We're Not in Kansas Anymore...

January 2025 - Vidalia, LA

Back in January, we had some hellacious weather. It seemed like every 3 days there were Tornado Watches and Warnings. It was wildly unnerving. To be fair, it wasn't just January, it was February and March too. The picture above shows the biggest one that came within a 1/2 mile from our campground. It was taken from one of the town cameras on the Riverwalk. What was really weird was that, you know how they say they sound like a freight train? Well, this one we didn't here, but the one that went by less than a week later, we definitely heard! Wanna know why? It's because it went screaming by right behind our RV on the opposite side of the levee. 2 miles down the walkway it damaged a brick wall at one of the hotels.

I'm sure you remember the one that destroyed Rolling Fork a couple of years ago. Well, we weren't far from that one either. It seems as though we've spent alot of time in last 2 years either running from or praying for protection from tornadoes. In all honestly I can say we are so over it. We would talk to the gang at River View RV Park, and they were like "hey, it's tornado season". Like it was no big deal. They would then say to me "well at least we don't measure our snow in feet"! To which I would reply "at least the snow didn't RELOCATE my house...just sayin'". Point made!

When we were on our way to Minot, we thought perhaps there would be less of that kind of weather. Well, we were right....for a hot minute! In the last week and a 1/2 there have been no less than 3 different storms that culminated into multiple tornadoes. They caused damage across Illinois, North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota.

We have been really lucky and we don't take that for granted. It's another one of those times that I think that mom and Mike's dad are keeping an eye on us. I've begun to wonder if they are getting tired yet. I mean seriously, we've dodged alot of bullets. So with that in mind, (that and the fact that I'm just really tired of seeing "tornado watch" on my weather app), I am actively looking for a place in southern Arizona or that area of the country in general for us to spend the winter. It should also make Stacey's life a little less stressful. (We make her worry alot too).

So ,no... we aren't in Kansas anymore, because we don't have to be. There is enough tornado weather to go around in every other state from Louisiana to North Dakota and all points in between. And let's not forget about our Toto (aka; Stella), she takes cover under the blankets when the thunder rolls. So she wouldn't be okay in a bicycle basket! (If you have to ask "Who's Toto", I'm clearly older than I feel like I am...lol).

I've got a fair few more stories to tell you about, and I'm hoping to write them with a little more frequency...fingers crossed...

Until then.....Be Well, Be Happy and Safe Travels