MilePosts OnTheRoad
A Trip To Ashevile
by Peter Fland on 09/27/10
Research tells you that North Carolina is a good place for retirees and additional work makes it very clear that Asheville is a great place to check out. Given the toxic environment of New Jersey, right down to the little dictator who is running things, it now seemed like a good time to explore other places to live.
The trip to Asheville is not short, but it can be done in a day. We decided to go by car and stay in a motel - dumb. The one thing this trip taught me is take the motorhome. Boring hotel breakfasts - a bed too small and not all that great - and not having your own stuff all added up to a realization as to how nice motorhome living is.
Our first stop was the Asheville Brewing Co. They have two locations and good beer. In fact, Asheville has 8 or 9 breweries and it is the current Beer City, USA designee. I chose Asheville Brewing for no other reason than they are dog friendly and they feature a Rottweiler as the face for their Roland brew. It was delicious. We had some beer and dinner was a pizza. It was damn good pizza. I can only apply my standard to the Asheville Brewing Company - Would you come back and would you recommend it to a friend? Yes, Yes, and Yes. The third yes was for our delightful waitress Anya. She was extremely pleasant and treated CJ like a guest.
The next morning began our house hunting tour. We drove over to Lake Lure to meet with our realtor ( I will discuss this delightful guy in a separate entry as things progress ). Four houses in one day located primarily in Rutherford and Polk Counties. Two of the houses were non-starters for us, BUT they both were good values with good acreage - they just would not work for us. The last two were outstanding in many ways, but each had a drawback that took them out of the game. The good news here is that these two houses were exceptional values and clearly there are many outstnding values to select from.
Saturday we were on the road again and this time we wound up in Bat Cave. Yup, that is the name of the town. Better yet, the house was almost exactly what we wanted and it was on 7 acres. To get the coach into this site we would have to do some major excavation and that is mostly the current stumbling block on this property, but we had the thought reinforced again that there are many great homes on great property offering great values in this area. If you think I am overstating the case, I would urge you to go down and see for yourself.
We had two excellent lunch stops over the two house hunting days - Medina's in Chimney Rock and Barley's in Rutherfordton. We also were able to extensively tour the area and get a sense of what we wanted and where we wanted it. So we will have to see what happens over the next few months.
Back to Asheville we went for dinner on Friday night. Asheville is a high energy town with shop after shop after shop and restaurant after restaurant after restaurant. What we needed was a place that was dog friendly. Once again we found one and we were seated next to a wall that enabled us to care for our CJ while having dinner. For years I have wondered about chicken and waffles. It was on the menu at the Southern and I just could not resist. Excellent. It was not the normal fried chicken but chicken stew type dish carefully ladled upon a delicious waffle. I surrender. This is a dish you will remember and it was superb.
After dinner it was time to walk it off. The hustle and bustle in the streets was orderly but active. Musicians, shoppers, hungry folks and people just "hangin out" Everyone was having a good time and CJ was a center of attention wherever we walked.
Asheville? I would recommend it to anyone. Even leaving Asheville provided a memory. Rain was expected. Wouldn't you know that just when it was time to pack the car it started to rain with such ferocity that I thought for sure we would need an ark. Getting soaked was an understatement and that would have happened with the motorhome as well. It was good for a laugh.
New Puppy - Good Wine
by Peter Fland on 07/31/10
Two month ago we picked up our young rottweiler puppy. Her name is Cailin Jaune which translates to Yellow Girl. Her original litter name was yellow girl. We did not plan for that to happen. We stumbled on the name Cailin and we both liked it so we chose it. Cailin is a Gaelic word for girl. Once we knew that, we finished off her name with the French word for yellow. So our yellow girl will be a yellow girl forever. Her call name is CJ. Pictures of our pup will appear on the traveling with your dog page.
In the matter of two months our 7lb puppy has grown to over 32lbs. so I guess living with us is part of a good life. We have done many things with her to prepare her for the world of travel. We take her everywhere and provide her with experience after experience. Whether it is car or coach she travels well and seems to enjoy it. Of course right now she is still able to sit in our lap while we travel on the bus or sleep next to our seats. We do travel with a crate and she uses that for sleeping or when we are outside or visiting.
Training and nurturing a puppy has complicated our life somewhat, but the smiles and laughs are quite a payoff. She has a wonderful personality and is quite affectionate. CJ is training well and it would seem that in a few months she should be well on her way to being a well mannered young lady.
We have consumed quite a bit of wine of late. We have had one party event after the next and a great deal of visiting as well. We managed to sneak in few wine stops when we were up in the Finger Lakes. Once again we were primarily on Lake Cayuga for the wineries. Unfortunately the winery I wanted to visit the most is closed during the week and we could only look at all the work going on as they planted over 5000 new vines. Heart and Hand is growing and well worth Googling to see their website and newsetter.
We stopped at an old favorite - Kings Ferry and sampled a variety of new products and old favorites. There is one new product that is a fun wine for sitting at the dock or in the backyard - Gilded Lilly. This is a pleasant, fruity, easy to drink wine that soothes and relaxes. It is not overly sweet and clearly it has its origins in serious wine.
I enjoy the Rieslings at Kings Ferry. The Treleaven Semi Dry Riesling is a personal favorite. I guess I will never shake my upbringing on German white wines. Most of the family friends were from Austria and when the would visit they brought a wide variety of different whites. Each one delicious, but not "pop" wine in style. Treleaven also makes a Dry Riesling which is a favorite of my brother.
We also stopped at Long Point and I found a Vidal Blanc that I really loved. Once again light and fruity, but it is a delight.
Over the next few weeks I will try to start to visit more of the New Jersey wineries that offer serious wine. Jersey is starting to do well and the emerging wines should not be underestimated.
More on that to follow
Friends
by Peter Fland on 05/11/10
While this may be a bit off topic it really is not. We all have choices in life to make. For RV folks one choice is full-time or part-time. I have generally favored full-timing for a few years, but that is not Judy's preference. There are compelling reasons that she does not want to go out full-time. Me. I would sell out and hit the road for a while, but I also have reasons not to go out full-time. I guess when everything is said and done, it comes down to family and friends. That is not a bad choice, because good friends and family are as much the bread of life as fresh air and mountain vistas.
Those who have read Sojourn know that we lost Ember, our rottweiler, in March of '09. Since then we have been on a quest to find a new puppy. We knew it would be a rottie, but the search was for the right parents and a breeder who focused on enhancing the breed by pairing well. We think we were lucky to find both at Eishaus Rottweilers in NY. The puppy's mom and dad are of excellent disposition and both are very handsome dogs. This week our life will change as the puppy arrives at our home.
Last Saturday we went to dinner at Per and Lisa's. They have been friends a long time. But dinner was only part of the agenda. The other part was a "Puppy Shower". Three other couples and a good friend joined in the event and there was a shower of gifts. Perhaps the most unusual was a rottie sized raincoat to use on those mandated walks. Ember, for all of her brawn, hated the rain. Maybe we will have a better chance with the puppy. ( She has yet to be named.) The dinner itself was magnificent with Beef Wellington as the main dish. Lisa crafted an excellent dinner. The point to this entry is that friends are some of the treasures of life. Judy is right to say that we need to come back to our kids, grand kids and friends. So we try to do both and I think we succeed.
Oswego Harborfest and ABA
by Peter Fland on 05/06/10
Finding outstanding venues and attractions to visit is fairly complicated since there is so much and the country is so big. Some events are clearly better than others for a variety of reasons. The American Bus Association establishes an annual list of Top 100 list of events. This list serves a variety of functions for the motor coach industry and it helps RV folks establish some of their touring priorities. Those of you that know me, understand that I am very partial to what happens in Oswego because I went to college there and I really love it. Consider this:
* Oswego is located on the shores of Lake Ontario. It is the first deep water port after the St. Laurence Seaway.
* Oswego is a terminus for the New York State Canal System AKA The Erie Canal.
* History of significance goes back to pre-Revolutionary times.
Given all that, it is not surprising that some sort of annual event would occur. But the Oswego Harborfest is more than an event, it is an ABA Top 100 event with music, art, fireworks, a midway, food, and the Lake.
If you are looking for a wonderful Eastern venue in the middle of the summer this is an event to consider. For the RV crowd you can find camping and hookups at the Sunset RV Park. It is small, but if you are lucky enough you will be facing directly out onto the lake for the spectacular sunsets that this area is known for. If you Google Oswego Harborfest you will get the full schedule and lists of attractions. I am sure you will be pleased.
A Pair of Festivals.
by Peter Fland on 05/02/10
One of the things that seems to engage many people in America, and the world, would be food and beverage festivals of one kind or another. They can be an incredible treat for those who attend. I know that one of my favorites turned out to be the Gilroy Garlic Festival. If you love garlic you can really love this one. But I have been to wine, beer, and berry festivals too. Then you also have the food that can be found at community events and neighborhood walk-thrus. Regardless of the type, you can find some outrageous food. There is also the food to be found on state fair midways that are capable of tranforming a quiet site to either a food haven or heartburn alley. I am sorry, but I am one of those folks that will absolutely draw the line at a deep-fried Twinkee but I will stop for a great sausage and pepper sandwich.
We are now entering the serious festival season. Here are two places that I would choose to attend if it were possible. I love sausage. And what could be better than the BratFest in Madison, Wisconsin. What a great way to start the summer as it will be held on Memorial Day Weekend. Then there is the wonderful wine region around Paso Robles in California. It is no surprise that there will be a Paso Robles Wine Festival toward the end of May.
If you can - enjoy
Backwoods Pizza
by Peter Fland on 04/23/10
When we were at McCarthey-Kennecott, we stopped by St. Elias Guides - www.steliasguides.com. We are on their mailing list and we just received a newsletter. One of their guides shared the following recipe for pizza in the woods. Actually, it would work nicely in a convection oven, out in the woods, or in a campground with kids. You play with it until you can bake it well. Pizza is a comfort food, at least if you are from the New York area, and I am always looking for ways to do it on the road. So give this a try and see what you think.
By the way, if you want to do some touring in Wrangell-St. Elias NP or at the Kennecott site - contact St. Elias Guides. Just remember to leave your rig in Kenny Lake and drive down by car.
Mention the word pizza on a backpacking trip and you're liable to start a riot in camp. However, with Jake's backcountry pizza recipe and some practice, you can deliver the goods to your fellow campers.
The Crust - Fill an insulated mug 3/4 with lukewarm (just hot enough to keep your finger in) water and add about a tablespoon of dry active yeast and a couple tablespoons of brown sugar (to feed the yeast). Set aside.
In a gallon size plastic bag, add equal amounts of wheat and white flour. The amount of flour needed depends on the number/hunger of people you are feeding. Flavor with a little salt, basil, oregano, and garlic powder.
Once the dry ingredients are mixed, check to see how your yeast is doing. There should be a light brown froth on top of the water and it should smell something like beer. If it does not look/smell like that it is worth trying over if you have the ingredients.
Add the yeast to the dry ingredients, as well as a healthy amount of olive oil. I try and go for a pretty dry ball of dough, but just sticky enough to hold together and stretch into a pie.
Making the Pie - Once its time to cook the pizza, pull the dough out of the bag and stretch into the shape of your greased pan.
Take tomato paste and add a small amount of vinegar which will give the sauce a zesty taste. Also add some more basil and oregano to taste. Spread the sauce to the inside edges of the crust. Spread half the cheese over the sauce and then spread any ingredients, followed by another layer of cheese.
Baking the Pie - Baking in the backcountry takes a lot of trial and error but the basics are as follows. The heat from below must be quite low. If you are using the classic MSR Whisperlite you will either want the pan high above the heat source or if you know the method for reducing the pressure on a Whisperlite you can use that method as well. The other important thing is that there needs to be a heat source from above. While baking, the lid should always be on the pot. The easiest heat source from above is usually a twiggy fire built on the lid itself, but get creative, I have used a second stove turned upside down on the lid. If you stick with the twiggy fire, keep it burning hot as most of the heat will rise away from the dough. Also make sure to turn the pot a 1/4 turn 4 times during the baking process to ensure an even bake, even if the heat is not even.
The baking process should take about 20 minutes if you have the heat right. I smell the pot often to make sure the dough is not burning.
Enjoy!
Traveling With Friends
by Peter Fland on 04/19/10
I just added a new page to the website about traveling with friends. This could also be expanded to enjoying the company of adult members of the family as well. The key point here is that if you are on the road for an extended period of time it is a lot of fun to have friends or family join you for specific parts of the trip. They fly in to a regional or major airport, you pick them up and off you go for week or two of fun. We have done this several times now and it really works well. While there are some important considerations, especially in the area of a rental car and sleeping spaces, this is the same experience as renting a house some where and enjoying a week or two in the mountains or at the shore.
Have a good one
Pete
Some of This and Some of That
by Peter Fland on 04/15/10
We are now up and running. The current goal is to have all member only pages in place and ready for new members by the 20th. Immediately after that I will begin adding new material for many places previously visited but not yet reported. These new pages have markers on various state maps. This process will be completed by 5/1510.
There are 3 additional pages that will be linked to the Sojourn member page. Two are currently in place and the third will be copied over by the 20th. The links for these pages will be found at the bottom of the Sojourn member page. A totally new page for Fly-In Guests will also be added to this page.
That is our opening update. Some things must be starting to work, because we have been experiencing a rise in daily visitation.
I look forward to working with you and hope you are enjoying the visits.
Pete
Welcome To MilePosts OnTheRoad
by Peter Fland on 04/10/10
For several years, as we traveled, we sent regular emails to our friends so we could share our trip and stay in touch. Regularly my friends would say that I should publish or do something with the material I created. By the time we returned from Alaska in the fall of 2009 we had pages and pages of material. When I corrected it and made appropriate additions and deletions I was amazed to see that I had over 300 pages of word-processed content. At that point I knew I was going to do something - but what? After a great deal of wasted energy and learning many of the ropes, I decided that I should be in control of my own content and I would create a website to share information, stories, and experiences. This website is the result of that process.
I have not come here by myself. I have had some significant help. Jaime Velez has helped immensely on the technical side. Jeff Jones has tweaked much of the marketing and networking thinking. Reve Carberry has provided some excellent philosophical and business direction. Don Corson, of Camaraderie Cellars, provided some timely inspiration and a boost of energy when he enthusiastically agreed to provide commentary for this website. I thank them all for their assistance and inspiration. I also thank my partner on the road, my wife Judy, who has tolerated my hours on the computer as I put this together.
Enough about me. In a few days we will be exploring this new road and we hope to bring our readers and members some insight, enjoyment, and encouragement for their travel in the future. As I often say - Let the games begin.
On the Road Concierge is almost up and running
by Peter Fland on 04/10/10
We are putting the final touches on the website and hope to be fully operational on the 15th.
