateful that I didn’t sing them for you, but you’re encouraged to sing along as you scroll.
America – Lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith, 1831
My country ’tis of thee – Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
Sweet Land of Liberty – Statue of Liberty – NYC
Of Thee, I Sing – Juke Joint Festival – Clarksdale, MS
Land Where My Fathers Died – Veterans Cemetary, Knoxville, TN
Land of the Pilgrims’ Pride – Mayflower II, Plymouth, MA
From Ev’ry Mountainside – Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC
Let Freedom Ring – Church Steeple, Nantucket, MA
America the Beautiful – Lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates, 1893
O Beautiful for Spacious Skies – Kure Beach, NC
For Amber Waves of Grain – Greeneville, TN
For Purple Mountain Majesties – White Sands, NM
Above the Fruited Plain – Grey Eagle, MN
America! America! – Beaudette, MN
God Shed His Grace on Thee – Cadet Chapel, West Point (USMA)
And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood – Men’s Fellowship, SHPC
From Sea – Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore
To Shining Sea – Pier, Hermosa Beach, CA
Happy 241st Birthday America! We’re still filled with pride, we’re still strong, and we’re still Easin’ Along!
An active retirement has a lot of moving parts. We focus on four of them—Faith, Family, Food, and Fun—as the center of Easin’ Along and try to hit on one of them each week. When we have a week to experience all four, we’ve had a great week. Such was the case recently when Helen (adorable wife) and I took Bertha to Middle Tennessee for a few days beside Percy Priest Lake at Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort.
Family
It all started when my sister, LeAnn, and brother-in-law, Marty booked a week at Nashville Shores to spend some time in their new motor home, a 36-foot luxury hotel room on wheels. We thought it would be a great opportunity to enjoy some family time while giving us another opportunity to get Bertha a bit more organized before we take off on another extended road trip. We secured the last space available for the week, but the space we were given backed up to Percy Priest Lake and we had a great view from our patio.
Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort
Another reason for LeAnn and Marty to visit Nashville was to help their son, Rob, move into the new home that he and his wife, Melissa, had just purchased. On our first night, we went to the new home where we were joined by Melissa’s Mom and LeAnn’s twin daughters and their husbands for a cook-out. Even though Rob and Melissa had barely moved in, we had a delightful family gathering and a great start to the week.
Morning coffee
The next morning began with coffee on the patio area behind Bertha. Although it would later prove to be a very hot day, the morning was wonderful. We watched a family of Canadian geese swim by and also watched the family next to us pack up their motorhome. The RV had Florida tags and I couldn’t help but ask where they were going next. They explained that their business involved working with polo horses and they spend each winter in Florida and then spend a month driving to Aspen, Colorado for the summer. You meet the most interesting folks in RV parks…
Soon LeAnn and Marty joined us. I was eager to try out my new camp stove and griddleand needed no prodding to whip up some pancake batter and cook some bacon for breakfast. Everything turned out ok, but more practice is needed with the new stove. LeAnn and Marty were kind enough clean their plates of the overcooked pancakes but left quickly to do some kayaking on the lake when I offered second helpings. My family is a very thoughtful bunch.
Breakfast chef
The rest of the day was devoted to casual activity. Helen and I walked around the resort for exercise while LeAnn and Marty spent several hours in their kayaks. The rest of the morning was spent getting Bertha a little more organized. We also replaced the old bedspread and sheets with a new and more colorful selection.
Bertha’s spread
That afternoon the empty spot next to us was filled with a young couple and their two children who arrived from West Tennessee towing a 30-foot Classic Airstream trailer. Although I love Bertha, this Airstream left me filled with envy. The owner skillfully maneuvered the trailer into the campsite and hooked up the utilities with practiced precision. After the setup was complete, we introduced ourselves and had a very enjoyable conversation. Throughout the next few days, we had the chance to get to know them and found them to be quite charming. Their children were well-mannered, energetic, and fun. I have posted a precious picture of their daughter taken by her Mom at the water park.
Fun in the sun
The couple was gracious enough to give Helen and me a tour of their Airstream. I’ve seen some elegant RV’s lately, including the one owned by Marty and LeAnn and the Airstream ranks right there with all of them. Although it is called a Classic, everything about it is ultra modern including marble countertops, LED lighting, and leather reclining couches. We fell in love with the many large windows that provided an open, airy feel to the interior. I found a floor plan and posted it below for anyone considering a travel trailer in their future.
Airstream Classic floorplan
Fun
The next day we were treated to the use of LeAnn and Marty’s kayaks for a ride on Percy Priest Lake. These kayaks are propelled by fins on the underside and are driven by pedals similar to a bicycle. Marty spent some time giving us an orientation then turned us loose. Helen was somewhat limited by her knee issues, but we had fun nonetheless and it was great being on the water.
Help from Marty
That afternoon, we decided to hit the water park and the Lazy River. Just as we were purchasing tickets (Senior discounts…always ask) four bus loads of school children arrived for an afternoon of fun in the sun. Nashville Shores Water Park is huge and able to absorb a large crowd with relative ease, but on this day it seemed that the large crowd all wanted to join me on the Lazy River. I managed to get five trips around the course before I gave up and found a lounge chair for some people watching…almost as much fun as River riding. Next, it was back to Bertha for a nap in the air conditioning.
Lazy River
Food
Readers to Easin’ Along know how much we love good food and Papa Turney’s Barbeque at the Marina filed the bill. We went there to try it out and were not disappointed in the least. In fact, the barbecue ribs were, and I’m not exaggerating, the best I’ve ever had…ever! They were coated in a scrumptious rub then smoked to fall-off-the-bone condition, and served hot. We ordered them to go and took the meal back to Bertha’s patio to enjoy them next to the water. I savored every bite, but could not eat the entire order. In fact, I save three ribs to enjoy several days later and they were still as good as fresh. This little restaurant is one hidden gem.
Papa Turney’s
During our last night, the remnants of a tropical storm moved into the Nashville area which required that we load up and drive back to Knoxville in a heavy rain. I hooked up Bertha and received some very welcome help from the Airstream owner which reduced my time in the rain. I thanked him profusely for the help (and the cookies brought over by their son the night before). We gave LeAnn and Marty a goodbye hug and drove on. Bertha handled the rain and the traffic without difficulty.
Faith
Farewell picnic
On Sunday we experienced the Faith component of our very pleasurable week by attending church on Sunday then joining the members of our congregation in a farewell picnic for our departing minister. Our minister, one of only three in the 70-year history of our church had accepted the call of a church in his hometown of Charleston, SC and this was his last Sunday with us. We’re going to miss him very much. Eternally energetic and blessed with an engaging smile, Dr. Seigling has served God and our church superbly in the six years he has been with us. Although there was an air of sadness about his leaving, everyone was happy for him that he would be returning to the area that he loves. There also was some great fun at the picnic when the staff and assistant ministers brought out a new kayak and a life jacket and presented it to the very surprised and very grateful recipient. A good time was had by all.
Surprise!
This event topped off a delightful week for Helen and me. We had shared in the love of family; we enjoyed fantastic food (ribs – not pancakes), had a bunch of fun with Bertha at Nashville Shores, and joined with many fellow church members to send well wishes to someone who had contributed much to our walk of faith.
Yep…that’s a wonderful week with all the components covered. Retirement is a great gig and it’s a good time to be Easin’ Along.
Bill, Sally, Rita, and Marco – Bowman Lake, Glacier National Park
As Helen (adorable wife) and I approached retirement age and began to explore all of the lifestyle options available, we had to look no farther than our friends Sally and Bill for inspiration. This very energetic couple entered retirement with amazing vigor and have yet to slow down.
Early in their “Golden Years”, Bill and Sally obtained Rita, a 17 foot Casita Travel Trailer, hooked it to Marco, their tow vehicle, and then ventured out, with bicycles and a canoe attached, to see all that there was to see in our great country. I’m not certain as to the number of miles they have covered on the byways of America, but trust me when I say that there have been many. In addition to living life on the road less traveled, Sally and Bill have spent their summers serving as campground hosts at several of the campgrounds in our nation’s great National Parks such as Lake Campground in Yellowstone, Smokemont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains, and Bowman Lake Campground in Glacier National Park in Montana.
Until recently, Sally and Bill maintained their permanent residence in Buford, GA, but now have decided to relocate to Asheville, NC to breathe mountain air a little more deeply and to take advantage of the many opportunities for seniors that Asheville has to offer.
Not long ago, we received an email that they sent to family and friends about the beginning of the next chapter in their amazing journey together and, with their permission, I have shared it below. I think it says a much about two people who have chosen to live life filled with a sense of humor, curiosity, an infectious spirit of adventure, and blessed with the attitude that home truly is where the heart is…even in a 17 foot trailer.
Here is that email.
Well, we did it and so far, so good!
We sold our Buford house quickly with the help of our friend Barry and have the money in the bank. We have our traveling and camping gear with us and the rest of our “stuff” is in storage in Georgia. The Friday we sold the house, we drove to TN for two nights to stay with Sally’s sisters Martha and Susan and other family members which is always a fun/interesting time. We were then off to Asheville to start the next phase of our lives. We were in a rush to get to Asheville on Monday morning because I had the first meeting of my men’s group that afternoon.
New home for Rita
We moved into our new home, the Bear Creek Campground and RV Park. See the pic of Rita at her new home. We picked it because it was the only one of three that would take us for the long term, and they also had the fewest reviews of drug and crime reports. It’s mostly an RV park for huge motor coaches for tourists who are visiting Asheville and the Biltmore Mansion. I would say about 10-15 slots are filled by more permanent residents (like us) and these RVs are much more modest. It’s quite a contrast. We had a little issue with our verbal reservation when we arrived, but when Sally showed our calling card with a picture of Rita on it, the lady at the desk (Missy) remembered us and could not have been nicer. It is good that at least Rita is memorable. We paid more so that we could have a site that did not back up to I-40, but the new site happens to back up to a noisy local road. Well, Sally can sleep through medical helicopters landing next to her so for her it is no problem. (and she says my snoring bothers her???)
Our big challenge is how to integrate into Asheville which is primarily a retirement and tourist community with a bohemian/artsy character. It also has over twenty micro-breweries to satisfy the thirst of the locals and some of the tourists. Sally told her daughters she is now homeless and friendless so we are trying to rectify that. Speaking of homeless, we went to the Post Office to rent a PO box. They asked for our permanent address, and we said we were living at the Bear Creek RV Park. They said it was not a permanent address and they could not rent us a box. We said it is permanent for now, and they told us we need a letter from Missy on their stationary saying it is permanent. OK, we will try to get the letter from Missy tomorrow.
Osher Institute (UNCA)
Classroom for lifelong learning
We are both registered now at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (Olli) which is part of the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA). See attached photos of our building and one of our first classes. There are six hundred seniors taking summer classes plus many more in special interest groups. We are taking four classes together (Plate Tectonics, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Life and Work, Sacred Sites of Ireland, and Asheville on the Cheap. We have also signed up for one special interest group each. Sally is taking Knitting, and I am in a Beer Club which goes to a different brewery every month. Which do you think will be most enjoyable? I have to make a correction. We met the head of the beer group, and Sally asked if any women were in the group. He said plenty and Sally said, “I’m in.” Well, there goes that night out with the guys. Beyond that, I am in a Men’s group, and Sally will be joining a Women’s group. We are anxious to return to our volunteer work in National Parks but feel we have to develop a life in Asheville first.
Prior to classes, we went over to the campus to get our official student IDs, our parking stickers, free bus passes, and passwords to get our computers and phones on their campus network. People were very helpful and guided us through everything but we still felt like this was our first day of kindergarten.
House hunting has been interesting. We have looked at a few houses but felt a little overwhelmed so we have decided to go slowly. We are in no big hurry to find a house since we are comfortable living in Rita, but she is only 83 sq.ft. inside, so we don’t want this to take forever. Since Rita is a special part of our lives, we need a house that has parking space in the back or side yard for her — no storage lot for our girl! We are also trying to limit our search to the North Asheville area — this is the area north of downtown and west of the Grove Park Inn. We would like a sidewalk neighborhood with easy walking to restaurants, pubs, shops, parks and the library. North Asheville seems to fit the bill but the problem is that everyone likes it so much that very few homes go on the market. We will try to be patient!
Rita and Marco – Big Cyprus National Preserve, near Everglades, FL
That’s all for now. Hope everyone is doing well. We would love to hear from you.
