Travel Day #2
Simple Joys and Sweet Figs
9/9/20253 min read
Travel day number two unfolded with a gentle ease that felt like a gift. The road was kind, the weather cooperative, and by around 2pm, the journey led to Kutztown, PA. Once we arrived, we unhooked and got Harvey, our goofy and almost full recovered dog, all settled into the RV. There’s a certain satisfaction in the small rituals of arrival: leveling the rig, plugging in, making sure everything is just so. It’s a rhythm that brings comfort, no matter where the wheels stop.
Once Harvey was cozy and content, the next stop was a familiar favorite: Whole Foods. It meant a quick drive back the way we came, but the anticipation was real. There’s something about stepping into that store—the bright lights, the rainbow of produce, the promise of ingredients that have been sorely missed while living in rural Maine. Yes, Whole Foods has its quirks: the reputation for high prices, the occasional air of pretension among shoppers. But for someone who loves to cook and bake, it’s a treasure trove. The selection alone is enough to make the heart skip a beat.
Today, it felt like a gift from above. Right inside the door, two containers of organic black mission fresh figs waited on the shelf. Just two. It was as if they were placed there just for this moment. Figs are a rare treat, and finding them here, on this day, was a small but meaningful joy. A few other essentials made their way into the cart, and suddenly, the prices didn’t seem so steep compared to what’s been spent at the local Maine grocery store. Sometimes, perspective is everything.
Lunch was at Core Life Eatery, a spot that brings back memories of North Carolina. Healthy, quick, and delicious—just having options felt like a luxury. It’s easy to take these little conveniences for granted until they’re gone. The truth is, every place has its trade-offs. Maine mornings are peaceful and the night sky is a tapestry of stars, but access to favorite foods and familiar comforts is limited. There’s no perfect place to live; it’s all about what is made of each day, wherever it happens to be.
The RV park tonight is tucked beside a beautiful vineyard, just off the highway. Pennsylvania’s countryside is lush and inviting, a welcome change from the traffic and chaos of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The landscape rolls gently, dotted with farms and fields, and there’s a sense of calm that settles in as the sun dips lower.
Tomorrow brings the last leg of this journey—back to Winston Salem, NC, for a week. The thought of seeing family again is the sweetest anticipation of all.
Today’s “something good” is simple: figs. Maybe it sounds silly, but sometimes the smallest things bring the most joy. A taste of something missed, a reminder of abundance, a sign that the day is unfolding just as it should.
Here’s to finding the simple joys in each day, wherever the road leads.
P.S. Saw this sign while exiting our lunch spot and had to snap a pic. The quote by James Beard read: "Food is our common ground, a universal experience." Those words really resonated. No matter where people come from or what their beliefs may be, food has a unique way of connecting us all. Sharing a meal breaks down barriers and creates moments of understanding and togetherness. Around the table, differences fade and what remains is the simple joy of nourishing ourselves and each other. Food truly is a common ground, reminding us that we all share in this universal experience.
Travel day number two unfolded with a gentle ease that felt like a gift. The road was kind, the weather cooperative, and by around 2pm, the journey led to Kutztown, PA. Once we arrived, we unhooked and got Harvey, our goofy and almost full recovered dog, all settled into the RV. There’s a certain satisfaction in the small rituals of arrival: leveling the rig, plugging in, making sure everything is just so. It’s a rhythm that brings comfort, no matter where the wheels stop.
Once Harvey was cozy and content, the next stop was a familiar favorite: Whole Foods. It meant a quick drive back the way we came, but the anticipation was real. There’s something about stepping into that store—the bright lights, the rainbow of produce, the promise of ingredients that have been sorely missed while living in rural Maine. Yes, Whole Foods has its quirks: the reputation for high prices, the occasional air of pretension among shoppers. But for someone who loves to cook and bake, it’s a treasure trove. The selection alone is enough to make the heart skip a beat.
Today, it felt like a gift from above. Right inside the door, two containers of organic black mission fresh figs waited on the shelf. Just two. It was as if they were placed there just for this moment. Figs are a rare treat, and finding them here, on this day, was a small but meaningful joy. A few other essentials made their way into the cart, and suddenly, the prices didn’t seem so steep compared to what’s been spent at the local Maine grocery store. Sometimes, perspective is everything.
Lunch was at Core Life Eatery, a spot that brings back memories of North Carolina. Healthy, quick, and delicious—just having options felt like a luxury. It’s easy to take these little conveniences for granted until they’re gone. The truth is, every place has its trade-offs. Maine mornings are peaceful and the night sky is a tapestry of stars, but access to favorite foods and familiar comforts is limited. There’s no perfect place to live; it’s all about what is made of each day, wherever it happens to be.
The RV park tonight is tucked beside a beautiful vineyard, just off the highway. Pennsylvania’s countryside is lush and inviting, a welcome change from the traffic and chaos of Massachusetts and Connecticut. The landscape rolls gently, dotted with farms and fields, and there’s a sense of calm that settles in as the sun dips lower.
Tomorrow brings the last leg of this journey—back to Winston Salem, NC, for a week. The thought of seeing family again is the sweetest anticipation of all.
Today’s “something good” is simple: figs. Maybe it sounds silly, but sometimes the smallest things bring the most joy. A taste of something missed, a reminder of abundance, a sign that the day is unfolding just as it should.
Here’s to finding the simple joys in each day, wherever the road leads.
P.S. Saw this sign while exiting our lunch spot and had to snap a pic. The quote by James Beard read: "Food is our common ground, a universal experience." Those words really resonated. No matter where people come from or what their beliefs may be, food has a unique way of connecting us all. Sharing a meal breaks down barriers and creates moments of understanding and togetherness. Around the table, differences fade and what remains is the simple joy of nourishing ourselves and each other. Food truly is a common ground, reminding us that we all share in this universal experience.
Newsletter
©2025 Whittle Bird at Home. All rights reserved.