July 26, 2020

After 34 very long days of waiting in Podunk, Arkansas for the work to be completed on Felix-our-RV, we finally picked it up on the 6th of July. Surprisingly, even though I whined a lot about being in an itty bitty, teeny-tiny town, it actually got easier as time went on. And on.

I couldn’t really complain and, in fact, had a lot to be grateful for. Where we stayed—Dave’s late grandparents’ house—didn’t cost us a dime. The yard was fenced in, so the pups could be let out anytime instead of having to be taken out on a leash—even at o’dark:30, which was often the case. And there was good wi-fi, so the outside world was within easy reach. That proved to be the real lifesaver for a myriad of reasons.

Since it had taken so long for all the work on Felix to be done, there was doubt as to whether or not it had been plugged into electricity all that time. I knew for sure that the one plant we had would be dead for lack of water, but what I feared most was what I’d find in the refrigerator and the freezer. I was prepared for the worst but, lo and behold, when I opened both doors everything was absolutely fine, save for a Tupperware container of salad that had liquified. I was so thankful that we didn’t lose a refrigerator full of food and especially that we didn’t come back to a stinky, moldy mess. All in all, Felix was in good shape, and we made plans to leave Dallas the next day.

We spent the next five days making our way to our destination: Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Typically we’d take I-30 east out of Dallas and then I-40 through Arkansas, but I was ready to try something different. One of the Facebook groups I follow, RV Roads and Routes, made mention of how smooth the ride on Highway 60 was from Springfield, MO to Paducah, KY, so we decided to try it.

It took driving north from Dallas through Oklahoma to get to Hwy 60. Heading east we past not one, not two, but THREE Cummins dealerships, and that was a terrific find since we have a Cummins engine. We ended up spending three nights in Springfield having a couple of seals replaced and annual engine maintenance done, and in spite of being an unplanned stop, it turned out to be a true Godsend. When we first got Felix two years ago, we’d taken it down to Cummins in Nashville, and taking it there was such a hassle! The traffic on I-40 is non-stop and most drivers there are neither considerate nor patient. Everybody is in a hurry. Springfield was a breath of fresh air. Taking the road less traveled opened up a whole new world!

Two days before our arrival in Kentucky , our daughter called to say that she and our granddaughter had been exposed to the virus and had to be in quarantine for 14 days. That changed things up a bit, so we decided to stay for a whole month instead of the two weeks we had originally planned, just in case they got sick. Even that turned out to be serendipitous because now we had more time to visit with Kate and the kids, see friends, take care of annual medical appointments, and accomplish some honey-do’s that have been sitting on the back burner.

Kate and Maeby ended up testing negative for the virus, thank God. Once out of quarantine and anxious to get out of the house, our granddaughter spent a couple of days with us. That’s always fun.

In addition to being able to spend time with our daughter and grandkids, we were able to see my brother and sister-in-law whom we only see once or twice a year. Don’s my only sibling, and we just love Terri. They live in St. Louis and they really enjoy spending time on Kentucky Lake. While they were here, I was inspired to dig my kayak out of Felix’s basement; otherwise the idea probably would never have dawned on me. Now I get out on the water most every morning kayaking, and it’s a great way to start the day.

A little known fact about western Kentucky is that it features one of the best places to scuba dive. No kidding! Formerly a quarry, Pennyroyal Scuba Center is a spring-fed, breathtaking 22-acre diver-exclusive destination for dive training and diving adventures. With depths of up to 120 feet, divers in the unusually clear water come across schools of fish swimming in and out of numerous submerged vehicles to include a 1941 fire truck, a motorhome, a bus, a Cessna, and a van among other sunken objects. Pennyroyal Scuba Center is one of Hopkinsville’s brightest jewels, and Dave and our 14-year-old grandson Bobby spent a few days diving while we were here.

Back in February, before the onset of the pandemic, we applied for and were accepted as workampers at Sherando Lake Recreational Area at the northern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. We were scheduled to work from mid-August through October. But the campground has yet to open this season; I keep checking the website, only to find that it’s still “temporarily closed.”

On a whim last week, I sent an email to the contact person named in the correspondence we’d received thus far and was shocked to immediately receive a response. They are not only anticipating the campground to open “soon,” but they are also expecting to see us us next month as planned! So, we’ll be off to Virginia in a couple of weeks. At least that’s the plan. But we all know how everyone’s plans have fared in 2020!

It’ll be interesting to see how the future pans out. So many things have not gone the way I thought they would, so my expectations are pretty low at this point. If being in Arkansas ad infinitum taught me anything at all, it’s that I’m not in charge of anything. Quê será será. What will be will be. And I’m ok with that.

Until next time, take care, stay safe, stay healthy. And remember, wash your hands! I’ll be sure to keep in touch.

Love, Maria❤️