We Were First

This morning we are going to hear from a guest writer – Norm Payne.  However, before getting to Norm’s entry here’s one of those “small world events” that we all encounter while living this lifestyle. 

In June and July of 2003 Judy and I took a three week vacation with our new fifthwheel, but not the one we have now.  One of our stays was at Ponderosa Pines Campground in Boothbay Harbor, Maine (it’s no longer open) during the 4th of July weekend.  While we were there we noticed two “huge” motorhomes parked next to each other along the front row. 

The following October I discovered a website entitled See Ya’ Down The Road.  I went back to the very beginning and began reading all of Norm’s Travelogues.  I was hooked on this fulltime RVing lifestyle right then and there, but the coincidence was revealed a couple of years later when I was rereading Norm’s Maritime Travelogues.  It dawned on me that the Paynes and the Emonds were the “huge” motorhomes parked in the front row at Ponderosa Pines – we were there at the same time they were.  Of course, we didn’t know them at the time, but our close friendship with them has developed over the last few years.

After departing Ponderosa Pines, the Paynes and the Emonds spent 60 days traveling in the Canadian Maritimes (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador).  Here is a “Short Story” that Norm wrote during those travels.

 

See Ya' Down The Road

We Were First

We want to congratulate ourselves for being FIRST and beating several hundred million people. We beat everyone in North America and that made us feel great.

As a child we were encouraged to strive to be number one. Winning a school spelling bee got you a star beside your name and winning a three legged race at the county fair rewarded you with a blue ribbon. For those smart enough to be number one in their graduating class they were named valedictorian.

Many of those who were first became famous and known around the world. Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Babe Ruth was the first baseball player to hit sixty home runs in a season. Henry Ford made the first mass produced automobiles in the world. Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.

What did we do to become "first" and beat hundreds of millions of people? On the morning of August 14, 2003, we arose early from bed and drove to lonely Cape Spear, Newfoundland, the eastern-most point of land in North America. Shortly after we arrived the sun appeared over the Atlantic Ocean and we were the first two people in North America to see the sun rise that day.

OK, that was not as earth-shaking and news worthy as being the first person to do open heart surgery, but it was exciting to us and we will always remember we were "first" that day and beat everyone in North America.

(Note:  There are two beautiful pictures connected with this Short Story, however, I could not reproduce them – you can see them by going to We Were First)

You can read the entire account of their two month trip in the Canadian Maritimes with the Emonds by Clicking Here.  Norm has included lots of pictures of their travels in his travelogues and his writing style makes the journey very interesting. 

Take Care Until Next Time - - - - - -