Of Moose And Men
The Best Laid Plans Of Both Often Go Astray

We got some internet access, so I’m posting what I’ve written thus far from the past two days.

5/30/06, Tuesday
It’s begun to rain. We’ve had a relatively quiet trip up thus far, but now, about a hour or so from the campground at which my parents and I will be staying the night it’s begun to drip a little. They’ve been predicting thunderstorms, and the camp did report some thunder when we called them a little bit ago, but this is part and parcel of what they’ve been getting up here all Spring, part of what almost lead the race director to cancel the race when he discovered the transition area under a couple feet of water just a few weeks ago.

It’s interesting traveling in an RV, you can get up and wander around, unlike a bus or car, so legs can be stretched and hungers sated. Both parents have driven at different times (I’m not about to attempt it, even if asked), and for the most part we go along at a pace that rarely brings us up against someone else’s rear end – most of the time we’re the ones being passed, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s not like we’re in any hurry to get up there now, with plenty of time to arrive before Friday.

There are also small quirks of their RV, like the one drawer whose latch doesn’t quite work, so you have to kick it back in every now and again, and the water pumps I wasn’t warned to turn back on when I needed to wash my hands (“Mom, are we out of water?”). The couch which will become my bed is pretty comfortable to sprawl out upon (there’s a full or queen sized bed at the back for them), and I’ve been fairly comfortable on it. When not staring out at the mountains, streams and livestock, I’ve read, chatted with my parents, and spent some time paying down my third mortgage on Animal Crossing (yay for new fruits from the other animals – they help pay those bills much faster).

Had one little diversion when a bad sign lead us down a wrong driveway. I got to drive the Psion around as they backed the RV out and went down the right driveway. While Dad fueled up and Mom worked to reconnect the Psion to the back I took the time to inform her that if the curious 33 year old had looked in the cabinet right across from the toilet while sitting, the curious 9 year old (my niece) was sure to do so this summer and that it would behoove her to move the box for her vibrator to a more secure area. The look on her face would only have been more amusing if she’d been drinking something when I said it. At least I know I get my sexual nature honestly.

…

5/31/06, Wednesday

One of the more difficult aspects of this trip has been realizing how my parents have aged. You see some of it at home, but it’s brought to the front much more starkly when discussing plans for the day that include a lot of driving and/or walking around. Parking in handicapped spots (for Mom’s foot problems – they have the plates), trying to get as close to places as possible, taking a nice break mid-afternoon, in bed by 8:30 or 9, these little things add up to a picture of my parents that I hadn’t quite arrived at yet. I’m glad I’ve gotten the chance to spend this time with them, and I look forward to more time with them, but I’m not sure when we’d ever get the chance to travel together like this again.

Lots of thunderstorms this afternoon here in Cooperstown. After visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame (and Museum), which was quite cool, even for someone who doesn’t follow the game regularly, we wandered a little bit along the two blocks that comprise downtown Cooperstown, then drove up around Lake Osteaga for a bit, then back to the camp to rest. I think we were expecting Cooperstown to be a tad bigger than it was, but all in all I think it was perfect. The downtown strip was fun, you didn’t feel rushed getting through things, and you could get to everything you wanted to see in a day (or more, if you wished). But man, the thunderstorms were something else.

Thankfully they waited until after we were ensconced in the motor home, but at least three waves came through, one of which temporarily knocked out the electricity from the campground (right in the middle of fixing dinner, of course). Lightning galore, lots of thunder, and rain pounding down on the roof. When it let up the first time, Mom zipped out for a few supplies from the under-carriage storage, and back in just in time for the second wave. It did cool things down considerably, so we were able to cut off the a/c, but with the threat of more storms we’ve got the place sealed up tight, so I’m not sure how useful that cooling will be as we attempt to sleep.