On Wednesday, September 21, we take the relatively long drive of 227 miles from Plymouth, Washington to Sisters, Oregon where we will be visiting our friends Kerry and her dog Annabelle. (Not their real names).
At a rest stop on the way. This look always strikes my funny bone.
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Our friendship goes back less than a year, but we are firmly bonded by the circumstances that brought us together in November & December of 2015.
Kerry has been living at the Sisters Creekside Campground all summer, where she was employed as a camp host until she broke her leg in June. The break was complicated and needed surgery and as a result she has an alarming amount of metal in her leg now, as viewed on x-ray. Her healing is proceeding well due to her incorporating physical healing with emotional, spiritual, and whole body healing. Also due to her determination to get back on her feet…literally. Her activities are still limited but she is walking on her own and has been driving for a few weeks now.
Kerry and Annabelle are full time RVer’s and she has received lots of help from friends she’s made, neighbors and care givers since June.
This woman is a strong survivor!
Kerry has decided to spend the winter here in the Sisters area, continuing her physical therapy, and she will be looking for work.
Our campsite at Creekside Campground. No hookup sites are $15 but I get $5 off for being old, so $10 a night.
The thing is, it gets cold here in the winter and her 5th wheel is not insulated and very drafty. Also it’s in need of a number of repairs. Sooo……she trades it in for a 22′ Nash which is well insulated and has heated tanks too. Completely by coincidence (no such thing!), it is going to be delivered to her on Thursday, the day after I arrive. Everything needs to be removed from the old trailer, so I’m glad I’m here to help.
Kerry’s old 24′ Komfort 5th wheel, as she begins the transition.
We set up the Clam, (my screen house), which is way easier with two people by the way! (I’ve had my moments with the ‘Damn Clam’ in the past.) As a ‘bucket brigade’ we empty out her trailer.
The Clam, full of Kerry’s stuff! Her truck was also loaded with stuff.
With Kerry healing from a broken leg and me being careful with my back, we make quite a pair. We do part of the work Wednesday afternoon and the rest Thursday morning.
By 10am Thursday the ‘new to Kerry’ (2014) trailer arrives!
Kerry gets her first lesson about hitching up a travel trailer. Unfortunately this guy was not a good teacher.
As the old Komfort is towed away, Kerry has some emotional moments.
There it goes!
Kerry has had some really rough times in this little home, from writhing on the floor with kidney stones and a massive kidney infection, to lying in bed for weeks after the surgery on her leg.
This new trailer signifies turning over a new leaf in life….starting over….letting go of the past.
The new Nash!
Inside, with a big smile. 🙂
Well, when you have a new home, you need a few new things to go into it, right?
So we go shopping.
First on the list is a 4″ memory foam mattress topper. We find a nice one at the right price at Target. Do you know how heavy those things are? We wrestle it home, out of the box, and onto her queen size bed.
Ok, now the decorating bug is beginning to get to me. I’ve had basically the same decor since I started out and I need a change. I’ve actually been thinking about it for awhile so I have an idea about what I want, and Target has it! I load up a basket and I’m all set.
Pink and red. I bit weird I know. But it’s ‘me’. 🙂 The white eyelet curtains I made recently (by hand I might add, since I don’t have a sewing machine with me). The back window has room darkening curtains which I hemmed and used part of the extra to make a curtain for the window in the door.
It may not look like much but I LOVE the big pink pillow! It’s Targets ‘Shabby Chic’, and the cover comes off easily to wash. The pillow is nice and soft and squishy!
We still make time for short walks.
Lovely park, on the other side of the creek from the campground.
The creek along the campground.
Fall is beautiful.
Annabelle jumps up on top of the water fountain for a drink!
Camped side by side.
I’ll be staying in Sisters for a total of 10 days. It’s time for JR’s 60,000 mile servicing, so I have an appointment for her in Bend, coming up. I want to walk around the little town of Sisters again, check out McKenzie Pass, and do laundry before leaving for Klamath Falls on Saturday. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Wandering Spirit 
Love Kerry’s new home!! It is sometimes really good to have a new beginning!! I hope she continues to recover nicely from her surgery. Love your new look as well. The Casita is just so darn cute and cozy and I love the new decor you chose!!
You guys sure have a beautiful place to walk!!
Hi Gerri, Kerry’s Nash really is nice. Seems very solid. She is feeling good about the change.
Yes a Casita feels very cozy. I feel completely happy in this space, even with both dogs.
The Sisters area is one of the best for dog walking that I can think of. Lots of parks, grass, and woods in the form of National Forests. Today was hot so we took the three furry kids to the creek by the campground and let them romp in the water for awhile. Afterwards we sat in the grass in the shade under the big trees. Nice way to handle a hot day!
I love Target’s Shabby Chic collection and how you’ve personalized your Casita with the red and pink. The juxtaposition of the 18 wheeler and your rig made me laugh. Bend is one of my favorite places, I wish I were there now instead of Southern California!
Hi Ann, this area (Bend/Sisters) really is beautiful, isn’t it?
I’ve always liked Targets Shabby Chic too. I’ve always gone and stood there and wished….but with dogs on the bed, I’ve never bought much of it. But the pillow works, even with the dogs. 🙂
A Casita next to a big semi always makes me think of Hot Wheels! :-))
I think you’re a good friend to have. Stay safe, martha, from Texas
Thank you Martha, that’s a very nice thing to say!
I love the new red and pink look. You’re right it sounds strange but it works. And I bet it was fun to “play house”.
And you are so right, no coincidences indeed. Perfect timing with your arrival and the new trailer. In fact the smaller Nash is on my very short list of potential trailers. Kerry might be interested in checking out the blog http://knomadtracks.com/ It’s written by a super nice guy named Rob who is a fellow member of the RVSue blogorino army. He has the Nash 17B and loves it. A couple of months ago he dedicated an entire blog entry just on the trailer. Also Sebastian at http://www.simplelivingandsimpletravel.com/ has full timed in the same trailer for the past couple of years. He had a really tragic / wild incident in his last blog entry which might interest the nurse in you. Scared the bejeebers (that’s a medical term btw) out of me. But he loves his Nash.
Glad to see you are feeling better and enjoying the PNW. I just love that corner of the world. Thanks for reminding me why.
Yup Rick, it’s fun to decorate, especially when it takes so little in the way of items and $$$.
Is one of the reasons you like the Nash because of the insulation and heated tanks? I must say, that would be nice to have.
I let Kerry know to look here for the two blogs you suggested. I looked at them too. Oh My Gosh….yes, that scares the bejeebers out of me too! (of course that’s a medical term, along with ‘whatchamacallit’s’ and ‘thingamabobs’. ‘Blankies’ [rather than ‘blankets’] too.)
I never even considered THAT happening, but it’s always a concern for people who RV alone who have pets, like he does. That’s actually why Kerry and I exchanged phone numbers way back when in November….we met at the dog park, were both on our own with dogs, and were going to be there in Q for awhile…so why not have someone you could call if you needed to, and then it just so happened she needed too 2 days later. Nothing about our friendship has been a coincidence, from the start!
Micky, you made me laugh! Not only “blankies”, but WARM blankies 😊😇
Exactly Maureen. I rarely brought patients warm blankets. Most always warm blankies!
Love reading about the friendships that form on the road! There is something to be said about surrounding yourself with like-minded people.
Hi Cindy, yes and it really helps to get to know someone nearby. This world of RVer’s is really full of such nice people!
I love your new look with the pink and red! So vibrant and happy!! My favorite color is red! You were meant to be in Sisters at just the right time!! Sounds like lots of work but how fun to decorate two homes!
We will be heading up to Sisters and Bend on Wed on our way to Coburg for some coach repairs!! Praying that the weather holds!! Have safe journeys where you head next!
Hi Our Rovin Journey, I’m here till Saturday. Maybe we will meet?
Yes, it’s good to know that you are in the right place at the right time, isn’t it? I’m glad I’m here.
The pink and red to look happy! And ‘vibrant’ is a good description too. 🙂
Looks like the weather will be great!
How wonderful you can spend 10 days with your friend Kerry…especially during her recovery period and her “move”. As red is my favorite color I LOVE your new look. Also, happy to hear that is back is “better”. Stay safe.
Hi Krystina,
The colors must be starting to turn back there! I’d like to see that again someday…Vermont, New Hampshire, even Michigan…and so many places…
But, ‘be here now’, right? And ‘here’ for 10 days is wonderful!
Glad you like the new decor. Me too!