Our beautiful campsite.
From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, we headed to Delaware for no other reason than to add it to our travel map. It was the only Northeast state we hadn’t been to, and we wanted to check it off before heading south. What we found was a wonderful state park (Lum’s Pond) that I’ve added to my list of favorites. We got there just in time for the last night of the season, and there were only four other campers in the park. The campground had a large, grassy field dotted with maple trees in full fall color. The pond is the largest in Delaware (not a hugely significant claim), and it was murky in a pond sort of way, but still nice to look at.
Gypsy in her new sweater.
We arrived before dusk and took Bailey and Gypsy for a walk on one of the many hiking trails, serenaded by the thrumming of frogs. The trails go for miles all around the pond, and the next morning, I nearly got lost on them on a solo bike ride. If ithe park weren’t closing, we might have stayed another day or two. As it was, we felt lucky to experience it.
Full-timer connection
Amy and her wares.
Before we left, we were walking the pets and saw a woman with a huge utility trailer, stocking a giant shelf with pet care products. “Are you setting up shop?” I asked. No, she was just reorganizing stuff after one of her shelves had broken. Amy and her husband sell pet care products online and at dog shows (www.bestpuppiesonearth.com). Amy left behind her nursing career several years ago to pursue this endeavor with her husband. For eight years now, they’ve lived in their large RV with their dogs, traveling from show to show and maintaining their online business. It’s not especially easy work (I can only imagine packing and unpacking that trailer weekly), but she is so much happier than when she was working long shifts as a nurse. I’m always so fascinated to hear how other people end up living in RVs full-time, especially when it involves leaving behind stressful or unfulfilling work to pursue an independent traveling career.
Kitty rescue
Snagged kitty.
When we walk Gypsy, she likes to zoom up trees along of the path. Usually just up a few feet and down again. It’s a good way for her to wear herself out. This park had a beautiful old cedar tree, with perfectly spaced limbs branching out all around it. Gypsy couldn’t help but go higher, then higher, then higher again. She probably would have gotten herself back down just fine if the leash that Kate was holding onto hadn’t snagged on a branch.
I’ve always been a tree climber myself, so I understand. Kate gave me a boost and I went up after our kitty. If the tree hadn’t been so sappy, I would have been inclined to climb higher myself. But when Bailey finally realized where I was, she raced around the tree like a mad dog until I came back down and she could reprimand me with some pounces and licks.