Day 270 / 95 Seasonal Guilt Disorder

When we stayed in our frigid Iowa home through the winter months dreaming of the day we could take our arthritic joints south for the season, I was deep in seasonal depression by January each year. Maybe it was the cloudy short days, maybe it was the holidays. Who knows, but by the end of winter I was a certified mad woman, making summer plans and booking campsites trying to get myself through the cold, wet, gloomy spring that is Iowa. 

My office mate had in-laws who had wintered in the south for her kids entire lives to date. My own grandfather, whom I was close to, wintered in Texas. I listened to Karin talk about her experience with her kids having one set of  grandparents gone for the holidays and was reminded of my own grandfather being absent for several months each year. My rational mind knows how many of us,  miss the Christmas festivities with the little ones and have relinquished our status as "Christmas Hub For All Things Family" as a sort of premature passing of the torch.  That doesn't make it any easier. 

Today, we called our grandson who just had his 7th birthday party yesterday. We have been very present in his life and Champ and he share a very special bond. He hates that we leave in the winter.  It is time to put up the Christmas decorations here for the inevitable campground decorating contest. A very Griswold undertaking to say the least. I am in full Grinch mode today. The snowbird guilt is in bloom along with the Poinsettia's that are able to live outside, here in Florida. 

As I sat on my patio today, sipping a Vodka with lime, working the Sunday New York Times Crossword and working on my winter tan in the warm southern sun, low in the sky, I picked up my tablet to look at Facebook only to see the weather conditions at home.  There is nothing like a white out blizzard at home to make my guilt wane. My news feed was filled with images like this one issued by the DOT in southern Iowa. I hate that we miss winter birthdays and Christmas and 5 months of the kids experiences. But I hated this more before our snowbird days.

Tow Ban Issued In Iowa

Like a lot of others who flee the north around late October, I'll be thankful for Facetime. My joints will bask in the warm air and mild winter sun.  The days will be short but sunny, easing the seasonal depression. The only thing that nags is the burning guilt of leaving the kids to start their own traditions and live their lives. 

Until next time...

Day 267 /98 Thanksgiving

Ocala, Florida 72 Degrees – Partly Cloudy

It’s Thanksgiving Day, a time when many of us take time to recognize the good things in our life. Something most of us can really use these days. Champ and I are thankful for many things today.

At the top of the list, we have kids and siblings who may not be thrilled with us being gone all winter but, none the less support us. That’s huge. We are thankful that we are both healthy and able to roam about in the winter and escape the frozen tundra of the upper Midwest.

We arrived here in Ocala and immediately went to the clubhouse to sign up for the Thanksgiving potluck, only to find out it had filled. So, we are flying solo today. Another thing to be thankful for. We have been pretty much alone with very little social engagement with others for the past month. Our big event was meeting Lon and Teresa for dinner the other night. What a treat that was. We are both thankful that we are the kind of couple who relishes time together. Even after 16 years of marriage and a month of social isolation we are doing pretty good looking at each other all day every day.

Dinner out with Lon and Teresa.

There is so much to be thankful for. One thing that I think of a lot is that we can move about wherever we want with no restrictions. There are many countries in the world that our mode of life would be unthinkable, given the political climate and legislated restrictions on travel. As divisive and toxic as our society has become, at least we can drive where we want without boarder agents harassing us every 250 miles or so when we cross a state line.

We are even thankful for our experience in Plains. I have always been a big believer in tough situations being times of learning and growth. Character builders are what I call them. My kids heard it all their lives and rolled their eyes every time I  ‘went there’. As bad as our living situation was in Plains, we learned through the process, extra steps we will take if we are presented with a volunteer opportunity that involves an off-site privately-owned park. We will definitely check it out much further rather than assume the park is making sure their volunteers are being accommodated suitably. Despite our sub-standard accommodations, we had some good experience in Plains. We met several nice people. Two of them just happened to be a former President and First Lady of the United States.

We are thankful, that we have an income stream from Champ’s retirement benefits and resources to allowed us to walk away from a bad situation and find our way to Florida where we are within an hour of three other couples we know. Two of them from our new lifestyle and one couple that I have known for over 25 years now.

Ribs are ready to go into my Power Cooker and a down homesouthern BBQ meal is on the horizon this Thanksgiving Day for these two RV gypsies. We have managed to track down 2 of the 3 kids on the phone and will  hopefully talk to our daughter later today.

Until next time…

Day 263 / 102 Sunshine Fixes Everything

Ocala, Florida 85 Degrees - Sunny

As we roll down Interstate 75 on our way to the RV resort where we will likely spend the rest of the winter, I am reflecting on the past few days.

We looked at several parks in Georgia and even made a tentative reservation with one of them. In the end we realized two things. We have been to Georgia twice now and don’t like it much and we want to be warmer than Georgia will offer. We are rolling down the highway with red clay stained vehicles and looking forward to a different atmosphere.

Champ and I both have relentless work ethics and bailing on a commitment was a jagged pill. In the end we had to recognize that the National Parks System failed miserably in terms of providing suitable accommodations. It wasn’t a matter of us being pretentious or picky, this place was the kind of park that spawns trailer trash jokes.  During the conversations with the Superintendent of the Park and our ‘boss’ it was revealed that they are aware of how bad conditions at the private RV Park have deteriorated over the past years and they have secured funding to build volunteer RV Pads within the Park. This was the first time they have had someone quit over it.  What really irked us was the fact that there were a couple of nicer parks within 15 miles, but they wanted us to pay the difference. That’s right, they wanted us to work for them an pay to camp. Not gonna happen. Turns out the place in town costs them $240.00 per month and that is all they budget. With both of us working 24 hours each week that places our monetary value to them at a dismal $1.25 per hour. Welcome to the National Parks Service.

The reality is that our annual budget and income is based on us work camping 10 months of the year with 2 months to let down. Another option we discussed in the beginning is I would work part time in what ever area we choose to stay in the winter. We may try plan B this winter after all. At 53 years old I should still be earning anyway. Our age difference and the fact that I have stopped working full time to do this at a very early age not only presents some challenges but some opportunity as well. Unlike couples who are both well into their 70’s we have the dynamic of one of us being young and still with a desire to work a bit.

We aren’t leaving mad as one might imagine. We’ve ‘walked away clean’ as my old co-worker Mary used to say. We left on good terms with an invitation to come back when they have their onsite pads built. We are excited to spend time where it is warmer than Georgie will be. Champ mentioned that it will be nice to ‘just be retired’ as he put it. In the 5 ½ years since he officially retired, he has completely gutted a house and remodeled it for resale, and we have spent 2 full years work camping so it’s time to let him relax, he’s has most definitely earned it. Ocala will have lots of opportunity for me to land a part time seasonal gig at one of the restaurants or shops.

When I called the RV park we are headed to, a work camper named Mary answered the phone. When I inquired about site availability she asked when we wanted to come in and I said ‘today – April’.  I sensed I needed to give an explanation so told her about our predicament. As I described the park, we were in she started laughing! She apologized but couldn’t quit chuckling. I loved her! We called a couple other parks and talked for a few minutes and decided to call Mary back.A credit card number and wishes from her for safe travels we hung up phone and pulled up the jacks. She said she can’t wait to meet us and swap work camping stories.  The anxiety has vanished as we head down the highway. We are ‘over it’ as they say and looking forward to what will unfold and who we may know when this winter comes to an end. This kind of freedom is both exciting and unsettling. This is the part where you take a step forward in faith that this bump in the road is meant to be and will set us on a different path to something good!

I wrote the bulk of this as we rolled down the road this afternoon. Now, I am sitting at the RV Park. We are very happy with our choice. It was 85 degrees when we arrived. The jackets are already stowed under the bed and we are in shorts with all the windows open this evening. It’s been a very weird 2 weeks in the life of these two full time RV Volunteers. Now we relax.

Until next time…

Day 261 / 104 Sometimes Things Don't Work Out

Plains, Georgia  62 Degrees Sunny

What's It Like?  Well, today we are at a place where many work campers find themselves at some point and we hoped we would never experience. We have entered some tenuous situations in the past and were able to 'ride it out' or work to find a solution that resulted in a very good experience. This time it is not in the cards. 

The work at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site has been a pleasure so far. The rangers and other volunteers are nice and engaging. The problem is with our accomodations. We knew upon arrival that we were in a tough situation and it has deteriorated every day. We read many forums about people arriving at places to work and finding their living situation intollerable. That is what we have found in Plains. This National Park does not provide RV pads on their property for their volunteers, but rather pay for sites in the locally owned park in town. 

Our first red flag shot up on arrival at the RV Park on the 1st of November. An old yellow dog was laying in the road as we pulled in. Bob, the elderly gentleman who owns the park and lives across the road introduced us to the neighborhood dog. (great) he also infomed us that the man who lives in the home directly in front of our site feeds several 'neighborood kitties' aka feral cats. He is an OTR truck driver and 'don't worry, the folks who work at the convenience store feed them when he's not home"  Great, again. 

Lady, The Camp Dog napping in our site

We took a deep breath and set up in our site. I gritted my teeth as I picked up the waste that the dog left in our site the next morning. The 'kitties' number over 15 and are made up of 3 nursing females, several males and 2 distinct litters of kittens appearing to be about 4 weeks and around 3 months old.  The males caught the scent of our cats the first time I let them out on their tethers. They stalked me when I took Buster for a walk ending in Buster hissing and growling ( not at all like him if you've met him you know his temperment) and so upset I had to pick him up and carry him back indoors. That night one particularly aggressive male climbed the tree next to our RV, jumped down on the slide awning and proceed to 'mark' the roof of our motor home. That has become a nightly event. Other males started coming around daily when ours were inside marking the lawn chairs, lawn, yard ornaments and even our wooden deck stairs. Not good. 

Enter the culture difference.  We brought this situation to the Volunteer Cooridnator, who hired us. She appreciated our situation, shared she had never had a volunteer 'complain' about the park and committed to finding a solution. Over the past few days we have learned that there is no real animal control unit in town or the county for that matter. The local attitude about stray animals is quite cavalier. They don't see the nuisance, or the issue of disease being spread or the property damage that can occur from feral animals. Especially cats. Their solution was a park near Andersonville National Park 25 miles away, with even less curb appeal, and the same feral animal problem obvious when we drove through the park. Now they expected us to move to another crappy park with potentially the same issues and drive an hour round trip to work our hours three days a week. Not gonna happen 

It was a difficult decision for us but we called and visited several RV Parks in Central Georgia to inquire about a site that we would stay in till / if we find another work camp gig this winter. We found one that is pretty nice      ( not like we experienced in Texas, again another distinct culture difference about how one defines nice) the price was decent for the area. We expected to pay with elbow grease this winter,  but we will likely experience property damage if we stay where we are. 

Serendipity (my favorite word) will rule our destiny for the near future. 
The silver lining in the cloud is the man in the office where we will be moving on Sunday, deduced from our conversation, that we are experienced RV Volunteers and asked if we had a resume'. He may have some work for us in the park if we are happy there. So a work camp situation may develop over time. We don't know how things will evolve, but for now we know we are moving from here on Sunday and putting our jacks down in Perry, Georgia for the foreseeable future. 

Our meeting with Beth went better than expected. We handed in our uniform shirts and name tags this afternoon, along with a letter of resignation formally explaining our decision. She appreciated our choice and we shared that we appreciated their budget constraints and inability to find a quick solution to a problem that exsists in the Park they purchase space from for their volunteers. We parted on good terms. By far this is the toughest thing we've face so far. We will incur debt we didn't expect. Our two weeks in Plains has been good and difficult at the same time. We have had some great experiences. How many people get to walk through a car show with a former President in arms reach? The decision was hard but in the end we have to do what is best for us and our pets who travel with us. 

The next chapter will unfold in it's own time.  

Until next time...

Day 259 / 106 Pictures of Plains

Plains, Georgia  52 Degrees - Drizzle

[caption id="attachment_1224" align="alignright" width="300"] The Iconic Smiling Peanut[/caption]

Saturday the sun came out and made for a good day to drive around taking pictures of the area. The famous Smiling Peanut graces the entryway to the RV Park where we are stationed during our 90-day tenure here. I remember seeing it on television after he was elected. His big smile quickly became the subject of much caricature for the cartoonists and still lives on here.

Like our time in Texas last winter, we arrived in an area recently stricken by a hurricane.  Michael was still a Category 3 when it crossed this area of Georgia last month. Sustained winds over 115 MPH ravaged the trees here. Clean up is underway and most public properties have been cleared. Many private residences are still awaiting clean up efforts. Common sites are giant uprooted trees lying across and entire yard or whole tress cut up, often with trunks approaching 3’ in diameter. It is quite a site. The storm ruined the Pecan crop for the season, stripping the trees of their nuts before they were mature enough to pick and be good quality. I’m sure it will be reflected in the grocery store over the next months.

[gallery ids="1222,1225,1226"]

The dirt is very red here. Meaning if you have a white car, it will look orange most of the time. I have read about how a century of cotton farming depleted the soil in much of the area. The absence of top soil make the roads a slimy red mess when it rains, which apparently is about every other day. I asked for directions to a car wash upon arrival. The first two people said they never wash their cars. My car was covered in road grime after three days being towed behind the motor home in the rain. We eventually found a car wash in the next town over but have yet to wash it since the roads have been wet all but two days so far. I’m starting to understand the “I never wash my car” attitude.

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="alignleft" width="225"] 1/2' of rain turns our site into more of a pond.[/caption]

The name Plains is an apt title for this area.  Soon after we arrived someone in town said, “It’s so flat here the rain don’t know what way to run!”  They weren’t kidding!  A mere half-inch of rain will result in water standing everywhere a half-inch deep. It doesn’t really run off but rather soaks in eventually. Being in the crosshairs of 2 major hurricanes this season Georgia is pretty water-logged and rain takes its sweet time seeping in.

 

 

[caption id="attachment_1233" align="alignright" width="300"] Abandon Tenant Farm Houses[/caption]

The sad legacy of economic disparity along racial lines is still evident in the many old tenant farm and share cropper houses still standing along the road ways. In his book “An Hour Before Daylight” Mr. Carter writes in detail,  about his experience growing up as a farm kid in the segregated deep south during the Depression and WWII periods. It has been a good read and given this Yankee an insightful glimpse into how different the experience was growing up here compared to the experience of my parents and other family members of his generation in the north.  I have another 10 weeks to absorb as much as I can from the area and take many memories with me when I leave.

[gallery ids="1221,1220"]

With the exception of sugar cane the fields are short here. Peanuts, cotton and sorghum mostly. Crops are short. Not the 7' tall corn we see at home. The cotton fields intrigue me as they do most northerners. I remember many years ago a man came to our acreage with his son, who was around 6 years old. They were from the New Jersey and were fascinated with the combine that was harvesting corn from the field that abutted our property. They asked if they could watch. They sat on our back fence for nearly an hour waving at the farmer when he passed near the fence.  Just an ordinary thing to us, but the source of memories to take from their trip to Iowa for them.  I am almost that enchanted by the cotton fields. From the highway, they look like heavy wet snow that has fallen on green grass. I've read about the perils of picking cotton by hand and sharp the barbs are that hold the cotton bulb in place. I carefully pulled a small blob of cotton from a plant to see how it felt and despite my efforts still managed to get cut. They are razor sharp! I can't imagine the job of slaves harvesting cotton let alone picking out all the tiny seeds after it was picked.  Still today many people here acknowledge the cotton fields are a living symbol of the human atrocity that was slave labor in the south.

This weekend the Arts In Archery Festival will be held at the Boyhood Farm. It is the biggest event of the years. A period harvest festival. There will be a blacksmith, basket weaver, broom maker demonstrating throughout the day. The highlight will be the mule driven cane press as they make cane syrup. The weather is supposed to straighten out by the weekend, so we are hoping for a well attended, fun and sun-filled day at the farm.

Until next time...

Day 257 / 108 In The Presence of Greatness

Plains, GA Sunny 64 Degrees

Two and half years ago, when we had an offer on our house and we were approaching the jumping off point to this life; sitting in a Sunday School class being led by Jimmy Carter was not even a remote thought in the deepest recesses my mind. Being in church at all is something I normally avoid, so this morning was quite a morning for this Baptist raised, yoga practicing, meditating, tree hugger who stays as far away from organized religion as possible.

[caption id="attachment_1223" align="alignleft" width="300"] Champ and I with Mr. and Mrs Carter after church services[/caption]

That’s the cool part of this life. You just never know what kind of experience lies around the corner or whom you may meet along the way. This morning as I sat in Maranatha Baptist Church in President Carters Sunday School Class I knew I was in the presence of greatness. We have a handful of those moments in life if we are lucky. One realizes without warning that they are in a room with a person who has made an incredible impact during their time in this life, with their generosity and kindness. He is truly a person speaking softly and carrying a big stick. His stick being the impact he leaves on those who encounter him. After my three-hour experience this morning, it is clear why he has been such a successful mediator for peace throughout his life.

[caption id="attachment_1219" align="alignleft" width="225"] President Carter taking in the car show.[/caption]

My first encounter with him was Saturday at the 6^th Annual Classic Car Show in Plains. He was walking around looking at cars and talking to people he knew just like any other person that day, except of course for the two gorilla-size secret service agents who were nearby watching everything and everyone. I was looking at a really cool ’39 Coupe and as I turned away, I nearly ran into him. He smiled, said ‘Hello’ shook my hand, chuckled and moved on. I stood there for a moment trying to digest the fact that I had been blindsided by the encounter. I stood back and watched him for a bit as he moved along, ran into people he had known most of his life, some were showing their cars, and I marveled at the mutual respect that exists between him and the Plains citizens. They allow him to come out in public and be as normal as someone like he can be. In turn he is outgoing, and accessible to people he encounters along the way.

This morning he talked about kindness in his lesson from the Book of Ruth. He talked about our current times of indifference, hatred, fear of those unlike us and shared his optimism that the country can and will ‘right’ itself once again. He also interjected a powerful lesson in latent racism or rather a superiority complex and exists among whites, even those like me who don’t consider themselves racist. He asked the class. “What year did women gain the right to vote?” Most of us chimed 1920 of course. He smiled and calmly said, “Wrong, that is when white women earned the right to vote.” Black women couldn’t vote until 1965 when the Voting Rights Act was passed.”  Even Google gets it wrong if you enter his question in the search bar.  It was a stark lesson in self-awareness and how certain people see the world as a just and fair place because they don’t see the picture outside of their own experience. It was powerful especially in a deep south Sunday school class. I left with a reminder to look at the world through a broader lens.

I was in 6^th grade when he was elected to the Presidency. I lived in a very Republican family and geographical area for that matter. My young adolescent take away’s from his Presidency were that the economy tanked, gas prices and unemployment increased substantially and everyone made fun of his big toothy grin. I have a big toothy grin, I kind of think it’s a good trait. It was later in my adulthood when I noticed him as a humanitarian, tireless advocate for the have-nots and of course his work with Habitat for Humanity.  We visited his Presidential Library last summer when we came to Atlanta for a concert, I was reminded of all the good he did during his time in office. Initiating the departments of energy and education. SALT II and the Camp David Peace Treaty are just some of the good he did that got lost in my mind under the negative things. I sought out the volunteer position here as a way to come and spend time in the place that nurtured him and learn more about the history of the place responsible for this incredible human being.

In the world of RV Volunteering,  today was a truly unique experience. As a volunteer for the National Park, that bears his name, we were given preferential treatment. We sat with other Park Staff and a couple of local volunteers in the 8^th row.  We entered through a separate door, got good seats in the sanctuary, not in the overflow room watching it on a television. We didn’t have to arrive a 3 a.m. as many did to be assured a seat. The church areas filled to capacity so nearly 500 people were there. 350 in the Sanctuary and 150 in the fellowship hall watching it on a monitor. He made it a point to go into the Fellowship Hall and talk in person with those who were seated there.  That meant the town almost doubled its population for several hours this morning. Our experience was easily obtained. Others traveled from far away, spent money on the trip, hotels etc. just to be here. We travelled as well, I suppose and are committed here for three months so I guess we did come a long way just on a different plane. Jimmy Carter wasn’t the only reason we are here but meeting him it is certainly a nice perk! It is truly unique that the person who’s life is portrayed in the exhibits is still alive and present.

Until next time…

 

Day 254 / 111 First Impressions of Plains

Plains, GA Rain – 73 Degrees

I haven’t answered to question, “What’s it like?” in a while. It’s like changing schools all the time. My poor son knows all too well that dynamic as he went to a new school every year from K-3 grade. You arrive feeling a little alone and tentative about what the people will be like. You meet and engage with strangers during your first few days and before you know it you are part of the group even though in your heart you know it will be short-lived.

Our first impression of Plains has been formed and we are getting used to the casual pace of this small SW Georgia town. I started my time here as I normally do with a recommended book that gives me a feel for the area we have landed in for the next 90 days. I am reading a book written by Jimmy Carter called An Hour Before Day Light. It is a memoir of his childhood. Aside from the stories of his youth it is a very good narrative of life in a segregated southern, rural community from pre-depression era to the Civil Rights movement. I highly recommend it if you are interested in the culture of this part of the country.

I’m learning quickly that southern culture in Georgia is very different from southern culture in Texas. The NPS dominates the commercial property here. Plains downtown district is a single street 2 blocks long that includes a women’s boutique store, a very good restaurant called The Buffalo Café, 2 souvenir shops, a pharmacy and two veterinarians. (Good since my Buster is due for shots) By far the busiest place in town is the Dollar General a block south of Main Street. Aside from two gas station/convenience stores it is closest thing to a grocery store in town. We’ve learned in our travels, and knack for ending up in small towns, that Dollar General is wisely improving and enlarging their stores in the very small towns. Goliad, our location last winter, had just opened a beautiful new one. The one in Plains is large, clean and has a nice variety of things that will prevent many trips the 10 miles to Americus where the larger stores are located.

The Plains Peanut store, that sells all things peanut and Jimmy Carter, is open daily till 6pm. They have PB Ice Cream which made Champ’s eyes twinkle when we were told about it. I think that will be a regular haunt for us this winter.

The people are laid back and friendly.  The dichotomy of the segregated neighborhoods is obvious, though now it is a sort of self-segregation rather  than legislated. There is a stark economic line in town that ironically seems to be divided by the rail road tracks the go East/West through town. The other side of the tracks is a literal thing here. The only apparent industry is the Peanut Plant and a seed cooperative.  With Secret Service and town police present, Plains is quite subdued and I think maybe one of the safest places in the United States. Given its population of only 800, the Cop to Citizen ratio is quite high. The other unusual factor is that there are often celebrities in town to visit the Carters, adding even more private security detail. I think it is one of the most interesting places I have ever been. Small town stereotypes are constantly dispelled by the fact that such a high-profile couple calls this place home and moves about town as if they don’t care how famous they are.   It is an interesting social dynamic, or dare I say struggle. The big fish in this small pond is very big!

There are 9 churches here, no bars. I chuckled at that since in the Midwest bars and churches seem to take up equal space in small towns. Plains is a proper town, ask anyone who has spent their life here. I learned from my book that when it was incorporated in 1896, decided by it's founders that it was to be a ‘good Christian community’ that would not sell alcohol or allow prostitution. The two convenience stores sell beer so in 130 or so years they seem to have eased up some. At least there are no hookers on the corner next to the Peanut Store!

We were told upon arrival that we would be welcome and any church we decide to attend. The statement implied an assumption that we would want to go to church each Sunday.  Church is the very center of the life here. I will go once this winter for my own selfish reasons. Hopefully, I don't burst into flames as I enter.

We have met most of the Ranger staff and other volunteers. Some of  whom are stationed here in our RV park area, and some local volunteers, who are quite engaging and open. One of the seasonal rangers is leaving this weekend and we were invited out to her going away dinner last night. We left the restaurant feeling welcome and in the midst of a very nice group of people.

When the rain stops this weekend I’ll get out and take some pictures for next time.

Until then…

 

Day 251 / 114 The First Day

Plains, Georgia Cloudy 70 Degrees

Today was our first day at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. https://www.nps.gov/jica/index.htm

As Full Time RV Volunteers first days are becoming quite common place. This is our first time with National Parks Services. We met Ranger Kevin, who took us on a tour of the Boyhood Farm that includes 27 acres of the original farm that was deeded to the NPA in 1987. It is still a working period farm. Two mules, Belle and Bird drive the plows for demonstration farming a few days a year and spend the rest of their days as “pasture potatoes’ as Kevin humorously put it. There are chickens and goats we well. The home where President Carter lived as a boy is now a museum and the rest of the farm that includes, farm hand houses, a blacksmith shop, barns and a small visitors center are connect by paved walkways, with interpretive signs and recordings to listen to along the way. The entire place is ADA accessible as proven by our ‘boss’ who uses a wheelchair. Champ will be working at the farm with the Rangers helping maintain buildings, greet visitors and take care of the animals.

After lunch we took a tour of the former Plains High School, now the Welcome Center and Museum of all things Jimmy Carter and Plains.  A small gift shop is there as well. I will spend most of my time working at the front desk greeting visitors and informing them about all the different sites to visit in town that encompass the NPS grounds and exhibits. After spending a couple of hours there getting an introduction that included several short films, we ventured over to the old train depot, that was converted into his Presidential Campaign HQ in 1974, and now serves as an exhibit for things pertaining to his political career.

Perhaps the most unusual thing about is gig were the instructions about do’s and don’ts about interacting with the former President and his wife Rosalyn. Secret Service are present in town, since the Carters live here just a mile or so from the Welcome Center. He moves about town like and ordinary citizen, except for the ever-present Secret Service of course. We already encountered one officer in our first hour here in the convenience store in front of our motorhome site.

We were told today, as NPS Volunteers we will receive front row reserved seats to Mr. Carters Sunday school class at the Baptist Church where the Carter’s are active members. Apparently several hundred people show up on the weeks he teaches Sunday School and most stand in the packed church.  It is quite an honor to get this VIP treatment.  Most of you know I don’t affiliate with any particular religion and tend to shun organized religion in general. However, I am most willing to participate when the occasion calls for it. Normally that means a wedding or funeral. I think a former President teaching a class qualifies.

I have admired Jimmy Carter’s humanitarian spirit and efforts for most of my adult life. I have always perceived his demeanor as  gracious and dignified and I am learning quickly from the local citizens that the image on television is quite genuine.  It will be a great honor to meet him in person while we are here. We are drawn to places with rich history. This will add a layer we won’t likely encounter again. This very different place is going to leave quite an impression I suspect.

We received our shirts and officially begin ‘work’ tomorrow.                          Monday – Tuesday – Wednesday will be our work schedule.  I am waiting impatiently for the sun to return to give some decent photography light. Hopefully before they harvest the cotton fields. They are quite beautiful right now and so different looking to this girl from corn and beans country.

Until next time…

 

Day 249 / 116

Plains, GA Sunny - 70 Degrees

Two things that make us anxious about moving to a new place are water and satellite.

When we go to a new place we never know what the water quality will be like or how good the water pressure will be. I drink nearly a gallon of water each day and hate bottled water. Bad water can also corrode faucets if it is hard, like it was in Goliad last winter or make laundry hard to get clean. Bad water pressure for the shower is a pet peeve for both of us. Especially me, trying to rinse shampoo out of my carpet thick hair.

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="alignleft" width="225"] Getting set up in our Plains GA digs[/caption]

Champ is a TV watcher and getting the dish set up after moving half way across the country is a challenge sometimes. We have learned a lot about setting up.  An app our friend Deb showed us last summer, SatFinderLite, worked splendidly to determine Azimuth and Elevation and locate the satellite 1200 miles from where it was last pointed.  We highly recommend it. When our contract is up with DirecTV we plan to switch to streaming services. For now we lug a dish and tripod around to get our favorite shows. 

This evening as we rest we are happy that the water is good and flowing generously through the faucets. Our little deck and landing is reassembled and we have our long list of shows to pick from again. Instead of the 4 network channels that the antenna can pick up in this rural area.

We had a smooth trip from Iowa, the hard stuff for set up is behind us and we've talked to the kids. Tomorrow, we have another day to relax and get rested from 3 long days on the road, then we will start our new gig on Monday.

Until next time...

Day 248 / 117 Plains Landing

Plains, Georgia – 70 Degrees

We arrived in Plains today after three long days of travel. No dilly dallying this fall. We did that in Dominican Republic two weeks ago. We are committed here for 90 days to volunteer at the High School that is now the official Welcome Center for people who visit the Jimmy Carter Farm where he grew up and is now a part of the National Parks System.

We are tucked away in a quaint RV Park ½ mile from the High School. To say we are in the midst of a huge culture change and change of pace is a gross understatement. The cool part is, there is a convenience store directly in front of us, so quick supplies, gas and a slice of pizza or beer is only a few paces away.

I came here with hopes of meeting President Carter, who lives here. Those wishes were validated by Bob Moss, the old boy who owns the park we will call ‘home’ till January 31^st. He said, “If you’re going to be here for three months, you’ll see him a lot”.  Good!

Our drive the past two days has taken us through areas we had not previously driven through. I was not surprised by the beauty of Alabama as we made our way from Tupelo to Plains today. I was surprised by how hilly it was. It was a nice drive. We were the beneficiaries of the end of a long season of resurfacing. Our roads were smooth all day today. Unlike yesterday when we endured 8 hours of rough state highways making our way through 5 states from St. Louis to Tupelo MS.

On Monday we will report to the Visitor’s Center to begin training. In the mean time we will acquaint ourselves with the area, the people in the RV park here, and a couple of nearby towns where we are told we will find anything we need.

Until Next Time…

Day 247 / 118 To Reserve or Not To Reserve

Leaving St. Louis Raining 50 degrees

The topic of where people stay on their way to somewhere comes up quite often among the full-time RV’ers. Everyone has their own way to travel. Some take the Interstate, others take all secondary roads. We do both. It depends on our time period and the weather. If there is bad weather forecast, like last spring when we dodged snow storms all the way from Texas back to Iowa we stick to the Interstates. When we have time we like state highways. County roads can be pretty, but small-town gas stations are tight and nearly impossible at times to get a 40’ motorhome, towing a car to the pump and out again. Not to mention, counties have the smallest road maintenance budgets, you get the picture.

I keep a running list in a spreadsheet on my computer of campgrounds where others have stayed and been satisfied as well as places we stay and like. I share our opinions with others as well. As we move back and forth in the spring and fall I am developing a list that lets me pick nice campgrounds, with less research.

We talk to many who don’t like to reserve. They don’t want to be committed to stopping a certain place or time of day. When they are ready to pull off they get on the internet and find a nearby campground and call ahead to check availability. We tried that coming home last spring and found that we did not have any trouble stopping when we were ready, but we did spend a lot more on sites and were in crowded, commercial RV parks. I have decided a little research and planning will not only improve the experience, but also save some money. I have always believed in planning ahead and reserving. After testing the other method, I am a firm believer in it.

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="alignleft" width="225"] "The Gateway To The West" at night[/caption]

Last night was a perfect example of the value of talking to others. We stayed at the Casino Queen RV park in the shadow of the St. Louis Arch. Cool view and close to the interstate we are travelling on. But it was expensive $55.00 for the night. The green in between the sites on the online map was not grass, but white road rock. The hook-ups were at the very back of the site, requiring us to unhook the car in order to reach the water / sewer / electric. It defeated the purpose of a pull through, FHU overnight stop. Security was good though and we slept like babies in our concrete jungle.  Our new friends from Saylorville messaged me to say they had stayed at a city park a few nights before when they made their way through here and stayed for $13.00 less and were happy with the site. That info went into my growing spreadsheet right away. I do write and read online reviews for places we stay. I take most of what I read with a grain of salt as people’s expectations of nice vary widely. I home in on reviews that give specifics not just opinions.

The trip to Georgia is somewhat expedited. We took our trip with our friends, knowing we wouldn’t return till the 27^th.  The Ranger at the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site wants us there as close to Nov 1^st as possible, as their biggest event of the year takes place in Mid-November and we wants us as trained and comfortable as possible for the huge crowds that will visit that weekend.

We chose a route today that will take us through Shawnee National Forest and through so me of the Natchez Trace area of Mississippi. It will be a pretty drive through fall foliage and rain today.Todays route made me long for the Interstate route. We were detoured twice for closed bridges, diverting us onto narrow, bumpy county roads for miles at a time.  Our 6 hour day turned into 8. It was very pretty, but we both had to keep reminding ourselves of it. The cats are very stressed tonight as were we. We were forced to fuel at Bubba's Gas and Go ( not really but the name would fit nicely) the per gallon price was 30 cents above the norm for the area and if it weren't for Champs super power of driving big stuff, we would have had to unhook the car and dolly to get in and out. I still marvel that he was able to back the motor home with the dolly and car attached.

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignleft" width="225"] Annie came out of her cocoon in the stair well to watch Champ park the motor home[/caption]

I made a reservation tonight for us at a State Park near Tupelo MS. It will cost half as much and be more campground like. We have our National Access Senior Pass, so Corps parks are our first preference. They are half-price for us, usually around $12.00 per night, always near water (Army Corps of Engineers controls the waterways, dams and reservoirs) and fairly consistent in terms of quality, and services nationwide. When I can’t find a Corps park on our route, State Parks are my next bet. Private RV parks along the roadway are a last resort.  When it comes to being on the road I campaign for Reserve… always.

Until next time…