Waynesville -.Last 2.weeks in May

Finally got some rides in!

Blue Ridge to Great Smokey Mountains to the border with Tennessee 

Saw a couple Elk along the way

 

Another ride brought us past a firefighter training location.

That orange spot is the fiire

Headed to the Rattler ride on 209 towards Hot Springs 

.

Made it to the Trust General Store

And the Bridge of Madison County.  Get a room guys!

Next ride we go up to the Cradle of Forestry with our friends Ken and Carol from AZ who are visiting for the Summer.

Go towards the light!

One of our favorite stops on the 276 ride

A busy 2 weeks!

1st 2 weeks May - Back in Waynesville NC

He 1st couple weeks back to NC were spent 

sprucing up our site 

We were surprised to see the Rhododendron out

The roses are spectacular this year

Got my vegetable garden started

I snuck in the small walkway I wanted when Gary wasn't looking.  He has to admit it looked good.

When we ran out of work we cleaned the site of a friend whose partner died over the winter.  The site hasn't been worked on since the Flood.

We even squeezed in a ride to check out the Parkway 

 

Winter 2024/25 - last 2 weeks in cocoa

The 1st week was spent trying up loose ends with getting house ready to close up for the summer and changing all the vehicle registrations.  Couldn't change drivers licenses because in spite of having enhanced licenses in NC, they wanted Passport or Passport Card, Certified Birth Certificate and Social Security Card.  None of which we had with us

By the end of the 2nd week we had to make the gut wrenching and heartbreaking decision to let Tucson go.  It was difficult watching him deteriorate so rapidly physically while his heart and soul were still there.  It became harder for him to walk,  then get up and lie back down.  One evening I looked over and he was trying to get up with his tennis ball on his mouth.  I hurried over and told him to lie down and sat across from him and bounced the ball to him.  He caught it and bounced it back.  I played with him for a few minutes until I couldn't see through the tears.  I told Gary that Tucson would let me know when he was ready.  I said I'd continue to walk him twice a day to poop and pee until he wasn't able.  His walks got shorter and I often used a sling to help him back home.  The morning before we took him in to the vet, we left for our walk and instead of going out to the road, he walked to the back yard and followed the property line peeing along the way.  When we got back to the front yard, he took a big dump.  In the 13 years, 7 months I had him, he never once pooped or peed in his own yard.  I think it was his way of saying he was ready and was marking his space before going.  Friends stopped over that evening and he hobbled over with a squeaky toy in his hand and handed it over.  After they left I tried to get him to go for a walk, but he refused.  The next morning, I tried to get him out before going to the Vet, but again he refused.  When it came time he did follow me out to the car.  

He was by my side every day of his life except 3 days. 

He.loved his Daddy too.

Saying goodbye was the hardest thing to do 

Know you're having fun playing with Kirby and all your friends. Wait for me at the rainbow bridge.

Winter 2024/25 - 2nd week, Cocoa, Fl

The work continues . . Got Lava rock to put a foot border around the house to deter critters from digging under the house.

Also put down mulch around the side and back.

Fixed the crawl space entry

Stopped at the Cocoa Beach Pier to check it out for future visitors 

No big surf this morning, but that didn't stop the surfers

Our friends from Arizona that we met up in St. Augustine when we were workamping came for a visit.

Less than 2 weeks before we head to NC!