Travel
When I took out a membership to BJ's Wholesale Club a couple of weeks ago I was told that if I was unhappy with it for any reason I could cancel. So this morning I cancelled. There were several less-than-satisfactory shopping experiences there, but yesterday morning was the end, when I took my purchases to the front and they had no aisles open except for self-checkout. I don't do self-checkout! If a store wants my business/money, then the least they can do is to provide someone to check out my purchases, take my money, etc. The clerk at customer service cancelled the membership and refunded the charge to my account, but she argued with me that they have at least one regular checkout open at all times. Well, I didn't continue the argument, but they absolutely had nothing open yesterday morning except for self-service. So that's the end of that!
I've decided to leave for Asheville by the 2nd week in July and get the storage situation taken care of. The rent on the unit has increased by $10/month, and I need to either move the stuff or get rid of it. In surveying the items I brought to NY with me in the bed of the Ford, I realize I can't comfortably pack all that stuff in the Highlander, so I'm going to look into shipping a box via USPS or one of the commercial shippers.
I had hoped to continue on from Asheville to CA, but it seems my dental work will not be at the point I had hoped, so I will have to return to NY for a couple more weeks. It is really a lot of extra miles, because the curve of the east coast makes NY much further east than Asheville, NC. So I will be traveling SW and then back NE again, about 1600 miles round trip, before I finally head on out.
I love the east and will be really sorry to have to leave this time. The lush green of the countryside is much more to my liking that the washed-out faded desert colors of most of the west. It's just an opinion, and it's my own. I know many readers prefer the opposite.
I do think RVing and camping are much simpler in the west. It is surprising how few RV's are on the highways here, although many of the homes in this area have RV's parked on their property - motorhomes, 5th wheels, travel trailers, and truck campers. It's very difficult to find a campsite for a tent, unless I want to pay $35 and upwards for a night. I think there are more camping facilities as you go north, as well as many more south of here in Virginia and the Carolinas. Nothing is easy lately, though maybe that is a problem I'm having rather than a universal one.
- More Carpet
Taking Steve at his word that he would put down new carpet on the front porch, I went to Lowe's this morning and bought more of the green carpet. Steve had measured it for me yesterday but of course I couldn't find his measurements, so I...
- Identifying Flora And Fauna
I know from reading blogs that many RVers are avid birders. Judy who writes "Travels with Emma" is an avid birder, but also seems to know all about plants and animals, wildlife habitat, etc. I go through spurts where I want to know all about the birds...
- Get Out The Maps!
I'm probably being a bit premature, but I got all my maps and trip plans out this evening for a boost to my enthusiasm. Maps never seem to fail me, and yeah, I know Streets & Trips, Mapquest, Google Maps, and whatever are just fine and dandy. But...
- Reminders
I received several reminders today - the first being about my appointment with the eye surgeon at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday. What in the world time will I have to get up in order to be there on time! It's about a 30 minute trip in traffic, but because...
- Just Some Ramblings
I forgot to mention that I bought a down jacket at the Eddie Bauer outlet store on Sunday. It is very warm and delightfully lightweight. I liked another equally warm jacket, in a gorgeous woodland green color (the one I bought is a bright sky blue) but...
Travel
Membership cancelled
When I took out a membership to BJ's Wholesale Club a couple of weeks ago I was told that if I was unhappy with it for any reason I could cancel. So this morning I cancelled. There were several less-than-satisfactory shopping experiences there, but yesterday morning was the end, when I took my purchases to the front and they had no aisles open except for self-checkout. I don't do self-checkout! If a store wants my business/money, then the least they can do is to provide someone to check out my purchases, take my money, etc. The clerk at customer service cancelled the membership and refunded the charge to my account, but she argued with me that they have at least one regular checkout open at all times. Well, I didn't continue the argument, but they absolutely had nothing open yesterday morning except for self-service. So that's the end of that!
I've decided to leave for Asheville by the 2nd week in July and get the storage situation taken care of. The rent on the unit has increased by $10/month, and I need to either move the stuff or get rid of it. In surveying the items I brought to NY with me in the bed of the Ford, I realize I can't comfortably pack all that stuff in the Highlander, so I'm going to look into shipping a box via USPS or one of the commercial shippers.
I had hoped to continue on from Asheville to CA, but it seems my dental work will not be at the point I had hoped, so I will have to return to NY for a couple more weeks. It is really a lot of extra miles, because the curve of the east coast makes NY much further east than Asheville, NC. So I will be traveling SW and then back NE again, about 1600 miles round trip, before I finally head on out.
I love the east and will be really sorry to have to leave this time. The lush green of the countryside is much more to my liking that the washed-out faded desert colors of most of the west. It's just an opinion, and it's my own. I know many readers prefer the opposite.
I do think RVing and camping are much simpler in the west. It is surprising how few RV's are on the highways here, although many of the homes in this area have RV's parked on their property - motorhomes, 5th wheels, travel trailers, and truck campers. It's very difficult to find a campsite for a tent, unless I want to pay $35 and upwards for a night. I think there are more camping facilities as you go north, as well as many more south of here in Virginia and the Carolinas. Nothing is easy lately, though maybe that is a problem I'm having rather than a universal one.
- More Carpet
Taking Steve at his word that he would put down new carpet on the front porch, I went to Lowe's this morning and bought more of the green carpet. Steve had measured it for me yesterday but of course I couldn't find his measurements, so I...
- Identifying Flora And Fauna
I know from reading blogs that many RVers are avid birders. Judy who writes "Travels with Emma" is an avid birder, but also seems to know all about plants and animals, wildlife habitat, etc. I go through spurts where I want to know all about the birds...
- Get Out The Maps!
I'm probably being a bit premature, but I got all my maps and trip plans out this evening for a boost to my enthusiasm. Maps never seem to fail me, and yeah, I know Streets & Trips, Mapquest, Google Maps, and whatever are just fine and dandy. But...
- Reminders
I received several reminders today - the first being about my appointment with the eye surgeon at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday. What in the world time will I have to get up in order to be there on time! It's about a 30 minute trip in traffic, but because...
- Just Some Ramblings
I forgot to mention that I bought a down jacket at the Eddie Bauer outlet store on Sunday. It is very warm and delightfully lightweight. I liked another equally warm jacket, in a gorgeous woodland green color (the one I bought is a bright sky blue) but...