Author: Easin' Along

A few weeks ago I introduced Easin’ Along readers to Bertha, the travel trailer we decided to bring home after having had so much fun during the cross-country adventure we called Sherman’s March to the Sea. In that post, we detailed some of the steps Helen (adorable wife) and I went through in selecting the type, size, storage site, and decorations for our new toy.  We’ve accomplished a lot since Bertha came home, and we’re still very much involved in the decorating and outfitting process, but Bertha was born to have fun and we couldn’t wait to get her on the road. This week I’ll share with you a few details about her first trip.

Within a couple of days of Bertha joining the family, I hitched her up and took off for the Cherokee National Forest for the annual gathering of the Appalachian Anglers Society, an event we call Camp II. I wrote at length about this event last year (link here) and I hope you’ll revisit the trip. In that post, I wrote that although I have attended Camp II for almost forty years, it had been several years since I had camped overnight. This was mainly due to my having sold or given away most of my camping gear when we downsized.  Bertha changed all of that and I was chomping at the bit to spend three nights in the woods having fun with old friends.

The entrance to the Cherokee National Forest is within an hour’s drive south of our home in Knoxville. I was eager to see how well my truck (named Sophie) handled the hills, but everything went well and I was so grateful because the drive is incredibly beautiful and I wanted to enjoy it without distraction. I was not disappointed.  When I arrived at Bald River Falls I stopped to take it in.  The recent heavy rains had filled the Tellico River Valley and the volume of water flowing over the falls was heavier than I had seen it in years.  A short video of the falls is posted on the Easin’ Along YouTube page (link here).

I didn’t linger long however because I was in a hurry to arrive at the campground.  Years of experience with this group had taught me that the serious campers arrive early and take up a lot of space. I wanted Bertha to have a level spot with room for Sophie. Luck was with me—there was only one camper on site when I arrived and we had our pick of campsites. I pulled in with all of the skill of a long haul truck driver, unhitched Bertha, grabbed a lawn chair and waited for the arrival of my fellow campers.  Let the fun begin!

It wasn’t long before others began to show up and set up. Our location was in the McNabb Campground along the North River.  It is one of the few campsites in the National Forest that can be reserved for an entire group. When I began attending this event (on my 30^th birthday) we had as many as 100 campers over a weekend.  Through the next couple of decades, the number has dwindled to as low as 30, but recently attendance has grown some as new members have joined and sons of members began to attend.  This year I counted nearly forty in attendance.

Our primary purpose for the event is to fish for trout in the many streams throughout the area, but we’re also there to catch up with each other after a year of doing what we do. I fly fish, but it is the fellowship that brings me back every year. These are great guys who share a love of the outdoors and each of us knows how fortunate we are to have such a beautiful playground in our backyard. In our younger days, things could get a bit rowdy as we all tended to let our hair down a little, but now most of us are short-haired types and have mellowed a bit over the years.

We’re also there for the food. Camp II always brings out some of the most accomplished outdoor cooks I have ever been around. This year was no exception. On the first night, we had an outstanding fish and shrimp boil that I honestly couldn’t get enough of. I filled my bowl several times.  On our second night, we were treated to smoked prime rib, grilled lobster tails, baked potatoes, and grilled fresh asparagus. The word incredible doesn’t do justice to this meal.

As much as I was there for the fun and the food, I was also there to give Bertha a good test of her ability to provide shelter for an extended period. She was tested early because it rained almost the whole weekend. Not only did it rain, there was an unusually strong storm that came through the mountains and we had winds that approached 80 miles an hour.  Trees were losing limbs everywhere. Bertha rocked a little, and certainly got her feet wet, but otherwise proved to be able to withstand most anything.

The first night was cold and damp but I sat on Bertha’s couch and read a book in full light and warm as toast.  Occasionally I would spot a few who were standing beside a soggy campfire every time the rain slacked off. (Note: A reader has chastised me severely for not inviting everyone in. Bertha has  an occupancy limit but I did extend a few invitations…none were accepted, however). I slept very well as the rain fell gently on the roof.

From our beginning, Easin’ Along was created to promote and participate in an active lifestyle during our retirement and continue to do so for as long as we are able. Now that Bertha has passed her first exam, it looks as though we will have no trouble doing just that for a while longer at least, and we can continue happily Easin’ Along down the retired road. We look forward to that with great vigor.

Next week, Helen and I take Bertha to Cherokee, North Carolina for Bertha’s second trip. Please come back…’cuz Bertha gets a bonus!

 

 

After Helen (adorable wife) and I delivered Sherman to the Cruise America dealership in California and returned home, we knew that we had been bitten by the RV bug. Our cross country adventure was wonderful and gave us much to think about in terms of our lifestyle in retirement.

It was not long before I began looking into the options for RVs–well aware that the options are endless.  The choices include motor homes; fifth wheel trailers, towable trailers, pop-up campers and each of those come in so many sizes, prices, and configurations that it can boggle the mind. Nevertheless, we were able to sort through a few of the potential options based on our experience with Sherman.

First, because we like to explore the points of interest, and experience the food and drink in the areas where we are staying, we wanted to have a vehicle available to us and not have to move about in a large motor home. Therefore, we decided on a towable trailer. Second, because we usually stay in a new area for two or three days before moving on to a new spot, we would do fine in a smaller RV without feeling too confined.  We never felt cramped in Sherman.  Third, and probably the most definitive item on the list, we wanted to keep the impact on the budget within a reasonable range.  After all, we are retired…

Meet Bertha…a used (2015 model) towable camping trailer that followed me home after spending a couple of days at the local Camping World dealership. Bertha is a Coleman Camper that measures approximately 21 feet from front hitch to the rear bumper.  It has all the features that we considered important such as a refrigerator, cook-top, sink, shower, toilet, microwave, TV, stereo AM/FM/MP3, furnace and two air conditioners. It also has a queen size bed and plenty of storage space. We have all we need to enjoy Easin’ Along the retired road.

Once Bertha settled in, Helen’s nesting instincts took over. Her first mission was to develop the color scheme…something not within my range of talents. Bertha was decorated in varying hues of brown when she left the factory and we may end up recovering the couches and cushions before it is all said and done but, Helen is still experimenting and is leaning toward aqua. Again, I don’t do color.

She did a very smart thing and went to the local Goodwill and other thrift shops to find kitchen utensils such as pots, pan, skillets and other items. The prices were next to nothing for like-new items.  One great find was a perfectly good electric drip coffee maker (Black and Decker) for $3.00! We had enough cups and glassware on hand to fill the cabinets, and she bought plastic dinner plates and bowls from Amazon.

On our first camping trip, we ventured into a flea market/antique shop in Bryson City, NC and found an eight piece place setting of Lady Doris silverware that dated to 1929.  We splurged on this one and invested $55 in the set after driving a hard bargain with the shopkeeper. Once we apply a little polish, it will be a treasured addition to Bertha’s kitchen.

Other considerations came into play when deciding what (or whether) to purchase an RV.  Once we decided on the type—a towable trailer—we had to determine what we were going to pull it with.  Fortunately, I have a Dodge Dakota pickup truck (named Sophie) with enough towing capacity to haul Bertha. It’s not the ideal vehicle, but we were able to tow the camper over the North Carolina Mountains with no problems.  We just have to take it a little slower than I would like to protect Sophie’s transmission.

Another consideration was where we would keep Bertha when we were not on the road.  The restrictions in the neighborhood where we live do not allow campers, boats, etc, to be within view. After some additional research, I was able to find suitable storage at a facility within a ten-minute drive. Being somewhat obsessive about maintaining my toys in pristine condition, I purchased a cover for Bertha to keep her from being exposed to the elements.

So, after price, place, and pulling vehicle were determined, the final consideration ultimately came down to just how much were we going to use Bertha? My answer is… often. Fortunately, we live in one of the most beautiful parts of our country.  There is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park within 30 miles of our home and we love to visit there.  The Cherokee National Forest and Big South Fork Recreation Area are both within a two-hour drive. There is a food festival of some variety in our region almost every weekend. We also have the advantage of being able to use the facilities of our nation’s military installations which are amazing. And, as we have illustrated on four Easin’ Along road trips, there is our love of the road less traveled.

In summary, I feel certain that Bertha will become familiar to our readers.  Next week’s post will take you to Camp II, the annual event of the Appalachian Angler’s Society as well as to Cherokee, NC where Helen and I spent our first camping trip in a beautiful campground with Bertha parked beside Soco Creek.

Until then, Helen and I, and now Bertha, are looking forward to a great summer and send you our best as we go Easin’ Along.

 

Throughout Sherman’s March to the Sea, we’ve had some great stops along the way.  Helen (adorable wife) and I both loved White Sands, NM, and Cottonwood, AZ, but we probably saved the best for last.

As we pulled into our assigned campsite at Point Mugu, CA we were filled with mixed emotions. First, there was the exhilaration of arriving at such a beautiful setting and being joined by our son, his lovely wife and our grandchildren. There also was the acknowledgment that Sherman had reached his destination and another chapter of Easin’ Along down the retired road was about to conclude. Oh well, we didn’t dwell on that for long, there was much to do before we delivered Sherman to the stable and flew home.

Our campground was at the Point Mugu Naval Air Station, an installation located about 50 miles north of Los Angeles.  We drove north from our son’s home in the South Bay area of LA County and traveled through Santa Monica to our destination.  A marine layer had settled in over the coast and the sky was a bit gloomy during the trip and our first day in camp.  Nevertheless, we all brightened up when we were assigned to the front row directly above the beach. We backed into our spot, faced the Pacific Ocean, and hit the horn with a quick blast to signify the successful completion of Sherman’s March to the Sea.

Although there were a significant number of campers around, the beach seemed almost deserted. Our grandchildren changed that situation quickly and scampered about the sand building houses and teepees out of the tall bamboo poles they found along the seashore. Our grandson and his Mom constructed a teepee while our granddaughter built a playhouse, complete with a door and roof. Being the proud grandfather and a retired homebuilder, I was fascinated with the entire operation and offered my services as a consultant.  The offer was appreciated but rejected so I spent the afternoon taking pictures. Here are a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first evening was spent around the campfire watching our son teach us the finer points of grilling pizza. The grandchildren wandered in and out of Sherman, delighted to have a new place to play. My job was to shake the sand out of my bed sheets after each of their visits.  It kept me busy.

This visit to Point Mugu would be a little different from previous stops on this trip.  Usually, we do a lot of sightseeing and exploring of the areas where we are staying.  Not so with this stop.  We were going to enjoy the beach and the family that we don’t see often enough since we live so far apart. Besides, Sherman wasn’t about to go out in that heavy California traffic until he absolutely had to. We were looking forward to day two.

The next morning Helen and I were up early and prepared our own breakfast in Sherman’s kitchen then welcomed the grandchildren for theirs.  Helen, known as BeBe to the children, was beaming at the pleasure of being surrounded by these two as is evident by this picture.  Her smile says it all.

At 7:00 am, the Star Spangled Banner could be heard all over Point Mugu.  I caught a great picture through Sherman’s windshield of a Dad and his two boys standing at attention until after the National Anthem finished.  Later, I found the Dad in the campground and got his email address so I could send him a copy of the photo.  I learned that he was the Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles and a Navy Reservist.  He was a great guy and certainly a good influence on his sons.

Day two turned out to be glorious. The marine layer burned off around noon and we were treated to the outstanding view of the beach and the northern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. A seal was swimming a short distance off the shore and made an occasional appearance above water.  

 

 

Point Mugu sits on a peninsula with the ocean on the western side and an estuary on the eastern side.  We were visiting during the time of the year when seals swim into the estuary for the annual mating season. During our morning beach walk, we could see hundreds of seals lying along the shoreline of the estuary.  We weren’t certain whether they were resting up for the big event or recuperating after it. Either way, they appeared very content.

Helen found several colorful clam shells to add to her shell collection while the rest of us played a game of Bocci Balls. I would love to tell Easin’ Along readers that we enjoyed an adventure a minute that afternoon, but frankly, we just reveled in the opportunity to walk the beach, sit beside the fire and enjoy each other’s company. Helen and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The next day was Sherman’s day to return to the stable.  What began as casual research into the RV lifestyle had ended in one more trip of a lifetime. Our mission had been to pick up Sherman from the Cruise America headquarters in Chicago and deliver it to the dealership in Carson, California within three weeks. We had completed the mission, making nine wonderful stopovers and traveled 4,083 miles.

 On the morning of our scheduled turn-in, Helen and I spent considerable time giving Sherman a good cleaning and made a quick stop to refill the propane tank as required. We arrived at the dealership at the appointed time and waited while Sherman was given a thorough inspection. Helen contacted Uber for a ride back to our son’s home and I gave a hearty wave to Otto in his usual position at the window in the door. I said my goodbyes to Sherman and gave him a gentle pat on the hood. “Well done, lad,” I said. “You’ve earned some time off.  I’ll remember forever Sherman’s March to the Sea”. 

After one more wave, it was time to be Easin’ Along.