A Hearty Maine Farewell
It has been an amazing and memorable week here in Bar Harbor, but this Magic Bus is ready to turn South! I am so grateful Ed and I were able to enjoy Acadia National Park together. It’s been on my mind since 2016, when I did a unit on National Parks as an elementary school librarian. The unit was part of a Scholastic Book Fair theme celebrating the 100th birthday of National Parks. If you know me and my volunteers, we went in deep on National Parks. That submersion gave me an insight into the beauty of our own country and the places I had yet to explore. Maine had never crossed my mind before that door of knowledge was opened. Thank you, President Ulysses S. Grant for signing the act that created Yellowstone as the nation’s first national park.
Prepare to Break Camp
Rolling down the road in the Magic Bus takes a bit of preparation. We spent the entire day systematically breaking camp. Food prep was first on my list, because I couldn’t pack up my Blackstone grill, crock pot, and camp tables till I was finished. First I whipped up our Sunday (9-14) breakfast, while I put a Cornish hen in the crock pot, then I made breakfast burritos for our morning of driving on Monday. Next I cooked some hamburger/bison meat for taco soup and burgers.
Ed carried out laundry detail as I continued to cook. Meanwhile I pulled the meat off another the hen I’d had in the crock pot to freeze for later, and finally, I chopped up sweet potatoes and threw them in the crock pot. Once all the food was strategically placed in the refrigerator to prevent it from moving and spilling along the road, I started packing evidence of our campsite.
The last outside chore was to be loading up the bikes. We had planned to take a final bike ride around this sprawling campground before loading them, but an afternoon storm was brewing in the west, so Ed quickly took care of that idea for us.
Securing the Cabin
Inside our motorhome was took care of making sure things don’t fly around. It is surprising how hazardous things on the counters can be. I put aways pet food (leaving little bags for use in the morning, made one last pot of coffee, emptied the Litter-Robot, secured pantry items, and readied the shower to hold things we can’t fit in cabinets.
This morning, Monday, 9-15, after I wake our chief navigator, I will vacuum my Ruggable rugs and roll them up to store on top of our king size bed. I am so glad I thought of putting Ruggables in the RV. I bought these used on Facebook Marketplace. They really make a difference for cold mornings and comfort in general. The pets also approve.
The last thing to be stored away will be the coffee pot. Next, after checking for any obstacles, including pets, I bring in the slide that extends the full length of our living quarters. This makes it easier for Ed to do his job outside.
And, finally, Ed can begin disconnecting us from our luxurious full hook-ups. His first step is rinsing out grey water and black water tanks for a good 10 minutes, rinsing out the sewar hoses, storing them in the bays underneath, rolling up water hoses, and finally, disconnecting the power.
Our last-minute list includes walking Toby, making sure the awning in in, the refrigerator locked, the shower door secured, and all ceiling fans and windows closed. It’s a lot. But then we are ready to hit the road.
On to Massachusetts
Our next destination is East Wareham, MA to the Maple Park Campground. We will spend two night there and explore nearby Cape Cod. Thanks for traveling along! I hope the maintenance insight of traveling is helpful and not tedious.
