A Cheery Hello From North Georgia
Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2016 7:42 pm(Although I am at my Mom's apartment in Catonsville, MD, until the end of March.)
In reality, a cheery teary hello. My brother and I just put the cremains of my Mom in the columbarium with my Dad here in Maryland. Little did I know, in her Will she has made my dream of RVing come true. When the dust settles and the paperwork is completed, I will be able to purchase a 4Runner, and after research, I've decided on a Casita. My plans are to travel and sightsee ... and find some other people to join who have similar interests.
After reading many of your introductions, I think I've found my new "family." I hope you'll "adopt" me in.
I have been a tent camper, Popup camper, Backpacker (hiked the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail 8 times and in 2013 was set to hike the Northern half of the AT starting in MD until my knees gave out 46.3 minutes miles into my excursion) and recently reverted to tent camping. The name "Coosa" is my Trail Name, given to me in 1992/3 by co-workers after I described my many overnight hikes on the backcountry trail of the same name at Vogel State Park near Neel Gap (where the Appalachian Trail crosses US Hwy 129) down the road from Blairsville, GA.
I now live in a rental log cabin in the woods (2000 ft elevation) on my bff's property in the Morganton, GA area, just a few miles from the NC and TN borders. My bff owns a 10 yr old Palomino Mare and a 4 yr old Welch cross Pony (also Mare). I have lived there since July 2013. I have been helping as "Barn Crew" when not visiting my Mom. Since it's a long drive from GA to MD, I have been gone as long as 4 months, so being gone for months at a time will not negatively impact her or the equine. (My Barn Crewing is voluntary.) She buried her husband in January 2015. Her interests are her animals (she has two 15-year-old cattle dog mixes as well as the horse and pony). I do not ride.
I'm 71; retired in 2006; own a kayak (plan to replace with a canoe); have a "mountain bike" only because 27 speeds are easier to pedal than 1; was married "half a hundred years ago" and divorced 42 years ago, and have 2 happily married children, 7 grandchildren, 3 of them married; and 2 great-grandsons.
Why my choices?
I need a 4wd to drive from my house down the gravel road to the hardtop road when there is snow on the ground. I want decent gas mileage and the ability to park in "small towns." (I'll drive y'all.) Tow capacity of the 4Runner is limited to 5000 lbs with the tow package.
I currently own a Corolla - great gas mileage- too low to the road for a snowy driveway and Not capable of towing without damaging the transmission.
Having been a Backpacker (30 lbs on my back included food for 5 days), I can "pack light." Loving to cook ... a stove opens up fantastic potential! The ability to "strike the camp" and move on excites and ignites my adventuring spirit. My Bucket List is long.
I figure that I will be physically able to travel for 8-16 years before I have to settle down to shorter, less frequent trips and sort through my belongings and downsize.
I've decided to name my camper after a line in one of my Mother's poignant poems: "Life Goes On." Seems fitting.
Thank you to the founders of this site and all the amazing women who come here.
I hope to be ready to strike out onto the open road in 6 months, give or take.
Coosa
In reality, a cheery teary hello. My brother and I just put the cremains of my Mom in the columbarium with my Dad here in Maryland. Little did I know, in her Will she has made my dream of RVing come true. When the dust settles and the paperwork is completed, I will be able to purchase a 4Runner, and after research, I've decided on a Casita. My plans are to travel and sightsee ... and find some other people to join who have similar interests.
After reading many of your introductions, I think I've found my new "family." I hope you'll "adopt" me in.
I have been a tent camper, Popup camper, Backpacker (hiked the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail 8 times and in 2013 was set to hike the Northern half of the AT starting in MD until my knees gave out 46.3 minutes miles into my excursion) and recently reverted to tent camping. The name "Coosa" is my Trail Name, given to me in 1992/3 by co-workers after I described my many overnight hikes on the backcountry trail of the same name at Vogel State Park near Neel Gap (where the Appalachian Trail crosses US Hwy 129) down the road from Blairsville, GA.
I now live in a rental log cabin in the woods (2000 ft elevation) on my bff's property in the Morganton, GA area, just a few miles from the NC and TN borders. My bff owns a 10 yr old Palomino Mare and a 4 yr old Welch cross Pony (also Mare). I have lived there since July 2013. I have been helping as "Barn Crew" when not visiting my Mom. Since it's a long drive from GA to MD, I have been gone as long as 4 months, so being gone for months at a time will not negatively impact her or the equine. (My Barn Crewing is voluntary.) She buried her husband in January 2015. Her interests are her animals (she has two 15-year-old cattle dog mixes as well as the horse and pony). I do not ride.
I'm 71; retired in 2006; own a kayak (plan to replace with a canoe); have a "mountain bike" only because 27 speeds are easier to pedal than 1; was married "half a hundred years ago" and divorced 42 years ago, and have 2 happily married children, 7 grandchildren, 3 of them married; and 2 great-grandsons.
Why my choices?
I need a 4wd to drive from my house down the gravel road to the hardtop road when there is snow on the ground. I want decent gas mileage and the ability to park in "small towns." (I'll drive y'all.) Tow capacity of the 4Runner is limited to 5000 lbs with the tow package.
I currently own a Corolla - great gas mileage- too low to the road for a snowy driveway and Not capable of towing without damaging the transmission.
Having been a Backpacker (30 lbs on my back included food for 5 days), I can "pack light." Loving to cook ... a stove opens up fantastic potential! The ability to "strike the camp" and move on excites and ignites my adventuring spirit. My Bucket List is long.
I figure that I will be physically able to travel for 8-16 years before I have to settle down to shorter, less frequent trips and sort through my belongings and downsize.
I've decided to name my camper after a line in one of my Mother's poignant poems: "Life Goes On." Seems fitting.
Thank you to the founders of this site and all the amazing women who come here.
I hope to be ready to strike out onto the open road in 6 months, give or take.
Coosa
I have two inflatable kayaks made by Sea Eagle either of which can be packed away in the back of the Honda Fit. One can ride through Class IV (not that I would 
) and the other does flat water. After watching several of the ladies here hoist their very light Hornbecks to the car racks independently I drive up last fall and tried out several of their models in their ponds. They are definitely a small family "shop" and will listen to how you want to use your boat and help evaluate your which models/lengths might fit your needs/wants.