On the road again!!!

Finally I am on way to Arizona for the winter. Left October 14th 2011. It was raining both hard and soft all way to 1st stop in Castleton NY... Pilot Truck Stop. Too bad but could not get gas there as no way to maneuver my RV ( 34 ft Winnebago Adventurer towing my car) about 50 feet of rig. No pull through area at Pilot except for diesel. But stopped about 10 miles on NY Thruway RT 90. Have pictures but can't seem to access on my iPhone for some reason so will have to wait till I set up my computer. It is Sunday morning. Had to stop before I made it to Buffalo as high wind warnings and rain made the driving very taxing on the RV. Hard to keep in the lane so best to stop and start fresh on Sunday morning. Getting ready to leave.

California Adventure ending for now

Well California has been interesting. Flew here when car died and buried it deep in the heart of Oklahoma.

Not many pictures taken before my camera had an accident and was destroyed. You just can't take them anywhere without them causing problems.

Have a few pictures and will post later when I get home to NH.

Then there was the heart check followup that my cardiologist in NH wanted me to have done. On Thursday April 14, 2011 I Saw a cardiologist in Santa Cruz, CA. I asked him to hurry with his exam as I was on my way with my luggage to go to bus station to catch bus to San Jose, CA. Then would take Amtrak train to Sacramento, CA. station. I was going to daughter's before flying out on Tues the 19th of April to my home in Manchester,NH.

He of course not caring about my agenda, told me I shouldn't be going anywhere alone. Not driving or being bussed or riding a train or even flying on Tuesday as I needed to have a pacemaker put in my heart! I tried to negotiate but he said I needed to go only to the hospital down the road 1/2 mile and be admitted. Heart surgeon who would be doing the implant was also standing next to him and the two were just so convincing, I said "OK."

I didn't see the urgency at the time. But after being admitted to the hospital, and hearing the surprise in many nurses voices about the fact that people with a pulse as slow as mine; 32 beats per min. are usually unconscious or significantly out of it. They weren't used to being joked with at this stage of heart inactivity. So I realized it was more serious than I first thought. My family visited me that night. My son and daughter-in-law and even though, I asked them not to bring my grandkids age 3 1/2 and 8 since they were not allowed to come into my room, I was glad to give them a kiss goodbye as they left for home.

That was the longest night I had experienced in a long while. Hooked up to a monitor that went ding, ding, ding every time my heartbeat fell below 35 beats per minute. And the pitch of the sound increased with a dingding dingding dingding when my heartbeat slowed below 32 beats per minute. At one point the nurse had to come and awaken  me by shaking my leg in order to make me keep moving to get heartbeat up a bit. Early morning I fell asleep from just being too exhausted to stay awake and woke up after about 2 1/2 hours. My son came early before my surgery to be with me.

Needless to say, I couldn't wait for the surgery. All I wanted to do was fall asleep. With the meds given to relax me and the topical anesthesia for the procedure to be done, my wish to sleep was accomplished. Actually only slept for about an hour before was being awakened and taken back to my room for recovery.

I did not feel like being awake so just napped.

The loud dinging had stopped and I my heartrate was up to 70ish. I had been feeling weak and tired for a while so I was looking forward to having some energy again. My daughter drove down from Sacramento and picked me up Saturday morning and drove me to her house. It has been 6 days and the last two days I have taken walks, today's walk was about 2 hours! I was not even exhausted and know this is a good thing. I thank God I am healing quickly and look forward to more activities when I get home. Bowling anyone?

Have a great day today and thank you all who sent me well wishes by fb and email. Will post pics from my trip so far and will let you know when I get ready to be off on another adventure.

California Family including Cal Poly Symphony with my grandson Jake Wise

My Family at Brunch before Jake's performance

Jake's Solo with Cal Poly Symphony

Director applauds Jake's performance

Jake thanks his fellow musicians for their work during his solo

Jake joins Cal Poly Symphony for remainder of performances

Me with Granddaughters Tiffany, Alyssa, and Alyssa's friend Matt

Daryl, Julie, and Tara Tempesta on Lft then Byron, Lisa, and Tiffany Wise on Rt at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, CA  

Tara's Girl Scout Troup outing

Tired Tara-Giddy Up Daddy

Nice View at Shell Beach California

Looks like fun at Marina Beach State Park, California

Williamsburg VA to Winston-Salem NC to Franklin TN to Halls TN to AZ

Amy Smith & Princess Halls TN

Connie Duvall & Gary Steelman Halls area TN

Just some of the wonderful people I have met on my adventure. 
Great churches and horses and monuments. 
Will give details later as I leave Halls TN for Phoenix AZ in about 30 minutes. Hope you enjoy.  

Connie Duvall horses Halls TN

Curly Acres Farm DyersburgTN

Garland's Appaloosa Mule and Horse Halls TN

Connie Duvall's Horses Halls TN

Pollyanna McClure of Curly Acres Farm Dyersburg TN

Garland Hargett's Saddle in Halls TN home 

Vanessa Cain & Linda Rae Joy in Halls TN

Lutheran Church Halls TN

Franklin TN Monument

Rhonda & mom Ruth in Franklin TN

Glen View Baptist Winston-Salem NC

Heritage Farms & Carriages Winston-Salem NC

Nancy Paschall Director of Dream Catchers Williamsburg VA

Cori Sikich Monument at Dream Catchers in Williamsburg VA

Williamsburg VA to Winston-Salem NC

I am staying at hotel in Winston-Salem NC tonight. Church tomorrow. Have to be at Heritage Farms & Carriages. Monday at 10am. So should be on the road by noon heading for Atlanta area and Vanessa's. Be there for one night then on to Nashville TN area. Hope you all are doing ok. My love and prayers are with you. Had a great time at Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding farm in Toano near Williamsburg this morning. It is a therapeutic facility for children and Adults with challenges. Very inspiring 


http://dreamcatcherswilliamsburg.org/

Pics to follow.

Linda's adventure begins

Northroad Farm Fremont New Hampshire
Jan Brubacher at northroadfarm.com
Also the picture was cropped out of a photo taken by my daughter Crystal Nadeau at goodbrain.com
This is one of Jan's wonderful horses. I think I will use it several times.

I am leaving this morning. Williamsburg, VA will be first official stop. I need to get south of the snow asap.

Will keep you posted.
Have a nice day everyone.
Love my family and my support here with my daughter Crystal and son Mark and family in Maine have been encouraging and I will miss you all. See you much later, but you will be in my heart every minute of my journey.

Hope to see some of my Radisson friends on the way.

"On the road again."  My themesong.

February 5, 2011 Saturday

I am in Williamsburg VA right now. My sister-in-law lives here. Trip down good I got out with sunshine through my windshield an side windows! But got caught in mid-afternoon traffic for 1 1/2 hours in NYC trying to cross the Geo. Washington Bridge.

I haven't done any horse photoing on way but it was 7 degrees when I left and thought I just want to get to where it is warmer. May need to do WV and NC and some of the colder places on way back or on 2nd trip if not this one. Will be leaving for Ocala, FL in a few days. There is a major horse show. Hope to take a few days there.Then on to Georgia to see my granddaughter Nichelle and visit a school friend of my daughter Lisa's. She only lives about 45 minutes from my Nichelle and she has her own horse story.

Haven't decided which way I will go from there to AZ. TN to see friends or may just go to AZ and get set up then work backwards to Houston, etc. from there. It depends on the weather. I just want to be warm again.

Will post when I know more. Pictures to follow later.

Leaving soon on my adventure.

Been snowy here and took this from Radisson Nashua 7th Floor Club Lounge window just before my last day of work.

My trip had been delayed by my son going in hospital, but he is coming home today and will be fine with meds and Dr's supervision and changes in his eating, etc. Thanks to the Lord for that. It could have been much worse.

While here I contacted a farm in North Carolina through a guest and received an invitation to come and paint. So I am working the adventure though not on the road yet.

I hope all is well with my friends who are following me and I look forward to hearing from you.

Subliminal cloud animal before thought of traveling

I just found this photo of clouds I took last summer before I thought to go painting around country!

I was unable to leave on January 1st but plan to be on the road January 15th or 16th weather permitting. So excited to have it be so near.

Happy New Year to all I leave and to all I will meet. I expect a great journey. Thanks to all who have been an encouragement to me. Love you all.