A good detour

On our long, meandering, and full trip to Florida, we took a slight detour on the way home to visit some of our  North Carolina family.  While there, we decided to park our trailer at Rich’s  brother’s home for a while.  That saved us the effort of hauling it right back out that way again this spring.

Driving without a trailer is soooooooo much easier than hauling that hulk across country.

Do you know what isn’t easy?  Backing a camper up an icy hill in mountain country.  I rolled down the window and hung my body out of it to see where the fishtailing, slip sliding trailer was headed and to give Rich a heads up in case it decided to slither over the drop off.  I couldn’t stand in the driveway to help with directions because this thing had a mind of its own and I didn’t want to put myself anywhere near where its path might take it.

After getting it in place, the rest of the trip home was a breeze.  And now we have it located in one of our favorite places, tempting us to zip back out again soon.  Thanks for the parking space, Bro!

While in Boone, we took the doggies to the nursing home to see Rich’s mom.

And had a great night out with his brother.

It was a quick trip, after another visit with the dogs to see Joan the next morning, we were right back on the road.  With our load lightened, we made the 14 hour drive in one swoop.  If we’d been pulling that trailer, it would’ve meant a break over night and a two day drive.

I was touched to see some of my artwork in Joan’s room.  

And the dogs adored all of the attention they got there.  Honey especially.  She has that classic, golden retriever personality that craves petting and attention.  She figures everyone she meets cannot wait to love on her. And at the nursing home, she was right.

She doesn’t always get it right.  When she is at the dog park, dripping mud from head to toe, she isn’t as popular as she thinks she should be.  But visiting the assisted living center? That is a dream come true for a golden retriever.