lb@large

When camping in a truck, one should not underestimate the practicalities of “the tailgate”. That piece of furniture comes in handy a lot of times, especially if you don’t possess a folding table or chairs.

Mark and I used it as seats, when we were too lazy to unpack the back, to search for our more comfy beach chairs. Or, when it was wet out, the tailgate kept our butts dry.

More than once a day, the platform gave us extra space to put bags and boxes, while digging deeper for other gear, without having to drop it on the (wet) ground.

And what would be a better spot then the locking mechanism on the side of the tailgate to hang a garbage bag? This way, the trash is located off the ground, away from insects, and outside the car.

As a table, we used it for many things: making dinner, serving food, eating all meals, putting flowers and drinks down. When the wind was too strong, we found out that this last idea wasn’t a smart one.

Even the dogs benefited from this part of the vehicle. It was the place where we poured water and food in their bowls, and the whole unit provided welcome shade underneath.

You can also use a tailgate to play cards and other games, but previously mentioned wind, cold weather, and rain, will chase you back in the tent or the interior of the truck. And how long can a couple and two dogs survive in the confinement of these two places? About two months!

The car is yellow. Nothing special about that, if it wasn’t for the fact that our car is normally tan. Not now, though. And, believe me, there’s nothing good about that yellow. It never was one of my favorite colors, and that sure isn’t about to change these days…

The top of our vehicle is covered with half an inch of yellow dust. Pollen. Apparently the state of Maryland is known for this phenomenon. If only we had known. I don’t mind pollen. It’s part of nature. I love nature. It gives color to everything around me. I love colors. But, it makes Mark very sick. And, I love Mark!

I knew he had allergies. Once in a while on our travels, there would be a couple of days of runny noses, wet tissues, and some sneezing. Nothing to worry about. Sometimes, he’d have to get his asthma medicine out and spray a few times. That was that. Sure, he had allergies, but it wasn’t a big deal and easy to live with. Until now.

When we arrived in Maryland, April 25th, we found a great National Park to camp. Greenbelt NP is situated in the woods, close to Washington DC, Baltimore and Annapolis. For about a week, we camped under the trees and saw the landscape turn yellow. Mark started to suffer from his allergies and was soon enough hooked to all kinds of medicines. Nothing seemed to help. Runny eyes and nose made us run out of toilet paper every two days. Benadryl made him feel weird and sleepy. The asthma medicine was used daily. We dealt with it.

Our new friend and yacht broker Tommy has a nice uncle who has a great best friend, and before we knew it, we moved to a big farm near Annapolis. We set up camp in the long grass, not knowing for how long. The world around us was less yellow. Green was dominating now. There was grass everywhere, in this friendly Hippieland. These long-haired fellows made us feel very welcome and 2,5 weeks later, we are still there.

The nights have been tough, though. Packed like sardines in our tent, the four of us keep waking up, because of Mark’s bad health. Sneezing, sniffling, blowing the nose… blood gushing for hours. Tissues piling up and filling air holes wherever present. Coughing, sniffling. Chchchchagh. Slime brought to the throat, collecting in a goopy pile and swallowed back in. Sounds (and is) disgusting, but keeps the nose from bleeding and the sleeping bag and pillow from collecting red stains. Mark’s nose is stuffed and he can barely breathe at times. It has been going on for weeks now. We’ve tried everything. If only the American government would provide its citizens with better health care, people could afford to go to the doctor when actually needed…

After a third medicine trial, things looked like they were improving. But… Mark’s hands and toes turned red. Lobster red, as if burned. Now, we did deliver a boat in the Bay almost a week ago. It was freezing cold, but the sun was out. Why does this color show up three days after the exposure to the sun? We have no clue. Is it another allergic reaction? Time for Benadryl again and hopefully we can stay awake to keep tracking the weird actions of Mark’s body!

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