10.25.2025

Hickory Ridge Lookout

Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower ride.

Firewood regift from random horse camper. Harley his wife and group of horse people pleasant morning chat. Sunshine!

Took Fatass out for a ride. 6 miles to a lookout tower. Wasn't expecting it to be so crowded. Oh well. Didn't climb it. Too many others going up and down . Not sure if I would hit with a panic attack from the height. Which would be dangerous for Pete who I would be carrying. Oh well.

Fatass seems to eat battery much faster than Fatso. Even on the single motor setting. Maybe the meters are off, inaccurate. 12 miles total should not have even dinged the capacity. But the meter showed a whole bar of usage. Not good. Oh well. Good ride. All gravel forested roads with mild hills. Probably will make a GravelNuts route of it.

#HoosierNationalForest #gravelbike #dispersedcamping #minivanlife #HickoryRidgeHorseCamp

One seedy dog

Pete's magnetic fur lures every seed within a mile. Four miles worth of deseeding ahead.

Low key day. Zero sunshine. About zero connectivity. Anker is below 20%. Banks are at 13.4v, but readout doesn't show how full they are. Maybe I need a better setup.

Stayed in until 1. It was drizzling on and off. Came out and made an early campfire after the rain stopped. The clouds remained.

Rest of the day was gathering wood, burning wood, made dinner, cleaned up dinner. Messed with keeping the fire going. Brushed my teeth. Went back inside at 730 to listen to downloaded podcasts. Pretty much a do little day.

10.24.2025

Routine cold day

Lots of horses today. It's nice. Pete is doing great with the horses, but the handful of dogs that came through got him riled up. Still working on that.

Didn't do much beyond the daily things. Coffee and clean up. Lunch soup and clean up. Made the bed. Deseeded Pete a bit more. Whittled on my new walking stick to smooth it out. Gathered some firewood. Planned out a bike ride to the observation tower. Dinner and clean up. Lit the fire. In to bed by 7:30. It's cold out. 57.

#hickoryridgehorsecamp #dispersedcamping #minivanlife

Full Time Living

In 1993, I bought a 1978 Itasca Class A twenty-five foot motorhome. I thought it was going to be so cool to take my wife and children out on the open road up to the tops of mountains and down to the deepest valleys; outward to wilderness destinations and in to towns and cities near and far, big and small, exploring America, the beautiful. And, it was.

Little did I realize at the time was that I had actually purchased my dream home, and, that fifteen years later here would I be, surrounded by thousands of miles and moments of great memories of time shared with my loved ones, living the life of a full timer. Some would say tough luck brought me to this near nomadic, pseudo-hermit type of lifestyle. Some say I have become a 'fool-timer'. I say, not. Choice led by circumstance led to contentment. Life is good.

I've only been full timing since 2003 - five years. Snowbirding has not yet become part of my routine, although, the thought has crossed my mind many a cold wintry day here in Ohio. Maybe, some day. But, for now I am settled in a good spot on a friend's piece of land with plenty of firewood to burn away those dreams of warmer winter climates.

Sometimes, when I slip into a not so gracious moment and begin grumbling about everything under the sun, I wonder what has become of me. I am living in an aluminum can on wheels with a cat. Psychology might have been a pragmatic course of study back when I was in college. Not so much for illuminating what exactly is going on in my own mind, but, in the mind of those whose facial twitches betray an undercurrent of disapproving puzzlement when they learn of my unusual living arrangements - if only I could read a face - just for my own entertainment value. I love a good laugh. Who better to laugh at than myself. That, I am fairly sure, is not a sin, whereas, it is almost impossible to laugh at someone else without stepping into some bit of sinfulness. And, I do love to laugh.

I really don't have to live like this. It is not always an easy 'road to travel'. Nor, is it an easy task to convince the scoffer that full timing makes sense. To which end I can only reply,'My mind's made up... don't confuse me with the facts'.

This blog is my story.

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10.25.2025