North to Alaska

                              

                                Road Trip time!

Our new ride!

March 31st we pulled out of Clearwater and began our 5,321 mile journey to Alaska. Our first stop wasn't that far from where we started.  Lakeland, FL is home to Sun N’ Fun air show.  We had some Nashville air traffic controller friends that came down to work the event.  After a few days checking out the town and seeing the airshow, we continued North to Nashville, TN with a short stop in Chattanooga for some local brews and to see Haley (my sister).  Timing was perfect to roll into Nashville.  We parked the RV in our normal spot in front of the Air Traffic Control Tower at the airport, unhooked the Toad (our car in tow) and sped to one of Shadow’s co-workers, Eric's, retirement party.  We were able to catch up with lots of our friends and it was a great start to a busy week and a half.  Greeneville, TN was next on our list to visit Shadows mother.  Judy (our dog) had a great time being spoiled and bossing Joyce’s dogs around.  She lives close to the Appalachian Trail and as previous thru-hikers, we completed our pay-it-forward duty by supplying others with Little Debbies and Orange soda.  We counted about 15 hikers that came through.  All with their own stories of why they started and why they continue to go North.  It was hard for Shadow and I not to join them as they walked away into the woods.  I wish I could describe the sensation.  A long time friend of ours, Nimbus Dodger hiked the CDT in 2012.  We talk often about how it changes you and his description is perfect so I’ll share it with you now.  Nimbus says that we are feral.  Like a feral cat trying to be tamed again by society.  We have roamed without rules of normal people.  Our hair is longer and matted. We have probably found a few ticks on our skin.  Our weight is less by the end of the hike, ribs poking out.  We smell and we are starving.  The 5 second rule doesn’t apply in the wild.

Before leaving Nashville we had an important stop to make.  After we sold our house and before we left for the Appalachian trail we stayed in a guest house that belonged to Marge, a very close family friend. We received news that she was terminally ill.  Judy loved staying at Marge’s place.  She has a big backyard and dog treats in her cupboard.  We would come home from work and Judy would be in Marge’s house.  When we stopped by to say hello, Marge’s face lit up when she saw Judy.  It was a beautiful moment. 

Elizabethtown, KY was next on our list as we head to Alaska.  A week full of unpacking our warm weather gear and packing up our cold weather gear.  Shadow helped dad tinker with his on going projects and Judy was happy to be back on the farm.  She has her normal routines of keep the cats in order while making her rounds checking on us.  On our way out of Kentucky we had brunch with our friends, Tim and Carolyn.  We told them to meet us at the shopping center parking lot close to where we had planned to have breakfast.  Tim said “Ok.  We will be looking for Large Marge.”  Without knowing, Tim had named our new RV.

I-4 heading to Lakeland, FL

AT Trail Magic

Home in Nashville, TN

Mom and Dad's Test Ride

Elizabethtown, KY