• Amy and Pat Taylor
  • Amy and Pat Taylor

Shakedown '26

Lake Trip to check things out and work out any kinks. Read more
  • Shake Down '26

    May 15 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    Shake Down '26

    We are supposed to be in retirement mode now. We'll, at least easy going work mode - 1/2 on 1/2 off..... but we just haven't gotten there yet.

    We had a couple of weeks to get things ready and we just kept working. Friday came. It was time to leave and we just then started to pack -- almost. First I had about 30 minutes of work to do - which took 3 hours.

    Enough of that. Elm Hill Resort here we come!! I finished work and started packing at 11. We wanted to be on the road by 1 and at the lake by 2. We pulled out at 3. Just in time for the ramp up of Nashville Rush Hour. The 1 hour drive took 2-1/2 hours.

    Why do I drone on about this? Because it is the last time that we do this. I'm reasonably sure of it.

    Please Lord, make it the last time.

    But My Lovely took it all in stride as she always does. We pulled the camper and the boat to test them both out for the season.

    As always, setting up camp takes 20 minutes. Then patty melts and home fries (my lovely is so hard to please), a sunset cruise - eeehh - a little bit cloudy, but still sweet and beautiful. And finally, relaxing by the perfect campfire.

    The campfire was perfect because, we didn't stoke it once, it had a flickering flame the entire time, and it seemed like the logs were burning from the inside out. The logs had a red, almost translucent glow, while being licked by flames.

    Saturday morning was another relaxing day as I made a few minor repairs on the camper. Afterward we took a calm boat ride an calibrated the fuel gauge. Now, both the boat and the camper are ready for the season.

    We were blessed to have Wayne and Christy join us for the afternoon and evening.

    A boat ride, chips and salsa, dinner and another sunset on the lake. It is wonderful to share this peace with friends, especially a couple falling in love.

    Shakedown complete.
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    Trip end
    May 17, 2026