What a Long Strange Trip It’s Been
I traveled a lot in August. I was only home for 5 or 6 days for the entire month. It was my last goodbye to a lot of the people I love.
The 1st week of August was in North Carolina. We usually go there every year for 4th of July, but this year we went in August instead.
A small 2 seater plane crashed in the ocean right in front of the beach house. The only person inside was the pilot, and he was okay. We didn’t see the crash, but we watched the water rescue.
A couple of evenings later, I was lucky enough to watch turtles hatch on the beach, and scurry to the ocean. I’d always wanted to see that, and I can’t believe I did. It was amazing.
Then I was off to Tennessee. The 1st 3 days I was in Townsend so that I could go up to Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountains. Cades Cove is an 11 mile driveable loop in a valley in the mountains. I love it up there, but I only ever get to see it for a few hours, and there’s so much to see. My cousins live in Knoxville, and it’s about an hour and a half or so away. So this year I planned to stay the 3 days in Townsend, and the rest of the week in Knoxville.
I hiked Abrams Falls on the 1st morning. That’s a 5 mile hike. I got rained on as I was hiking in, but it all cleared once I reached the falls. I went early, because rain was supposed to come in the afternoon. But, luckily, going early meant there weren’t a lot of people there, and the rain in the morning I think helped. So not only did the rain stop once we got to the falls, but there weren’t a lot of people there.
On the way back out I ran into a park ranger who told us about another spot on the way down the mountain called Tremont. I’d never even heard of it, but it is a road that I’ve passed every time I’ve been up there. I just never paid enough attention.
So on the way out that day, we stopped by Tremont, and did another 2 mile hike to Spruce Flats. This was another gorgeous waterfall. All in all, that 1st day we’d hiked 9 miles.
My knees weren’t feeling great about my decisions afterwards, so the 2nd day we just drove the loop trail, and got out for some small walks. I saw 3 bears that day—one crossed the road almost right in front of us, and then stopped just off to the side. I could almost have reached out and touched it as we drove by.
The other was a mama bear and cub walking through a field. The only thing I could see of the cub were it’s ears over the grass, and, on rare occasion, it’s head and back.
A few years ago Cades Cove started a program for the spring through the fall where Wednesdays are vehicle free days. I was super excited to hike the loop road. So the 3rd day, Wednesday, we did just that.
But we only hiked about 9 miles—4.5 miles in, and 4.5 miles back out. It was stunning, and being able to spend all the time I wanted looking at the mountains on the road was incredible.
There were a lot of hikers and bikers. We saw another bear that day walking through a field.
In total, over the course of the 3 days, I probably walked 22 miles. My knees were very angry with me. Well, I should say, my right knee was very angry with me. My left knee recovered pretty quick.
Then I spent the rest of the week with my cousins and aunt. My youngest cousin had his 5th birthday while I was there. I’ll miss them.
I was back in town for a few days, and then off to Baltimore to see another friend for the weekend. I’m a bad friend who hadn’t been up to see her since she moved. It was nice there, and we took some nice walks, and had some great food.
When I was leaving, I got on the wrong train. I’ve never done that before, so I guess I can check that off the list of things I never wanted to do. The sign said my train was “arriving” as a train pulled in. But the train that pulled in wasn’t my train. It terminated in DC, so I had to get off at DC, and get in line to get onto my train.
I wasn’t the only person who did so—there was an older man who was in the same boat as me. We banded together since we’d both ended up on the wrong train.
Then back home for a couple of days, and back off to Philly to see my brother.
We surprised his pupper, Loki, who was over the moon to see us. They live near some great nature trails too.
He took us to the largest buffet in the US, Shady Maple Smorgasbord. It was huge. There was a giant gift shop underneath, and then other shops around. It’s in the middle of a quiet, rural area, but it was busy.
We had some great food at some of the spots I love there, had some nice walks with Loki, and hung out with my brother and his wife. I’ll miss them.
And then I flew out to Canada from Philly. My friends here have been amazing.
Entry into Canada
I flew into Ottawa. When you get off the plane, you go to one of the kiosks to scan your passport, and answer some questions. That’s where I entered in I was requesting 180 (which is the max). Then it prints the slip out, and you take it to the first border agent.
He grilled me a bit about why I wanted to be there 180. The last question he asked was when was the last time I’d been there. I told him it’d been a few years, but I think it was back in 2017. And then he let me through. I have a feeling if I’d just been there, he wouldn’t have.
Then I get in line for another border check. They looked over the slip of paper, and directed me where to go—I think residents were probably to the right, but tourists were to the left.
Then I spoke to the third and final border agent. Once again he questioned me about why I wanted 180, and was really digging for a lot of information. But he took the slip, and let me through.
If I leave and come back, I’m not sure if they’ll give me 180 days again or not. I’ll have to figure that out. I still need to make an appointment with the telehealth system here for my medicines, but I’ve only been here 3 or 4 days, so I’m still settling in.
My House
I ended up not being able to sell my house, so it’s renting. If I’d known what I know now a few months ago, I would have done this from the beginning. It was so easy to get a renter, and it rents for a lot higher than I could have hoped.
So now I do have some steady income coming in. It’s not a lot, but I think it might be enough. It wouldn’t be enough if I weren’t staying with my friends—it wouldn’t cover rent. I’m lucky to know such wonderfully kind people.
I’m kind of glad—I love my house, and I never wanted to sell it. Every time I went back over there, I remembered how much I love it, and was devastated I was having to sell it. Being able to keep it means I can come back in a few years.
But for now, it’s paying for itself, and giving me some money on the side. And that’s probably the best I could hope for.
So I’m in Canada now, and safe from the US. We’ll see how this adventure goes.
I hope everyone stays safe.