Latest News

Well its been some time since I've written here and so much has happened over the past year.  To shorten what is most relevant, most of you know that Norma had a malignant melanoma lesion on the bottom of her foot. On December 30, 2016 she underwent surgery to remove it.  They also took two  sentiental lymph nodes and they were found to have melanoma cells as well but were a very small amount.  After the foot somewhat healed she had a PET scan which showed "NED" (no evidence of disease in any other part of her body.  Finally, some good news!

The surgeon then suggested that she have all her right side lymph groin nodes removed but that surgery was described as the "surgery from hell" and she would still have to go through immunotherapy. She decided against the surgery and opted for the therapy. We then learned that this particular therapy which is specifically for melanoma (there is no chemo for melanoma) was $40,000 a treatment and insurance was not going to cover it because she did not have the groin lymph nodes removed.  We then learned that she was going to be put on a trial and she would get the treatment for free, so we were off to the first treatment knowing ahead of time there were many side effects possible.  Well, you guessed it starting about two weeks after the treatment  in what I would say has been the "side effects from hell" ride - she had a horrible reaction!  She is still trying to get through them and will not be taking any more  immunotherapy.  So now it becomes a wait and see situation until the next PET scan which should be scheduled soon..  In the meantime we are staying in Georgia for the summer so she is closer to those knowledgeable of her case and we have been offered a house here on Jekyll for the summer, so we can get out of the trailer and spread our wings so to speak.

I will keep you posted!

On The Road

Well we got away from JI on time and had no problem cruising into Columbia, TN where NJ had a teaching gig in Spring Hill.  We were joined there by Mahlon & Consuelo Stacy, friends from JI.  NJ wrapped up her work and along with the Stacys we ventured out to explore the Nashville area.  We visited "The Heritage" which is the home of Andrew Jackson which is in amazing shape.  His granddaughter, Sara, at an early time of 1889 saw the need to preserve the property and saw to it that it was turned into a historic site and museum.  Jackson is buried in the garden.

We also toured the Belle Meade plantation that was a large thoroughbred horse farm and many of the past Kentucky Derby winners were sired there.  This is also a well preserved property.

Mahlon and I visited the Stones River National Park that was the scene of a major civil war battle.

For the last 3 days we have been riding out the large storm that has hit the south and we finally were able to get on the road today and are currently in Sevierville, TN moving toward Bear, DE.

Headng North

Well the "winta" season is rapidly coming to a close.  It hasn't been the best weather season here but I guess that is true country wide.  We had more rain than we needed and many days of what is considered "cold" here, so spent more time inside than out.  Guess its just the cycle.

NJ did well at the Jekyll Arts Festival taking a first, second & 2 thirds for her photography.

Sadly, Missy passed away early in our arrival here & we miss her very much.  We have a new pup now named Birdey and she is quite the young lady and we are enjoying her very much.

We leave April 16 and will head for Nashville for a week while NJ completes a teaching gig there.  From there we are going to spend a few days at Manassas, VA at the battlefield.

We are due in Bear, DE on May 1 and will be at a State Park called Lums Pond.  We will both be doing hosting positions here for the summer.

Will blog along the way.

Antietam National Battlefield

A year and a half into the Civil War, Union victory was far from assured.  Confederate forces were fighting successfully in the Eastern Theater, mainly in Virginia.  After his victory at the Second Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), Gen Robert E Lee decided to move his army out of war torn Virginia.  On Sept 4, 1862, he led his over 40,000 confederates across the Potomas River and through the Maryland countryside to Frederick. 
The battle of Antietam, in Sharpsburg, MD broke out Sept 17, 1862, a battle that lasted 12 hours, involved 100,000 soldiers and left 23,000 dead, wounded or missing.
What struck us as we drove the battlefield, and its quite large, what was the purpose?  Unlike Gettysburg, there was no town, no high ground, just woods and cornfields and by all historical accounts neither side won.

Gettysburg

This is our second stop here.  We took the bus tour this time and with a guide on board (from Maine) we learned a lot more than the last time where we drove ourselves round the battleground.  The National Parks Service is in the long process of restoring the battleground to reflect what the 2 armies would have seen on the 3 day battle.  We were told that they have pictures and maps and will be able to re-create the park to within an "inch" of what is was those 3 days.  This is the 150th anniversary of the battle that took place July 1,2,3 1863.
Today we visited the home of Jenny Wade, the only civilian killed during the battle.  She was 20yrs old and was in her mother's home which was literally between the Union and Confederate soldiers that were firing at each other.  She had been making bread for the Union soldiers and providing water for them and was standing in the kitchen when a musket ball came through the front door, through a 2nd door, struck her just under the left rib cage and exited through her heart.  The holes are still in the doors. Many of the buildings in Gettysburg still have pot marks from rounds striking them.
Tomorrow we are going over to the Antietam Battlefield which was considered the worst battle from loss of life and wounded.
We will be out of here friday morning headed for Max Meadows, VA for a one night stay then onto Lexington, SC for a 2nd night and then back into Jekyll on Sunday.

Amish Country

We spent the day in Amish Country (Lancaster).  We took in the "Amish Experience" which included a van tour of the farm country, visiting a farm and hearing the history mostly about the Lancaster Amish.  There are 29 states and the providence of Quebec, Canada that have an Amish presence, and it seems that the traditions may vary some in each place, but they all do without electricty, motor vehicles, TV, computers, etc  etc.  The kids go to school until they are 16 then they have to make a decision as to joining the church or not. The Amish population doubled from the last census and 90% of the kids do join the church when it comes time to decide.  A second part of the tour was a typical Amish house and the final part was a short film on a young man making a decision on joining or not joining the church.  It was topped off with a typical Amish meal where you sat down with other patrons whom you may or may not know and pass the food around.  All in all a very interesting day.  We are going back to the same area tomorrow so that NJ can get some photos in.
Some interesting facts about Pennsylvania....
It is home to more than 58,105 farms.
It has 2,164 Christmas Tree farms, more than any other state.
Produces more than 465 million pounds of mushrooms per year, more than any other sate.
Produces 82 million pounds of pumpkins & 442 million pounds of apples.
Produces 1.2 billion gallons of milk & 71  million pounds of peaches.
Produces 7 billion eggs a year.
Each farmer in the state provides enough food and fiber to feed 144 people for a year.

Moving On

Well time has come for us to get back on the road.  We will leave here next Tuesday 9/3 and will head for Hershey, PA to the Hershey RV show and will join a number of other winter Jekyll members and will staff a booth that promotes the Jekyll Campground.  Looking forward to getting back into the Amish country and will check in for the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg.

We spent the summer in a workcamp situation, which means that you perform a set number of hours in exchange for your camping free.  But being newcomers to this program we got stuck with the housekeeping job that included cleaning 5 cabins and 3 rv's that they rent out and the bathroom/shower building.  We have come to discover the truly inconsideration that people have when leaving the condition of the bathrooms for someone else to clean.  Never again........

We did however get a chance to see old friends again and will be having a farwell campfire here at the rig this saturday eve with the Frasiers and Somers.

Not sure that we will return to Maine next summer as we are considering looking into various volunteer programs at various National Park locations that would include Glacer Natl Pk, Yosemeite (if its still standing), Yellowstone or Voyageuers Natl Park in Minnesota.

We are also going to Sacramento for Christmas and will get the chance to see the kids and grandkids.

Stay tuned as the blog will become more active starting next week.