YEAH

YES we are on the road again.

It was sort of an odd feeling to pack up in Middleboro (Massachusetts) on Monday morning and head out for 203 miles (I think that was the number!!)! It's been since May that we've done any real travel and it really really felt great to be back on our "adventure" ~ headed to parts unknown.

We left Middleboro around 10:00 am Monday (for whatever reason 10:00 seems to be our departure time no matter WHAT we have to do prior to "departure"). Monday we really did have a lot to do - usually the day/night before heading out we try to pack up whatever we have outside, and I try to do whatever can be done (although that seems to be minimal) inside, leaving us only disconnecting water and electric (we try to empty the grey and black tanks the night before and packing up the "sewer" stuff, thereby eliminating a chore on departure day). But, as I started to say, we did have a lot to do on Monday as we had disconnected the trailer and it was stored in a separate area of the campground so we had to go through the re-connect stuff as well as load the car. We used to, sometimes, load the car the night before also, but we just aren't comfortable with doing that lately - what if we need it in an emergency situation .... (reality check) so we don't load it ahead now.

So, yes we headed west .... and arrived at a terrific campground in Elizaville, NY (another chapter) called "Brook N Wood" - truly our kind of place .... huge sites, grass yards, quiet, peaceful, nearby restaurants, shopping if needed (within 10 miles) but most importantly quiet and very nicely maintained.

Below is an "on the road" photo .... I think (dah!!) it was somewhere along the Mass Pike in the Berkshires (which the mountains are). Every time we travel that area I am fondly reminded of when Rick bought me my bike and my maiden voyage on it was out to Great Barrington/Stockbridge, MA area .... what a great adventure that was in Arlo (yes Sir's name sake) Guthrie land .... that trip seems like so long ago! I was so frightened to travel all that way on my bike ....

Anyway, we arrived at this lovely campground mid afternoon yesterday and "set up" (in our usual sloooooooooow pace - slowed even further by high temperatures and HIGH humidity - (does she ever stop complaining about the weather?).

I was inside creating dinner when I looked out into a neighboring (distantly neighboring!!) yard and saw Mr. Woodchuck. Then I noticed two more in the yard next door. I couldn't help but ask these guys .........

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

I didn't get a reply, so I stated (or questioned?) to them ....

"A woodchuck would chuck all the wood, if a woodchuck could chuck wood"

BUT, these guys just kept on eating and didn't have too much interest in me (or Sir Arlo) or the question I posed to them! HUH the nerve!

I had a real need to see the Hudson River today (have no clue why) so we traveled and traveled and finally found an "access point" (it seemed so easy looking at a map - NOT). Sir really needed some water play space ... it was quite muddy (and "they" talk about the muddy mighty mississippi ..... hmmmm) but Sir did have fun (I think) chasing sticks we threw to him. The water wasn't deep enough that he could swim at all but it did cool him off I suppose and seems to have "worn him out" as he's been laying pretty low since we got home ....

So, the photos above are Sir and Rick playing in the Hudson with the gorgeous Catskill Mountains behind ....

We are booked to be here for a week, but we are talking about extending our stay by a couple days ... this is such a great campground and there seems to be a lot to do in the area.

Plus, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is just down the road. Rick is an airplane "aficionado" and especially biplanes. Unfortunately the place is only open on weekends and it seems that biplane rides need to be scheduled ahead of time (Rick really and truly "needs" to finally do a biplane ride - I think).

We have the "Peck Family Christmas Bar-b-que" on Saturday, so that leaves Sunday for the Aerodrome ... we need to extend our stay - we can't be doing Aerodrome and packing up to leave in the same day now could we!

We want to get the bikes out, hopefully tomorrow, and head to Woodstock and perhaps another day to Max Yasgur's Farm in Bethel (there must be an historical marker there right?), where the event was held 40 (yikes) years ago, so we really may need more time in the area.

This is how it goes - we make a "plan" ... change a "plan" .... make another "plan" then change that one too!

BUT the one thing that won't change is that we get to celebrate, celebrate, celebrate with the "PECK FAMILY CHRISTMAS BBQ" on Saturday ..... I can't wait! Shirley, you rule the planet for coming up with the event!