Episode 52 – Released 4/4/20

These are strange and trying times.

It seems that people who are “not essential” are experiencing new stressors at this time of change.
..lack of income
..frustrations of try to negotiate super inundated systems like unemployment
..kids and adults are stressed with isolation from their friends
..adults are dealing with working at home OR being an essential employee
..hard to get comfortable with the uncertainty of when their lives will go back to the routine they are comfortable with
..try to keep needed supplies in the household

“Essential ” people may be feeling overwhelmed because of being overworked or fearful because of possible exposure to the virus.

Either way These ARE trying times.

Signs and symptoms of stress overload:

Anxiety or panic attacks, A feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled and hurried, Irritability and moodiness, Stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain, Allergic reactions, such as eczema, Acne or asthma, Problems sleeping too much or too little, Over or under eating, Increased drinking, smoking or doing drugs, Sadness or depression, Feeling like you are losing control or need to take control, Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind, Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless, and depressed, Low energy, headaches, Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea, Aches, pains, and tense muscles, Chest pain and rapid heartbeat, Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ear, cold or sweaty hands and feet, Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing, Clenched jaw and grinding teeth, constant worrying, Racing thoughts, Forgetfulness and disorganization, Inability to focus, Poor judgment, Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side.

Things that will help you to relax:

..Find diversions
..start new or do old hobbies
..read
..jigsaw puzzles
..crafts
..clean
..paint
..fix or repair things that have been on the “honey do” list
..plan or explore options for your travel plans when the restrictions are lifted
..TALK on the phone
..play games with family or Solitaire
..work on the list of things broken in your rig or do modifications that you have wanting to do

Check out and share:

episode 49 which is an introduction to stress

50 is a progressive relaxation exercise

Episode 52 – Released 4/4/20

These are strange and trying times.

“Essential ” people may be feeling overwhelmed because of being overworked or fearful because of possible exposure to the virus.

Either way These ARE trying times.

Signs and symptoms of stress overload:

Things that will help you to relax:

Check out and share:

episode 49 which is an introduction to stress

50 is a progressive relaxation exercise

51 is a way to take 7 minutes of calm for your well being

Take 7 Minutes to Relax

I recorded this many years ago, I hope it helps you to relax. Do NOT listen to it while driving or operating heavy equipment.

Find a safe comfortable location. Use headphones or earbuds if available.

Progressive Relaxation

I recorded this many years ago, I hope it helps you to relax. Do NOT listen to it while driving or operating heavy equipment.

Find a safe comfortable location. Use headphones or earbuds if available.

An Introduction to Stress

I recorded this many years ago, I hope it helps you to relax. Do NOT listen to it while driving or operating heavy equipment.

Find a safe comfortable location. Use headphones or earbuds if available.

Episode 48 – Released 3/26/20

We drove 2 hours home along the way we dumped and filled up with gas. We tend to fill up on every leg of our trip. Which means we have about 20 gallons to fill when we are at 3/4 of a tank.

After taking out stuff that could freeze I winterized it, following my own directions and hopefully this time nothing will freeze and break.

We had some Problems. BUT Our Fun out weighed the stressors!

And that doesn’t include all the things we’ve learned and the wonderful people we’ve met.

I won’t be talking about the corona virus – if you want to learn about that read any of your emails from your bank, grocery store or if you must ….. the news. Try to limit the amount of time you watch or listen to the news your mind needs a break from it

Be safe everyone and …. laugh as often as you can. Peace.

Here are pictures from Centralia

We visited Bays Mountain Park & Planetarium.

The next stop was in Hardy Va. We stayed at a BDW and visited the Booker T Washington National Monument.

Then on our way to our next boondocking welcome site in Bloomsburg Pennsylvania, we stop the Camping World in Harrisburg Pennsylvania to pick up the dipstick oil cap for the generator. Which didn’t solve the problem.

We then pulled into our last bdw place in bloomingburg PA. And that’s where I’ll leave you for this week…

Here’s a link to the pictures of National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Emmitsburg Md.

And The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

And pics from our hikes in Catactin Park

And finally a few from Harpers Ferry

On 3/10/20 this podcast celebrated it’s 2 year anniversary.

Our Boondockers Welcome hosts in Brooks Georgia invited us in for ice cream. We sat with them for over an hour having a really nice conversation about a lot of different things. Then I met my buddy Rob at Nic & Norman’s in Senoia. This is the town where Walking Dead was filmed.

That evening we got back to the rig Trish suggested starting up the generator you hadn’t started it in a while. It started right up and ran for about 10 minutes and then it died. It’s not sending an error code. We have flashbacks from 2018 (check out episode 5 to hear about that mess).

We hope its the dipstick/oil fill plug, and have one on order.

That day we drove a whopping 7 miles to Timber Ridge Campground that we reserved through Passport of America.

We then went back to Helen Ga and hiked the Unicoi / Helen Trail.

The next day we went for a hike on the Appalachian Trail.

The next day we woke up to total cloud cover and rain. We packed up and drove north out of the Smoky Mountains and by the time we left the campsite our batteries were fully charged, we love our 3000 watt pure sine wave inverter. We drove through Gatlinburg and will return to it someday.

We drove to Fall Branch, Tennessee. We met our Boondocking Welcome hosts. They invited us in for a glass of wine and nice conversation.

The next day March 11th 2020 I recorded this episode of the podcast while Trish did laundry. Then off to find a small park and go for a walk.

Pics of Helen Georgia

And pics of the Smoky Mountain National Park

The next day we drove 3 hours to Eclectic Alabama.

Some pics from Louisiana.

Pics from the Michael C. Carlos Museum

We left New Orleans and I wanted to drive across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Why? Well according to the Guinness Book of World Records it is the longest continuous bridge passing over water in the USA (it was the longest in the world but now the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China is the longest).

Then we went to the Tabasco Company Factory and Museum tour which was worth the visit. We bought a bottle of their bloody Mary mix for our host.

The next day we went to Prairieville in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. Met our wonderful host. Set up the rig right next to the bayou. By the way a Bayou is a slow-moving Creek. Or swampy section of a river or a lake.

The next day we went to Eunice to see a traditional Cajun Mardi Gras. We had heard of this on the LINK Anthony Bourdain TV show.

This was the most fun Mardi Gras Parade we have seen on this wonderful trip! The costumes, the friendliness, the food, music and energy were fantastic! Thank you Louisiana!!!!

We stopped at the LARC Acadian Village. We were so under whelmed by it I didn’t even mention it in the podcast.

Here are pictures from the Acadian Village, the Tabasco Factory and a great stay with fantastic folks. These folks introduced us northerners to some fabulous food and good times !!!

And picture of the Cajun Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday in Eunice Louisiana.

And we had Beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

The next day we took the bus into town which was no bargain. In New Orleans we took a tour (hottest hell tour) which was touted as “adults only” and it was great. The owner/guide talked about alot of the dark stuff that happened in New Orleans, we found tickets on Groupon for it.

We headed over to the parade route where we had bought tickets to use bleachers for $15. We were so glad we did that. It started at 6:15. but It didn’t get up to us until 7:30pm. And the last float went by us at 11:15 p.m.

So now we’ve seen three different Mardi Gras parades and we agree we liked the one in Mobile Alabama the best.

But what a fun experience here in NOLA. We love all those bars with live jazz music, live bands, and oh yes the food !!!!!!!!

We were told to be careful of the crime on Bourbon Street. But we saw no problems at all. Yes, it’s a city so be careful. But there is also Mardi Gras for kidsin NOLA (New Orleans).

We met friends at drinks at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop — built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States.

We are staying at Three Oaks and a pine Campground.

At the visitor center in town they have 24 hour RV parking (which would be dry camping) for $50 for 24 hours.

Here are links to my pic’s from the Carnival Museum and parade in Mobile Alabama.

Pictures of New Orleans (NOLA)

Pics of the Druid and Nyx parade in New Orleans

Here are pictures of Fort Pickens and Henderson Beach in Destin FL.

Here are links to the pics of O’Leno State Park. And a pic of the huge Lemon we saw at Dooley Groves.

Pictures of the airboat ride, Biscayne Bay, South Beach and the Florida Keys can be found on Facebook.

Here are pics from the Tampa RV Supershow.

Here is a link to the Florida RV Supershow.

And a link to John and Kathy Huggins instructions on “How to survive a RV show”.

We spent a few days visiting the oldest city in the United States St. Augustine Florida.

We learned (and share) a few things about this city. We saw the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, St John the Baptist Church , Flagler College (and went on a fantastic tour of it). The Shrine of Our Lady La Leche and Castillo de San Marcos Fort.

After we left the East Coast of Florida we then we went to the BEST campground we have ever been to (Trimble Park) !!! And why are we there???? We visited Walt Disney word and Epcot !!!!!

Here are pics of St Augustine and Walt Disney World.