At last, a week without major crisis -- indeed, with some forward progress. However, this means that in terms of our activities, they were -- well, let's admit it -- boring. And at this point, we are thankful.
It has been hard to realize we are connected to the rest of the world. While we occasionally have heard of winter storms to the north of us, here the weather for the most part has been balmy, sunny with occasional light rain, a little on the warmish side for us and especially the dogs. Where Ohio has been reporting temps in the teens, 20's, and even single digits, our highs have been 75-80. In the morning, even a light sweatshirt usually is too much.
So we have pretty much ignored the outside world, and feel better for it. We have fallen into a routine: up between 8 and 9 AM, walk the dogs, have breakfasts and pill call, check email, have lunch, walk the dogs again, correspond or just surf. Scott and Lew have taken long walks some afternoons, but Bobbi has continued her obsession with the Indianapolis Colts. After the standard 6 PM supper we have socialized with the grandchildren (Scott and Su too), surfed a bit more, and gone to bed between 10 and 11. And the next morning, we started over. The single bump in the routine was on Sunday, when everyone except Bobbi (she got to dogsit) went to Scott's church service.
One outside event did impact us. Lew's aunt Irene had emailed him to the effect that her brother (Lew's uncle Theo) had been hospitalized after being found unresponsive. She said that CVA had been ruled out, but could not be more specific than that. So Lew phoned his aunt Aggie, who lives near Theo in San Antonio. She had more details: he had been in the hospital 13 days, initially they thought he had a CVA, but MRI's and other data were negative. So the next diagnosis they picked on was meningitis, and they put him in isolation. But after four days they took that back as well. Finally they decided he had pneumonia, and that was the story up to the weekend.
Our own single item of news is that yesterday (Wednesday the 30th) we took Smokey back to Maitland to have his sutures removed. It went off without a hitch, and the vet reported he was doing very well, wound looked fine. She meticulously instructed us how to begin exercising his muscles, so we did not tell her that he already had been walking, bearing considerable weight on the leg, and in general trying to do more than he was supposed to do -- we pretty much had to restrain him. So we feel he has passed a major milestone successfully -- but we still are anxious parents.
We have another appointment to take him back for x-rays on the 14th. Assuming those are OK, we'll hang around a few more days and finally wend our way,, slowly and too early, back north.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Lutz, FL
Crisis #n+1: Tuesday (the 22nd) morning Lew was walking Smokey and noticed that the fur on his posterior was smeared with feces. So when he got Smokey back inside and up on the bed he looked more closely and discovered an ominous situation -- the feces were diarrheal, bile stained, permeated the perianal fur and the base of the tail and had started to dry out on the edges. And the skin under the contaminated fur was grossly inflamed by the alkaline enzyme-laden fluid.
Clearly a bit of an emergency. So Lew spent most of the remainder of the day trimming the contaminated fur away strand by strand with blunt-tipped surgical scissors, alternating with soaking the inflamed skin. Not surprisingly, Smokey objected to this manipulation and wriggled like the proverbial worm. So we went to bed with a prayer that we had caught the situation quickly enough to avoid complicating his recovery from the surgery. And as we went to bed, the rain started, slowly.
An impressive storm battered the Airstream throughout the night. Next morning (Wednesday the 23rd) we found a bucket that Lew had placed behind the Airstream had floated about four feet down the driveway!
We apprehensively checked Smokey's inflammed tissues, and Lew thought he saw significant resolution of the inflammation. So we watched him carefully as we tried to conduct another housekeeping day -- washing our accumulated soiled clothes and bedding, as well as our dirty sweaty bodies. After Lew ate another supper with Scott's family while Bobbi dogsat (Lew did bring her her supper) he sat down next to Smokey to rip CD's, while Bobbi continued her obsessional correspondance with mycolts.net.
Clearly a bit of an emergency. So Lew spent most of the remainder of the day trimming the contaminated fur away strand by strand with blunt-tipped surgical scissors, alternating with soaking the inflamed skin. Not surprisingly, Smokey objected to this manipulation and wriggled like the proverbial worm. So we went to bed with a prayer that we had caught the situation quickly enough to avoid complicating his recovery from the surgery. And as we went to bed, the rain started, slowly.
An impressive storm battered the Airstream throughout the night. Next morning (Wednesday the 23rd) we found a bucket that Lew had placed behind the Airstream had floated about four feet down the driveway!
We apprehensively checked Smokey's inflammed tissues, and Lew thought he saw significant resolution of the inflammation. So we watched him carefully as we tried to conduct another housekeeping day -- washing our accumulated soiled clothes and bedding, as well as our dirty sweaty bodies. After Lew ate another supper with Scott's family while Bobbi dogsat (Lew did bring her her supper) he sat down next to Smokey to rip CD's, while Bobbi continued her obsessional correspondance with mycolts.net.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Lutz, FL
Much has happened in a hectic and anxious week.
Sunday (the 13th) morning one of the members across the street picked Bobbi up and took her along to Scott's church -- while Lew volunteered to dogsit. He also used the time to clean he interior of the Airstream. Smokey continued to limp, but otherwise seemed his normal, playful self.
Monday (the 14) in the morning Bobbi phoned the office (in Maitland) of the vet whom our friend had recommended. Luckily, she was able to get an appointment for Wednesday at 1 PM. Then Lew phoned the social work student who was following one of his Dayton patients and made recommendations for increasing the intensity of her service. He followed this up with a confirming email and snail mail. Bobbi and Scott spent much of the day talking shop.
Then in the evening we were invited over to the home of two of Scott's parishioners who live almost across the street from him. He was deeply attached to his two dogs as we are, so the trials and tribulations of dog care occupied much of the discussion that evening.
Tuesday (the 15th) we were in a holding pattern as we awaited our chance to get Smokey seen. So while chewing our fingernails, we caught up on domestic tasks: laundry, showers, shampoos, etc.
Late wednesday (the 16th) morning we drove Smokey over to Maitland (just NE of Orlando). To do so we had to travel I-4 for the first time, and discovered it was a madhouse easily rivaling the more widely renowned mess in Atlanta. But despite 100 miles of the unremitting dense traffic, we arrived early for the 1 PM appointment.
The clinic looked much like any suburban orthopedic clinic for humans. The intern and Dr. DeHaan each went over Smokey independently and carefully -- and surprised us by telling us that, rather than dislocating his hip, he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament. They asked to keep Smokey for a couple of hours for lab work and x-rays. So we decided to go to lunch. We drove south on US-17, passing up several fast food stands. Before too long Bobbi spotted an Olive Garden and asked to eat there. Lew was only too eager to oblige. Of course we gorged ourselves on our favorites.
After lunch we returned to the clinic, where Dr. DeHaan reviewed Smokey's x-rays and lab work with us. He described the indicated surgery -- and we consented immedately. He told us he had an available spot on Thursday's schedule, so we jumped at the chance to simply leave Smokey and get it over with (and incidentally eliminated the need for two more trips across I-4). They told us we could pick him up anytime on Friday -- assuming there were no complications. So we drove back to Lutz, this time in rush-hour traffic, and survived.
Early on Thursday (that is, about 9:30 on the 17th) morning, just as we were waking up, one of the vets from the clinic phoned Lew to report that Smokey's surgery was finished, that he had done well, and that he was resting peacefully. With that, we relaxed, and decided to do get out and see the neighborhood. Scott took us all (that is, including Saphire) to a clergy supply store north of the church and Wal-Mart, where Bobbi replenished our larder. In the afternoon Lew ripped CD's from Scott's collection.
Friday (the 18th), after getting up at the usual late hour, we did our normal morning routine, loaded Saphire into the van, and made our second drive over to Maitland to pick Smokey up. At the beginning of the trip Bobbi confirmed (by phone) that Smokey was indeed ready to go. When we arrived there was a little waiting around for a room, but soon we were in one, the intern brought a sleepy Smokey in, his left forearm, the lumbosacral area of his back, and almost the entire left leg shaved. She proceeded to review the surgery and his status -- including x-rays of the joint with its new supporting plate held in place by a bunch of big screws, then gave us the home care instructions. So we paid our bill, walked Smokey up the ramp we had purchased (at first it confused him a bit), and once again headed down I-4 towards Lutz -- not in rush hour this time.
That evening went uneventfully, though we watched apprehensively. Smokey went up and down the ramp and did his elimination unevenfully. Fortunately he left his sutures alone, so we had to put the protective collar over his head only while we both were asleep.
Saturday (the 19th) we took turns watching Smokey. In the afternoon Scott took Lew to visit with his member across the street -- another dog lover who discussed in detail Smokey's surgery as well as the past surgeries of his own dogs. In the evening Lew dogsat while Bobbi watched the Green Bay-Seattle game.
By Sunday (the 20th), baby-sitting a large dog who wants to be more active than prescribed was getting tedious -- and we still have weeks to go. Scott had committed Bobbi to help with confirmation class, so she had no choice but to accompany him to the church until mid-afternoon. Then she spent the evening watching football on Scott's projection TV. This left Lew to dogsit alone, and amuse himself surfing the web. Lew is pretty accustomed to doing that, but nevertheless by evening it got old. And once when Lew turned his back just momentarily, Smokey jumped up onto the bed. Obviously, vigilance had to be redoubled..
But there was one advantage to this slip. In order to get him down off the bed at our bedtime, we had to bring the ramp inside. Lo and behold, this turned out to be much easier than we imagined. We got him off the bed. outside, and back in without trouble, put the collar on, and had a pleasant sleep while the mercury was in free fall outside.
Monday morning (the 21st) dawned bright and cold, but warmed rapidly in the sun. Lew walked both dogs while Bobbi set out breakfast, and soon we were in shirtsleeves. This time we took the initiative of immediately putting the ramp up for Smokey to climb up into the bed, where he stayed until now (that is, mid-afternoon) while we both did email and surfed. Very relaxed, he snoozed away the day -- as did Saphire.
We go back to the clinic on the 31st to have Smokey's stitches removed, and again 2 weeks later for x-rays. Oviously, if we stay here for those procedures, we will be unable to make it over to Texas for the second straight year. Smokey also is supposed to get a second set of films done four weeks after that, but obviously we will be back in Columbus then. Fortunately, OSU has one of the premier vet orthopedic programs in the country, so we don't anticipate any trouble.
More later.
Sunday (the 13th) morning one of the members across the street picked Bobbi up and took her along to Scott's church -- while Lew volunteered to dogsit. He also used the time to clean he interior of the Airstream. Smokey continued to limp, but otherwise seemed his normal, playful self.
Monday (the 14) in the morning Bobbi phoned the office (in Maitland) of the vet whom our friend had recommended. Luckily, she was able to get an appointment for Wednesday at 1 PM. Then Lew phoned the social work student who was following one of his Dayton patients and made recommendations for increasing the intensity of her service. He followed this up with a confirming email and snail mail. Bobbi and Scott spent much of the day talking shop.
Then in the evening we were invited over to the home of two of Scott's parishioners who live almost across the street from him. He was deeply attached to his two dogs as we are, so the trials and tribulations of dog care occupied much of the discussion that evening.
Tuesday (the 15th) we were in a holding pattern as we awaited our chance to get Smokey seen. So while chewing our fingernails, we caught up on domestic tasks: laundry, showers, shampoos, etc.
Late wednesday (the 16th) morning we drove Smokey over to Maitland (just NE of Orlando). To do so we had to travel I-4 for the first time, and discovered it was a madhouse easily rivaling the more widely renowned mess in Atlanta. But despite 100 miles of the unremitting dense traffic, we arrived early for the 1 PM appointment.
The clinic looked much like any suburban orthopedic clinic for humans. The intern and Dr. DeHaan each went over Smokey independently and carefully -- and surprised us by telling us that, rather than dislocating his hip, he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament. They asked to keep Smokey for a couple of hours for lab work and x-rays. So we decided to go to lunch. We drove south on US-17, passing up several fast food stands. Before too long Bobbi spotted an Olive Garden and asked to eat there. Lew was only too eager to oblige. Of course we gorged ourselves on our favorites.
After lunch we returned to the clinic, where Dr. DeHaan reviewed Smokey's x-rays and lab work with us. He described the indicated surgery -- and we consented immedately. He told us he had an available spot on Thursday's schedule, so we jumped at the chance to simply leave Smokey and get it over with (and incidentally eliminated the need for two more trips across I-4). They told us we could pick him up anytime on Friday -- assuming there were no complications. So we drove back to Lutz, this time in rush-hour traffic, and survived.
Early on Thursday (that is, about 9:30 on the 17th) morning, just as we were waking up, one of the vets from the clinic phoned Lew to report that Smokey's surgery was finished, that he had done well, and that he was resting peacefully. With that, we relaxed, and decided to do get out and see the neighborhood. Scott took us all (that is, including Saphire) to a clergy supply store north of the church and Wal-Mart, where Bobbi replenished our larder. In the afternoon Lew ripped CD's from Scott's collection.
Friday (the 18th), after getting up at the usual late hour, we did our normal morning routine, loaded Saphire into the van, and made our second drive over to Maitland to pick Smokey up. At the beginning of the trip Bobbi confirmed (by phone) that Smokey was indeed ready to go. When we arrived there was a little waiting around for a room, but soon we were in one, the intern brought a sleepy Smokey in, his left forearm, the lumbosacral area of his back, and almost the entire left leg shaved. She proceeded to review the surgery and his status -- including x-rays of the joint with its new supporting plate held in place by a bunch of big screws, then gave us the home care instructions. So we paid our bill, walked Smokey up the ramp we had purchased (at first it confused him a bit), and once again headed down I-4 towards Lutz -- not in rush hour this time.
That evening went uneventfully, though we watched apprehensively. Smokey went up and down the ramp and did his elimination unevenfully. Fortunately he left his sutures alone, so we had to put the protective collar over his head only while we both were asleep.
Saturday (the 19th) we took turns watching Smokey. In the afternoon Scott took Lew to visit with his member across the street -- another dog lover who discussed in detail Smokey's surgery as well as the past surgeries of his own dogs. In the evening Lew dogsat while Bobbi watched the Green Bay-Seattle game.
By Sunday (the 20th), baby-sitting a large dog who wants to be more active than prescribed was getting tedious -- and we still have weeks to go. Scott had committed Bobbi to help with confirmation class, so she had no choice but to accompany him to the church until mid-afternoon. Then she spent the evening watching football on Scott's projection TV. This left Lew to dogsit alone, and amuse himself surfing the web. Lew is pretty accustomed to doing that, but nevertheless by evening it got old. And once when Lew turned his back just momentarily, Smokey jumped up onto the bed. Obviously, vigilance had to be redoubled..
But there was one advantage to this slip. In order to get him down off the bed at our bedtime, we had to bring the ramp inside. Lo and behold, this turned out to be much easier than we imagined. We got him off the bed. outside, and back in without trouble, put the collar on, and had a pleasant sleep while the mercury was in free fall outside.
Monday morning (the 21st) dawned bright and cold, but warmed rapidly in the sun. Lew walked both dogs while Bobbi set out breakfast, and soon we were in shirtsleeves. This time we took the initiative of immediately putting the ramp up for Smokey to climb up into the bed, where he stayed until now (that is, mid-afternoon) while we both did email and surfed. Very relaxed, he snoozed away the day -- as did Saphire.
We go back to the clinic on the 31st to have Smokey's stitches removed, and again 2 weeks later for x-rays. Oviously, if we stay here for those procedures, we will be unable to make it over to Texas for the second straight year. Smokey also is supposed to get a second set of films done four weeks after that, but obviously we will be back in Columbus then. Fortunately, OSU has one of the premier vet orthopedic programs in the country, so we don't anticipate any trouble.
More later.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Lutz, FL
Wednesday (9th) we got up at our usual tardy pace, so it was 11:15 again before we were back on I-75 headed towards Atlanta -- which turned out anticlimactic. We followed the advice of son Scott and the campground owner and headed directly down I-75, right through the center of town. Lew simply kept plugging away at a steady 55, mostly in the second lane from the shoulder. No slowdowns, just the famous heavy traffic. Soon "civiliation" thinned out, and so did the traffic. After we stopped for a brief but leisurely lunch, we continued on about halfway to the Florida border, where Bobbi suddenly became bored. She consulted her books and directed Lew to get off at exit 127, where she rented a site at the Twin Oak RV Park close to the interstate, west of Elko GA.
Twin Oaks was a basically clean park. The clerk was very offended when Bobbi inquired about the condition of the bathhouse, and indeed it did turn out to be clean -- but certainly not exceptional. And the fixtures and decor were a bit outdated. But certainly it was an above-average park, nothing objectionable except a bit of a walk to the bathhouse.
The next morning (Thursday the 10th) was hardly different: on to I-75 at 11:15, a small lunch at North Valley, and by 4:30 Bobbi was tired. So she directed Lew to the Ocala North RV Park, where she rented a site on the edge of the park. The park obviously catered to long-term renters, who took up all the sites near the bathhouse. We had to park nearly two blocks away -- certainly an advantage for fitness. And the edge site was conveniently across the road from the dog walk -- and we did. Again, the rest rooms certainly were clean, but no match for the Michigan State Parks.
Friday (11th) was another routine repetition: up not quite so late, back on I-75 by 10:15, so we pulled into son Scott's driveway in Lutz a little after noon. No one was home, but we shoe-horned the Airstream into the back corner of the driveway and unhitched. We were preparing to go to a nearby gas station we had just passed, but Scott came home and let us into the house.
Scott showed us around, and we properly admired. They had managed to get a pleasant, large but reasonably modest 30-year-old house with a tiled roof and fenced in rear yard. Everyone had their own room, and Scott had his precious music equipment and books. Su had her (concrete) gargoyle in the corner of the back yard, obviouly a future garden. Su arrived shortly after Scott, and the grandchildren (George and Brian) later after school. The boys were all excited to welcome the dogs, and the dogs were equally excited to be welcomed.
Scott was eager to take us out for supper at a nearby Italian restaurant. But unfortunately as we got ready to go, Smokey slipped getting into the van, and injured his left hip, though we did not realize at the time. When we returned after supper, Scott and the two boys were eager to take the dogs and I for a walk. But on the way back, we noticed that Smokey was limping badly, favoring the left hind limb that had slipped getting into the truck. Because of his hip dysplasia, Bobbi and I were very apprehensive that he had damaged the joint. Lew dug out a supply of a NSAID that the vet had given him for last summer's trip and gave Smokey the first dose.
Lew slept very poorly Friday night, very concerned about Smokey's hip and using his medical training to visualize all sorts of potential damage to the joint. By dawn he was a wreck, all of his PTSD symptoms from last winter having returned.
Saturday (the 12th) we let the dogs into the back yard to urinate and defecate -- and play. Smokey seemed significantly improved over the previous night, actually playing and running a bit. But after Bobbi and Lew had breakfast, Lew began a flurry of email writing, trying to locate reliable veterinary service. Fortunately the owner of the Airstream list lives in Ocala and has considerable experience with dogs. After some difficulty locating her new email address, Lew was able to send her a post. She responded quickly with two referrals whom she said were exceptional canine orthopedic surgeons, and Lew was a bit more relieved. He also let the dogs into the back yard again in the afternoon, where Smokey ran, jumped, and played with considerable enthusiasm. So clearly the situation was not an emergency, and Lew began to relax a bit more.
Meanwhile, Bobbi and Su went grocery shopping for the Airstream. And then Bobbi hunkered down with her football obsession. After a modest supper, the football continued, and Lew caught up on his email + this blog.
Twin Oaks was a basically clean park. The clerk was very offended when Bobbi inquired about the condition of the bathhouse, and indeed it did turn out to be clean -- but certainly not exceptional. And the fixtures and decor were a bit outdated. But certainly it was an above-average park, nothing objectionable except a bit of a walk to the bathhouse.
The next morning (Thursday the 10th) was hardly different: on to I-75 at 11:15, a small lunch at North Valley, and by 4:30 Bobbi was tired. So she directed Lew to the Ocala North RV Park, where she rented a site on the edge of the park. The park obviously catered to long-term renters, who took up all the sites near the bathhouse. We had to park nearly two blocks away -- certainly an advantage for fitness. And the edge site was conveniently across the road from the dog walk -- and we did. Again, the rest rooms certainly were clean, but no match for the Michigan State Parks.
Friday (11th) was another routine repetition: up not quite so late, back on I-75 by 10:15, so we pulled into son Scott's driveway in Lutz a little after noon. No one was home, but we shoe-horned the Airstream into the back corner of the driveway and unhitched. We were preparing to go to a nearby gas station we had just passed, but Scott came home and let us into the house.
Scott showed us around, and we properly admired. They had managed to get a pleasant, large but reasonably modest 30-year-old house with a tiled roof and fenced in rear yard. Everyone had their own room, and Scott had his precious music equipment and books. Su had her (concrete) gargoyle in the corner of the back yard, obviouly a future garden. Su arrived shortly after Scott, and the grandchildren (George and Brian) later after school. The boys were all excited to welcome the dogs, and the dogs were equally excited to be welcomed.
Scott was eager to take us out for supper at a nearby Italian restaurant. But unfortunately as we got ready to go, Smokey slipped getting into the van, and injured his left hip, though we did not realize at the time. When we returned after supper, Scott and the two boys were eager to take the dogs and I for a walk. But on the way back, we noticed that Smokey was limping badly, favoring the left hind limb that had slipped getting into the truck. Because of his hip dysplasia, Bobbi and I were very apprehensive that he had damaged the joint. Lew dug out a supply of a NSAID that the vet had given him for last summer's trip and gave Smokey the first dose.
Lew slept very poorly Friday night, very concerned about Smokey's hip and using his medical training to visualize all sorts of potential damage to the joint. By dawn he was a wreck, all of his PTSD symptoms from last winter having returned.
Saturday (the 12th) we let the dogs into the back yard to urinate and defecate -- and play. Smokey seemed significantly improved over the previous night, actually playing and running a bit. But after Bobbi and Lew had breakfast, Lew began a flurry of email writing, trying to locate reliable veterinary service. Fortunately the owner of the Airstream list lives in Ocala and has considerable experience with dogs. After some difficulty locating her new email address, Lew was able to send her a post. She responded quickly with two referrals whom she said were exceptional canine orthopedic surgeons, and Lew was a bit more relieved. He also let the dogs into the back yard again in the afternoon, where Smokey ran, jumped, and played with considerable enthusiasm. So clearly the situation was not an emergency, and Lew began to relax a bit more.
Meanwhile, Bobbi and Su went grocery shopping for the Airstream. And then Bobbi hunkered down with her football obsession. After a modest supper, the football continued, and Lew caught up on his email + this blog.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Cartersville, GA
Back on the road, at last! Now everyone relaxed... almost a little bored.
By Saturday (the 5th) the cold snap had passed. we went to our last ASL mass for a while (they really are very hard to find) and said goodbye to all our friends. Sunday morning (the 6th) Bobbi packed and Lew hitched. Then we both said "good-bye" to Paul, Rob, and the kitty, and by 1 PM the wheels were rolling -- down OH-315, I-71, I-275, and I-75.
Like the past couple of winters, we spent the first night in the Kentucky Horse Park campground outside Lexington, KY. Only the weather had changed -- unseasonably warm, we walked back and forth to the bathhouse in just our sweats.
Monday morning (the 7th) we resumed our trek down I-75, and by 4 PM we had arrived once again at the KOA in Sweetwater, TN -- where last year's trip had been aborted. The campground had new owners, pleasant enough. This time the stay was remarkable only for the continuing warmth -- 68 when we arrived. And it stayed that warm all night -- again, we walked around in our sweats or even shirtsleeves.
This morning (Tuesday the 8th) we slept in until 9, yet were back on I-75 by 11:15. This afternoon we stopped early, about 2:30, in order to avoid having to negotiate Atlanta's freeways at rush hour. Bobbi rented a site in the KOA here. This one was a very standard KOA, vintage about 1970. Rest rooms were clean and neat, but the paint choice was terminally ugly; obviously, no woman had a say in the pick. But the graveled campsites were leveled well, and there was a very good, broadband WI-FI signal, so we spent the rest of the day taking advantage of it. As a plus, the freeway is barely audible even outside the Airstream.
So tomorrow, driving hell.
By Saturday (the 5th) the cold snap had passed. we went to our last ASL mass for a while (they really are very hard to find) and said goodbye to all our friends. Sunday morning (the 6th) Bobbi packed and Lew hitched. Then we both said "good-bye" to Paul, Rob, and the kitty, and by 1 PM the wheels were rolling -- down OH-315, I-71, I-275, and I-75.
Like the past couple of winters, we spent the first night in the Kentucky Horse Park campground outside Lexington, KY. Only the weather had changed -- unseasonably warm, we walked back and forth to the bathhouse in just our sweats.
Monday morning (the 7th) we resumed our trek down I-75, and by 4 PM we had arrived once again at the KOA in Sweetwater, TN -- where last year's trip had been aborted. The campground had new owners, pleasant enough. This time the stay was remarkable only for the continuing warmth -- 68 when we arrived. And it stayed that warm all night -- again, we walked around in our sweats or even shirtsleeves.
This morning (Tuesday the 8th) we slept in until 9, yet were back on I-75 by 11:15. This afternoon we stopped early, about 2:30, in order to avoid having to negotiate Atlanta's freeways at rush hour. Bobbi rented a site in the KOA here. This one was a very standard KOA, vintage about 1970. Rest rooms were clean and neat, but the paint choice was terminally ugly; obviously, no woman had a say in the pick. But the graveled campsites were leveled well, and there was a very good, broadband WI-FI signal, so we spent the rest of the day taking advantage of it. As a plus, the freeway is barely audible even outside the Airstream.
So tomorrow, driving hell.
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