First Solo Trip, Part 2

[bluepinecones]

My visit with Mitch and Liz was much too short but most enjoyable. Time to go home.
Liz and I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise Thursday morning after a down right cold night. Coffee seemed extra tasty as the sun started to warm the air.

I got all things put away in preparation to move on again. Liz showed me how to start the generator plus a few other tips before we went up to the house to say farewell to Mitch.

Then the shaky hands and dry mouth kicked in again. It was not quite as bad this time and only lasted a short time into the drive. Could this be a sign of being more relaxed or just that I had a better idea of the route and driving conditions for today?

The weather was near perfect, including no wind. I kept the speed at about 50 mph on back roads and stayed around 55-65 mph on I-40 and later on I-65. The short cut on TN 50 thru Columbia kept me well away from Nashville traffic. Actually the traffic all along the way was relatively light until I reached the north end of Huntsville. No police either.

While I would like to claim that I skillfully navigated my way from NW to far SE part of Huntsville, such is not the case. I simply knew enough side streets to make it most of the distance across town without getting on a main artery until I reached the south end of town. I topped off Magic’s tank just before going back to Ditto Landing. I had to cheat again as far as getting into site. Got one of the workers to direct me backing into site. Made it on the first try but only because he gave good directions.

It was so great to finally get a segment of trip with no problems, drama, etc. This is more like what I hoped for in terms of getting somewhere. A few more trips like this and I might believe it could be possible to enjoy the drive and not just the destination. Actually, I’d gladly settle for just not dreading the drive so much.

No plans for going anywhere else at the moment. Need to take care of a few things around here, then maybe I can work on trying another short outing.

[Dawn309]

I am reading your posts with lots of empathy. I sat in driver's seat of the MH I want to get when the place sells. Felt really high up and big. Sure gave me butterflies thinking about taking off in it someday. I know I can do it, but get nervous thinking about it. You give me hope that the nerves will go away. I think you're doing great. Keep up the good work and posts.

Thanks!

[Redetotry]

So glad you had a good visit with Mitch and Liz. You are ahead of me, I still don't know how to turn my generator on or how to turn the fridge on using the propane. It takes a lot of courage to face your fears and hopefully each time it will get easier. I feel a lot more confident about city driving now that I have my GPS. Also now when I get to a destination I'm not afraid to go explore as it will take me back to the campsite. When Nan was directing your purchase of necessities for your rig did she include a GPS

[BirdbyBird]

Sarah I am thinking that you will need to head Dow to the lake this summer and pester Wendy.... Or you can go north and check on Kathleen.......Oh, the places you can go!

[Sandersmr]

Sarah - it gets easier. Of course I drive my truck every day but it handles differently with the trailer so it takes me a few miles to get comfortable but it's not as bad as when I first started towing.

[sharon]

Sarah, even with 40,000 miles under my butt I still get the heebie jeebies for a few miles. It's normal...oh crap, did I just say that Sarah and I are normal???? Well, you know what I mean. You're doing awesomely....guess that's a word. Expecting you at the Tx GTG in Oct!!

[dayspring39]

Now I think the idea of Tinas for visiting Kathleen in July is a great idea... by then I will be back from Michigan and my granddaughter's graduation... be sure to bring Wendy, pepper and Nicky along...
Soooo glad you had a good trip Sarah...
Kathleen

[HorizonSeeker]

Yahoo, Sarah! Glad you had an uneventful trip with few worries. I'll be just outside of Newnan GA starting in June for a few months. That should be a short drive for you if you'd like to come visit.

Vickie

[Christine]

wonderful to hear your 2nd trip was a good one...

Dont feel bad.. i get a case of the 'nerves' before i head out too!!!

[Travelinana]

Sarah, I can read into your post a little more ease and confidence. I agree that most of us have some anxiety at the beginning of a trip. I always think 'will I break down or will anything stop working, etc' and sure enough I did have trouble at the beginning of my trip this time but I now know that most anything can be dealt with and most likely won't send you back home too soon. You have lots of places to go and lots of invitations..Don't forget AR...just make sure I'm in town but I'll come meet you if our paths come close. Remember what we said, it's time and we are going to go for it!!

[MsJane]

Sarah - it gets easier. Of course I drive my truck every day but it handles differently with the trailer so it takes me a few miles to get comfortable but it's not as bad as when I first started towing.

This is pretty much the same for many of us. When I hitched up myself I used to worry that something would happen and the trailer would come disconnected and cause an accident or something. Now instead of thinking about being on the 5 O'clock news I just think of it as being *unfortunate*. (If something did happen provided no one was injured.)

I think you are doing great! Just take it one mile at a time like you are doing.

[OutandAbout]

[quote="bluepinecones"][color=#0000BF]

Then the shaky hands and dry mouth kicked in again. It was not quite as bad this time and only lasted a short time into the drive. Could this be a sign of being more relaxed ABSOLUTELY or just that I had a better idea of the route and driving conditions for today? YES

I had to cheat again as far as getting into site. Got one of the workers to direct me backing into site. Made it on the first try but only because he gave good directions.
This is not cheating, just being brave enough to ask for assistance. You go girl.

It was so great to finally get a segment of trip with no problems, drama, etc. This is more like what I hoped for in terms of getting somewhere. A few more trips like this and I might believe it could be possible to enjoy the drive and not just the destination.

The more you get out there, the easier it will be. Once you get 40,000 miles under your BUTT, you will be as "normal" as Sharon. Oh such things to look "forward" to.

You did great. Linda

[MsBHaven]

Sarah, congratulations! So glad to read that you may be beginning to enjoy your new RV. Loved reading Part 1 and 2 of your adventure. Sounds like you are doing really well despite that encounter with the police - great story to tell about your first trip. I agree with others - slow down especially in the wind. It's also a good idea to walk around the RV one final time even if you think you have not forgotten anything. Hope you get to take another trip soon - the more you drive, the more comfortable it will become.

[Nasoosie]

CONGRATULATIONS, SARAH!

You are already ahead of me as far as anxiety goes. Each night before I leave for a long haul, I think I am not going to go this time----just stay rooted or take short trips. As I think about it, however, even when I was just driving my van or truck and not hauling, I always had that anxiety before heading out or heading home. Back in those days, I had a time deadline I needed to meet, however. Sometimes I still wake up from a nightmare about those earlier trips! At least I usually had the kids for company back then----extra eyes, someone to talk to, people to play with at the stops, etc. etc. This total aloneness is not me, for sure. Perhaps next time my friend who is retiring will be with me, then I can tell if I like this at all!

You sound as if you are able to even go through city roads with some semblance of comfort now!

[sunshinecruiserTN]

I bet you have already started planning that next trip. Oh I meant to ask you if you asked the Trooper to pose for a picture so you could put it on your forum?

I'm heading to TN on Sat. My nephew, Roy, came down to pick up the Whim & Grey Goose and left me his truck which should be easier to drive. Oh I have the bed of the truck full as we found me a golf cart down here that I'll be taking back & now I can get around my home park.

I'm so proud of you and want you to come visit in TN for as long as you want.