Lake "Almost" Disaster

 Jon Boat Fun

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Well, we thought it was time to get the Jon Boat out on the lake.  It has been years since we did this.  It amazes me to see how time passing changes everything.

We got the seats on, the battery, the motor.  We are all ready to launch.  Just had to wait on this young couple to bring their boat in.  Once they had pulled their trailer up off we went.  Or not.  The first time ever we flipped that boat.   It was so fast we didn't even have time to gasp.  Lucky for us it was still in the shallow and we were able to recover everything.  Of course, we have now entertained the young couple who just pulled out of the water.

After we stopped laughing, we managed to get launched.  I was a bit nervous.  I don't remember worrying about balance quite so much before.  But we did get around the lake.  A memorable return to the lake in the Jon Boat.

A day of Geocaching.

Geocaching Fun 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

After a lazy start (My fault, just didn't want to get moving.) we decided to chase down some Geocaches. Boy were we successful.  We found seven in the Orange County area of Virginia.  We make a great team.  I find the sites and navigate and of course, Bruce drives.  He is becoming a real U-turn expert when I don't get the directions to him quickly enough.  Once on-site, I have been reading the coordinates and remarks while we start to search.  Bruce was really hot today seeing every one of the caches.

Some sites along the drive.

Unbelievable!  While I am sitting here doing the blog, we heard some large engine noise.  We at first thought a diesel pusher was pulling into the site next to us as a late arrival.  But it was two fire engines and an ambulance.  There are only two other sites occupied in this area besides us.  We are afraid our neighbors across the road from us may have had an emergency.  We think someone was in the ambulance and the lady staying there got in her car and drove away.  We are praying it was not serious.

Fall Trip to Wilderness

 Wilderness Fall Trip 

Tuesday, September 22 - Wednesday, September 23, 2020

We spent most of our energy getting ready to leave tomorrow morning for  Wilderness for the next two weeks.  Hopefully, Chris, Candice, and Brandon will join us for a few days at the beginning of October.  It never ceases to amaze me how much work we put ourselves through packing and trying to have everything we think we need.  I have to admit, we usually do a good job because we are immediately at home once we are in our space.

Well, we had an uneventful trip to Wilderness.   That is the best kind of trip.   We could not get a site for two weeks so we had to split up between two sites. We were in Glen 5. Our first site was 106.  I forgot to take a picture of our set-up but this is the site after we moved on to our next site.  It always feels good to get here. We have had so many memorable stays here with the kids and friends. We will spend the first week here and then move to another site not far away for the second week.

Took a walk around this evening.  Trying to get those steps in.  It is always a pleasant walk around the lake and among the other RVs.

Only in 2020

New home for the Jon Boat.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Today after 17 years of being stored in the backyard, we finally got a small boat storage rack for the Lake Raider.  Took it down to Wilderness and it has a home on Rack # 7 in Glenn 5.  Hopefully now we can enjoy it on the lake when we stay at Wilderness.

Baby Steps

Friday, September 18, 2020

We were invited to Aspenwood today by Dad, to enjoy a concert, appetizers, and cocktails outside in the backyard of the facility.  We wore masks, had to have our temperature taken, answer a number of questions, and then enter the yard by a back gate but it was worth it.  Of course, we were practicing social distance too. A resident was playing the piano, Chef Peter did an excellent job serving very tasty and attractive appetizer plates.  He also prepared a wonderful Sangria. It was the first time in seven months that it felt just a tiny bit normal.   Dad's life as well as other residents of senior homes have been reduced to four walls and a few phone calls.  Other than a few outside visits at a distance we are so helpless to add to his quality of life.  Thank God for his great caregivers.

Dad and Debra

More Keeping Busy

 Tuesday, September 1 - Thursday, September 17, 2020

Tuesday 9/1:  We went to Great Falls Park on the Virginia side.  We hiked the Canal Trail 2.74 miles.  After our hike, we did some shopping at Ollies and Costco.  Ended this day with a short neighborhood walk.

Wednesday, 9/2 -We did a little shopping at Costco for some sale items.  Afterward, we hiked to the Purple Line Bridge on Rock Creek Trail to see if much was getting done. 

Thursday, 9/3 - Walked around Wheaton Mall.  We ended up walking about 2.3 miles.

Friday, 9/4 - Today we walked around the Flora Singer Elementary School.  This is where Brandon went to school.  Discovered some interesting trails and we walked through McKenny Park.

Saturday, 9/5 - Today we hiked around Centennial Park in Howard County.  Walked about 2.5 miles.

Sunday, 9/6 - walked 2.5 miles on Sligo Creek Parkway.

Monday, 9/7 - Labor Day.  Only a short 30-minute neighborhood walk today.

Tuesday, 9/8 - Spent the day with Brandon.  Virtual School.  When I got home walked to CVS and around the neighborhood.  Bruce walked around the neighborhood and we both did some house walking to get our goal.

Wednesday, 9/9 - We did a little thrifting today.  Bruce got a long wanted electric meat slicer.  Because of the rain e walked around Arundel Mills Mall.

Thursday, 9/10 - Stormey day.  House walked a little.  I finished up on the treadmill to get my goal.

Friday, 9/11 - Started my day with Brandon.  Afterward, Bruce and I found our first geocache at Forest Glen Park.  We both made our goal today.

Saturday, 9/12 - Hiked Pautectant River Trail about 2.5 miles.  Stopped at a couple of estate sales/yard sales.  Spent $1.  We both made our goal.

Sunday, 9/13 - We attempted to find a geocache around the Forest Glen Metro Station.  DNF.  Neither one of us made our goal.  Only about 60%.

Monday, 9/14 - No walking today but we were very busy harvesting and cleaning the Lake Rider Jon boat.  I do mean harvesting.  The boat has been stored on the side of the house for a number of years.  The bamboo had grown up and around every twist and turn and hole and handle.  It was really an effort to get it away from the bamboo. Once we did there were years of grime to scrub off the poor thing.  We are taking it down to Wilderness and renting a berth for the small boats there near the lake.

Tuesday, 9/15 - We failed on walking today.  I had too much paperwork.

Wednesday, 9/16 - Another day of chores and some shopping.  Fortunately, I made my goal and Bruce was very close.

Thursday, 9/17 - Another day of chores.  Fixed the leaky basement window.  That was a big accomplishment.  Cleaned the board seats and life jackets for the Lake Raider.  Loaded some stuff on the RV in anticipation of our trip to Wilderness.

Friday, 9/18 - Bruce had a regular Dr. appointment this morning.  Last night I spilled apple juice all over the kitchen floor.  Thought I cleaned it up but had to do a thorough job today to get rid of the sticky.  Going to Dad's for an outdoor get-together this afternoon.