On the road day 1 view from my back yard

Annie and I started our first road trip this year, her first ever. For my first camping trip in more than two years, meaning I am that much older, I expected this to be my rubicon, and not the Shenandoah. Well, as it turns out, except for pulling together the contents of 20 different containers and bags for the first time in two years (a chore made for hell) , setting up camp turned out to be quite, well, pleasant. The weather cooperated, after driving through three different storms on the way here. From home to finishing setting up camp took just four hours.

We are camping at Shenandoah River State Park just down the road from front Royal Virginia. There are only a few primitive campsites, my preference, and only one directly on the river, which I am in. I had to reserve this almost a year ago. This will be our home for the next three days.

Inasmuch as this is Annie's first trip, she really doesn't know what to make of it. She is constantly on guard, and her nose is constantly crimping.

This trip is really a test, to see how I might be able to handle an extensive one on the road trip. I will take a few of them in the next several weeks, and then start planning for this year's trip if all goes well. Right now, anywhere in North America is on the table.

Speaking of on the table, as you can see, the table is all set for dinner on the terrace at five, so I have to go and put on my chef hat.