Recovery, Reflection & a Return to the Road 🚐💭🍂
Recovery from surgery was tougher than expected, so we decided to extend our stay in Rochester. The thought of a two-day travel stint while still feeling out of it? No, thank you. But once we felt ready, we hit the road with overnight stops in:
✔️ Canton, Missouri—a quick and quiet stop.
✔️ Paducah, Kentucky—where we unexpectedly had the best Thai food ever. Who knew Paducah was hiding a Thai food gem?! Now we just need an excuse to go back. 😆
Settling Back into Tennessee Life 🍷🌮🏡
We made our way back to Whitewater RV Park in Ocoee, TN, where the focus was on rest, healing, and some much-needed comfort food. Even while taking it slow, we managed to revisit some of our favorite spots:
✔️ Sweetwater Taps—a local favorite for drinks 🍻
✔️ Misfit Tacos—because you can never have too many tacos 🌮
✔️ Moh Moh’s Thai Food Truck—round two of Thai food bliss 🥡
✔️ Twisted Tomato Pizza—wood-fired perfection 🍕
✔️ Tsali Notch Vineyards—because Muscadine wine just hits different in Tennessee 🍷
Returning to Our Property: Still Feels Like Home 🏡💛🌾
The real moment of truth? Coming back to our property. Would we still feel that same connection? Absolutely. The second we stepped onto the land, we knew—it was still home.
Of course, Mother Nature had a field day in our absence. The grass was so overgrown it nearly reached the truck hood! First priority? Getting Nick a heavy-duty lawnmower. Once the jungle was tamed, we focused on finalizing our site plan. After a few tweaks, we think we’ve nailed our vision—and we can’t wait to bring it to life in the spring.
Friends, Food & Fall Adventures 🍎🍁🥾
Even while taking it easy, we made time for some incredible moments:
✔️ Reuniting with Lori (Bama) in Chattanooga—nothing like catching up with an old friend from Minnesota! 🥰
✔️ Mayfield Dairy Tour—because ending a tour with a butter pecan ice cream cone is always a win 🍦
✔️ Our first time voting as Tennessee residents—officially official! 🗳️
✔️ Investing in snake boots—finally exploring the woods on our property with no snake scares! 🐍
✔️ Apple orchard date—not quite a Minnesota orchard experience, but still a sweet fall outing 🍏🍂
✔️ Wine tasting with a mountain view—because there’s nothing better than sipping wine with a breathtaking backdrop 🍷⛰️
✔️ Short hike at Gee Creek in Cherokee National Forest—testing the waters with a rustic but refreshing trek 🥾🌲
Bonus? I met a women’s hiking group that I can’t wait to join next time we’re back!
A Special Sendoff & Final To-Dos 🚛🙏🍂
Before heading south, we had one last get-together with the Rotella family. They drove two hours to meet us for brunch at Greek Café Restaurant in Riceville. Such a special way to wrap up our time here! We even took them out to our property before squeezing in one last hike at Hiwassee/Ocoee Scenic River State Park. The crisp air, fall colors, and time with friends made it one of the most perfect autumn days.
The last major task? Getting a shipping container delivered to our property—a secure spot to store Nick’s new toy while we head south for the winter. The best part? The man who delivered it asked if he could pray for us before he left. That’s the second time a stranger has done that for us here—the kindness of Southern hospitality never ceases to amaze me. ❤️
Final Thoughts: Florida, Here We Come! 🌴🌞🚐
This past month was a whirlwind—full of recovery, reflection, and laying the groundwork for our future home. But as the morning air turned crisp, we knew it was time.
Next stop: Florida! 🚐☀️🏝️
