'21/#49 We Have Arrived!

Our trip has come to an end but not our journey. We will be sitting still for several months here in Florida before the adventure continues. At some point we will be on  another trip or new leg of our RV journey. I know that my blogging ebbs quite a bit when we are not on the road so I am going to try something a little different. I am going to write about things other than RV travel. It may be something in the news or a sign on the side of the road that gets me started. This will be my observations and opinions and nothing more than that. I will try not to touch on subjects that are sensitive or polarizing. They say never discuss religon and politics with friends you want to keep. Since RVing I have added the Chevy vs Dodge vs Ford debate to that list. I will still be talking about the RV life and our personal adventures but will try to blog on a more regular basis.

For now we are getting settled  here in Zephyrhills and making plans to catch up with all our family and friends. With the covid pandemic getting more under control this year we will be able to get together in a more normal fashion. I don't think that things will ever go back to the way they were. The only thing that will always stay the same is the fact that things will change. Hopefully the change is for the betterment of society and helps us all live better lives.

Being happy with my life I will sign off now from our happy home in Zephyrhills because......

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#48 Soon

Our trek south is almost at an end. A lot of you have been asking when will we be back and when can we get together. The answers to those questions is soon and soon after. We are now officially in Florida. We had plans to get some work done on the rig in north Florida but the parts did not come in so we will be back a day earlier than planned. Lets just call it a jiggle of the jello.

The trip has been a lot of fun and we saw a lot of things along the way. We also got to catch up with some friends and even found some time to do nothing but relax. Traveling in an RV, we feel, is the best way to see the country but it is fatiguing. Rest periods need to be worked in to the itinerary. We also have been compiling a list of things we want to do to the rig this winter in the interest of home maintenance. As always we will be busy this winter with taking care of our home, working in the park, and of course getting together with family and friends. We are looking forward to the ensuing insanity.

The next blog should be from our winter home in Zephyrhillls so I will sign off now. It is time to get the day started so goodbye from our overnight home in Williston Florida because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#47 Savannah and Some Rest

Our first day here in the Savannah area was full of chores and tasks and all that is life in an RV. Day two is historic Savannah. We have been here before but it was on our way south and we wanted to see it again. As we age and our bodies start falling apart we plan differently. There are a number of trolley tour companies that will take you around the city and with the "hop-on, hop-off" that comes with the tour we now had public transportation around the city. Last time we were here we did a lot of walking and enjoyed it. We know that we are not up to as much walking as we once were. 

The tour guides are very informative and most are long time locals that put their own experiences into the usual tour speech. They also pointed out a few things we either didn't know about or forgot over the past eleven years. We stopped at St John the Baptist church to see the stained glass and all that makes this church an artistic place of beauty. A walk down to the Colonial Cemetery and then over to the birthplace of Juliette Gordon-Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts. Mary thanks her for all her Girl Scout experiences and I thank her for the Thin Mints. Hop-on the trolley a few blocks over and continue the tour. 

Next hop-off was Forsythe Park. This is the centerpiece of James Oglethorpe's city plan for Savannah and remains so until today. The park is a continuous series of activities and events for everyone to enjoy.

The centerpiece of the park is the fountain that the city had installed in 1858. Funny fact, the fountain is not really unique since it was ordered from a catalog. Apparently numerous copies of the fountain can be found around the world. Here's the trolly so it is time to hop-on again.

Our next hop-off was the City Market. What once was the central market for the people of Savannah is now the usual tourist shops. Food, drink, souvenirs, and other shops. At least they have maintained the buildings and and the ambiance of the area even though it is still just a tourist trap. From the City Market we walked down to the Riverside District. It was quite an incline, paved with ballast stones from ships that frequented Savannah in the 1800's. Strolling along the waterfront we again found shops catering to tourists operating out of the preserved buildings that once housed all that was involved in an operating seaport. 

We were getting hungry and Mary found a place she wanted to try. Being the wizend old couple we are we waited a few minutes for a trolly  to take us up the incline that I'm sure would not have done our creaky old bones any good. Hop-on and and two stops later hop-off, a couple of blocks to walk and lunch was served. A great little seafood hole in the wall that more than lived up to the reviews. Another short walk to the nearest trolly stop and another hop-on.

We had seen pretty much all that we wanted, so stayed on until the trolly returned us back to the start of our tour. This would be our last hop-off. The trolley saved us a lot of steps but we made up for it by all the hopping off and on. We stopped for a few groceries, headed home, and then just sat back and relaxed. It was a great day and we would sleep very well that night. The next few days we will do next to nothing. Having been on the road for three weeks and keeping busy at all our stops is fatiguing. We would like to arrive in Florida not so wiped out that we can't enjoy being back with family and friends. So I will end this blog with maybe a nap in the near future from our home in Georgia because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#46 Short Trip, Short Blog

Charleston is in our rear view mirror. We saw the Hunley and really enjoyed it. The next day we went into downtown Charleston. Narrow streets and difficult parking for the big truck were expected and did not disappoint. We saw the old houses and tree lined streets that the area is known for. Then we walked to the famous City Market. We have been here before and were very disappointed. Like too many places of historical value it has been taken over by commercial enterprizes. The same trinkets that are found around the country at every tourist destination that are made in China appear with some locally significant icon affixed. The same hand made sweet grass baskets that are all "unique" to the individual artist appear over and over again throughout the market. Then the same foodstuffs like jams and other local products again can be found at a number of booths with labels showing the product originated far from the South Carolina area. Our big purchase was a postcard of the City of Charleston. We then made our way back to the RV and agreed that we don't need to go back to Charleston again.

Our next destination is Savannah Georgia. Only a little over 100 miles down the road we got the wheels rolling after a late breakfast and arrived at the campground a little after lunch. The RV is all set up and we will relax here before the final legs of our south bound trek. We need to catch up on our laundry, prep a few meals and take care of some of the day to day things involved with living in an RV. We will go into Savannah knowing that the same commercial invasion will probably greet us but hope to see a few of the historical sites that have been preserved. 

Our next orders of business is showering, getting dressed, and laundry. Probably a meal out and who knows what else? So goodbye until the next blog from our home near Savaannnah Georgia because......

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#45 Crazy Travel Day

Our schedule had us leaving Wilmington NC on Sunday and arriving near Charleston SC later that day. It is not much over 200 miles and should be an easy trip. Once in Charleston the two things we wanted to do is roam around Charleston's historic district and visit The Friends of The Hunley Museum. After that we would move on down the road. Easy, right? Not the way we do it.  Checking the hours at the museum we found out that they are only open on Saturday and Sunday, and Sunday only until 3pm. This is something we really wanted to see since we saw it about ten years ago and wanted to see the progress made in the last decade of restoration. The only way we could do this was by leaving Wilmington before dawn and driving straight to the musem with the RV and then going to our campground.  Everything was all hooked up the night before and we were able to get on the road by 6am. We don't usually travel in the dark and Mary is not really a morning person but we decided it was worth the disruption to our travel routine. We usually hit the road after breakfast and get settled in before dinner. This works well for us but sometimes you've got to shake the jello.

The Hunley is a civil war submarine and the first submarine successfully used in combat. The Confederate sub sank a Union ship that was part of the blockade of Charleston Harbor. After the attack the Hunley was lost at sea on February 17, 1864 not to be found for over a century. It was found in 1995 and finally raised in 2000 and the museum and restoration project has been in operation since then.  When we last saw it in 2012 it was still an encrusted hulk and leaning on it's side 40 degrees as it was found. Since then it has been righted, descaled, and examined for for artifacts and historical data. It is amazing to see what was accomplished in 1864 and compare it to the technological advancements of 90 years that gave us the USS Nautilus that we saw in Connecticut.

Ok, after an early start, an uneventful drive, and spending time at the Hunley it was still only 1pm. Check in at the campground is 2pm so we decided to have some lunch in the RV since we had a great spot to park  almost 60' of RV right there at the museum. We then went on to the campground, checked in, set up, and decided it was time for a nap. Some dinner, some TV, and a good nights sleep and today we will head into Charleston. This time we will start our day at a reasonable hour from our home near Charleston SC because....

Home is where we park it,,

Frank and Mary

'21/#44 Moving Faster Than The Speed Of Blog

Well we are moving faster than this blogger can post. We have already moved on but I need to catch up on our travels. Our last full day in Coinjock was saved for the trip down to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This is one of the "must see" lighthouses for Mary and other lighthouse aficionados. For years we had talked about visiting but had not made it until now. It's size, location, and history all make for an interesting story. Add to that the 1999 moving of the whole structure to save it from being swallowed by the sea and the story becomes impressive. The lighthouse and surrounding buildings was moved 2900 feet to a location that would insure that it would be protected for years to come. 

That night we had dinner again with our friends prior to our morning departure. Good food, good friends, and promises to get together when we all are back in Florida. Our next destination was Wilmington NC. 

As a child Mary's family had spent many summers out on Carolina Beach and she wanted to see it and rekindle some of the memories. As they say,"you can't go home again". Mary showed me the beach they played on and even the hotel they stayed in that has changed names and since been closed down. She pointed out where the rental cottages used to stand and the boardwalk that was home to all the arcades, snack bars, and bingo halls. These are long gone and have been replaced by souvenir shops and restaurants. There were a few carnival rides packed up and ready to travel south for fairs and such in warmer climates where the amusement park used to sit and hotels and condos dominated the landscape. Mary enjoyed walking around and reminiscing but it was no longer "her" Carolina Beach. 

Today we will relax, do a little cooking, shopping, and even napping. The RV life is fun and we wouldn't trade it for the world, but it can be fatiguing so down days are needed. Our next stop will be Charleston SC. I will sign off now and maybe take one of those naps in our home in Wilmington NC because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#43 Friends And Lighthouses

All set up in Coinjock KOA and the weather is lousy. Not pouring rain but off and on with a steady mist and drizzle to fill in the gaps. That made for a quiet Sunday of relaxing inside of our home on wheels. Our friends had to work so we made plans to get togther for dinner at the local marina. It was good to catch up and share some stories with good friends. We also made plans for later in our stay. Monday they had previous plans so we decided to go exploring.

With maps and brochures in hand we headed out. Our first destination took us through a number of very built up beach towns including Kity Hawk and Duck. It was a long tedious drive through speed trap towns with speed limits from 55mh to 25mph but did finally get us to the Carrituck Lighthouse. There were quite few people there as well as two tour buses so we opted not to wait in line to climb to the top and settled for a bunch of pictures. Again the weather was not ideal with mist and drizzle that would have made the view less than impressive. Then it was the same long drive back. Such is the life of the lighthouse hunter. Moving south along the outer banks we found Bodie Lighthouse. Again with the weather not ideal and the fact that the last climbers for the day had already been to the top we did not have a chance to see the view. Pictures of the lighthouse and of the wetlands from the boardwalk platform and we were headed home. 

We stopped for an early dinner at Awful Arthur's for and an absolutely awful meal. Just kidding, it was great. After a full day of driving and picture taking we got home and relaxed. The next day we went to Newport News with Dave and Margaret to meet up with friends Izzie and Johanna. The six of us made it a mini reunion of the Cody Wyoming workcampers of 2012. Again we had a nice lunch and swapped stories and just caught up with each others lives.

Cutting this short for now from our home in Coinjock because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank adn Mary

'21/#42 The Shortest Distance Is A Straight Line

The last blog I talked about cutting our longest day of travel into two days and we did just that. Now we needed to take the shortest route to our next destination on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This stop had some lighthouses to see (surprise,surprise) and would take a couple of days. But the best part of this stop would be catching up with our friends Margaret and David. We have known them since the summer of 2012 in Cody Wyoming and have kept in touch since. Whenever possible we try to get together when logistics allow.

Anyway, we are leaving Salisbury Maryland near the Maryland shore and heading south. The reason we are in this part of Maryland is the mileage saving route. Instead of heading west and traveling around Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. adding almost 100 miles, an extra 90 minutes, and untold traffic we opted for the coastal route. It would also give us the opportunity to traverse the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel. This is a 17.5 mile marvel of engineering that has been on my traveling bucket list. You can look up all the wow factor statistics but driving through it, and with a 41' 5th wheel no less, is something else. The time and fuel savings, plus the experience, more than made up for the toll to cross the bay.

Well it looked like it could rain any time so we hustled to the campground and got set up before the weather turned. David and Margaret work at this KOA and we were looking forward to seeing them. Apparently they wanted to see us also. David drove up in his golf cart as we were setting up and there were hugs all around. Margaret was tied up in the camp store and we were tired so we would see her in the morning.

Another good day of travel. Great expriences and awesome friends. Who could ask for more? So until the next blog from our home in Carrituck North Carolina because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#41 Stop And Go

This should be our only one night stay on our trip south. I said should because there is always room for jello! We found a Moose lodge in Salisbury, MD that had room for us to stay. Some of the organizations like the Moose, Elks, and others have a few RV spots on site for traveling members. They are basic sites with anything from water/sewer/electric to just a spot in the parking lot. This Moose had five full hook-up sites and there was availability for the night we needed. As members we were welcomed with open arms and only had to pay a minimal fee for the night. There was dinner and music that night but we passed because we wanted to get on the road early.

So this is a short stay and a short blog from our home in Salisbury MD because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#40 Atlantic City Slots Give Out Jello!

Not really. We are near Atlantic City and we did drive through but we were seriously underwhemed. Hotels and casinos on top of each other surrounded by slums on one side and rich beach homes on the other. Oh yeah, there is supposed to be some sort of a boardwalk but we decided not to fight for a parking spot near the casinos or fight our way out of the neighborhood slums.

Any way that was the end of our day. It started out great with a trip down to Cape May to see the lighthouse. Pretty lighthouse with a cute artsy community nearby. Neither of us felt up to climbing the lighthouse so pictures would have to suffice. Driving back we stopped and saw the Hereford Inlet lighthouse in Wildwood. Cute lighthouse in a cute beach neighborhood with lots of new condos. Pretty, but we just are not beach people any more. Then it was on to Atlantic City. I've already told you what we didn't like, but there was a bright spot. At the north end of the city, the not so good part of town, we found the Absecome Lighthouse. We didn't stay long since they were closing up for the day and we didn't want to stay in that neighborhood too long. 

We headed home for some dinner and discussion. The topic was our itinerary. Not much more we wanted to see here and the trip to our next destination was our longest of this journey. Why not leave a day early, stop half way, and arrive rested for our next extended stay with friends in North Carolina. Atlantic City didn't pay out big money but we did hit the "jello" jackpot. Yes the jello that our plans are written in. Shake the jello and get those wheels rolling. Another positive note is that we don't have to leave before the crack of dawn. 

So those are the new plans and this is the rare two blog day. This is also my second goodbye today from our home in New Jersey because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#39 A New Direction

We left Connecticut early to accommodate the traffic we would encounter on the way to New Jersey. If you look at the map you will see that just about any route will take us near New York City and involve metropolitan area traffic. Also the road conditions that are inherent around any major city. I'm talking about pot holes and the quick patches that are made to not impede the 24/7 traffic around the city that never sleeps. Having grown up near here the traffic didn't bother me. Taking our time took care of dealing with the pot holes. So everything was fine until you figure in the human factor.

The human factor is us! Everything was going fine until confusion between the GPS and Google maps confused this driver even more. Next thing I know we are on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. The first thing I noticed was the lack of big trucks on the road. Our rig is 57' long and 13' tall, just like a short tractor-trailer. This concerned me so we pulled into a parkway service area and asked the employees there and were refered to the map of the parkway. Yep, it looks like we shouldn't be on this route so..... We turn around, double back and get on the road we should have been on in the first place. It wasn't too far but what can I say? Another little adventure along the way.

We finally make it to Pomona NJ. We are here to see the Cape May Lighhouse, some of the Jersey shore, and maybe look around Atlantic City. Our stay here is only two days and then it will be back on the road. Anyway, the trip from Connecticut to New Jersey definitely took a southward turn so we are certainly on our way back to Florida. I will sign off now from our home in New Jersey because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#38 What's A Little Rain?

Yesterday was rainy all day but did we let it stop us? No! We slept in a bit while the rain pattered on the roof and made plans for a rainy day excursion. We had heard and read about the Submarine Force Museum in New London and felt it would be a great indoor activity.  We were right. The museum shows the history of the US Navy's submarine force and it's impact on the history of the United States. Technological developments and the people behind them were showcased as well. The sailors below the surface served in less than comfortable conditions to protect our country. 

This is also the home of the decommissioned USS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine. It was built and launched from Groton Connecticut and after much debate Preident Carter sided with the local groups that it should be permanently displayed where it started it's historic journey. Upon boarding the Nautilus, and bumping my head more than once, we saw the actual living and working quarters of a nuclear submarine. Our RV living space is spacious compared to living on a submarine. Our bathroom is larger than a 6 bunk room on the Nautilus!

After the museum we drove around New London and found a of couple lighthouses. The Pequot Ave. light is on private property so can only be seen from the street or the water. The New London Ledge Light is off shore and accessible by boat only but can be seen from Pequot Ave. as well. That makes two more lighthouses on Mary's list. 

With the rain still coming down we found someplace for lunch and decided to head home for one more indoor activity....laundry. Today the weather is more promising so we will head out to Mystic Seaport after breakfast. So long until the next blog from our home in Connecticut because.....

Home is where wwe parkk it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#37 This Time The Rain Is Real

New York is behind us and we are on our way. The roads out of Itica were quite steep and curvy. The were typical mountain roads but with patience and caution we had no problems. Some of the roads could have used some repaving which we found out when we stopped and found the trailer's contents had been rearranged, but that is life on the road. We were looking for a truck wash and missed the turn off. Oh well there will be more, but that route put us about an hour out of the way. The best tool in an RVer's tool box is flexibility.

Anyway, we continued down the road through Pennsylvania back into New York and finally into Connecticut with Mystic as our destination. Mystic Seaport is a neat place we have been to before, but there are a few new things we want to see. Of course Mary will see a couple of lighthouses, but I want to the Submarine Force Museum in Groton and the restored Charles W. Morgan in Mystic. The oldest submarine shipyard is in Groton Connecticut and the Electric Boat Co. sold the navy it's first submarine in 1900. So where better to see the history of US submarines. Farther on down the road we will see the first submarine used successfully in combat when we get to Charleston. But more on that later.

This morning it is raining as it has all night which has put a literal and figurative damper on our plans. It was easy to sleep in with the patter of rain on the roof and when we get cleaned, fed, and dressed we will make plans for the day. Hopefully the rain will let up and we can start being tourists instead of hermits. Well I am ready for my second cup of coffee so I will sign off now from our home in Stonington Connecticut because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#36 Local Small Town Sights

Don't anyone jump down my throat for calling Ithica a small town. I am just referencing it to the cities that Mary and I grew up near like New York City and Washington D.C. If you follow us you know that we have been hunting waterfalls in the area and have been quite successful. 

Now we are looking for some man made attractions. We left western New York after the Appleumpkin Festival and traveled east to central New York and like the area we left it is apple season. New York agriculture is well known for the variety of apples that are grown here so of course there will be local festivals and farmer's market showcasing the local produce as well as the crafts that are made by the local talent. Yesterday we went to the Ithica Apple Festival at Ithica Commons. Streets were closed and booths were set up for everyone to buy and enjoy all that this time of year brings. There was pumpkin pie, sausages, fries, cotton candy, and of course everything apple. There was apple pie, apple butter, caramel apples, candy appples, apple cider, apple chips, apple wine, and of course bins and bins of apples of all kinds. Everything looked so good but we couldn't buy it all. We did get some cider, pumpkin bread, apple cinnamon bread, and of course a few apples. 

 We drove onto Cornell University's campus to find two more waterfalls but the roads were tight, twisty, and almost vertical. That and the limited parking was not big truck friendly so we called it a day. At home we made plans for an excursion to a farm and craft market on Saturday. And now we are caught up. 

 The temperature is almost up to 50 degrees so we will start getting ready to head out to explore and shop some more. Tomorrow we will be leaving the Finger Lakes region and heading farther east. Our next stop is Connecticut, but for now this is so long until the next blog from our home in Trumansburg, NY because..... 

 Home is where we park it, Frank and Mary