May 1st, 2013
We're getting up a little later then we planned to due to a previous late night phone call with the guy we bought the trailer from. Todd remembers some things he needed to get done in town (sweet thing has done ALL the getting done by himself). We pack dishes, put anything that could fall low, mostly under the booth seats, picture frames and other breakables go in towel bins and sock drawers. I ask Todd "what can I do? I'm the crew, just let me know". "Nothing", he says, "I got it", in a gentle but sure voice. I chat a bit with our neighbor outside and we say our goodbyes. Todd says "just hop in the truck while I make one more round". "OK!" Popping out to thank the owner of the park and we're off... almost.
BAM, BAM, BAM! Oh crap! (Or something like that. ;-), as the truck jerks). We get out of the truck, looking around, the owner asks "are you still hooked up to something"? No, Todd checked and checked everything again and again. A tighten of the sway control, another look around by us both (like I know what I'm looking for.. just somethings that might hit another) looks good. Here we go... BAM BAM BAM! "What the ever lovin'...", get out of the truck, déjà vu. OK, get up the small hill, bound to make a little noise right? On the road BAM (jerk)! Son of a.. OK, T pulls over as far as possible but we're hogging most the lane on a narrow two way street. Before he goes out I say "I'll stand behind the camper to make sure people go around" he says "no", in a much more stern voice (you ain't my daddy). I say I'll be careful I don't want him to get smooched to get the reply "no, stay right there". "Aye, Aye Captain" (damn! I'll be watching rear view mirrors closely.) Another tighten and here we go... almost.
So on the major road we stop at a red light and the lady in the car ahead of us gets out of the car. I say "hi", she says "your door's open". Look in the rear view, a flappin' in the wind, T says "make sure it's closed". It's the door on the trailer that doesn't fit right because the whole wall is broken and it's a replacement door. I run out and slam it like there's no tomorrow.
We make it to what was the Kmart and pull into the big, empty parking lot. Todd's looking at things and I'm hungry so I say I'll get us some food and stuff and just then it started to rain. This is starting to sound like a country song.
We're on the road. The night before Todd told me what he was really worried about was the truck breaking down. He had our mechanic come out twice to make sure it wouldn't. Before we even got out of Hendersonville the check engine light came on. I said "just keep drivin' Baby, don't look at it". We figured it was the mass air sensor anyway so onto Lebanon and we stopped at Family Campers. A nice young man checked, confirmed, and turned off the idiot light.
Off to North Carolina! The manager of the campground where we're workamping is amazing and gave us great directions so we didn't have to deal with steep grades so we ignored Garmin. Went to eat at a diner around midnight and the server told us there's a rest stop nearby while our campground was an hour away at the most. We decided to go for it. Parking in the front Todd walked to our site and back. We decided to tiptoe in so Todd took the noisy sway bar off.
After a day of ups and downs, little worries, singing in the truck, different physical elevations, eating at strange places, grinnin' like monkeys (all day), and unbelievable uncertainty, we crept into our site, quiet as a mouse. We didn't dare try to hook up or park just right, just got in and that's when the most incredible thing happened... we got to climb into our own comfy beds that we know and love! What could be better than that? Ever? After traveling, and you're in a different state, your own comfy bed, with the sheets you like and the pillow that's just right.
May 2nd, 8:00 am local time (7:00 to us)
We woke to a hammer banging. Todd set out to get the trailer parked correctly and hooked up and again I'm trying to help. Then I hear a woman say "Carrie?" "yes, hi!"! She's the assistant manager and so super nice! She was going for a walk before her shift. What a pleasant surprise and a wonderful soul to meet! Then I took a short walk over to the creek roaring over the rocks and looked way up at the smoky mountains all around, wow, really, am I really here? YES!
I couldn't stay awake all day so went back to bed. Waking up I started putting things where they belong wondering where Todd was. Looked out the window and there he is talking with a camper with two beautiful dogs, a King Charles and a big white cutie pie. I said hello to them through the window and they seemed to say hello back with tails waggin' trying to come closer. Then we stopped at the office to get our work schedules. Oh my gosh, they gave us a few days to settle in! Thank you!
In the following days we looked around town which I really do think is the most beautiful town I've ever seen. Cherokee, NC. Ate at a place that had "Indian Tacos", not terribly impressive. Moved everything to clean up after the invisible monkeys who obviously had a party in the trailer while we were on the road, and settled in. We went to Walmart in a different town. There are no typical retail stores here, just mostly tourist stores and we enjoyed looking around. Todd's Walmart phone didn't work here so we asked and the assistant manager and she recommended Verizon's "Home Connect" and they let you pick your area code so we picked a Nashville one so we could remember it.
May 6th, 2013
Today was our first day workamping. It was so great! The people we met are exceptionally nice! AND down to earth. We worked so hard, like we do and they'd tell us to slow down but with our excitement and enthusiasm it was futile. So, oh my gosh, we're walking around stiff. They are so gracious they sort of said "told ya so" without being condescending AND they even tried to get me to take a break but I wanted to get the whole front part of the flower bed weeded so I didn't. I have learned my lesson, Don't go from a desk jocky to gardner in a day! Todd told the manager we want to work a lot and we're both on for 40 hours each so I better wrap up and get to bed.
This is the best and craziest thing I've ever done in my life! I am truly happy!
I want to thank so much these wonderful people who have welcomed us, taken us in, and trusted me with a golf cart too!
Cherokee is an amazing place.
