As we start the new year, I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year. I hope your holiday season was safe, joyful, and filled with the people and moments that matter most.
I’ve been thinking again (yes, I know—dangerous territory). This is the time of year when many folks make resolutions aimed at becoming better or happier. I usually skip the whole resolution thing because, let’s be honest, they often lean toward the unrealistic. But this year, I’m giving it a try.
Resolution #1: I want to get Mrs. Weeble out on a short RV trip first—something close, simple, and comfortable—before I ever try to talk her into tackling Alaska. She’s understandably hesitant about the whole RV idea.
Her only camping experience was a rainy tent trip to Boston with her first husband, her sister-in-law, and her mother-in-law. The whole time, it poured, the tent leaked, and everyone was miserable. And when you’re stuck in a soggy tent with a mother-in-law you don’t exactly see eye-to-eye with… well, that’s a combination destined for disaster.
So my goal is to give her a completely different experience—dry, warm, peaceful, and enjoyable. A short RV getaway she can actually look forward to. If I can make that first trip great, maybe Alaska won’t seem so intimidating down the road. And I think I can make that happen.
Resolution #2: Team up with my buddy Bill and figure out where Camp Run-A-Muck is headed this year. When we were in Shenandoah, we tossed around the idea of the Smoky Mountains. I’ve driven through the area many times—but at 67 mph in a big truck—so my knowledge is basically whatever you can absorb from a fast-moving windshield view. I don’t think Bill knows much more than I do.
The Smokies do have one big advantage: they sit roughly halfway between his house and mine. The disadvantage? They’re one of the most visited national parks in the entire country. So we’ll have to see how the planning shakes out—and whether Camp Run-A-Muck can find itself a cozy corner amid the crowds.
As I wrap this up, here’s a teaser: my next blog will take us to Terlingua and the world’s greatest chili cook-off. All I’ll say for now is this—whenever Bill and I get together, something interesting always happens.
Wishing you all a safe and happy New Year. Here’s to great adventures ahead.