A day in the life of Susan

July 22, 2010

I am feeling very happy these days.  Yesterday I moved to my new campsite and it is sooo ideal.  my site is at the end of a dead end road with the lake below me.  I can canoe, swim, yoga on the beach, bike and hike without ever leaving my campsite.  With my broadband stick I even have access to the internet.  .  It just a really nice place to be. 

I am writing by the light of my Coleman lantern while daddy long leg spiders cruise by.  I have always liked these special insects.  they are large but they don't bite.  I don't care much for the dive bomber beetles though.  

am expecting Atlanta friends tomorrow so It will get busy.  I actually like my solo time very much.  I am never bored or lonely. 

today I took a long bike ride just within the park.  lots of hills up and downs.  Nickerson State Park has about 35 miles of paved bike paths through the forests. 
After resting in my hammock, I  carried my canoe down to the lake and went out on my boat.  then I swam for a bunch.  then I waited to take a picture of the sunset on the lake. 

I wash my clothes by hand and hang them to dry.  I love to do this simple chore.  It is a whole lot better than feeding quarters into a machine and hanging around waiting.

The photo is of CliffIda, my loved trailer.  







I go to bed early by Atlanta standards and am up early.


 

good night to you, and you, and you, and you and you
love
susan

Thoughts on my gear

It must be July 10th.  - my gear
Sitting here drinking a cup of hot chocolate and planning my day.  I woke up to late to get out on the water to kayak.  the sun is hot though it may cloud up as rain is predicted.  Today I will ride my bike to area 7 (about 5 miles) to swim and hike. 

I have been thinking about my gear.  I am doing car and trailer camping and want to be self sufficient except for food for 24 days, so I have a lot of gear and I love it all. 
My vintage trailer is my first love.  Manufactured in 1950, it is still going strong.  She doesn't look beautiful but works just fine sort of like me.  7 years ago she got a new canvas tent with waterproof floor, new electrical, new tires, new stabilizer legs .  I love to fix up old things, especially the trailer  that belonged to my mom and dad.  her dimensions are 4 by 8 feet so she pulls like a charm behind my little corolla with no wind resistance.  She has an accordion cover that lets you pack on lots of stuff(as I am expecting my family I have sleeping gear for 5 and eating gear for 11) 
I also brought 2 bikes, one canoe/kayak and lots of my books and instructional material, including computer, spanish language stuff, my guitar and guitar books. 

Restaurants here are crowded and super expensive so we cook all our meals.  So I have a pantry with posts and pans and 2 stoves that run off a large propane tank. 

My neighbors have some incredible gear.  Some come in Taj Mahal trailers.  the russians camp and know how to put up great tarps that cover the kitchens and provide shade and rain protection. 

I seem to have a little visiter while writing this  He/she ( how does one determine the sex of a chipmunk ) is really adorable. Oh well, she has also discovered my cocoa and has just taken a drink, a brazen chipmunk so she must be female  I am happy to share my cocoa.  Judging from the tracks, my nocturnal visiter last night was also a chipmunk  They are a lot easier to deal with than raccoons as they can't open the coolers. 

I guess I have a lot of  stuff because I am living here.  This is a health retreat for me.  I want to get away from the fast pace and luxuriate in the slow. I want to exercise a lot and eat moderately and get stronger. 
Peace and love to you all
Susan

July 8th -A fast sail in a colorful boat

another beautiful day July 8th 2010

After the heat wave, it feels so good to sit with the wind blowing on my back.  I have discovered that I can sit at the library on a bench, plug my computer into the electrcify and hook into their fast internet connection.  I also have a broadband for the campsite but no electricity.  

I guess I should call this blog, miss thrifty as I Iove to save money and have fun too.  yes, I can retire and do a lot with a little.  camping is the key or hosteling and cooking for yourself or being satisfied with sardines and crackers.  yes this is my thing but if it could be yours, I am encouraging you to go for it.  

I spent today at Cliff Pond.  Lots of Cliffs in my life.  It was too windy to canoe but the sailing was great.  so I asked my neighbor for a ride on his catamaran. and it was sooo great.  we were flying.  Went for a long swim, lay in my hammock and rocked myself in the cool shade.  No watch, no appointments, and puttering around the campsite doing this and that doesn't feel like work. 

I am enjoying my solo time.  In 2 days my family arrives and there will be 11 of us in 2 campsites for 1 week.  then they will be gone again.  I did invite friends for my last t0 days and Kyle, Amy and baby Skye will be driving straight through from Atlanta.  But I don't plan on being the hostess with the mostess.  I will share my campsite  and my kitchen but don't plan on shopping cooking and doing dishes.  

I miss all my friends.  hugs and kisses to you all.  

From Susan (alias Frizzmop)  I do start looking a little wild living outdoors you know.  I am off to kayak before it gets dark

Settling into life at the Cape

July 7, 2010

My first day at the Cape

This is a big deal for me.  I envisioned spending a long time here, enjoying this wonderful bit of nature.  And so I retired from my job, made reservations at Nickerson State Park in MA  for 24 days and here I am.  

I am soooo happy to be here.  After i set up camp it was late but I had to go down for a swim at Cliff Pond.  The water was like a soft caress.  It was a comfortable temperature.  And I was so happy.  I love you Cliff Pond.  

I have brought CliffIda, named after Cliff and Ida Stone, my parents.  CliffIda is a 1950 vintage trailer.  7 years ago it was a sad thing sitting in the back yard.  John and I decided to fix it up, and now it is just perfect.  I will post a photo of my Mom by the trailer, taken in the 60's. 

I have to say that I am proud of myself.  I didn't know that I could do it but wanted to give it my best shot.  Doing the maintenance on the trailer, driving it down here and setting it up by myself was a big deal for me.  But now I know I can do it and am confident of future trips.  I don't want to be a helpless person when it comes to doing handy, mechanical tasks.  I am my father's daughter and like him, I love to fix things and love the outdoors.  

So, I bought a boat in NY state.  It is wonderful because it is so light, I can just pick it up and walk with it or put it on the roof rack and away we go.  

It is a perfect boat for a woman .  It weighs all of 15 pounds and is made of Kevlar so it is strong.  It is a canoe/kayak, open but you use a double paddle.  

Got a boat, got 2 bikes (one to lend) got 2 good legs for hiking, got a song in my heart and a smile on my lips.  

I'll write again from the Cape

love

Susan

I'm no great writer but wanted to share what I am up to

Locust Lake State Park Pennsylvania June 22, 2010

Stopping for the night on my way to MA.  Locust state park was on the map and was tired after driving 400miles.  

What a beautiful place.  no phone coverage or Internet but I am very happy.  took a long bike ride along the lake.  now i am sitting with my computer plugged into the elec a tri city.  soft classical music, a glass of wine and the promise of a comfortable bed.  

I feel like I have discovered a place where I will stop again as I see myself  driving this route often between Worcester, MA where Ida is and Atlanta where I am, sort of kinda.  At least where my house and many dear friends are.  but I think I will call it my base camp from now on.  

tomorrow evening I hope to arrive in Worcester after stopping in Albany to paddle and eyeball a canoe/Kayak that I am thinking seriously of buying because it is only 10.5 feet long and weighs 15 pounds with the added benefit of being made of kevlar (synonymous with indestructible.)  

I feel great but like everyone else I am very sad about the oil spill and the destruction to our oceans, marshes, ecosystem.wildlife.   there is a pain that just doesn't go away.  Like so many others I feel helpless.  I can drive less.  once I arrive I will not go far in my toyota corolla (30 miles per gallon)

So begins my journey.  I suppose people may wonder why I go off alone and camp and want to live outside.  It is just me.  My personality was formed as a child when we would camp as a family all summer long.  I will have my family with me for 1 week in the same campground of my youth, Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod, Ma.  I have invited lots of people to join me as I have a site for 24 days and want to share.  fly up to Boston , rent a car and  enjoy.  I wont entertain you or feed you but I will share my campsite and provisions gladly.  

I will be writing again.  Peace and love be with you.  

Hugs

susan