My last week in the mountians

It's a misty morning here in the North Carolina Mountains.

The leaves are beautiful and close to being at their peak. I'll get a few more hikes in these beautiful mountains before I leave here in less than a week.

By the time you read this, I'll be on my way going across the country in my motorhome to Galveston, Texas. What a difference a day makes (actually three days).

There won't be any mountains where I'll be for the winter in Texas. The highest point on the whole island is seven feet. I wonder if they call it Mount Galveston? I'll be right across the road from the beach. The beach goes on for miles and miles, and I look forward to walking on the beach.

It's not like hiking in the mountains. It's two totally different experiences. I enjoy them both. I'm glad I don't have to choose between them. I'm happy that I got to spend a few months in the mountains and now will be spending a few months on the beach.

Below is a view of the river behind my motorhome here in the North Carolina mountains. I can hear the river at night when I'm in bed. It makes for some good sleeping. Maybe I'll be able to hear the ocean waves when I get to Galveston.

We are living in complex times

And they are not likely to change anytime soon. With politics, elections, COVID-19, maybe more lockdowns, winter coming, and who knows what else will come along, what are we supposed to do?

I think about all these things as I hike up my mountain trail by the river. I find myself wondering if things will ever get back to normal? Then I start to think . . .

What if happiness is just a matter of accepting things the way they are?

If we can do that, we can be happy in any situation.

It's easy to get into deep thought on my foggy morning walks. It's foggy (or misty) a lot of mornings here in the mountains. I guess that's why they call these mountains the Smoky Mountains. The fog does look like smoke. Below is what the morning mist (or smoke) looks like here in the mountains.

Bottom line: I'm enjoying my last few days here in my beloved mountains, but I'm looking forward to long walks on the beach. I lived for almost 20 years in Hilton Head Island, SC, and I spent a lot of time walking and running on the beach. I did all of the training for my marathon run on the beach. I'm glad I don't have to choose between the mountains and the beach. I love them both. Being able to live in both places is one of the joys of the RV lifestyle.