Well, I set a goal to really get back into writing, and as it goes, I neglect it more intensely.
I’ve replaced my started twice! We broke down in the little Pee Dee state park and I spent a stressed night there rather than enjoying nature and a campsite. A kind mechanic ended up getting us out of there And that’s most likely the shower we used and lost our bath toys at.
We went through virginia beach and had a rather large disappointment there. I’d prepaid a few nights on a marketing call thing. It was supposed to be super cheap, as marketing schemes usually go. During the booking call, I’d repeatedly made sure my animals would be welcome with the customary animal deposit. Well, while booking, they told me they would not allow my animals to join us. Obviously this would not do. When I told them that, they told me they had to review our sales call to get back to me on whether I’d get a refund or not. They eventually called me back while I was driving to tell me I would receive the refund. I told them they should call again in a little while because I couldn’t understand them and I really wanted to make more remarks about the ordeal.
One of the trailer tires busted while we were driving the I95. I had to unhook the trailer and make a camp in the bus for the kids for a night until we could fix that tire. Galixy helped back me up to the trailer hitch.
In Ashland, Va I met a cool dude and his wife and kid. We stayed a couple nights in their cul de sac. He’s a pool guy most of the week. His wife stays home with their 4 yo. It was nice having some adult interaction while the kids had a friend and his kingdom.
I’ve been trying for a steady pace of sorts. Which means, said pace fluctuates wildly. It’s llike we raced through the heat of the carolinas and then slowed in Virginia.
So, this second time of the starter having gone out was in Fairfax, at a Walmart where they certainly don’t allow overnight parking. When we pulled in and I realized we weren’t gonna stay there for the night, I’d figured I’d check out the Lidl, a european grocery chain store. Once I was ready to go, Madam Matilda gave no sound. I completely discounted the starter since it’s a brand new part. I went around with the multimeter the next morning and thought that possibly the alternator. But it was the starter and I spent most of the day trying to pulle the top bolt off the sucker. I succeeded with a little help of Hank, a kindly fellow who also gave us a ride to the AutoZone that had already gotten my part upon my request. By evening, it was on and we were out.
I did have some official looking guy stop by to ask me how long I was planning on staying. I said “I’m not. as soon as I get her going, we’re out.” So he left. When we pulled back into the lot from getting the new starter, the animal control police were just leaving. I caught one to ask what was up. She said that someone had called on the animals being in a car, but when they checked, everything was fine and they seem well loved.
So today we visited Vienna Va on a quick moment before heading up into Maryland. Currently we’re parked in the Metro parking lot. I figure we’ll get up early tomorrow and have a day exploring Washington DC. With the time frame I’m unsure how much time we’ll have to do the museum tours so I’ll take some time to consider how we’ll spend another day/ night in the vicinity to do that.
It’s free parking on weekends in these metro lots. limited to 24 hours except for multiday use spots that fit a car. not my bus and trailer.
Time to search my phone and find more stories for y’all. Goodness much stories!
We took a stroll through some of Savannah Georgia’s squares. It was much walking which the dogs enjoyed
A quick stop at a wilderness refuge. I almost feel overloaded with all this city of everything. Maybe after jetting
We had a handful of field trips to “ghost town” Dorchester South Carolina. Not much is left of the old settlement town, but so much beauty encourages the remnants to have been made into a historic state park with plenty of chances to learn something.
Bentonville Battlefield historic site had a driving tour that was quite nice. We didn’t go into the old timey farm house. It probably would’ve been interesting to see how the military hospital was integrated or taking over that house space, but we got enough gruesome out of the little exhibit at the visitor center. There They had a nice little map too with flashy lights that demonstarted the way the battle went way better than any driving tour would’ve.The best part, in the kids opinion, was the story trail where they’d picked apart and laminated a story book about a little girl and her first experience birdwatching with her aunt.
We had quite a busy day in Richmond. We stopped at a park to get a good view (the view that named the city.) Afterwards we visited the Edgar Allen Poe museum and then took a long stroll to the capitol to see the impressive buildings.
In Fredericksburg we saw a very pretty manor gardens. The manor itself was closed, but we’d brought the dogs anyway so I wasn’t sore about it. We saw the catahala trees Walt Whitman had described with bloody amputated limbs at the base. The way better tree was hidden off the east side toward the trail pedestrians can take to the main road. It had all the limbs going in all the directions and we spent quite some time monkeying around before walking back to where the bus was parked at a playground less than a quarter of a mile away. Better parking. More space. Less chance to rid ourselves of the dogs to go in the manor of we’d wanted to.
It seems I’ve come to the end of this entry thing.
Huzzah! Just kidding! I have more thoughts. I’m feeling overwhelmed with this crappy set up I’ve got going in Matilda. I’d like to actually rip her everything’s out and do the transformation to a leak free, insulated beast. Besides that. I really don’t like the way we have it set up with the trailer right now. I do want my kids back in the bus. I’m considering dumping ( or selling) the trailer. Building a little outdoor room onto the back of the bus. Like Welding some framing onto the bumper for extra storage and shower. Obviously I’m still conceptualizing, but I’m almost ready to do something serious. I deserve a little luxury, or at least, more than just getting by. Comfort is luxury.
Excellent. The sun is coming out. It’s 5:30 PM and I’m about to do dinner things and prepare us for the earliest morning we’ve had as a family every. I’ll be up first to walk the dogs, then get them set up for a few hours by themselves (it’s cool and rainy days so they’ll be perfectly fine.) We’ll all have our little backpacks packed. Bet I’ll get those clothes and solid shoes laid out tonight. We’ve got 24 hours in the parking lot, so we’ll have to be outta here by 4PM I bet will be soon enough (giving us like a half hour leeway there. Just to prognosticize less stress for tomorrow, though my mind will be on the animals. Even though I know that they will be physically fine, I can’t help but worry, especially as I don’t have a pet cam in here.
I hope you have a most wonderful whatever you’re doing.
I hope you smile and are grateful!!
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