The motorhome journey that launched four years ago had a crew of four. That memorable odyssey evolved into what became known as The Mountain, undertaken by the same foursome.
Dipstick’s untimely passing a year ago April reduced the complement to three. Another crew member abandoned the adventure in February of this year. And now, with the loss of Scout, I stand as the last of the original road warriors that set out from central Ohio in May of 2021.
Miss Smudge joined later, of course, after The Mountain was a thing and development of the property was well underway. She doesn’t have memories of watching the world unfold through an enormous windshield, of a different home every few days, of the ever-changing sights and sounds and smells of that road trip.
My experience on the road fueled my passion for The Mountain. I still believe in the vision. I carry not only the memories, but the fire.
And I’m the last one standing. Provided that the dream isn’t wrested from my grasp, I’ll make it come true for Smudge and me.
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) on The Mountain, captured on my way home Monday.
As promised, Smudge and I did next to nothing yesterday. We needed quiet time, and we took it.
Restless, I whacked some weeds, both around the driveway and down on the lower level.
I also was motivated to make things clean. Since I’d done all the laundry late the previous afternoon, I turned my attention to the kitchen. Stuff that I rinse every day with plain cold water — coffeemaker, coffee mug, smoothie kit — got a thorough soap’n’soak in hot water.
That’s a weekly thing.
I washed Smudge’s food dish and scrubbed five weeks’ accumulated limescale from her water bowl. It fairly gleams.
And that was pretty much the extent of it. We kept things low-key.
(I’d already begun a blog post Monday morning before the day turned in a different direction. I figure I might as well publish it. What follows is what I had written when i stopped.)
* * *
Monday, June 16th, 2025
This (as seen in today’s header image and below) is the road that runs in front of the cabin.
Early today, it was wet and soft. Water from three-quarters of an inch of rain overnight pooled in spots on the low side. Quiet when it’s dry and dusty, on these damp days it crunches underfoot, sounding almost like snow.
The road — which often I’ll call “the road up The Mountain” or, occasionally, “my road” — is a scant 12 feet wide where it meets my driveway. In a few places, it’s narrower. Down below, it’s a little wider.
If you come to The Mountain, no matter where you’re traveling from, this road is the last stretch you’ll see. Likely the roughest and steepest track you’ll have to navigate is what takes you to your final destination.
It’s worth the trouble.
(If that’s not a metaphor, I don’t know what is.)
* * *
On my early morning walk, I looked off into the wet roadside brush and spied a few things.
Like a “sensitive plant” (of the genus Mimosa).
Carolina desert-chicory (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus), also known as “Texas dandelion.”
I saw several trees that already had set fruit — a wild plum of some sort, I think.
I’ll keep an eye on those to see what they turn out to be.
* * *
My ramble about the Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife the other day teased that there’s a folding version. I didn’t show it, though.
Here it is:
Technically, it’s called the “Swiss Classic Picnic Knife.” The serrated (or “wavy”) blade is 4.3 inches long, standard-issue Victorinox stainless, and it secures in the open position with a liner lock. Closed, the knife measures 5.1 inches.
The Picnic Knife weighs just 1.5 ounces.
No doubt about it, this is a handy knife. I’ve used it, and I like it a lot. Could it be the perfect blade to toss into a pic-a-nic basket?
Maybe. But I prefer something else.
I don’t know what it is about the Opinel No.07. It must be a romantic attachment to the carbon steel, the hardwood handle, even the quirky locking ring. I’ve been using one so long that anything else feels out-of-place.
But that’s me. Either way, French or Swiss — or even the slipjoint you carry in your pocket every day — you can’t go wrong.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable