December 18, 2004 (Sat) Home to Smithfield, NC (506 miles)- For those who do not know, we're off for Florida two weeks early. Joy's mother fell on Wednesday and broke her femur at the hip. Surgery to implant some pins was this afternoon and she's doing well. We prepared and packed Q in record time. Usually we do it over a period of days to be sure we haven't forgotten anything. This time we did it in one day. In addition to taking aboard all that we might need for an 8 week trip we had to bring Q out of winter storage mode, which means flushing the antifreeze out of the pipes and tanks and reloading everything taken off for the winter. We got off at 8:00 - 25°.
We topped off the gas tank before leaving NJ ($1.64) at the foot of I-295. Bad move. Prices were better in Delaware! We took US-301 south to avoid the heavy traffic near Baltimore and Washington, DC. - we're not sure it was a wise decision either - and rejoined I-95 north of Richmond, VA. We listened to NPR and Christmas CD's all the way down. Other than seeing the first Chinook-in-the-wild of the trip, there was nothing else worth noting here.
This is our first experience camping at a Walmart. It seems quiet - a lot quieter than a Flying J truck stop anyway - and well lit. There are two other rigs here, a fifth-wheel with its 3 slides out near us and a class A motor home some distance away. This Walmart is part of a large fragmented strip mall off US-301 (that parallels I-95). Among many other things there is a McDonald's, where we picked up dinner, and a Chinese buffet, that we may hit next time. Also the Carolina Pottery outlet stores, where we've stopped several times, are at the I-95 junction.
Q008606 Walmart Supercenter parking lot Smithfield, VA
--------------------
December 19, 2004 (Sun) Smithfield, NC to Stark, FL (481 miles) - It got down to 31° last night. This isn't normally a problem but we weren't expecting it. Mark woke up cold and, thinking it was about time to get up, turned the furnace on. Then crawled back into bed to wait for Q to warm up. He woke again later and saw that it was only 1:30. He turned the furnace off, put on more blankets, and went back to bed. At 6:30 we tried again. After some shopping at Walmart - a friendly comment to the cart return man yielded the information that snow is expected tonight and an endless flow of chatter that we could barely understand - we got on the road again at about 8:30.
We stopped at rest stops to eat breakfast (cereal!) at 9:15 and lunch (cold cut roll-ups) at 12:45. By this time the temperature was up to 56o with big puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky above. At 4:30 we stopped to fill up on cheap gas ($1.54/gal) and when we got to the pump we found they were out of regular/no lead gas. The station next door had lines at each pump but worth the wait - also $1.54 a gallon. It was about then that we decided we weren't going to make it to Englewood in time to see Joy's mother today.
We remembered Dorcas and Mike talking about a Walmart in Stark, Fl next to the KOA where they were camping at the time. We thought that if the Walmart didn't work out, we could go to the KOA. We left the interstate north of Jacksonville, FL and headed west on US-301. We not only avoided the heavy traffic around Jacksonville but were rewarded with a beautiful sunset. The whole western sky was lit up red making silhouettes of the roadside palm trees.
We didn't feel comfortable about the Walmart parking lot and no one else seemed to be spending the night there so we decided not to either. We wanted to find something less expensive than the KOA - we think $30.00 is too much to pay for 8 night time hours on a small strip of grass or gravel - but it was late and the campground was right next door after all.
Q009085 Stark KOA #B w/e/s $30.00 B
------------------
December 20, 2004 (Mon) Stark, FL to Englewood, FL (233 miles) - 35.6° last night. It wasn't as cold but we were prepared this time. We slept warmly, snugly, and soundly until about 4:30, then dozed until 5:30. As we ate breakfast we watched local TV newscasters talk about the problems with ice and snow up north - an 80 vehicle pileup on I-80 in Pennsylvania and the closing of I-95 because of ice in Virginia - 18 to 20 inches of snow in Chicago and almost as much across New York State. We got out just in time! It was then that we discovered that Q's dining room clock was wrong! We'd been starting our days an hour later than we thought. No wonder we trouble making the trip in two days - that and our advancing ages, of course.
We rode along side the Amtrak Auto Train for several miles as we followed US-301 south. We were generally going faster than it was because we'd gain on it until we had to slow down through villages along the route. Then we'd have to catch up and begin to pass it again. At one point the track and the road diverged and we were alone again - more or less. Among our companions southbound were flatbed trucks loaded with construction equipment and materials. We finally figured out that it was probably for rebuilding the hurricane damaged areas. We haven't see much evidence of destruction but we have seen some.
We got to the Englewood hospital at about 1:30 and found Bom (Joy's mother) up in her chair eating lunch. She seemed completely herself. It was hard to imagine that she'd undergone surgery only two days before. The Doctor came in while we were there and discussed her going home in a day or two. Wonderful!
December 21, 2004 (Tue) - First day of Winter. It's 65° outside. It doesn't seem much like Winter. But then it got into the mid 30s last night that doesn't seem much like Florida either. Bom came home this afternoon, walking with the help of a walker. We're very proud of her.
We'll be here until after January 6th. Our next installment of this wanderlog will come after that. Q sends his best wishes for the season.
Q009318 - SunTrust parking lot (parked) x2
Unexpected departure - #51-01
And Home - #48-05
October 16, 2004 (Sat) Bernard, ME to Epsom, NH (247 miles) - Heavy rain and wind last night most of the night. We awoke several times and lay there listening to it. It was cozy in a way but the strength of the wind kept it from being really soothing. The news said that some areas nearby got as much as 1 1/2 inches of rain. There was heavy mist, almost rain, when we said a reluctant good-bye to Dick and Ruth at 8:47. Thanks so much, guys, for your generosity and good company. It is always so good to see you.
We thought the wind might have blown the leaves off the trees but the colors were still beautiful along US-3 through Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. We took note of "The Big Chicken Barn" on US-3/US-1 south of Ellsworth. It's a good place to exchange our used paperback books if we remember to bring them next time. There were broken clouds in the sky but it was still raining as we passed through Bucksport. In Belfast (ME) the sun came out and stayed with us, more or less, the rest of the way.
Most, if not all of the public (state and national) campgrounds are closed for the season so we had no choice but to choose a private one. It's a bit unkempt but not too bad. It's wooded and we are in one of the few sites "on the river". It's a creek by our definition but we can see water out our back door. We wouldn't mind coming back if we're ever in the area out of season again.
Q007684 Epsom Valley Campground #R4 w/e/s $23.00 C
October 17, 2004 Epsom, NH to Copkate Falls, NY (205 miles) - Up at 7, showered, ate breakfast, dumped, and off at 9:00 - 49° and sunny. The sun didn't last long. The sky clouded over as we crossed New Hampshire subduing the yellows, reds, oranges of the surrounding landscape. We went through Concord, NH - Mark's birth city - and made a half hearted attempt to find his distant cousin's farm in Contookook - half hearted because we had absolutely no information to go on beyond the memory of being there several (20? 30?) years ago. The traffic down US-7 wasn't as bad as we'd expected in this leaf peeping Sunday afternoon. The bicyclists were a hazard though. There were many! Not content to go single file in their designated lane, they were often doubled up so that one of them rode the white line defining the bicycle lane. Cars, and especially trucks and motor homes were forced to cross the center line to avoid too close an encounter which created close encounters of another kind.
We've been in this campground several times. All but the first time without the time to take advantage of the bicycle trail that passes nearby. Some day we'll come here especially to do that.
Q007889 Taconic State Park #C80 dry $13.00 +$2.50 B
October 18,2004 (Mon) Copkate Falls, NY to Home (190 miles) - Up at about 7:30 and off at 8:14 in search of our traditional last day on the road fast food breakfast. According to a magazine article, Peter and Toni Wing built themselves a castle in the Hudson Valley hills out of salvaged materials and found objects. We thought that would be interesting to see so we programmed Henry to guide us there. It turned out to be hidden in the trees at the end (presumable) of a winding dirt driveway. Its only identification was an engraved wooden slab proclaiming "Wing's Castle". There seemed to be no public invitation to go up the drive so we went on.
We finally found a McDonalds in Pleasant Valley, NY at 10:45 got our sausage McMuffin with egg sandwiches and coffee. Q needed nourishment too but the New York price of $2.17/gal was a little steep so we got 5 gallons - enough to get us to New Jersey where we filled up at $1.95/gal. In general our final leg home gave us beautiful fall scenery in New York and reasonably light traffic in New Jersey.
Q008074 Home
To Bernard, ME - #48-04
October 11, 2004 (Mon) Tamworth, NH to Phippsburg, ME (97 miles) - 56.5° at 10:30 when we got off. We shouldn't have been so lazy! There was a long line at the dump station - everyone was going home from their long Columbus Day weekend! The news just reported snow on Mt Washington. So Guess the Summer is truly over. Along US-25 toward Portland, The foliage was breath taking - I feel like I'm repeating myself. But it just goes on and on! - There was a Winnabago Brave behind us much of the way and we thought what great fun it would be if it had been Phil and Gail.
It's true. We'll admit it - because we can't hide it any longer. We're L.L.Bean junkies. We thought it was Concourse Q but Destiny Q does the same thing. Whenever we get near an L.L.Bean store we tune in and stop! It was the factory store in Freeport today. Great bargains! Even better prices than the outlet in North Conway.
Henry kind if let us down this afternoon. When we got lost outside of Freeport looking for a campground and turned to him for help, he couldn't find a satellite signal. We had to find our own way back to US-1. This is a new campground for us. It's OK for a stop over but a little out of the way and expensive. It looks to have been an old apple orchard but most of the trees have been cut down. So it's mostly open.
Q0072049 Meadowbrook Camping Area #21 w/e $10.00p C
October 12, 2004 (Tue) Phippsburg, ME to Camden, ME (105 miles) - On our way through Meadowbrook, ME we saw a roadside mail box painted bright red. Below it, also painted bright red, was a garbage pail labeled "Junk Mail". Sounds like a good idea. We got lost in Bath, ME! After several tries to get onto US-1 north we asked directions. It turns out that there was no sign at one of the turns so we missed it. Since we had only 52 miles to go today we took a detour to Boothbay Harbor. A typical little Maine seacoast fishing/tourist village near the end of one of Maine's many peninsulas. It was a sightseeing venture without stops to shop - well almost. Joy spotted a fabric store on the way. She subscribes to the philosophy "No fabric/quilt shop left behind".
On the way, again, up US-1, we saw a sign directing us to "I'm Puzzled". We thought that sounded like an interesting shop so we detoured again. It turned out to be a private home where the garage had been converted into a place to sell new and used jigsaw puzzles and, as it turned out, clams and other seafood. We didn't stop.
After setting up in Camden Hills State Park outside of Camden, ME we hiked up to the summit of Mount Battie - 500 feet up in 2 miles. After 4 grueling miles we were ready to sit back and relax.
Q007354 Camden Hills State Park #4s dry $13.00 (off season rate) A
October 13, 2004 (Wed) Camden, ME to Bernard, ME (83 miles) - Adventure at the dump station - no not that kind. While taking on fresh water, a van rigged for camping pulled into the dump station in front of us. No problem. The wait would be minimal if any. When we'd finished filling up and were ready to move up, the old fella (about our age) was rinsing off/out his port-a-potty with the dump station hose. When he finished he did it again paying particular attention to the cap. Then he did a thorough job of rinsing off the dump station overflow basin. Then he went back and worked on the port-a-potty again, Then the basin got another rinse. Had he had problems dumping? We hadn't noticed. He finally put the cap back on the port-a-potty and the turned hose on his windshield! When that was clean, presumably, he turned his attention to the side of his van. Had the port-a-potty exploded or something? Mark was about to politely toot the horn when he finally turned the hose off. It took a while for him to properly stow the port-a-potty in his van before he left.
There's an L.L.Bean outlet in Ellsworth, ME - we stopped. Lunch was KFC chicken strips in a shopping center parking lot. We arrived in Bernard at about 3:00 to Dick and Ruth's hugs and warm greetings.
October 14, 2004 (Thu) Bernard, ME - It's great being with Dick and Ruth - much visiting and relaxation. This afternoon we went for a walk into downtown Bernard to see two docks, the post office, a couple of antique shops, and the house featured in the opening scenes of Steven King's "The Storm of the Century"
October 15, 2004 (Fri) Bernard, ME - Our adventure for today was to go into Bar Harbor with Dick and Ruth for lunch at Galyn's and then a little browsing in several interesting shops. It rained during the night and has been drizzling, more or less, all day. Even so the trees along the roads are beautiful. The mist gives the colors a special quality all their own - not as brilliant as they are in the bright sun but a soft pastel accented by wisps of fog behind. What a great time of year to be here!
Q007437 Dick and Ruth's driveway (x3)
White Mountain NF - #48-03
October 8, 2004 (Fri) Gorham, NH (49 miles) - Nearly 50 miles and we're right back where we started. We had some email that needed to go out and some supplies to pick up so we took off in search of a good phone signal and a grocery store after the breakfast chores were done. We were able to take care of the groceries in Gorham (north on US16) but we couldn't find a good signal until we were almost back in North Conway (south on US16). We were a little perturbed with ourselves for not taking care of these chores yesterday but the ride was worth it. The trees are all in full color - reds, yellows, oranges, and all shades of green. The mountains between Gorham and North Conway are spectacular! The observatory on the top of Mt. Washington was clearly visible, as it was yesterday. Since they say the mountain is cloud covered 365 days a year, that must make this year at least 368 days long!
When we got back we donned shorts and summer shirts and sat under our awning enjoying a beautiful Indian summer afternoon. It's hard to believe that it's October in the New Hampshire mountains. We should be worrying about snow, not sun burn!
October 9, 2004 (Sat) Gorham, NH - Sponge baths this morning as our fresh water supply is getting low (We should have topped off at the KOA!) and the rest rooms have no showers or hot water. There is no easy way to get water into the tank. The only spigots that we can find in the campground that will accept a hose connection are in the restrooms. Even if we had the nerve to park in the road near them our hose would never reach. This has been a study in poor planning.
After breakfast we donned our hiking cloths and headed for the Great Gulf Trail. It is one of several that goes to the top of Mt. Washington - 8 miles from where it started in the campground - crossing the Appalachian Trail along the way. We went part way and called it exercise enough especially since we'd walked to the trail head from our campsite. We spent the afternoon reading, napping, knitting and people watching - the campground has really filled up for the weekend! There's a loud birthday party going on somewhere close. Hope it doesn't go on too late!
Q007052 White Mountains National Forest, Dolly Copp Campground #27 dry $9.00g B (x2)
October 10, 2004 (Sun) Gorham, NH to Tamworth, NH (88 miles) - We ran out of water this morning, before we could get the breakfast dishes washed - and the monitor indicates we have half a tank! Mark looked for the problem and found that the bottom two probes are below the output to the pump and still under what water is left. So the system thinks the tank is 1/2 full.
Other than that it's been a pretty good day. It's somewhat cooler (53° at 9:00) but under a beautiful blue sky. As we drove down US16 toward North Conway - again! - the clouds were drifting across the mountain tops looking a lot like a wind tunnel test. (We couldn't see the top of Mt Washington, E&K) The colors were, if possible, even more vibrant than they have been. "They" predicted an outstanding year for fall foliage. They certainly got it right!
We passed a young woman jogging down US16 in short shorts, sport bra and mittens. OOOKAAY. In North Conway we stopped at the L.L.Bean outlet again and while there we picked up our email, made several phone calls, and checked our answering machine at home. Keepsake Quilting was almost on the way so, of course we had to make the detour.
This campground, although we were greeted by a fat little, short legged goat standing in the middle of the road blocking our way (escapee from the petting zoo, we think) we probably will avoid coming back. The mouse turds on the backs of the chairs in the rec/laundry room tipped the balance against! We're sitting here in Q waiting for the laundry to finish listening to the latest noise the young call music wafting across the road at us. We look forward to and hope for solitude in our wooded campsite.
Except for house keeping neglect, it's not a bad campground. The winding road through the trees could be a little tight for big rigs but doable. Gunshots in the distance are a little troubling but it's quiet.
Q007140 Tamworth Camping Area #21 w/e $10.00p C-
To Crown Point, NY - #48-02
October 5, 2004 (Tue) Crown Point, NY - Today was a day to slow down and catch up. The wild and reckless pace of the last few days was replaced with laziness. We got up late, ate a leisurely breakfast, and went for a walk through the campground and park. There were only two campsites occupied at that point - a fishing group (by the looks) several sites away behind us and a fifth-wheel with a couple of tame motorcycles half way across the park. Our walking tour included the light house that we climbed (about 200 feet up a winding stairway) for a beautiful view of Lake Champlain in two directions and the Green Mountains in Vermont across the way.
Later Mark worked on the newsletter while Joy read and started a new knitting project. After lunch we read, napped and just hung out - inside as it was too cold to sit around outside. Late in the afternoon we got neighbors - in the next site! Why, when the whole campground is empty, did they choose to park right next to us? Joy said it's because it has the second best view. She's right. Ours has the best.
Q006745 Crown Point Campground #6A dry $13.00 A
October 6, 2004 (Wed) Crown Point, NY to Twin Mountain, NH (148 miles) - We're turning into lazy stay-a-beds! It was after 7:30 when we finally got up this morning! And it was cold. How cold was it? Q said it got down to 35° during the night. The TV said 37° in nearby Burlington, VT. We took showers anyway - Q does a good job of warming it up in here. It was 47°, sunny and beautiful at 9:40 when we got underway.
Some of you may be wondering why, when we're traveling through New England (New York State is almost in New England:) in October, we haven't said anything about the Fall foliage. Well, there's been nothing to talk about. The trees along the road and in the mountains have been mostly green with only a splash of red or yellow here and there. Even the famous US-7 was disappointing all the way to Burlington. But as soon as we turned East on US-2 the colors began to brighten. The skies had turned overcast by then but the colors were awesome all the same. And when the sun was able to peek through on a nearby mountain, they were spectacular.
This is one of those expensive pack-um-in commercial campgrounds that we try to avoid but we are here to meet up with Ed and Kathy. They are just coming off one of the caravans they lead. When we got here we were told that the group hadn't come back from their train trip yet but as we were setting up a bus load of people, all waving, passed by our site. A few minutes later Ed came by to say hello. Later they invited us to an impromptu farewell party with their group at their site. Dinner, BYO sandwiches, was just the four of us at our place.
Q006893 Twin Mountain KOA #10 w/e/s $35.00 C
October 7, 2004 (Thu) Twin Mountain to White Mountain National Forest (111 miles) - Ed and Kathy had planned to get off at 7:00 this morning but must have come by earlier. When we walked up to their site, it was empty. Three of the four hurricanes to hit Florida this year , hit their town. Their neighbors reported to them that the house sustained no physical damage but everything in their refrigerator and freezer had to be thrown out. They are anxious to get home. Hope you made it as far as Carlisle, PA as planned, E&K, and that you find as little damage at home as reported. It was good to see you!
We plan to spend some time in the mountains - probably without hook-ups - so we filled up on propane before we left the KOA at 9:30. We had several public (state & national) Campgrounds to choose from and settled on the Dolly Copp National Forest campground at the base of Mt. Washington. We've been here several times. We picked a site we've had before, unloaded our bicycles and put a table cloth on the table to stake out our claim on it and took off for the North Conway (NH) discount outlets - L.L.Bean was having a Columbus Day sale! On the way back to the campground we stopped at a model railroad museum just outside of North Conway that displayed hundreds (maybe thousands) of models in all scales and gauges from all over the world. There were also twelve (at least) operating model railroad layouts in N, HO, S, O, and G gauges. There was also an G gauge layout outside the museum as well as a train, still a model, large enough to ride on. Very interesting place!
Back in camp we took a walk through the campground, very large, and have come back for a relaxing evening. It's been a good day.
Q007004 Dolly Copp Campground #27 dry $9.00g B
Hedges Lake - #48-01
October 1, 2004 (Fri) Home to Hedges Lake (236 miles) - It was 56° and sunny when we got off. We had planned to wait until after the crush of commuters had reached their offices in New York and surrounding cities. It was good that we had because the morning traffic reports described big delays on the northbound garden State Parkway due to a serious accident. It was cleared away by the time we passed by the site so we barely had to slow down. In fact there were no problems all the way to the New York State Thruway. At 11:50, we stopped for lunch at a Thruway rest area and were rolling again at 12:45. Arrived at Hedges Lake at 2:55.
Destiny Q is 3 feet longer than Concourse Q was, so getting into Ruth and Gordy's driveway was a bit of a challenge. It took several back and forth maneuvers to get us in properly - 6 feet from the house, front wheels at the grass line, and back steps 6 inches from the one lane dirt road. Tight!
It was good to see Ruth and Gordy again and sitting around visiting with a panoramic view of the lake out the window was a relaxing way to end the day.
October 2, 2004 (Sat) Hedges Lake - Last night we watched the moon come up over the lake - well the hills across the lake. This morning we watched the sun come up through the fog over the lake - from our bed. Sometimes Joy has gotten up and gone for a swim as the sun comes up. Not this morning - too cold - 48°! We lay in bed until after seven - very late for us.
This was the weekend for the Annual Manchester (VT) Craft Festival, a quality event, so we dusted off our credit cards and trekked over there with Christmas shopping in mind. The food exhibit tent (huge) treated us to home prepared food samples of a wide variety - jellies and jams, cheeses, mustards, spreads, dips, etc. All very good. We wanted to go back for seconds. But the craft tent (even bigger) awaited. Some of the crafts on display (and for sale) were high class with prices to match but most were quite affordable - but still high class. We bought several things that will be wrapped and held for the end of December, others have already been put into use. There were food vendors, of course - there always are. We stood in line at Ali Babba's Kabob booth for Greek food in wraps - Mark had lamb, Joy Steak, and Ruth curried something. Gordy had a hot dog. On the way home we stopped for home made ice cream.
October 3, 2004 (Sun)- Our excursion for today was a trip to Camping World in Amsterdam, NY, planning to stop somewhere along the way for some intentional exercise (walking). As soon as we walked in the door we were offered a hot dog, soda and chips - free! The RV dealership associated with this Camping World was having an open house. We thanked them by walking through some of the rigs they had on display. As the clerk in Camping World ran our credit card she said "I don't believe it!" and started to ask if we knew this name or that name. We didn't. At first we thought maybe there was some kind of fraud involving our credit card but it turned out that she had grown up in Red Bank. We had quite a little chat about people we both knew and some of the things happening around Red Bank - while Ruth and Gordy stood by their car wondering why we were taking so long.
On the way back we looked up a couple of trails suggested by Henry and learned that he is better at navigating roads than picking walking trails. We went to Saratoga Spa State Park (near Saratoga Springs, NY) for our walk. It was a beautiful walk and on our way back through the historic spa area we came across a wedding about to start by the reflecting pool. We sat on some nearby steps and watched. We talked about crashing the reception for our dinner but decided that we weren't properly dressed.
Q006643 Ruth & Gordy's Driveway (x3)
October 4, 2004 (Mon) Hedges Lake to Crown Point (102 miles) - It got cold last night (420) but it had warmed up to 54°, sunny and clear when we got on the road. Thanks Gordy and Ruth for a great couple of days! After stopping at a Walmart in Glens Falls, NY, we drove up along Lake George. Jeff and Jennifer will probably remember the hilly, winding road up to Hague where Mark's parents lived for a while. The road seems more built up now and there are many small changes in Hague - buildings fixed up and more flowers and grassy areas. The garage over the brook taken out by the flood that time has not been replaced.
Crown Point is the site of two forts - one British, one French - used to defend the area before and during the American Revolution. They are in ruins now but preserved. We walked over there after setting up our campsite and relearned some of the history of the area.
It's cloudy and threatening rain now. It seems warmer than last night but is supposed to get cold. We're sitting here with Lake Champlain and the Champlain Bridge (to Vermont) out our dining room window. And the Champlain Memorial Lighthouse is not far from our rear door. We've been here before. It's a nice park with roomy (especially with so few occupied) grass covered sites. The lack of hookups discourages long stays in cold weather but we'll be here 2 nights.
Q006745 Crown Point Campground #6A dry $13.00 A (+$2.50)
50th anniversary party - #47-02
August 28, 2004 (Sat) Mars Hill, NC - The great 50th anniversary extravaganza and pig roast was a resounding success. Guests from as far away as Japan, Ireland and South Africa and as near as next door - some 175 (more or less) in all - gathered under the huge white party tent in Bob and Pat's side yard to help them celebrate their 50 years of marriage. The sound of friends catching up with old friends and meeting new all but drowned out the sound of the the mountain music band hired to fill in the awkward silences. (Not really but it was a good contest!) The toast was given by the Bob's Best Man.
It all began at about 7:00am with the arrival of caterers who fired up the huge charcoal smoker and loaded it with a 40 pound pig (apple in mouth and all) and enough more pork to feed twice (at least) the expected crowd. Ed and Kathy arrived in their motor home not too long after that. During the morning the "permanent" guests and their hosts sat around under the tent and chatted, ate lunch and chatted. We even had time to sketch out some preliminaries of the 3 month (or so) motor home trip to Alaska 8 of us are planning for next summer. The kids (and some adults) enjoyed the swimming pool in the back yard. Local guests began to arrive around 4:00pm and the festivities about 6:00. The older kids ended the celebration with a huge bonfire in the other side yard. Needless to say, a great time was had by all!
August 29, 2004 (Sun) Mars Hill - Chip and Kim got off at about 6:30 this morning leaving a large gap in our little campground. Morning duties were few and leisurely as the many of us who were left planned to join Bob and Pat at their their church. And did. Lunch was leftover roast pork and salad. The afternoon was spent in typical Sunday afternoon chat among friends while some of the younger crowd went off to do some white water rafting and others played horse shoes or ping pong. The swimming pool was occupied all afternoon and Joy took her turn at this duty. Our evening meal was leftover roast pork and salad.
August 30, 2004 (Mon) Mars hill, NC to Danbury, NC (228 miles) - We broke camp as Ed and Kathy got ready to go. After breakfast we moved Q up to the driveway and went into the house to say good-bye. It was especially hard to say good-bye to Mashikane and Buyile (South Africa) and Alex and Maureen (Northern Ireland) - who came out as we started out - as it will be a long time until we see them again. Double thanks to Bob and Pat - for inviting us to join in their celebration and for giving us the opportunity to see seldom seen special friends again.
It was an uneventful trip to Hanging Rock State Park - well, almost. 20 minutes out we got lost on the Asheville area interstates. With some help from Henry we got headed in the right direction on I-40 and made it to the campground. Once there we learned that the park has no dump station - badly needed after 4 days of dry camping. They sent us to a private campground 7 miles away and 1000 feet down.
The campground was understandably for sale. We bottomed out getting into their drive - bigger rigs could have sustained major damage - and found no one around to give us permission to use their facilities and take our money. We drove into the mostly empty campground anyway. We couldn't find the dump station so backed into an empty site where we needed to use the hose extension. Mark hooked up and pulled the valve. The hose immediately separated at the joint spilling -- well I won't go into the details. That's when we discovered that the sites had no water hookups - making cleanup difficult. Actually it wasn't that bad but we were just as happy that the office was still unoccupied when we left.
This is an interesting park. There are several hiking trails of varying lengths, many to view waterfalls. We were going to do some hiking while here but the trail heads are too far away to hoof it this late in the day, the road too hilly for bicycles, and the campsite too difficult to get in and out of for Q. Next time. It's also a primitive camping situation. In addition to no dump station there are no water or electrical hookups either. In fact it's a challenge for motor homes even of Q's size to find a level site big enough to get into. It's pretty though, in a woodsy way and very quiet.
Q005797 Hanging Rock State Park #73 dry $10.00s B-
To Mars Hill, NC - #47-01
August 25, 2004 (Wed) Home to Davis, VA (400 miles) - We didn't set our alarm last night but we were up at 5:15 as usual and got off at 6:50 - 64° and cloudy. Although the beginning of commuter traffic time, it wasn't too bad going up the Garden State Parkway and I-287. A couple of slow-downs but that's all. Going this route to I-81 seems like going in the wrong direction - north when we're headed south - but by the map its really only a couple of miles longer - well worth it to miss the Baltimore/Washington nightmare traffic.
Our first stop was the Yarn Basket in Chambersburg, Pa. (We'd stopped there on our way home last month but it was closed for vacation). Joy stopped just short of breaking her budget - she saved some in case we come across a fabric store later on. It's a great shop, Dorcas, but how do you find room to park that fifth-wheel? Mark had to park in a McDonalds' lot down the road and wait for a call on the walkie-talkie.
US-50 across the Appalachian Mountains into the Monongahela National Forest is a spectacular drive, although tense - a tightly winding road both horizontally and vertically. At 3360 feet, Backbone Mountain is the highest point in MD. The road over it tops out at 3095 feet - not high by western standards but Q was impressed. (He doesn't remember crossing the Rockies when he came East from Yakima, WA - too young.) The leaves are just beginning to change in the higher altitudes. Every now and then there is a yellow branch or a small red tree. The fields and hills are many colors from pale yellow green to dark blue green. Lots of butterflies too! In the distance we see a large wind farm - we counted 32 windmills and there are probably more we couldn't see.
It turns out that this park is not too far from the wind farm but we can't see it from here. Wish we could. After we'd set up two deer wandered across our campsite and into the grassy center of the loop across the road. One looked to be just out of fawnhood.
August 26, 2004 (Thu) Blackwater Falls State Park - This is a pretty park. Some sites are quite spacious, some not. Some have shade, many do not. The toilet facilities could be better maintained and cleaner though. The men's room stalls are without latches which prompts Mark to use Q and we'll probably use Q's shower facilities in the morning as well. There aren't many campers here now but the park will likely fill up for the weekend.
There are reportedly 12 miles of trails throughout the park with some prepared for horses and/or mountain bikes. After breakfast we set out on foot in search of the trail to the falls for which the park is named. The trail to the base of the falls, with its 215 stair steps down (and back up), is under construction so we hiked around to the other side of the Blackwater River on the road to where there is a wheelchair accessible trail to an overlook. The falls, though not as spectacular as in the spring, were beautiful as was the gorge below them. We'd planned to explore some of the rest of the park but when we got to the Trading Post - not open for another hour and a quarter - Joy discovered that she had dropped her prescription sunglasses somewhere between there and the falls overlook. So back we went. We finally found them on our way back to the Trading Post for one last look there.
That being enough excitement for the day, we spent the rest of the day relaxing. As we ate supper 4 deer wandered through our site - one was the same young pre-teen from last night.
Q005171 Blackwater Falls State Park #1 e $17.15 B- (x2)
August 27, 2004 (Fri) Davis, VA to Mars Hills, NC (398 miles) - We had cereal for breakfast this morning for the first time in 6 months. It's not exactly part of our diet but it's low carb/low fat so isn't likely to be too upsetting to our life style. Showers, breakfast, sanitary dump, and refilling the fresh water tank out of the way, we were on our way at 7:50. Henry guided us through the mountains along a series of twisting hilly roads - some with 10% grades! The scenery was beautiful. Fog between the mountain ranges made them stand out like paper cutout silhouettes of misty blues and greens. Many of the farms were clean and manicured - surprising for so remote an area.
Thinking we knew the way back to I-81, we turned Henry off. Big mistake! We missed a turn. Henry took revenge by routing us over some real mountain roads. At one point Joy said, "At least there's a line down the middle of the road." Then there wasn't. Some of us thought it was great fun.
We pulled into Bob and Pat's at about 5:30. The gathering had already begun. Their kids and grand kids were here as well as many of their neighbors. Extra special for us was seeing friends we haven't seen for many years - Chip and Kim for Charleston, SC, Alex and Maureen form Northern Ireland, Mashikane and Buyile from South Africa. There is a huge tent in the yard and the caterers had begun to fill up the space under it with tables and chairs. The real party begins tomorrow.
Q005569 - Bob and Pat's yard
A birthday party - #46-02
July 24, 2004 (Sun) New Columbia, PA - Before I begin on the day's activities, a word (or two) about this campground. It's big - over 300 campsites. We're in a small circle that seems to be set up especially for groups although we're the only group. It's in the open - allowing us to "circle our wagons" - but there is a wooded area that we may explore sometime. There are all kinds of special activities going on - in case people get bored with the usual things like swimming, fishing, basketball, biking, etc. The theme for this weekend is "Sawmill Festival 2". Periodically we are informed of an activity over loud speakers located throughout the park - Log rolling, greased pole climbing, blind-folded boat racing, tug of war, chariot racing, an egg toss, bag race, etc. We haven't participated although some of the kids in our group have.
We awoke at about 5:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. So we got up, ate breakfast, and puttered around until others began to stir. While waiting for the party to begin there was plenty of conversation and age appropriate fun. And there was lots to munch on to keep us from starving before the real eating began. The "kitchen" was (is) the custom trailer Phil pulls behind his George Boy Encounter motor home that we described in newsletter last summer - a utility trailer equipped with a grill, smoker, large griddle, deep fat fryer, and a beer tap (and keg). The chefs, Phil and Steven, fired up the burners about 4:00 and began to prepare such delicacies as, steamed clams, shrimp, craw dads, crab legs, steak, corn, and potatoes. Needless to say, great fun was had by all.
In the evening we sat around a roaring campfire and did what one does while sitting around a campfire, including singing with the help of Steve's guitar and Georgeanne's mandolin. We finally called it a day when, at 11:10, the campground reverberated with the disembodied announcement "Attention campers. Quiet hours began at 11:00. All Children and teenagers are to return to their campsites . . . . Sleep well, pleasant dreams"
Q004280 Nittany Mountain Campground #V2 w/e/s #33.00 C+
------------------------
July 25, 2004 (Sun) New Columbia, PA to Big Pool, MD (324 miles) - We slept in this morning - it was after 7 before we rolled out of bed. (That's what a long night of carousing will do.) 1 year old Bea and her dad were the only ones to rise earlier. The activity for the day, after showering and eating breakfast, was breaking camp and preparing for the long treks home. It was leisurely and interspersed with much banter and fun. We were the last to leave at 1:30.
Our destination was Fort Frederick State Park in Maryland - a park that we often try to stay at but seldom do for various reasons. I guess we were in the mood to prove to ourselves that it could actually be done. The trip down was relatively uneventful. US-11/US-15 was quite scenic as it wound along the Susquehanna River. We got gas ($1.79) just north of Harrisburg and jumped onto I-81 southbound to the Maryland border then West on I-70. The campground is quiet and sparsely populated the way we like them - and primitive; meaning no water, no electric or no sewer hook-ups and the toilets are the portable plastic booth type. But our back door opens to a view of the Potomac River 50 feet or so away. Trains have been going by on a track across the river every half hour or so - eight or nine of them since we got here four hours ago. The frequent rumble and plaintive whistle are strangely comforting.
Q004444 Fort Frederick State Park #6 dry $7.50 A-
---------------------
July 26, 2004 (Mon) Big Pool, MD to Elverson, PA (171 miles) - We went to sleep to the sound of peepers down on the river last night and slept soundly until 6:30 or so.
We were going to spend the day bicycle riding - the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail goes through the state park - and relax but the weather threatened rain. So we decided to wander on. Our first stop was to be the Yarn Barn in Chambersburg, PA - A yarn shop that Dorcas has been raving about - but it was closed for vacation. (We've got a pretty good record going here!) US-30 through Chambersburg is a "strip", heavy with fast food, gas stations, and other small stores - and traffic. But it got better - except that a big fifth wheel apparently thought the route number was the speed limit and accumulated a long line of angry drivers. Fortunately we weren't in a hurry. When we finally got around him we made good time - although traffic was congested in Gettysburg. After circumventing Lancaster, we dropped off US-30 onto SR-340 and plunged into the heart of Pennsylvania Amish country. A stop in Intercourse netted a hot pretzel and a half pound of fudge. Joy was able to browse two fabric shops and leave both empty handed - a history making event.
French Creek State Park is were we spent our first night in QI. It hasn't changed much in 5 years - except for the cost. We get the senior citizen discount now. Only 1/4 to 1/3 of the sites are occupied so it should be quiet again tonight.
Q004615 French Creek State Park #02C e $13.00 B
----------------
July 27, 2004 (Tue) Elverson, PA to Home (160 miles) - The rain started about 12:00 last night and it was still raining this morning. Our site fared better than some but it was a quagmire of mud. Breaking camp, as little as there was to do, was an exercise in balance while dodging rain drops. We didn't have far to go today so we took our time. Finally got off at 10:15. The roads out were flooded in places but passable. The rain and roadside flora made signs hard to see so we toured the back roads around Elverson and the back streets of Reading, PA before we finally found our way onto an acceptable road for home. We'd given Henry the day off.
The rest of the drive home was an experience to be endured. The rain finally stopped as we came into NJ but the traffic got heavier. We pulled into our driveway at about 2:00 glad to get home.
Q004775 Home
To New Columbia, PA - #46-01
July 22, 2004 (Thu) Home to Howard, PA (256 miles) - This has been one of those days when we should back up and start again. It started out all right though. We woke up early so we decided to get up and on the road before the crush of New York commuters. It was 6:10 when we backed out of our driveway - clear, humid, and 69°. Traffic on the Garden State Parkway and I-287 was, in deed, tolerable - better than it was most days when I commuted up that way. I-80 west bound was good too. We were well ahead of our schedule so we had some time to do some wandering.
There's a quilt shop in Bloomsburg, let's make a quick stop. In Bloomsburg we turned the wrong way and were out of town before we realized it. We went on. In Montoursville there's a farmer who cuts a maze in his corn field - it might be be fun to see it. Pilot to navigator error - we ended up in Williamsport - where Little League baseball was invented and where there is a museum devoted to it. There is also a museum with a huge model train collection. We chose to go there. We had a hard time finding it and when we finally did, we couldn't figure out how to get into the parking lot. The literature said there was plenty of room for motor homes but the only access we could find sure wasn't big enough for a motor home! We went on. It was then that we discovered we were well away from our corn field destination and going away from it. Since we were headed toward our campground destination, we went on.
In the next two and a half hours we; stopped for gas, ate lunch in a Kmark parking lot, shopped at a Scotts food market, shopped at the second Wamart of the day, and checked in at Bald Eagle State Park campground. While we were setting up it began to rain. Mark then spent an hour trying to figure out why we weren't getting hot water from the water heater. Was the burner? No there was a flame. Was the water heater by-passing the heater (in winter mode)? No. Were we turning the swivel faucet in the right direction? Yes - well yes and no. It turned out that the faucet was improperly assembled - hot and cold were reversed.
We look forward to a restful night and a new day tomorrow.
Q004150 Bald Eagle State Park #53 e $13.00 A
--------------------------
July 23, 2004 (Fri) Howard, PA to New Columbia, Pa (130 miles) - Now it can be told. Our trip this time is to help Mark's sister Dorcas celebrate her 60th birthday - a surprise put together by her sons Philip and Steven. It's good to be here and to see everyone - good in more ways than one.
Getting here was a continuation of yesterday's travel mode. We only had 75 miles to go so we were in no hurry. We lay in bed and watched TV until 6:30 or so - not the most inspiring programming at that time of the morning - then got up and broke in the new shower. What luxury to have all the extra room! After breakfast and a couple of hours of "puttering" we got under way - our destination, Mt Nittany Winery. Almost immediately we took a wrong turn - against Henry's wishes - and found ourselves on a network of 4 lane, limited access roads that rival those of the New York area in complexity. Henry got thoroughly confused (and his human operators equally aggravated and frustrated).
We finally made it to the winery deep on a continuously narrowing road deep in the mountains only to find it closed. To get back to civilization, Henry routed us onto a wet muddy dirt mountain road with trees closing in on both sides. We probably could have made it the mile or so to a larger paved road but decided not to chance it and backed back down the road until we could turn around. We had quite a serious discussion over lunch about Henry's role in our lives.
Mike and Dorcas were here when we got here as were Steve (their son), Georgeanne and their two children. Phil (their other son), Laurie, three of their kids, and a friend got here later. We have our rigs in a circle and between down pours are having a great time. The rain interludes aren't bad either.
Oh, Henry is our GPS navigator
Q004280 Nittany Mountain Campground #V2 w/e/s #33.00 C+
And return home - #45-02
June 23, 2004 (Wed) Englewood, Fl - Today has been a day of catching up. We and Jennifer from our grueling two days of travel - Shane and Great Grandma Bom in getting to know one another. Mark and Joy got up early and sat out front listening to a couple of very active mocking birds compete for attention as dawn brightened the sky. Jennifer joined us after a while but Shane and GG Bom slept in until it was fully light. After breakfast we all walked over to the pool for a swim. Shane took to the water for his first swim as if he had been at it all his life - all 4 months of it.
Joy, Jennifer and Shane went shopping for dinner fixings while Bom read the paper and Mark translated our travel notes into the newsletter. In the afternoon Joy took a walk over to some thrift shops. Other than that it's been a lazy day - and hot!
June 24, 2004 (Thu) Englewood, Fl - Shane seems to thrive on all the attention he's getting. He had three attentive adults at his beck and call all day long and admirers aplenty. He's going to miss it when he gets home. In the morning, while Mark and Joy took care of some business with a lawyer, he visited a neighbor (94) with his mom and GG Bom. In the afternoon he visited an old friend of his GG Bom's in an assisted living home with his Grandpa and Bmommom. He also got his first chance to stick his feet in the Gulf of Mexico - the water was too rough and choppy to go any deeper. He didn't know quite what to think of the waves constantly coming at his feet and legs. The rest of the time we adults stayed busy attending to his every need and resting up in between.
June 25, 2005 (Fri) Englewood, FL - Slow day today. Other than reading, napping and entertaining Shane we did very little. For lunch we went to Leverock's Seafood Restaurant below Grove City and had some of the best seafood we've had in a long time. Shane was an angel but got a little impatient so we didn't linger.
June 26, 2004 (Sat) Englewood, FL - Our discount gas purchase card allows us to make one purchase a day for a 5% discount. This is a real good deal when filling up a 37 gallon tank. Since we'll be using more than one tank of gas tomorrow Mark took QII out to fill up. Some gas stations limit the amount pumped (discount card or not). There is no way to know this until the pump turns off. The station Mark picked stopped pumping at $50.00 - 3/4 of a tank. We had wanted to make it into GA where the cheap gas is. - $1.89 in FL vs $1.71 in GA. 3/4 of a tank won't make it!
----------------------
June 27, 2004 (Sun) Manning, SC - Travel day today. We had breakfast with GG Bom and said a tearful good buy at about 8:00. 77° is a good travel temperature but it didn't last long. It was over 90o by the time we passed over I-4 on I-75 headed north. The air conditioner worked well cooling the cab but struggled to keep the cabin comfortable for our passengers. Jennifer was good not to complain too loudly. Shane was good too, sleeping most of the way to our first stop - Dade City. FL where we got enough gas at $1.88/gal to get us into GA. Our generator powered house A/C kept us well below the 98° outside during our lunch break at an I-10 rest stop. Gas in Brunswick, GA was $1.69 - down 2 cents from Tuesday. We filled up. A 10 to 12 mile traffic back up heralded our approach to South Carolina. There was no indication of the reason adding to the frustration of it all.
We wanted to get to Florence, SC where we stopped on the way down but the late start, the heat and the GA traffic jam conspired against us. By the time we hit Manning, SC we were more than ready to stop. Jennifer selected a Holiday Inn Express motel where the desk clerk was more than happy to allow us to camp in the parking lot. She even suggested a "camp site" and told us we were welcome to enjoy the complimentary breakfast in the morning. Our view on two sides was of of crape myrtle bushes (parked cars and the motel rounded out the panorama). Jennifer's room was nearby, clean and sweet smelling (no stale cigarette odor).
Q003197 (535mi) - Holiday Inn Express parking lot
-------------------
June 28, 2004 (Mon) Home - QII has an automatic ceiling vent - when it senses rain the vent cover comes down and when the rain stops the cover goes back up. It rained off and on all night - sometimes quite hard - and we listened to the sound of the little motor closing and opening the vent all night! It was about as annoying as it was satisfying. Because of it we didn't sleep very well. Or maybe it was the heat and humidity, or maybe the "strange" bed. At any rate dawn and a nearby diesel pickup startup came too early.
Traffic around Washington was horrendous! Jennifer commuted to work every day on the road (I-95/I-495). She said it's always like that. Her saying it didn't make it any easier. Construction and 4 lanes plus a 2 lane entrance ramp narrowing to 3 lanes across a bridge was the cause. Knowing this didn't make it any easier either - especially since our gas was getting low.
The sign indicated 3 different brands of gasoline at this exit. So we got off. No gas station! 10 miles later, still no gas station. Correction. We did pass one - on the other side of a 4 lane divided - closed for renovation. Finally a Shell station - $1.98/gal. We got enough to get us to NJ and a better price. Then we passed several - each with a price lower than the one before! There should be some rules about highway advertising! The NJ price, when we got there was $1.79/gal
Shane got increasingly more agitated as we neared home. But his mother and grandmother were able to keep him from distracting the driver completely. We dropped him and Jennifer off at about 8:30 and got home at 9:00.
Q003881 (684mi) - Home
A trip to see Grandma Bom - #45-01
June 21, 2004 (Mon) Florence, SC - Well this should be an experience. It's our first trip with QII (other than bringing him home in May) and our first trip with guests - although there is no way for them to spend the night aboard. And its been years since we've traveled with children, much less a baby. We got a good start - 5:38am 56o - and made our first stop in Freehold to pick up our Daughter Jennifer and Grandson Shane (4 months). This turned out to be our first experience of appreciation for QII. There was plenty of room for all of Shane's travel needs for a week - as well as Jennifer's and our own. This includes several changes of clothes (and diapers) a day, a stroller, a car seat, a "bouncy" seat, a changing pad, a bathtub, a beach umbrella, a Diaper Genie (for used diapers), and a big bag of toys.
The trip will straight forward - CR-53, I-195, I-295, then I-95 all the way to Florida (with a couple of exceptions) But we'll do it in two days with more stops than usual. It had warmed up to 70o by the time we crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge (into Delaware) at 8:20, 72o as we crossed the Frances Scott Key Bridge east of Baltimore an hour later (vehicles carrying propane are not allowed in the tunnel on I-95) and 83o as we entered North Carolina. Some where in Delaware or Maryland Mark accidentally turned on the windshield wipers and thunk - thunk they hit the base of the CB antenna he'd cleverly placed in the upper-center of the windshield. The antenna now resides along side I-95 and our CB is useless.
The plan was to find a motel for Jennifer and Shane that did not object to an occupied motor home in their parking lot. It turned out to be easier than we expected. The motel we picked, somewhat at random, turned out to have very small parking spaces - hardly big enough for a full sized car much less a motorhome. We decided to try anyway because there was plenty of space in a lot not too far away where some trucks had stopped for the night (it appeared). We were told we could stay where we had parked - in the motel driveway - as long as cars could get by. Jennifer and Shane retired to the room armed with one of our Talkabouts (walkie-talkie) while we prepared to spend our second night in our new motor home.
Q002079 (657mi) Motel 6 driveway dry $0
June 22, 2004 (Tue) Englewood, Fl - QII's bed is more comfortable than Q's, it's bigger and Joy has made a pad from "egg crate" foam, but it's not our air bed at home. That along with it being a "strange" bed, the atmosphere being warm and humid, and being over tired from a 12 hour drive made for a restless night for both of us. We were awake at 4:00 and at 5:15 finally decided to see if Jennifer was awake by giving her a call on the walkabout - thinking that if she was asleep, she wouldn't hear us call. She was awake and willing to get back on the road so we did. We picked up an Egg McMuffin each (except for Shane whose diet doesn't allow it) and were on I-95 again by 6:30am.
We got our cheapest gas so far ($1.71/gal) in southern Georgia. It was also the cheapest we've seen. It was an uneventful morning except for the gradual increase in temperature - 74o to 87o by lunch time in a Florida welcome Center parking lot - but the afternoon brought thunderstorms and heavy rain. (It was good we didn't have a CB antenna interfering with the windshield wipers!) In Jacksonville we turned West on I-10 (via I-495) then South on US-301 to I-75 which took us the rest of the way to Englewood.
Shane has been super - tolerating the trip at least as well as the adults. He complained now and then but for the most part seemed to enjoy traveling - or maybe it was the almost constant attention he was getting. He slept a lot, making the rest of us envious, and babbled and cooed happily the rest of the time. We were very tired after another long day on the road (nearly 13 hours) but realized how much worse it could have been had he decided he didn't like traveling.
QII isn't nearly as upset as Q had been about being banished to the Bank parking lot for our stay here. More mature, I guess.
Q002655 (576mi) SunTrust parking lot (parked)
Chincoteque weekend - #43-01
May 14, 2004 (Fri) Chincoteque, VA - This will be a short trip - both short in distance and in time. It was to be a get-together with Bob & Pat and Jim & Sue - a kind of extension to our camp-out of last October - but it turned out to be a bad weekend for Jim. So it will be just the four of us.
Q has been trapped in our driveway since we got back from Indiana - Road work in front of our house created a ditch that only high clearance vehicles could negotiate.
Q061229 (273mi)Maddox Family Campground #H257 w/e $32.55 B
Home - #42-03
March 18, 2004 (Thu) 333 miles to Home - Well it didn't get that cold last night - about 31o. Nor did it snow that much - about an inch, maybe two. We worried all night about the hill up out of the campground. Q did admirably. The road was snow covered but there was no problem at all. This being our last day on the road (for a while), we bought breakfast out - at Hardie's this time. It was a little high on fat content but we managed to stay on diet. After gassing up ($1.69) we climbed back onto eastbound I-70 at about 8:00. Except for a 3 mile backup between mileposts 155 and 158 - we never found out why - the trip was incident free. I-70 to I-81 to I-78 to I-287 the GSP and home at 2:30.
Q060931 Home
Indianapolis, IN - #42-02
March 14, 2004 (Sun) Indianapolis, IN - Jeremiah and Kim's wedding was beautiful, of course, and it was great to see all the relatives, old and new, and to meet their friends. Needless to say it was a wonderful event and a good time was had by all. I'll avoid all the details but one - the cuisine. Both Jeremiah and Kim are vegetarian and their wedding (rehearsal dinner and reception) was as well. We have no problem with meatless meals, many of ours are anyway, but we wondered what it would be like on a large scale. The dinner for out of town relatives (the "rehearsal dinner") was at a popular Chinese restaurant where it is quite easy to get vegetarian dishes. It was a fixed menu well chosen by the groom and his father. The reception, however, was "pot luck" - guests were to bring a vegetarian dish to share. We didn't know what to expect - endless variations of macaroni and cheese casseroles and green salads maybe - but it turned out to be an extremely varied and delicious spread. The proof of its success was the comment of a confirmed meat eater - he'd threatened to sneak out to get a McDonalds hamburger - "It was surprisingly good."
March 15, 2004 (Mon) Indianapolis, IN - A beautiful day today. The sun is out and the thermometer reads in the fifties. It hardly seems possible that we may have to delay our departure because of snow. The forecasters have been saying all day that we can expect three to six inches over night. It will start as rain and turn to snow. It sounds messy!
We went into downtown Indianapolis to City Market for lunch. City Market is where Frannie has a booth to sell her art work (mostly portraits) but it is primarily a large food court. Our diet didn't allow us to sample much other than the salad bar but it was fun to walk around and see what was available. After lunch we took a walk around the downtown "square". The architecture of the old (and some new) buildings is beautiful. While not a building, the predominant feature of the downtown area is the solders and sailors memorial. Built in 1937 it is ornate with statuary and is quite large - Phil says it rivals the one in Washington DC. We went into the Episcopal Cathedral there and listened to the organist practice while admiring the beauty of this old building.
Dinner at the Outback Steakhouse was another challenge to our diet. But any failing was worth the time we had with family. We were 8 1/2 - Joy's sister Gail and Phil, Joy's sister Frannie and Lee, Lee and Frannie's son's family Janusz, Tami, and 18 month old Shealee, and us. A great time together and a great meal. Thanks Phil and Gail.
March 16, 2004 (Tue) Indianapolis, IN - Well we're still here. We listened to the rain on Q's roof most of the night. When we awoke in the night to the sound of silence, we knew it was snowing but we didn't brave the cold to check until morning. Actually it wasn't too bad - a couple of inches. The TV showed minimal weather related problems on the interstates but it was still snowing and it was to continue throughout the morning. We have no reason to hurry home so we decided to wait it out a bit.
March 17, 2004 (Wed) 402 miles to Donegal, PA - Appropriate place to stop on St. Patrick's Day don't you think?
For years I've listened to reasons, excuses, justifications, and rationalizations in defense of the unaccountable, unreasonable, and illogical fluctuations (mostly up) of gas prices. Today the answer has been broadcast in six foot high numbers. It's price fixing pure and simple. What else can explain the exact, to the penny, increase at all gas stations, regardless of brand, within a 36 hour period? We had planned on getting gas at a particular Speedway station on the way out this morning and had been watching the posted price. As of Monday evening it was still $1.53. This morning (Wednesday) it was $1.79 - up $.26!!! So was price at a Sunoco station down the highway and at another "discount" station off I-465 and all the others along I-465 and I-70.
It was 29° as we started out this morning and managed to struggle up to 34° by noon but it's back down to 31° now and the snow is coming down as if it means it. It's going to get cold tonight - We're in the mountains. We're lucky to have found an open campground although I'm not sure it's worth $28. We have electricity but the water is off to keep it from freezing and the sewer is too slow to be used. It should be quiet though. There don't appear to be many campfire groups around.
Q060598 Laurel Highlands Campground #220 w/e/s $28.16 C
Off to Indianapolis, IN - #42-01
March 11, 2004 (Thu) 449 miles to Belmont, OH - We're on the road again - a week only this time and not much wandering. Nephew Jeremiah's wedding in Indianapolis, IN is the occasion.
They started construction on the road in front of our house yesterday and the gutter area is all torn up. We wondered if we would be able to get Q out of the driveway. No problem at all.
According to our computer mapping program going "North" on the Garden State Parkway to I-287 then west on I-78 and I-81 to Harrisburg and I-76 is only 1/2 mile longer than going South and taking the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) all the way across Pennsylvania as we usually do. It's hard to believe! Since the tolls are lower going North, that's how we did it. There was a down side though, the traffic around New York! It was horrendous! We consider Q to be a motor home, a truck, a car, an RV, or whatever best fits the situation. The folks in charge of the Delaware River crossing had their own ideas. To them Q was a truck! So the toll was $5.00 instead of $.75. What a shock! The trip across Pennsylvania, West Virginia and into Ohio was otherwise uneventful - except for the obligatory construction, of course.
We've stayed in Barkcamp State Park a couple of times in the past. It's a strange mixture of primitive (pit toilets) and modern (electric hook-ups and hot showers) but very clean and pretty. So far we are the only campers here. Maybe the reason is the expected temperature. It'ssupposed to get into the twenties tonight!
Q059897 Barkcamp State Park #146 e $15.00 A-
North to home - #41-13
February 12, 2004 (Thu) - It rained all night again last night - not hard but enough to let us know that it was. It was still rainy at 5:10 when we got up, and still dark. Breakfast was cozy after the furnace took the edge off the chill. Fort McAllister must be in the middle of a huge bed room community because when we got out to US-441 from the spur to the state park, the traffic was bumper to bumper. We waited over five minutes for an opening to get out onto the road - and it's a small "country" road! Then it was stop and go all the way to US-17. Most of them must have been headed for Savannah because there doesn't seem to be industry enough in Richmond Hill to support that kind of migration.
The trip up I-95 was wet and tense. The traffic was heavy with 18 wheelers kicking up blinding mist. The rain was more or less constant, some times heavy, sometimes light. It was much better sleeping weather than driving. The trees along the sides of the highway from the middle of South Carolina and into North Carolina were bent and broken. Limbs littered both shoulders. We're guessing that it was damage from the recent ice storms that hit the south. We hadn't heard that it was so destructive.
We stopped for lunch in a rest area about 1:00 and at the Carolina Prime Outlet Mall at around 2:30. We pulled in here about 4:30. This isn't really a campground. Rather it's a motel back lot set aside for overnight RVs. It's not quite the ambiance we've become used to but it's a place to call home for a few hours.
Q058962 (414 mi) Weldon (Roanoke Rapids), NC Interstate Inn RV area w/e $14.98
----------------------
February 13, 2004 (Fri) - We awoke at 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep so we got up, showered and had a leisurely breakfast. At 310 small amounts of water had frozen, condensation on Q and neighboring rigs, the shallow puddle below Q's step, and remnants from yesterday's rain in the TV antenna mechanism! Mark had to haul out the ladder to climb up and free it up while Joy cranked it down from inside. After dumping we headed across the highway to a Walmart where we bought, among other things, a couple of rugs for Q. In Fredricksburg, we dropped off the I-95 in search of a parking lot for lunch. A Radio Shack in the strip mall yielded a microphone headset for the computer. While waiting to get back onto US-1 a Chinook Baja went by - our first sighting in the wild. The Baja has a body like Q's and the same living quarters inside but it sits high on a four wheel drive frame with oversized tires and a front end winch. This one had a safari type luggage rack on top. Cool!
Rather than asking Jim and Sue to send directions to their house, we chose to rely on "The Voice" to get us there. It worked flawlessly. Q is 21 feet long. Jim and Sue's driveway is 22 feet long (maybe 23). We had to take the bicycles off the front to fit and not intrude on the sidewalk. It didn't seem like a neighborhood to tolerate overnight motor homes but we were assured that it was OK. After a walk around the community they gave us a delicious seafood dinner - shrimp, scallops, and salmon steaks with mixed vegetables, rice, and great conversation.
February 14, 2004 (Sat) Gaithersburg, MD - Nature hikes were on the agenda for today. After pancakes for breakfast we packed sandwiches and headed for Little Bennett Park. There was still snow and ice on the trails and the air was chilly but not enough make the hike unpleasant. A pair of bald eagles sat high in a tree across the lake in Seneca Creek State Park - a real treat as information in the visitors center said that sightings were few. We didn't see any beaver but at one place on the lake we saw the stumps of many trees they had cut to build their lodge. Interesting but also destructive!
In the afternoon Jim showed us his basement workshop where he makes split bamboo fly fishing rods. He is a superb craftsman and his rods are works of art. He has also been know to use them on occasion and has even caught a fish or two with them. For dinner Joy fixed pizza with some delicious pepper salami from Trader Joe's - where we'd gone to shop after arriving at a Amish market 10 minutes after it had closed. We exchanged slide shows in the evening and enjoyed getting to know one another better.
Q059180 (218 mi) Gaithersburg, MD - Jim and Sue's driveway
-------------------------
February 15, 2004 (Sun) - This morning "The Voice" directed us over back roads to I-70 - Yesterday Jim had helped Mark with a route to avoid the horrendous Washington, DC traffic. We had no idea so much open space was so near the city. Traffic was heavy on I-70 and I-95 but not too bad. The trip went very smoothly except for a gas stop at the south jersey Flying J It seems that RVs have to use special pumps there - no exception! (Welcome to New Jersey!) Also draining and winterizing all of Q's tanks and pipes was a cold miserable task - as it always is. In Freehold we stopped to see daughter Jennifer and her husband Dave and to pick up our mail. We found all well at home when we got here at about 5:00. The snow that we heard so much about while we were in Florida is about gone. But it's cold!
Q059415 (235 mi) - Home
Okefenokee Swamp - #41-12
February 8, 2004 (Sun) - It was cold last night (42°) and didn't warm up much during the day. Our designated assistant navigator guided us easily along a series of county and state roads to the Stephen C. Foster State Park in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Okefenokee Swamp) with only one minor misstep - recent construction had created a turn he didn't know about. We got here shortly after noon and had our lunch in our camp site. This is a lovely park. There are canoes, kayaks and jon boats to rent, guided tours into the swamp, and rental cabins. There are nature trails for walking and water trails through the swamp for canoeing etc. The sites are large and secluded - separated by wide swatches of natural tropical brush. The neighboring sites are empty (as are most in the campground) so we don't see any other rigs from here. Hookups include water, electric, and TV cable. All this for $15.20 a night!
After recuperating from our grueling 69 mile trek here, we walked to the marina and concession area, wandered around the museum/interpretive center, and explored one of the nature trails. Now we can watch some cable TV tonight without feeling guilty.
Cell phone service here is analog and there is no modem hookup facilities in the park so we'll be out of touch for a while.
February 9, 2004 (Mon) Stephen C. Foster State Park (Okefenokee Swamp) - When we were here several years ago we took the guided tour through the swamp. We decided then that the next time we were here we would rent a canoe. Well this is the next time and we rented a canoe.
We expected to see lots of alligators but they like the sun and the sky is overcast. We did see three and got some pictures. Along the waterway, Black Vulture watched from the tree tops and small birds fluttered here and there in the foliage. But the main attraction of the trip was the swamp itself. It was beautiful. The tropical plants and tall gray spanish moss draped Cyprus trees reflected brilliantly in the mirror smooth water in spite of the cloudy sky. It was hard to tell where reality ended and and reflection began. It was a living post card in every direction and around every bend. And quiet! It was so quiet that we could hear even the subtle sounds of nature, the faint gurgle as an alligator slipped into the water, the rustle of movement in the brush, a far off call of a small bird. The only intrusion was the sound of a jet plane high overhead.
In mid afternoon the campground host came by to invite us to a fish fry at their site. She said her husband had been out fishing all day and they wanted to share the catch. "Just bring forks, glasses, and chairs," she said. We joined four other couples, campers, and several of the park staff. The fish, perch and pic (apparently this is a long thin bony fish that probably most people throw back, but if it is cooked right the bones soften up) was delicious. They also served real southern hush puppies - made from mix and grits with cheddar cheese -- yum! Talk around the campfire was interesting, informative and, at times, hilarious. We had a great time.
Faithful readers of these epistles will remember that the campsite we were originally assigned in Manatee Stark Park was already occupied. It turned out that the couple sitting next at the campfire, Dave and Donna Keach, were the ones who were in site #70 last Thursday. They had also been in the Everglades (in the other campground) and Collier Seminole State Park about the same time we were. They are interesting people. Oh, And they're from Frederick, MD, where we stopped to replace our tires on the way down.
February 10, 2004 (Tue) Stephen C. Foster State Park (Okefenokee Swamp) - We were going to ride our bikes back out the access road 5 miles to a wildlife area. Apparently there is a long dam there supporting a trail into the swamp. But as we got ready to go and started out rain threatened so we cut the ride short. Although we were on the main road - the only road - in the park, only one vehicle (and a bicycle) passed us in our 45 minute ride - Dave and Donna on their way out. The rest of the day we sat around, read, and played games. It never did rain much but it felt like a rainy day.
Q058364 (69 mi) Fargo, GA - Stephen C. Foster State Park #50 w/e $15.20s (x3) A+
--------------------
February 11, 2004 (Wed) - It rained all last night - not heavily but enough to discourage even the thought of going out. And it was still that way as we broke camp and dumped our holding tanks. It was warmer (59°) than it has been though, making the jobs a little easier than they could have been. We stopped at a Winn Dixie in Waycross and while Joy picked up supplies Mark "did" email. It was early for lunch but Captain D's Seafood (fast food) was right there and the Double Twelve Shrimp platter beckoned. It was quite good - especially at $3.99 apiece.
There is a lot of logging in this area of Georgia, trucks loaded with logs were on the road going in both directions. (We wondered why the companies didn't just buy each other's logs so they wouldn't have to truck them so far.) There were several log product mills along the way - every thing from telephone poles to fence posts - with huge piles of logs lying around. We passed International Paper Inc's Atlantic Division plant. At one point the logging operation was close enough to the road for us to see the cranes lifting the log onto the large flat bed trucks.
This campground is an old standby for us. We've been here several times. It seems to be well placed for a stop. It's clean, pretty and quiet with large well spread out camp sites.
Q058548 (184 mi) Richmond Hill, GA - Fort McAllister State Historic Park #11 w/e $17.20 B
A surprise encounter - #41-11
February 5, 2004 (Thu) - Before leaving Juniper Springs Recreational Area this morning we took a walk along the paths down to and along the springs. What an interesting place! At points along the stream water is bubbling up through the ground leaving deposits of sand to mark their existence. Water vapor rises from the larger pools as if they were heated and the water is so clear that it looks only a couple of feet deep where it is really 20. There is an area for swimming (unprotected) and an area to launch canoes. We vowed to come back some day and rent a canoe. The stream, at least what we could see of it, is about 8 feet wide or so and lush with palm and palmetto greenery. It looks barely deep enough for a canoe. A sign at the launch point warns not to feed the alligators. They must hang out close enough to feed!
Just before entering the village of Chiefland on US-27A, Mark spotted a sign for the Levy County Quilt Museum. We turned back and drove a mile down a small road to it. It turned out to be the home of the local quilting club (not guild - club) - the realized dream of it's founder, Winnelle Horne. It was a museum in name only. There were quilts on display, some old for display only but many were new with price tags. There were also many crafty items, again some old, some for sale. Joy's comment, "Nice building". It was.
We were assigned site #70 as we came into Manatee Springs State Park but it was already occupied. On the way back to the ranger station for a new site we passed a small dark car that looked very much like Bob and Pat's Saturn, It was! We had no idea they'd be anywhere near here. And to add coincidence to coincidence they were in site #71, right next to the occupied site we'd been assigned! We ended up in #49. If either of us had been on that road a minute or two earlier or later, we would not have know the other was there. Instead, we shared a hot game of dominoes and Bob's wonderful New England style clam chowder made with fresh clams. An armadillo and a couple of deer came by to watch and to join us for dinner but Thandi, Bob and Pat's poodle, shooed them away.
Q058203 (96 mi) Chiefland, FL - Manatee Springs State Park #49 w/e $17.44 (x2) B
February 6, 2004 (Fri) Manatee Springs State Park - Before Bob and Pat left this morning we all hiked one of the many trails in the park then went down to see the manatees. They are very often seen in the Suwannee River off the end of the boardwalk here. But not today! The water was too rough to see them this morning although one of the workmen said they were around. We did see lots of turtles soaking up the sun and hundreds of Black Vultures (with dark gray heads. Turkey Vultures have red heads). We spent the first part of the afternoon relaxing, reading, knitting, napping, etc. Then we walked back down to check out the manatees. The water was still too rough. In fact the coming storm was really stirring things up. We couldn't see into the water at all.
The rain came about 6:00 and beat a soothing rhythm on Q's roof through the evening and into the night.
February 7, 2004 (Sat) - No manatees this morning either! The water was still too rough to see anything. But the vultures were there. They had taken over the boardwalk. They lined the railing and gave up their spots very reluctantly as we walked up to them. Mark got a real close up picture of one brave fellow.
Winnelle Horne from the Levy County Quilt Museum spoke (with some disdain as she favors inexpensive fabric) about a new quilt shop having just opened in Trenton. It was only a little out of our way so we swung by there. Joy went in while Mark stayed in Q doing some maintenance work in the computer. He also figured out why we haven't been able to send email with the cell phone and fixed it. Joy's comments about the quilt shop "Fabulous old building - former Coca-Cola plant. Shop includes classrooms, stained glass workshop, lunchroom, and room to expand. Wonderful fabrics, a definite place to stop when we are in Florida!"
There was a huge mail box by the side of US-129 in front of a pet grooming establishment. We wondered if it was for packages from customers who mailed their pets in to be groomed.
This is culture shock! We are in private pack-um-in campground. After several days in the beauty of national and state parks this is a bit too residential. We're here for two reasons, to do our laundry and because public campgrounds tend to fill up on weekends. It's only one night. We'll make it. The campground is up the Suwannee River from where we were the last couple of nights. We took a walk down to the river after setting up. It's as peaceful and beautiful here as it was in Manatee Springs. Manatees never make it up this far.
Q059295 (92 mi) White Springs, FL - Suwannee Valley Camp Ground #D12 $10.90p C
To Ocala National Forest - #41-10
January 30, 2004 (Fri) Englewood, FL to Plant City, FL - Our mail came yesterday so we're on the move again. It was good to see Joy's mother and sister and sad to think that it may be several months before we are back here again.
The trip from Englewood (North on I-75 and East on I-4) was straight forward and uneventful except "The Voice" got very confused at one point (giving Joy the hope that her job wasn't in jeopardy after all). When we stopped at the discount mall in Ellenton to pick up a few necessities, Mark decided to test one of the GPS features he'd discovered - the voice command instructing the computer to recalculate the route from the current position as in "I'm lost. How do I get back 'On Track'?" The trouble was, the mall parking lot was unknown to The Voice. He didn't know where we were and directed us hither, thither and yon until we really were lost. Another "On Track" command from a known road got us back to I-75 and on our way. Also when mapping the route to Ruth and Gordy's we discovered that the roads in their community weren't in the map program so we estimated the location of their address. Later, when reviewing the residual GPS track on the map, the roads were there. Strange!
The roads in Ruth and Gordy's park are so narrow and space is so limited that large vehicles are understandably prohibited from overnight parking. So Q was relegated to a spot near the pool. He wasn't happy but it was only for one night.
Q057747 (91 mi) Community swimming pool parking lot (parked)
----------------------
January 31, 2004 (Sat) - It was good to be able to be with Ruth and Gordy without the feeling that we had to rush off to stay on a tight schedule. We had a real good visit with them, they are so relaxed and easy to be with, and got on the road for Lakeland shortly after lunch. This is going to be a quick visit with Ed and Kathy as they are off for a week long FMCA rally tomorrow morning. Mark had programmed The Voice to take us "the back way" from Plant City to Lakeland and he performed flawlessly bringing us right to Ed and Kathy's gate.
February 1, 2004 (Sun) Lakeland FL - It rained last night and the sound of it on Q's roof was soothing and restful. It was only the second time it's rained in the nearly 5 weeks we've been on the road. The morning temperature 64°, up from 54° when we went to bed, but it still seems colder. We are meeting Mike and Dorcas (Mark's sister) in Okeechobee tomorrow and rather than searching out a campground to hang out in, we've accepted Ed and Kathy's kind offer to stay here in their yard. They got off at about 9:30, leaving us to our own devices. We took advantage of day off by catching up on our reading.
Q057769 (22 mi) Lakeland, FL, Ed and Kathy's yard. (x2)
-----------------------
February 2, 2004 (Mon) Lakeland, FL to Okeechobee, FL - US-98 goes pretty much directly from Lakeland to Okeechobee. After breakfast and showers we got off at about 9:00 (63.5°) and headed South. We're still feeling a slight vibration (wheel balance?) that Mark wanted to have checked out so we stopped at McGee Tire in Lakeland (no time for us) and Big T Tire in Sebring (balanced the 4 rear wheels). It didn't help much. It may be the front wheels after all. We'll keep trying.
Here we are in Okeechobee again - but this time on the other side of the tracks. For a mere $57.20 a night Q gets a 50 foot long concrete parking pad and a narrow strip of grass shade with his awing while we get the privilege of looking out our windows upon row after row of large fifth wheel trailers and $300,000 motor homes. To be fair, we do have the opportunity here to play golf on their beautiful 18 hole par 3 golf course, swim in one of their 2 large heated swimming pools, play tennis, shuffleboard, horse shoes, or petanque (what ever that is), or use their rec hall, game room, playground, showers, laundry, or hot tubs. This is a huge place, 756 RV (and 2 tent) sites and almost as many semi permanent trailer sites. When we called for reservations we were told none were needed - which seems strange because there are very few empty spaces. Since Mike and Dorcas are here for a month (at a much more reasonable rate), we asked for a site near them. That put us in the "high rent" district for short termers. This truly is an experience but not one soon to be repeated.
Q057888 (119 mi) Okeechobee, FL - Okeechobee KOA Campground #351 w/e/s $57.20 B
--------------------------
February 3, 2004 (Tue) Okeechobee, FL to Lake Wales, FL - It was good to be with Mike and Dorcas and to catch up on all the family news. But we had to be on our way (if for no other reason than we couldn't afford to stay). Five minutes before the 12:00 check out time we pulled onto US-441 and headed North. Joy saw an animated elephant in the roof of a pickup go by as we got gas at Walmart ($1.61- up from $1.59 last night). At US-60 in Yeehaw Junction, we turned West for Lake Wales. Both US-441 and US-60 were arrow straight (causing some drowsiness in the driver) but the road to Lake Kissimme State Park was narrow, twisting, and beautiful.
This is a beautiful park. Our site is huge (Okeechobee KOA designers would have put 25 to 30 big rigs into this space with room left over for a swimming pool and a small golf course). Except for the barely visible roof line of one neighboring rig, we can see nothing but palms, palmettos, and a field of spanish moss draped live oak trees. There are hiking trails and plenty of low traffic roads for biking. We'll have to come back and stay for a few days next time.
Q057976 (88 mi) Lake Wales, FL - Lake Kissimmee State Park #26 w/e $18.70 A+
--------------------
February 4, 2004 (Wed) Lake Wales, FL to Silver Springs, FL - We got up before dawn this morning and took bath house showers - very nice, hot water, clean, and roomy - had Plant City strawberries on our cereal - delicious. Mark's grandparents retired to Mount Dora in the mid 1900s. Now it's an antique/gift/junk shop tourist mecca - it may have been back then too but probably not - complete with sightseeing trollys and an historic rail car ride to the next town and back. We stopped to perused some of the shops and bought some fudge.
National Forest campgrounds can range from extremely rustic - barely passable roads and pit toilets to fairly respectable. This one is quite nice and well worth the $8.00 plus tax that we're paying even though that's pricey for National Forest campgrounds. We have no hookups but there are supposed to hot showers in the bath house. Our site is large and very secluded. We look forward to another quiet restful sleep.
Q058107 (131 mi) Silver Springs, FL - Ocala National Forest Juniper Springs Recreational Area #39 dry $9.10s A-
Back to Englewood - #41-09
January 24, 2004 (Sat) Flamingo, FL - It got cold last night, 48°, and we can't go any further south! Oh well we've got to begin heading north soon anyway. We ran out of water again this morning. Luckily we weren't in the middle of taking showers this time. When we ran out the other day we assumed that Q's monitor was inaccurate, showing more water than was in the tank, because of a slight slope. But we're facing the other way now! If that was the case it should be showing less water than there is. Investigation was called for. Mark found the wire to one of the probes on the fresh water tank broken and fixed it. We'll see what happens now.
Campgrounds are interesting places to "people watch". We get a kick out of watching cars/trailers/motor homes go around and around through the campground looking for the "perfect" campsite (we tend to do that too) then, when found, spend 10, 15, 20 minutes pointing, gesturing, and discussing just how the site should be laid out. Then pack up and leave the next day! The other day a small motor home, with its own on-board toilet facilities, chose a site right next to the rest rooms (and about 10 feet from the central dumpster!). We try to stay away from rest rooms with their odors, noise, and high traffic. Last night a woman, with a dog on a leash, walked by pushing a baby stroller loaded with what looked like the usual baby paraphernalia. But there was no baby. We were quietly laughing about the stroller being for the dog when she stopped, scooped up the dog, put him in the stroller, and pushed him on down the road. It looked to us as though the dog was having a great old time trotting along at the heel of its owner. He must have been getting tired - and there's nothing worse than a cranky dog!
The red sails were too far off shore for good pictures again this afternoon.
January 25, 2004 (Sun) Flamingo, FL to Naples, FL - It was good being on the road again. We left Flamingo at about 8:30 meandered slowly up the 38 mile main park road. We explored the several spurs off the road and emerged from the Everglades at 10:00 or a little after. We stopped in a Post Office parking lot just outside of Homestead to retrieve 3 voice mail messages from our cell phone. Then it was off in search of a grocery store. It turned out to be a Walmart Supercenter. Sunday morning is not the time to shop Walmart in these parts - wall to wall people! Finally broke loose about 12:30 with supplies enough for another few days.
The Tamiami Canal, along beside US41, was loaded with alligators and all sorts of birds. Stopping for a closer, more leisurely look and to get pictures was difficult. What few turnouts wide enough for Q were filled with others looking or fishing. We'd planned to stop for lunch at the Visitor's center but a sign at the entrance said "Inaccessible to RVs" One of the many things good about Q is that we can choose whether or not he's an RV (or a truck, or a car, etc.) depending on the circumstances. We were going to give it a try but got past the entrance before we realized it. We ended up in a parking lot labeled "Monroe Station" that turned out to be a parking lot for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. They had apparently been on a weekend outing and started to come back and load their toys on trailers. Interesting vehicles! One, completely covered with mud, was nothing more that a frame on big balloon tires with a big engine. The seats, two of them, were mounted on what looked like a big metal tool box. Pictures? Never thought to take any!
It was 85° when we pulled into Collier Seminole State park at about 2:30. This place closer to a pack-um-in private campground than a state park. It's crowded and SR92, just outside the boundary, is noisy with truck and motorcycle traffic. The facilities are plentiful and clean, though, and that's the reason for a "+" after the C rating
Q057505(155 mi) Naples, FL - Collier Seminole State park #32 w/e $16.00 (x2) C+
January 26, 2004 (Mon) Collier Seminole State Park - We took a bicycle ride around the park this morning and discovered an area (sites 1-29) that is laid out more like a state park. While we'll never seek this place out for a future stop we know what to request if we end up here. Down by the boat launch area is a woodland/swamp nature walk that we took. There were small plaques along the way pointing out the different trees and palms. The one that most interested us was the gumbo-limbo tree. It's also called the tourist tree because its bark turns red and peels.
This afternoon was sitting around camp reading. Mark also spent time learning more about his new GPS program. He was quite excited to learn that it will accept voice commands. i.e. he came ask were we are and "The Voice" will tell him. Amazing!
January 27, 2004 (Tue) Naples, FL to Englewood, FL - It rained last night after we went to bed, which was a nice way to go to sleep. But all in all it wasn't a good night for sleeping. The temperature was a bit high, 83°, and the heat and humidity really brought out the mosquitoes. They whined around our ears all night! We have no idea how they got in. We were so careful!
Although we were up by 6:15 we didn't get off until 9:15. We didn't have far to go so could afford to be pokey. We back tracked East on US41 to US29 (Panther Alley) then turned North. It was a relatively uneventful trip which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful layered clouds and the many birds - hawks, anhingas, storks, kingfishers, herons, egrets, and others. Every so often there were road signs announcing "Panther Crossing next 3 miles" (or 2, or 6, or 1). We watched closely but saw no panthers. Maybe next time.
We're back a Joy's mother's place. We'll be here until our mail catches up with us.
Q057656 (151 mi) Englewood, FL, SunTrust Bank parking lot (parked)
