Trip back from RomFest 2012

Last week I shared some pictures from RomFest 2012, where I was able to spend a few days talking romance with readers and authors. Last week my hubby and I took a slow trip from eastern Tennessee back to western New York. I thought I'd share a few more pictures with you.

We stayed at a campground in Pigeon Forge, not far from where all the action is. While I was at the Glenstone Lodge in Gatlinburg, Hubby learned his way around the back roads and checked out the Titanic museum and did a little shopping. There was an Old Mill that houses a restaurant and a store. And was a popular subject for photographs.

The campground bordered Patriot Park.There was a walking trail around the park and while enjoying the campground and the green space in the park, it was hard to believe how close we were to traffic packed highways and a crowded shopping area.

In keeping with the patriot theme, there was a patriot missile on display.

And a rendering of the Liberty Bell.

We had a very uneventful trip back. After the trip from hell last year, that was a real relief. On our way back home, we stayed at a rustic campground in the Shenandoah Valley.

I didn't shriek like a little girl when a fat black snake slithered by me. No, I didn't get a picture of it. I was too busy catching my breath. This campground had a unique way of dealing with the inevitable bugs that plague campgrounds in the middle of the forest. A flock of chickens peck their way through the bushes and campground, feeding off the insects.

I'm back home again now, dreading going back to the edj, and looking forward to digging into my current work-in-progress.

Hard to believe after looking forward to it for so long, my vacation's over! So anyone else taking a trip this year?

Natasha
Plaything - available now
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

Go RVing

Growing up, we always took camping trips as a family. We started renting a cabin for a week at Allegheny State Park everning summer. Then my parents bought a pop-up trailer - for seven of us! Eventually, they got a larger trailer, but with five kids, it was always crowded and noisy. And while we did get to visit places that we never could have otherwise - when I grew up and moved away, I swore I'd never go camping again.

Um...yeah...this is a picture of our latest trailer at a campground we like to visit in southern Pennsylvania.



We started in a tent. With two children, the four of us weren't as crowded as my family was when I was growing up. But of course, any two children in a confined area are going to find something to complain about :) We graduated to a pop-up trailer, like my parents did, took a trip to Wyoming in that sucker. Saw Mount Rushmore and Sturgis, South Dakota during Bike Week! We went to Georgia and Michigan and other places we never would have gone otherwise. And while they were bored a lot of the time, they loved the campfires and sight-seeing and s'mores and time together with the family, even if they didn't always want to admit it.

As our kids got older, they didn't go on as many trips with us. Summer jobs and college and other activities took higher priority. Just as they did for me. I understand. We've since gotten our second travel trailer and camping is nothing like it was when I was growing up. We have a shower in our trailer. Satellite TV. Internet access, if I'm lucky.



My husband and I still travel together. I've learned to be a pretty good navigator. And I can write on the road as easily as at home. In fact, I wrote more than half of my Secrets 24 novella, Bad to the Bone, while we camped a week in Bedford, Pennsylvania. We still enjoy each other's company and a good campfire. We travel around the eastern half of the US and are looking forward to eventually being able to take more time to visit the other half of the country.



Oh, and you know how I know my kids enjoyed their camping trips with the family, even if they didn't say so at the time? My daughter and her husband have been talking about getting an RV someday. Funny how that works out. :)

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com