Archives for October 2023

Hey Sweetheart,
The last 20 hours has been an absolute nightmare! It started when Lola didn't come home last night. You know as well as I do that the only time she doesn't come back after 20 or 30 minutes is when she's being physically restrained. The only other time she didn't come home all night was when those two idiot boys took Lola to Chicago and by the time I found out, I ended up having to meet them in Louisville. That was a nightmare, too. When she didn't come home at her usual time, I expected a phone call, which is what usually happens, from someone who thinks she's lost and holds on to her. Well, last night, there was no phone call. I had already hooked up the truck to the trailer, so I called Deb and she graciously came out and we drove up and down the road, and even into the field where it was filled with campers from the Hulaween festival. I was terrified she made her way all the way up there and someone might have taken her, but no one we talked to had seen her. I really didn't think she's go that far, but she didn't seem to be closer to home. Deb brought me back and I stewed for awhile, but I just couldn't sit around, so I called the sheriff's office, then walked back up to the campground and proceeded to walk into the festival. I finally reached some paramedics and explained, they said they'd spread the word. I finally turned around and walked home, it was after 1:30 by the time I got back. I took my shower and went to bed, but couldn't sleep for the longest time. I was posting on various Facebook groups and doing what I could, all the while praying that she would come back in the morning. I must have finally dozed off a bit, but woke up at 7:00 and got up. Sunrise wasn't until 7:45, but I fed the horses, and right after I had a bowl of cereal, I saddled up Flash and started around the neighborhood calling for her. I ended up back at the festival, though this time I cut right through, found some staff, reported her at Lost and Found, and was told to go to the park office, which I did. The place was jam-packed, of course, and everyone was thrilled to see a horse in the park, and were all very kind about Lola, though eventually a woman in authority made a point to tell me I shouldn't be in the park, but I was already headed out by that time anyway (easier to apologize than get permission, right?) By now it was after 10:00, so I made up a flyer, did a bunch more Facebook posts, and tried to solve the problem of how I was going to get over to McCulleys to mark the trails while still leaving my trailer behind. I sure didn't want to move it out and not have it be there when Lola came back, I didn't know what she would do if it were gone. I had a lot of positive responses about borrowing a trailer of my group and the Florida trails group, and one negative experience with a guy that was selling a trailer but said I could borrow or rent it, then when it came time to give me his address, disappeared. I drove into town and got flyers printed, and stapled them onto posts all up and down the road. I was very close to solving the transportation problem when suddenly a guy drove up with Lola in the passenger seat. OMG, I couldn't believe it (though the universe's little voice was showing me a happy ending.) Just as I suspected, she was only a short distance away. Apparently Mike first thought she was part of a pack of dogs near her mother's house, which was right across the street from the end of the road, but then realized she had a collar on (unlike the other dogs), so he took her out, bathed her, brought her into his house, had her in his recliner watching TV. Apparently she was with him all day! Someone finally told him that I had been hollering for Lola along the road when I was putting up flyers, and he drove her over. I was so grateful!! I couldn't understand why he didn't call the phone number on her tag, but all he said was that it was an 800 number, and that didn't make sense to him. I explained that it was my own personal number (I've had it over 30 years, after all!), but he didn't expect it, so he didn't call it. Still not sure why he didn't try it, but, whatever! She was back! it was just about 3:00 by this time, so I figured I still had time to move, so I finished packing, hooked the truck back up, loaded up the horses and got moving. I was thrilled that I made it around the back driveway, it's always been a close turn for a big rig, but they've taken a tree down and I went around fine. Close on one tree, but fine. I was so excited that I forgot to stop and pick up my leveling board, so I'll have to pick that up again later. Arrived at McCulleys at 4:30, got myself settled in a lovely spot under a big tree, though I pulled in for a change, which it fits better this way. I've got a full hookup again, and the horses are in that big paddock right at the front. Love getting here first! Was thoroughly exhausted by the time I finished my setup, barely had the energy to make dinner and watch a one hour show. I don't think I'll need any Sleepytime tea tonight! Just have enough energy to wash the dishes, do my Spanish lesson, take my shower and go to bed. I'll have a busy day tomorrow, but it's the kind of worry-free busy I love! Whew! What a day! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hi Babe,
Another noisy night with earplugs, long into the night. I think sometimes they're just competing to see who can be the loudest! I just found a schedule, and both Friday and Saturday nights they played until 4:00 a.m. though I know someone was playing at 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning, even though it wasn't supposed to start up again until 1:00 p.m. Maybe just a jam, I don't know. The last band tonight is supposed to end at 11:15, so hopefully I'll get a full night sleep! Last night I closed one of my bedroom windows, and that seemed to help a bit for some bands. Anyway, today was about getting ready to move on tomorrow, so laundry, housework and packing was what I did today. Got the truck hooked up and everything put away that I could, flushed out the black water tank, though I broke that handle doing it. Guess plastic handles don't last forever! Ordered a new one to be delivered to the next place on Tuesday. Love Amazon Prime! Looking forward to a busy week of riding, I'm so bored with the trails here, especially considering how many in the Spirit of Suwanee property are still closed, so I'm looking forward to exploring some new ones. Also looking forward to getting back a decent sleep schedule, just not happening here with all this noise. Just my Spanish lesson, shower and bed left to do! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin',
Despite having 30db earplugs in, I could still hear the thumping of the music next door, tough to sleep, and every time I woke up, it was still going, even at 3:00 in the morning. I think I napped during the set changes, and that was about it! I heard music at 7:00 as well, don't know if they actually stopped for a few hours, or I finally slept through it, but I can't say I'll be sorry when this is over, it's getting rather nerve-racking. I know I sound like my parents when I say this, but why does it have to be so dang loud! They're a mile away, and I can still feel the bass beat in my bones! Oh, well! I got up to my alarm and did my chores, then got ready to go on a lovely kayak journey, thanks to the gratitude and generosity of my hosts, who also work the Canoe Outpost at the Music park. Met the van at the local convenience at about 10:30, and was driven to the four-mile out launch, which is located in the Mattair area, where I've ridden previously with Sheila and her mule Pete. A tricky road, if you can call it that, more like a trail, for the van and canoe trailer, but it is what it is! I thought I would be with a group, I didn't want them to make a special trip for me, but the group changed their minds and only went on the one hour, which was a different launch point, so I ended up doing it on my own, which, as you know, is perfectly fine with me. I really enjoyed the peace and quiet for the first half of the trip. I had one small group pass me, they started about 70 miles south and have been camping along the way, which sounds like a lot of fun. Once I got to Suwanee Springs, I got a chance to see the graffiti bridge from a different angle, usually I'm on top with Flash. There were a lot of people on the bridge, and a bit further on, I could start hearing the music. I actually liked the sound of the group that was playing, it was more bluegrass, with fiddle and banjo and a bass that I think was a string bass (rather than an electric) but I wasn't sure. Soon I was passing tents that were precariously perched above the river, passed a incredible tree house, and finally, passed the beach, which was extremely crowded and noisy. I was getting a bit concerned about getting a secondhand high from what I could smell in the air. I found out later that there is a burn ban (we haven't had any rain in a long time), so there weren't any campfires. Deb told me when I finally got to the outpost that campfire smoke is usually really bad during the festivals, so it's nothing this year. Unfortunately, the firewood guys didn't make any money this time around because of it. We chatted for a bit, then a group came up and wanted to go out, and that was my opportunity to get taken back to my truck. It took twice as long to get out of the park as it did to get from the park to the Springs, as the roads were full of bikers and pedestrians. The place was absolutely packed! Tents and campers were crammed in together with hardly room to breathe! Not my scene, for sure. Anyway, got back to camp by 2:00, relaxed for the afternoon, since tomorrow will be the beginning of a very busy week. Watched another good movie about the dark side of the pharmaceutical sales business, time for shower and bed! Good night, sweetie! Love you!

Hi Sweetie,
Had a rather slow day today, had a few stomach cramps that kept me from moving comfortably. I think I didn't drink enough water after my massage and that caused it. I had to get up a couple of times during the night as a result, but still got a decent night sleep. Thought about going riding, but frankly it would be hard to enjoy the peace in the forest with all these loud bands going all day long. I'm finding it a bit distracting. I finished putting together the side marker, and then when the mail came, I received a horse tie bracket which I broke somewhere along the way. I had put some oil on it yesterday, and it took all of a minute to replace it, thank goodness! Then I put everything back up in the attic and put the ladder away, as I start to pack for my departure on Monday. Had to go searching for Lola's frisbee, haven't seen it in a couple of days, but I found it next door. Not much else going on. Watched a good movie about the Jesus Revolution during the hippie era, Kelsey Grammar doing another fine job. Ready for shower and bed, with earplugs! Good night, babe! Love you!

Hey Babe,
Took a long time getting to sleep, but got up around 8:00. After chores and breakfast I ran into town to fill up a propane tank and swap out a couple of items that I bought yesterday at Tractor Supply that were wrong. Lola's been scratching up a storm, so I had to buy a cone for her head, but the one I got yesterday was too small. She's been bleary-eyed from lack of sleep, but now she's succumbed to the fact that she can't scratch (plus I slathered her up with inch relief medicine), she seems a lot more settled. I also bought marker light for the back end of the trailer that got knocked out at the first camp of the Shore-to-Shore when the ladder came off on a tree, that was also too small, so I swapped both out. I went to the feed store to get eight bales of that nice coastal, though I'm not sure this is quite the same, it's still good. Got that stored when I got back, then went to work on the marker light. Naturally, I thought it would be a fairly easy job that turned out not to be, because the screws actually broke off and I don't have a drill bit good enough to tap it. Then I discovered I had to add a negative ground to make it work right, and without a screw, that was a challenge. I ended up trying to solder it into one of the holes and taping it, I doubt it will last long, but at least it's working at the moment. Without screws, I've used Liquid Nails to try to hold it on, not sure that's going to hold either. So the whole thing is a temporary mess for the moment. I finished greasing the truck as well. That was my day, pretty much. There's loud music coming from Spirit of Suwannee all day and probably will be most of the night, if it's this loud here, I can't even imagine the loss of hearing that's occurring with people any closer to it! Watched an unfortunately depressing movie, ready for shower and bed shortly. Good night, darlin'! Love you!

Hiya Darlin'!
Had a great night sleep, didn't do much in the morning because I had an appointment for a massage this afternoon. My hosts gifted it to me in appreciation for all my volunteer work. Wendy did a great job, really listened to me and worked hard on my shoulder, should be interesting to see how it takes over the next few days. Stopped at Tractor Supply to pick up feed, they didn't have the Balance so I many be running out of that soon. Went to Lowes but didn't find the trailer hardware I was looking for (found it on Amazon later and ordered it), finally a stop at Walmart for a few essentials. Got tied up in traffic on the way back to camp, there's a big "Hulaween" event at Spirit of Suwannee this weekend, so I'll be hearing the sound of deep bass thumping all weekend. Good thing I wear earplugs at night! Settled down for the evening, watched a pretty bad movie with an all-star cast, go figure. Heading for my shower and bed soon! Love you, sweetheart! Good night!

Hi Sweetie!
Set the alarm to get an early start on the day, had a busy day planned. After chores and breakfast, I was raring to go before 9:00, starting with the biggest job, washing the outside of the trailer. The roof itself took over an hour and a half, what with the awning and slide-topper and hay box. Before coming down I let down the pressure washer and the grease gun, to finish the job I left when I changed the oil in the truck the other day. I did the rest of the exterior of the trailer, including the underside of the awning, then put some silver tape on the front end of the trailer. I've sealed that front aluminum panel six different ways, and the adhesive never stays, so now I've just put some silver duct tape on it, the good stuff with the backing, and I'm hoping that will keep the panel in the frame the way it's supposed to be. Not really counting on it, though. Then I pressure washed the water barrel in the truck, it's gotten full of algae lately. I left it dry for now, I'll fill it when I need it, that way it will stay clean until then. I pressure washed the tires on the trailer and truck, got a lot of grease off one trailer tire that was overflowing with grease since my last brake job. By then I was too tired to worry about doing the last couple of grease fittings, so I postponed that until tomorrow. Swept off the porch carpet, put all the tools and furniture back, finally wrapping up at 4:30, having only taken two short breaks all day. Feeling like my energy was well spent today, and happily, I'm physically tired, so I'm hoping to go to bed early and still get a full night sleep. Watched an old James Stewart movie with dinner, heading soon to shower and bed. I love busy and demanding days like this! And I STILL feel twenty years younger with my shoulder in a much better place. Still a few kinks to work out, but I have a massage scheduled for tomorrow, I'm hoping between the labor and the massage, I'll feel even better later in the week! Good night, baby! Love you!

Hey Babe!
I feel twenty years younger! After sleeping way too late again this morning, I got up and started doing my usual routines, and it was like a whole new experience! I was able to get dressed without pain in my arm, comb my hair without pain in my arm, feed the horses, have breakfast, drive my truck to run errands, all without hardly any pain in my arm! I had to almost force myself to remember that I didn't have to shift my shoulder before reaching for something, I could just reach for it! It feels GLORIOUS! There's the tiniest bit of pain when I reach to extremes, but everyday stuff is almost back to my norm from fifteen years ago. I hadn't realize just how much I was compensating with my shoulder, but am so glad that era is behind me. Better late than never, right? Anyway, I only did a few things today, I didn't want to stress it out, I wanted to let it settle slowly back in place, so I went into town to a computer repair shop for something I ended up not being able to do, then stopped for a few bales of hay at a feed store. It was only fifty cents more than the last bales I bought, but the hay is much nicer, so if the horses like it as much as I think they will, I'm going to stock up with than before I leave here next week. Anyway, otherwise a nice relaxing day, feeling so happy!! Good night, my darlin'! Love you!