October 24-November 19, 2019
Bozman, Maryland (and Boston again, twice)
Day 132-158
Day 2 - They take me to lunch in nearby Oxford, and we return on the tiny Oxford Bellevue Ferry, considered the oldest private ferry service in the US, if not the smallest. I spent most of the afternoon reorganizing the trunk of the trailer and getting Sparky more exercise.
Day 3 – Vicky and I head off to the St Michael’s farmer’s market which is small but well stocked. Then they leave for NYC today and will be gone for a week. Originally, I was going to meet them in NYC for a few days on the way up to my doctor’s appointment (with Sparky), but ultimately realized I just can’t walk anymore. I hobble, even with a cane and can only walk short distances before my hip starts to really hurt.
I run a few errands including dropping off a folding bike she gave me. It needs a tune up plus I am having it fitted for a stand so I can use it as an exercise bike during my recovery. I also order a dog trailer (looks like a child trailer) so that we can do some great exploring once I am well. On the way back home, I stop into Oysterfest in St Michael’s. As you would expect, it is an oyster festival; held on the grounds of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. It’s a nice festival with music, beer, local artists, and, of course, oysters. They let me bring Sparky in because they saw my cane; otherwise dogs were not allowed. Back home, I use their exercise bike for some activity then enjoy their kitchen and do laundry before going back to my trailer.
Day 4 – Today I am meeting my last sibling (six siblings total). Nick, or #1 son as Charlie Chan or my father would say, lives nearby, somewhere between DC and Baltimore. He meets me in Chestertown, a small quaint town on the Eastern Shore, about an hour north of me. Thunderstorms in the morning have left clear and sunny skies in the afternoon. The drive is mostly scenic and very flat. We meet at The Kitchen’s bar, which thankfully allows dogs. The town has a few restaurants, galleries, a marina and many historical homes. It’s really nice to connect and I will see him again in a few weeks.
Used the exercise bike a little more today. Pretty much using the lowest gear, for as long as I can, before I feel any pain. Enjoying cooking in their kitchen again. It’s nice to have more space to work in. My RV kitchen is functional, but I wouldn’t say it’s fun to cook in. I don’t have that much counter space. Plus, I am trying to conserve water, as I don’t want to move the trailer to go dump the tanks while I am here.
I am now pretty much keeping the furnace at 50 degrees during the day (if I am away), and 68 at night. It’s cool now almost every day, and my propane usage is increasing.
Day 5 - My sister recommends I try beginner’s yoga in town. I think I tried yoga once, 20 years ago. Obviously, I wasn’t drawn to it; plus, it was hard for me to sit Indian style (come to find out later it’s because I have a little indent on my hip joint). But today I am all in. I am at a point in my life where taking care of my health is my biggest priority. Plus, I am now super relaxed; this trip has really helped me destress. I took the class slow and stopped when anything was it was painful. I was surprised how enjoyable it was and look forward to coming back later this week.
Had lunch in downtown Easton at Sunflower & Greens. Cute dog-friendly take-away place that is part of a small local restaurant group. The historical downtown has narrow streets, brick sidewalks and period signage on most of shops.
On the way back home, I stop off in St Michaels hoping to find vegan ice cream. There are three shops, but unfortunately only sorbet which I’m not the mood for. At one of the shops, I meet the most interesting girl. She is applying for a job over the counter. She's cute and happy. Along with her wonderful smile, she had facial scars and was missing one eye. She tells me and the clerk that she got into a horrible car accident when she was 17. She was texting but remembers nothing. Her outlook was so positive, I felt lucky to have met her. (I have since googled her. Her name is Liz Marks and she told her story on Oprah a few years ago. The story is graphic, but important. I hope you take the time to see it and maybe pass it along to someone you know who texts while driving.)
Before going home, we take a side trip to Tilgham Island up the road. It has small bridge, a marina and a few restaurants. Down the main road, there are farms and affordable housing. On the side roads, the homes were generally larger, stately and overlooking the water.
Day 6 - Took the truck to the dealer for an oil change and to add window deflectors. Since I am depending on the truck so much for this adventure, I am taking it to the dealer, so it stays in top shape.
Today’s field trip is to the Harriet Tubman Museum and the Harriet Tubman Underground State Park in Cambridge, about 40 minutes away. The Museum was not a federal museum, so I got to take Sparky in with me and watch a 30-minute video. Located in downtown Cambridge, near the now famous Instagram mural of Harriet with her hand out (see pics), the museum is in an old retail space; it’s nothing much, but the movie is. It’s in the voice of William Still, an underground conductor. I left thankful that I stopped in, but sad and drained of emotion. It’s hard to digest this sad chapter our history.
I ate my packed lunch at the nearby marina. Drove past some beautiful colonial homes on High Street, as well as an old graveyard which, I am told by my sister, includes some of my mother’s relatives (more on that another day).
After walking the few short and depressed blocks downtown, we drive to the new Harriet Tubman Underground State Park a few miles away. It's along the Harriet Tubman byway, part of the original underground trail. I tied Sparky up outside and watched the 15-minute video, which was also excellent but draining. The lady at the reception desk was annoyed I left him outside (yes, I should have left him the car), but one of the ranger’s really liked him and said it was no problem. We visit for a while and talk about other parks to camp in.
Between both museums, I am now a little depressed and overwhelmed. How can people be so awful. Hard to wrap my head around slavery.
I continue on the HT Byway into the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. There has been a lot of flooding recently and I even turn around at one point because of it. The Refuge is peaceful, pretty with hardly a car in site. Tall grasses and wildlife signs hug the road. It’s hard to imagine people hiding in these swamps to escape. Down the road, more flooding, so I stop for some advice from some fishermen along the route. They say just go slow so as not to splash and get the engine too wet. It’s only for a few hundred feet, the water is 6” in some areas and I am glad I got thru it in the truck. Turning around was an option but would have set me back an hour. There are two other cars (not trucks) going thru it too. They really should have turned around; the water was too high on their doors and they could have gotten stuck, in the middle of nowhere.
Once outside the Refuge, I pass the farm where young Harriet was a slave. It’s now a farm field with a small marker. Nearby is the little yellow Bucktown General Store where Harriet was hit in the head with a two-pound weight.
Day 7 – Another yoga class then off to the hardware store to get some sandpaper to wipe my electrical cord prongs of any corrosion. Rest of the day was working on these stories.
Day 8 – Huge storm forecasted for tonight, including a tornado warning. They have a generator, so power won’t be an issue. Of all weather conditions, tornado’s scare me the most. I have three weather apps and they are all going off. I decide to stay inside the house tonight and watch tv. A tornado warning alert is issued thru 11:15 pm. The wind sounds like a slow train. To be safe, I hunker down in the upstairs tub with Sparky and wait for the alert to pass, while texting family and friends. My sister later tells me tornados don’t usually come to their area so there was probably no danger. I like to be safe than sorry and glad I wasn’t in the trailer.
Day 9 – Looking outside, there is no damage or even large branches on the ground. Very surprised. Hip and knee hurt more today; I think I have done too much on the bike. It’s cold most nights now are in the 40’s with daytime in the 50’s, maybe 60 if we're lucky. To be safe, I’ll disconnect from the water when I go back up to Boston (I have already emptied the water holding tank).
Day 10 – Vicky and Leeds are back home! She picks up lamb chops for dinner; she's such a good cook and actually a huge inspiration for me to go to culinary school. Dinner is so good.
Day 11-18 - I leave Sparky with Vicky and Leeds and take just the truck to Boston. My appointment with the Ortho Surgeon is on Tuesday, November 5th.
After meeting with the Mass General doctor, I’m told the soonest surgery date will be the end of February. I am deflated. Plus, even though this doctor was a referral, I felt like a number. I waited over an hour and only got to see him for 10 minutes. There was not much of a connection, plus he said he would do posterior approach (people have been telling me to have anterior approach done if possible).
I get an appointment with another doctor at New England Baptist for next week, November 12th. He’s a referral from my brother-in-law. I go back to Mass General and pickup copies of my x-rays for the other doctor. (Good news is that my two knees and other hip are fine).
I go shopping at Target with my sister Sarah, her daughter Caroline and friend. They have me try out the scooter. It was fun! I was so thankful to have it, my hip was killing me and they all like to shop.
Day 18 - I'm now back in Bozman, happily reunited with Sparky. I know he has been well cared for and treated like a king. I’m told they had a great time but the moment he sees me, he drops Leeds like a hot potato. He is now known as his “fair weather friend”.
Day 19 – Farmer’s market with Vicky and a quick refill of one tank of propane (just took the tank, not the trailer).
Day 20 – Ros's Mom. Packed up the truck, along with Sparky, for another trip up to Boston. This time, I am breaking up the trip and staying the night half way. But on the way I am going to see my sister play in her ukulele band “Free and Easy”. They are giving a free concert outside the entrance of the Waterfowl Festival in Easton. This annual event has a stunning array of wood decoys and the like, plus good and wine. It’s a lot of fun to see her play and sing.
We got on the road a little later than I would have liked and took the interstate up to Somers, NY. By the time I drove thru Bear Mountain State Park, it was dark which was too bad. It’s a pretty road overlooking the Hudson River on the way to Peekskill. I am staying with my good friend Ros’s mom (Myra) in her new condo. She lives in a huge community, so huge that I got lost for about 15 minutes. I had to use a different GPS app to find her. She makes me diner and we catch up. The visit is so nice.
Day 21-25 – Sarah’s Boston. Back at Sarah’s, but this time with Sparky. We are testing out him staying over. Thankfully, he and Buckley get along fine. My appointment with the 2nd doctor is on time. He even read my chart and makes a funny comment about the 49’ers and Garafalo (who came from the Patriots)! And, he can do a much sooner surgery date and anterior approach. I am so happy!!! I cancel the other doctor and head back to Maryland, staying the return night in Somer’s again with Myra again.
Day 26 – Off to the farmer’s market with my sister Vicky again. Later I go and pick-up the bike and get a tutorial on how fold and unfold the bike and use the accessories. Then I head off to Loews and buy a thick cushiony shop mat so that it will protect the bike when it is laying down in the bed of the truck.
Day 27 – It's Sunday, November 17th and Vicky and I are taking a field trip to Cambridge to see graves of our dead relatives. I really didn’t know that much about my mother’s mother side of the family; my maternal grandmother died before I was born. Though they lived in England, and my mom was born there, her family was actually from this area. We go to the charming, if not crowded, cemetery downtown next to the old Episcopal church. Burials go back to 1674 and include five state governors. She finds our relatives; they're in good company. She drives me around more beautiful rural farmland on the way back. It’s strange to think of the time they lived here...
Day 28 – This is my last day here. I had a problem with the GPS in the truck freezing the other day and it was a real problem. The screen went blank and I couldn't read any of the tabs, including heat. Ford is installing an update program which should fix these problems. It does, and now I can use other apps like Waze and Spodify, which is great.
I'm ready for our next destination...Assateague National Park in Berlin, Maryland.
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