Travels With Ralf

By Paula Coffer

The Travels with Ralf series of books are actually photo journals of Ralf traveling throughout the United States. Small towns, Cities, National and State Parks, and the highways of America are seen through the eyes of a US Army veteran given a diagnosis, from a lung condition acquired in Afghanistan, that none of us want to hear; you only have 18 months to live. Instead of giving up, Paula and Ralf travel this wonderful country of ours in search of friends, family and battle buddies to enjoy life with. Knowing that there are people homebound and unable to travel, Ralf's goal is to present the photos and stories of adventure and exploration as he visits those places others are unable or unwilling to go to. Biking, Hiking, and Kayaking are the basic trifectas of this adventure. For as long as Paula and Ralf can travel and experience life to the fullest they will share with you the sheer joy of living today for today. Ralf is the perfect travel companion. Ralf is an imaginary, magical, miniature, wire-haired dachshund. Follow along as Ralf helps Paula discover the best that life can offer with humor and an exceptional sense of what is unique in each place that is visited. Their conversations with the local inhabitants will inspire you to visit the points of interest along the highways and byway of America, from the Historical Route 66, to the backroads of your very own community.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paula Coffer
• Release date: Apr 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370440849

Paula Coffer

Paula is a retired US Army Finance Officer who after spending 3 years in Afghanistan began traveling the United States she loves and has protected in a 2016 Forest River Forester MBS Motorhome towing her 'RR' Red Rangler - Jeep Wrangler with a Kayak on the roof and a bike on the back. Her experience on Route 66 becomes your experience as she provides more than 750 color photos of the sights found along the Mother Road of America - The sometimes Forgotten Historical Route 66. Paula brings a background and history of executive business management and leadership. Having attained her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree and coupled with her 40 years of business experience, she uses this combined knowledge and experience to create a better working environment. A highly energetic, pragmatic leader with more than 35 years of success directing multifaceted domestic and international operations and facilities. An innovative solution-oriented troubleshooter, with extensive hands-on experience in strategic planning and programming, financial control and budget management, policy and standards establishment, and effective manpower utilization and evaluation. In a continuing quest to increase her knowledge and experience, Paula has continually sought challenging positions as evidenced when serving as a Federal Examiner for the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), as an Anti-money Laundering Revenue Agent for the Internal Revenue Service, as a College Professor, as a Director of Finance and Administration for Job Corps and as a US Army Finance Officer. Finally Paula served as a Mentor to the Chief of Financial Management (Budget Development), Ministry of Interior (MOI), for NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan before advising the Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Security Training Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A). In this position she represented the United States military command and the US Embassy while interacting with Foreign Diplomats and the United Nations. Since 2015 Paula has been traveling the United States in a motorhome visiting National Parks and other scenic venues while writing multiple books. She brings a refreshing light on serious life issues.

Book preview

Travels With Ralf

The traveling adventures of Ralf and Paula across America in a Motorhome named Harry.

Copyright © 2018 Paula Coffer

Published by Paula Coffer at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Book One: Travels with Ralf Series

Table of Contents

Dedication and Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part One – Wanna Be Traveler

Part Two – Shopping

Part Three – Asheville

Part Four – Meet Ralf

Part Five – Traveling with Ralf

Part Six – Smokey Mountains

Part Seven – RV Rally

Part Eight – Shenandoah

Part Nine – Washington DC

Part Ten – Williamsburg

Yorktown, VA

Jamestown, VA

Mount Vernon, VA

About Paula Coffer

Other books by Paula Coffer

Connect with Paula Coffer

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to each of us that have a longing to experience life without reservations. When we finally let go and accept that life is meant to be lived one day at a time when we finally accept that life is to be enjoyed and even embraced then and only then can we move on to the next step in our journey of life. Life is way too short to sweat the small stuff and everything is small stuff.

This book is also dedicated to those that want to get out and explore but for some reason cannot. For those I present the photos of my adventures as if they are your own.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks to Robin, Cheryl, Ann, and Joyce for giving me your encouragement and support. A special thanks to Alice for her cover creation. Thanks to all my traveling friends that I’ve met along the American highways that continue to inspire me each day. The freedom we each have to experience a life on the road, seeing the people and land that we call America is nothing short of a miracle in itself. Thank someone that has served in our military as it is their sacrifice that has given us this opportunity.

INTRODUCTION

Somewhere in our imagination most of us have sought the thrill, the sheer joy of traveling freely around the United States to visit the National and State parks, nature preserves, and the scenic beauty seen as we pass through small towns all over America. Some of us imagine visiting cities large and small to attend operas, plays or concerts. Maybe it is in your dreams and imagination to visit every county courthouse in your state. Maybe you see yourself visiting the historic battlefields of the Revolutionary or Civil war. Perhaps your adventure is to visit the encampments and battlefields of the soldiers that fought the American Indians. You might want to follow the historical trails of the people that settled this great land such as Lewis and Clark or even travel down America’s highway – Route 66!

But who has the time to do that? How would you venture to these enticing locations if you could? Who would you take with you?

Most people talk about visiting the National Monuments like Mount Rushmore or National Parks like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. Sadly this is just wishful thinking for many that have the desire to travel. A common comment I hear is that ‘I don’t have the time’, or ‘I don’t have the money’, or ‘I don’t have the ______’ (just fill in the excuse you want to use here).

Traveling in a recreational vehicle covers a broad spectrum of conveyances. There are motorhomes from small to large. A class A motorhome is as big as a bus and is a drivable apartment. A class B motorhome is a van that has been converted to provide sleeping, cooking and living space. A class C motorhome is a small truck with a camper that contains all the amenities and conveniences such as kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living area. Some pickup trucks have a camper in their bed that has all the same amenities, just smaller and more cramped within the confined space.

There are Travel Trailers that range in size from small and compact that is pulled with a motorcycle to large and as complete as an apartment that is pulled by trucks with dually rear wheels. Some travel trailers are so large that they are pulled by a truck equipped with a ‘fifth wheel’ contraption in the bed of the truck. Other travel trailers are more compact. A popup camper expands up and out to provide a roomy sleeping and living area. Then there are people who want to camp remotely and use tents in the State and National Parks.

Whatever the conveyance, they are occupied by people with adventure in their soul and a wanderlust in their heart to see and experience something different than their neighborhood or city. There is much to be said for being a tourist in your own hometown. But there is so much more to be said for the ones that want to venture out and explore life in nature or to experience the joys of visiting other historic or family amusement locations.

So who travels in a recreational vehicle? Retirees travel because they have the time. Retirees quite often don’t have the physical stamina to climb the mountains to view the splendor of the waterfalls cascading hundreds of