In the beginning, having time on my hands, especially in winter was different. Yes, not having to rush our morning walk so I could get to the office early was a real luxury but then what? I had always enjoyed baking but everyday meals, not so much. Frits likes to cook so between us we could put together meals a couple or three times a week and eat leftovers on the other nights. Three years later we still have that arrangement finishing every last scrap with almost nothing going to waste. That feels good.
Dealing with the chronic headaches was an ongoing, time consuming part of my life and Frits’ too. The year previous we had ventured west in the Coach with the two dogs on board. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota had accepted me into their diagnostic program for a full work up. We had expected to be there for a less than a week but it was just over a month later when we returned. Nothing definitive was found other than nerve damage possibly caused by my cochlear implants. Steroid injections into my head stopped the pain in its tracks but only, it tuned out to be, for a few weeks. Follow up shots never did the trick quite the same way.
The Coach, a 25 foot motorhome we bought in 2014, was perfect for this trip. We could stay in an RV park where a shuttle service linked us to the Clinic and where we could hole up to rest and cook our meals between the many appointments. The dogs, Chief and Lily were good travelers and happy to bed down with us and take walks when there were unscheduled times.
Buying a motorhome had intrigued us for many years possibly beginning with the old bus. We had thought it would make a cool traveling home but that never materialized. We rented an RV several times to try it out, first in Colorado to visit Sarah and loop through Yellowstone and parts of Utah and New Mexico. A little chilly in October and no dogs allowed but still a lot of fun. Next to accompany Ian on part of his cross-county bike trip, but that’s a whole other chapter, and again in California with our good friends, Lee and David, to attend a wedding.
Our children were spread from coast to coast, Ian in Oregon and then California, Sarah in Colorado and Devon in Vermont. Grandchildren started arriving in 2010 with Sarah and Jason’s, Jack and two years later, Tucker. Flying had lost its appeal especially for getting to Edwards, CO. It took two flights plus a long shuttle bus ride and more than 12 hours.Time to buy the Coach.
Now several years and many cross country trips later we still prefer this mode of transport and have some great stories to tell.
