Starting Over Again

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving. —Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

My humans and I posing at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church in Duluth, Georgia.

Welcome to my travel blog. I am Magic, and recently discovered through an Embark DNA test, that I am an American Fox Hound. So if you are a past reader of my travel blog, I am no longer claiming to be a Treeing Walker Coon Hound. Bark about a canine identity crisis!🐶

My humans and I began full-time travel in our Class A motorhome in May through December 2019 and then parked near Stone Mountain, Georgia for awhile-which turned into about 12 months. During 2020 we experienced precious time (some of it in masks) with our family-Joanna and her boyfriend Zach as well as Jennie and Steve Sankey plus little Annie-our newest pack member. And I hung out with canines Bob and Athena on the Sankey couch while the humans helped care for the amazing Annie. Momma Dog says it has been a blessing to be together-and I think I agree.

The family (Jennie, Steve & Annie Sankey and Joanna Smith & her boyfriend Zach Mueller visited us at Red Top Mountain State Park in September.

The humans don’t let me into the driver’s seat, but apparently Annie has special privileges!

Annie with her Funpa, although I call him Big Dog.

Annie with her Funma, although I call her Momma Dog.

A pothole incident and a tree encounter occurred at Red Top Mountain State Park, and the humans were involved with GEICO-and are actually still waiting for a few parts for Tana’s cosmetic repair at this time. Then to top it off, Tana’s large driver side mirror was knocked off by another RV driver who clipped it as he passed us on our way home. I think the humans may have GEICO on speed dial.

The mirror was hanging by cable so we had to cut it and drive without a mirror. Fortunately we have sideview and rearview cameras but it was still a difficult trip.

And while Tana (our motorhome) was in the shop she was parked and somehow rolled backwards into another motorhome causing damage to both vehicles! Needless to say this was upsetting and frustrating for all of us. I kind of wanted to bark and growl at the people involved in this debacle.

Seeing Tana be towed off was a new experience!

We attempted an RV trip to Hiawasee, Georgia with the Georgia Azaleas, which is a group of RV folks who belong to a national group called Escapees. On our way there we had engine light and radiator issues and ended up being towed. Joanna and Zach rescued us and we were so appreciative of their help! I even rode home in the back seat of Joanna’s Camry and Momma Dog gave me some of her fast food. And Jennie and Steve kept us in their home until ours was ready to go.

In December Big Dog was diagnosed with a melanoma on his shoulder. After his surgery it looked like he had a big dog bite! He healed up nicely and he’s wearing lots of sunscreen and hats these days!

2021 arrived and my humans began discussing traveling again. I think I like being in one place but I go where they go…

At the beginning of 2021 we changed our domicile to Florida instead of Texas for a number of reasons-but predominately for the ability to have human-style health insurance that can be used wherever we go.

Annie had a Zoom birthday party to celebrate her first 365 days on earth in January!

In February 2021 Momma Dog had surgery for a breast mass. Thankfully it was benign and she also healed up quickly.

Well, we are on the road again and our first trip out of the gate for 2021, beginning March 14, took us to Reed Bingham State Park in south Georgia, Southern Grace Lavender Farm in Southport, Florida and several days in the Florida panhandle. Then we came north to Hard Labor Creek State Park, which is west of Atlanta for a few nights and drove further north to Blairsville, Georgia for a 3 month work camping gig for Big Dog and Momma Dog. We will be at Crossing Creeks RV Resort in the Georgia mountains. I do not have a job there except to be a handsome conversation starter!

Our goodbye breakfast from the kids of homemade biscuits, gouda cheese grits, bacon and mimosas was delicious and it was hard to say goodbye-especially to 14 month old Annie. I didn’t cry but I think Momma Dog needed several Kleenex that day.

Me in the Yucca plants at Reed Bingham State Park in south Georgia.

After a long day of travel, Big Dog parked us at Reed Bingham State Park.

Tana, Big Dog and me at our site in Reed Bingham State Park.

We walked many steps, and the humans played putt-putt and rented bicycles. We had the thermostat replaced in the electric side of our water heater while there, and learned much about the Gopher Tortoise and vultures.

Who knew you could play mini-golf at a state park?

The Cypress tree roots made for a difficult bike ride to say the least.

And on the fourth day of our stay we spotted a gopher tortoise right next to our motorhome!

On our last night there the humans walked to a catfish restaurant right outside of the park gates for a picnic dinner. Momma Dog brought me home a delicious scallop!

The vulture tree was amazing to see! Each morning and evening we went to see the Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures come and go. I was so brave among these big birds and even earned a feather for my harness. Big Dog loved watching them soar on the wind thermals.

I am so brave around the big vultures! And I was happy to learn they only eat dead things.

Obligatory campfire which I do not enjoy.

Goodbye Reed Bingham State Park! And hello Florida!

Our next adventure was Southern Grace Lavender Farm in Southport, Florida. As you probably know, Momma Dog loves all things lavender-so she was excited!

The owner shared his story and gave a fun tour, although I stayed inside Tana.

There were many chickens and the next day we received free eggs.

A big black pig and a white dog lived in the chicken pen. I wanted to go in and play with them but that was not allowed.

The lavender was not blooming but the plants looked really beautiful and smelled so nice according to Momma Dog.

Momma Dog and Big Dog spent some time shopping in the lavender farm gift store but did not bring any lavender dog bones out to me. They were pretty excited about their lavender oil, lavender tea, and lavender candle. I think there were about one dozen RVs at this farm and everyone stayed “free” for the night because it is a Harvest Host site. Unfortunately the next morning as we were leaving-Momma Dog directed Big Dog to turn the wrong direction and we ended up stranded on a very difficult dirt road to turn around. I think we added some new scratches to the top of Tana but we finally made it out and headed towards Milton, Florida.

We stayed at a KOA and had a nice spot including a flag pole and an area that honored veterans.

This is the other side of our RV spot complete with another palm tree.

This is a replica of a camper made out of a Hay bale-so we posed.

Unfortunately we were unable to see the Blue Angels and the Naval Air Station was closed to the public-but Big Dog was able to pose by this model in the airport as we were renting a car.

The humans went to the beach the next day and dogs were not allowed. They spent some time on Navarre Beach and Gulf Islands National Seashore. Again dogs were not allowed on this beach and mama dog was very excited about the white sugar sand.

White sugar sand at the national sea shore.

It was a bit cool and windy but Momma Dog was so happy to be at the beach.

This is some kind of jellyfish. I probably would’ve tried to eat it.

The human stopped at this cottage for a bit of retail therapy. It was originally one of many cottages for fisherman.

On the way home from Navarre Beach the humans picked up some delicious boiled shrimp. They were a bit shocked seeing all the Floridians in this restaurant who were not wearing masks.

The next day the humans set out to see Pensacola Beach and Fort Pickens.

Momma Dog in her happy place having deep thoughts.

Big dog poses with the big cannons at Fort Pickens.

The architecture of this fort built in 1834 was beautiful and very interesting.

Big Dog poses with the really big cannon.

The humans visited downtown Milton and crossed the Black Water River Bridge. The next day they hiked in the Black Water State Forest. They told me they saw a girl hiking in a bikini and a snake jumped across the path in front of Momma Dog and made her scream. I wish I would’ve been there to see all of that!

The hikers saw lots of trees and water-but no Florida alligators.

Mushrooms growing on fallen trees smell and look delicious to my hound dog nose and eyes.

On the last day in Florida Big Dog and Momma Dog headed to the Publix grocery store pharmacy in Pensacola, Florida to get their Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. They were so happy to accomplish this goal!

I posed in the Azaleas at the KOA for Momma Dog. We loved seeing signs of spring including lots of yellow pollen and wisteria hanging from the trees along the highway.

After a really LONG day of driving we FINALLY arrived at Hard Labor Creek State Park, which is west of Atlanta. We arrived after dark, found site #20 and Big Dog did some amazing backing up into our new home.

We celebrated our successful night-time arrival (which is never a good plan in a 39 foot motorhome) with our morning tea while gazing at Berkley Lake.

I sniffed out a goose couple in the lake. The female was sitting on a nest and the male honked at us!

We liked this state park and were invaded by a caravan of twelve Air Streams of all sizes which looked like alien space ships at night.

The humans met up with Jennie and Annie, and we all went to meet the family of Joanna’s boyfriend, Zach Mueller, visiting from Wisconsin. I stayed home and served as guard dog while they ate delicious Wisconsin cheese, beer and sausage. And the humans reported a fun evening on Lake Oconee.

We started driving again, and made it safely through Atlanta-which many RV folks avoid because of the crazy traffic.

Our last stop is in Blairsville, Georgia-which is two hours north of Atlanta. My humans will be workampers (volunteers) at Crossing Creeks RV Resort in Blairsville, Georgia. We get a free place to stay and they each “work” 20 hours per week until we leave on June 30, 2021. We are surrounded by mountains and look forward to sniffing out some new adventures. We hope to see our Atlanta pack from time to time. And on April 2, the first day of “work” for the humans it was 24 degrees! I am glad I was able to sleep in that day.

Tulip trees in Blairsville, Georgia before the freeze

Posing (again) at Crossing Creeks RV Resort

If you have made it this far thank you for reading my lengthy travel blog. I continue to watch over my humans and will continue to record our travels. We have stayed in 20 states since the beginning of our journey in May 2019. I heard them mention Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming in our future.

Love and scratches and tail wags for you from me-MAGIC

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