I’m still wearing the hand cast so this week’s update is once again short on words. It’s a pain to type and the dictation software on my Mac isn’t getting any smarter about understanding what I say. For a writer, having only one good hand is truly aggravating.
Most of this last week I was camping at Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina, along with about 100 friends and 44 Alto trailers. While the trailer part went well for me, the whole cooking and washing up part was more difficult, so I depended on the kindness of friends and the amazing potluck dinners and breakfast spreads for most of my food. It worked out well 🙂
We went on a short tour of the Hutchinson Homestead, the original family that settled here. This old guy (not related) is a volunteer tour guide, and his accent was so thick I could barely understand him, but he was charming to listen to as he told us the area’s history.
My original plan was to camp at Shenandoah National Park after the rally, but, well, those plans changed when the hand thing intervened. So I decided to see what I could on my way to Lancaster, PA and my next hand checkup on Friday.
Monday and Tuesday were long days, slowly driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway. It’s gorgeous and the green is almost overwhelming. I would love to see this area in the fall sometime.
Today’s side trip was to Luray Caverns in Virginia. Amazing stuff, so this photo is just a tease for an upcoming post.
Now I’m at my last hotel stop of June (9 hotels in IN, KY, TN, VA, and now WV). I don’t like leaving Bella and Breeze in parking lots, and I feel better when I can see them out my window. They look lonely out there, though.
Stay tuned for hand updates and other news next week!
May all your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.
Edward Abbey
Annie — what to my surprise to find Wynn Worlds on the internet. We seem to have just a little in common:
* My wife, Carol, and I live in Poulsbo, Washington
* We bought a 2016 Subaru Outback 3.6R specifically to tow a trailer
* We had an Eco-hitch installed by Torq-Lift
* We are in the midst of configuring out F-1743 with Jecyka at Safari Condo
* When it is ready, we are going to Quebec to pick it up
* And, oh yes, I am from Southern California
Being any more alike would be scary — we might even be related! Of all people, you are the one perfectly situated to answer all of our questions if you would be so inclined.
How is the Subaru holding up pulling the Alto? Any problems with the transmission or overheating?
I don’t believe you got the heat pump/air conditioning — do you regret not having the A/C?
My wife is curious as to how you stocked your kitchen in terms of non-food items. Do you wish you chose the microwave?
There are so many other questions, but I think I will leave it at this for now.
Good luck with your hand and hope we get to meet sometime.
Hi, and glad you found my blog! If you are on Facebook, there is a very useful Altoistes group for owners and would-be owners that is quite active and chock full of information. There are threads about Subarus, for example. I do fine with my 3.6R, but I don’t live in the west and deal with Rockies and Sierra Nevada ranges as much as locals do, so I would recommend looking on Altoiste for a broader range of experiences. You will love the eco-hitch, it installs well and strengthens the frame (I had a body shop owner tell me this, he was very impressed by it).
I do have the AC/heat pump. I love the AC when on electric power and it’s hot!
I would answer the kitchen, but I have found I do it quite differently than most because I full-time. I would recommenf Altoistes or the related group, Altoiste Cuisine on FB.
I’ll stop typing now, that hand can only do so much…
We had a lovely night at Shenandoah. Ended up next to Altoistes Mark and Angela from Canada. Shared wine and the dinner table. It was nice to cushion the rally withdrawal. Tonight we are at Hollywood Casino outside Harrisburg, PA. Tomorrow on to Rhode Island.
Waving up to you, from West Virginia, will be in PA tomorrow. Rally withdrawal is definitely a thing 🙁