Lake Wylie, Sc to St. Augustine, FL then HOME

Leaving Lauren in Lake Wylie Mon. am was a wrench as we won't see her again until Thanksgiving! But it was time to move on. Driving I-77 from Lake Wylie to Columbia, then I-26 to I-95 and south into Florida was challenging due to very heavy traffic-especially on I-95 (and I should expect something else? It is always busy. Got to Jacksonville just about at rush hour, but other than having to stop just a couple of minutes while police hauled a vehicle with a crumpled fender out of our lane, we got through the city with no problems. When we arrived in St. Augustine we decided to splurge on a really nice KOA Kampground that we had stayed in a few years ago. We eventually found it-our GPS had us turning left when we should have been turning right-and got set up in no time. We had passed through numerous brief showers on the way south, but the sun was bright when it was time to park the camper for our last night out. After checking the refrigerator and cupboard we decided to use an Outback gift card that we had hoarded the entire trip. Dinner was REALLY good and the Happy Hour Two-for's were not half bad. The dessert sampler that we shared was so decadent and scrumptious and we enjoyed every morsel. Having been in St. Augustine numerous times before, and being very tired we elected not to do any sight seeing after dinner-just crashed! The previous week from Thurs. thru Sun. noon we had been accomplishing Lauren's "daddy-do" list. Hank repaired a pressure washer that wouldn't work; put together a tool storage cabinet for Tom; installed a ceiling light and fan in their guest room; installed a can light in the Master shower; installed TV cable in both of the spare rooms, laid new flooring in both upstairs bathrooms, and took out a single sink vanity and installed two new vanities with all the attending plumbing-with shelving between-which he had to build; and rehung the mirror over the vanities. Lauren had Fri. as a vacation day so she worked along with us. I painted her front door which involved two primer coats and two finish coats-anyone need a door painted? Am getting rather good at painting doors...

Sunday afternoon, Hank and Lauren went Whitewater Rafting on the US National Whitewater Training Facility in Charlotte, NC. I elected not to participate as I was a bit chicken once I saw the rapids that they were going to traverse, but someone had to be the photographer-I appointed me! It was a gorgeous, but hot, day so when they got soaked I guess it must have felt good. Watching their boat maneuver through the rapids made me glad I'd made the choice I had! Neither Hank no Lauren were ejected from the raft, but Hank said he caught Lauren by the foot to hold her in the raft during one lively exchange in a rapid. After an hour of pounding they emerged looking a bit worse for wear. See photo!

We left S. Augustine yesterday morning and braved I-95 once more until we got to FL rte 40 and drove through the Ocala National Forest until we got to I-75. Due to a tropical depression out in the Gulf we experienced some strong winds on the highway especially south of Tampa.

Hank had to work hard at steering to keep the camper in his own lane, but we arrived home safely mid-afternoon. (Seeing the piles of mail on the dining room table made us want to leave again!) More than three hours later we had the camper emptied off our stuff-now we just have to do some serious cleaning before we put it in storage until the next adventure. And we've had such a good time these past eight weeks that when time and budget allow there will be more Tin Tent Travels...

Reflecting on the past weeks experience - it has all been good! Seeing the whitest beaches ever along the Emerald Coast of FL, touring the USS Alabama, volunteering for Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, seeing the Alamo site, walking along the Riverwalk, seeing W. Texas, exploring the Carlsbad Caverns, Hank being able to make a left turn in Albuquerque, (old family humor) riding along a piece of Rte 66, experiencing Oak Creek Canyon (even though it scared me senseless) and Sedona, The Grand Canyon, Williams, AZ, driving through Las Vegas at 110 degrees, changing time zones 3 times in less than an hour in Nevada, Arizona and Utah (?) traveling via the Great Basin, observing snow on the peaks around Salt Lake City in early July, seeing and experiencing the Great Salt Lake and even wading in it, exploring Antelope Island and Temple Square, being able to attend a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, spending 3 days exploring Yellowstone and seeing all the wildlife running free even on the roads, the Grand Tetons, walking the wooden boardwalk sidewalks in Jackson Hole, WY, Cody, WY and having dinner in the Irma Hotel and exploring in the Buffalo Bill Museum, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, The Needles Highway, Custer State Park and the Black Hills area, Mitchell, SD and the Corn Palace, even the cornfields of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, then visiting my sister, Lucille, and her family in Holland, MI, friends in Ohio, then moving on to Niagara Falls, then into VT to visit Mother and sister, Marje and family, accomplishing some good things there, moving on the NH to see Karen and the grandsons and attending Andrew's soccer game, visiting with and catching up with good friends, enjoying an evening with Hank's brothers and their wives, touring Gettysburg once again, working on Lauren's "daddy-do" list, Hank's and Lauren's rafting experience, and getting home safely after eight fun weeks on the road! It was all good!!! We're still speaking and now we're thinking about the next Tin Tent Travels...

Gettysburg, PA to Hillsville, VA then Lake Wylie, SC

Just a bit of nonsense while camped in Gettysburg!

Photo below taken at a fruit stand in MD where we've frequently stopped!

Leaving Gettysburg always makes me sad, but we were heading toward SC where we'd get to see Lauren, Tom & Charley (their dog!) Since Lauren was working anyhow during the day we'd make it a two day journey from Gettysburg to Lake Wylie. Driving down I-81 from Winchester, VA to I-77 just South of Pulaski, VA was a bit of a challenge due to extremely heavy traffic and lots of construction, but we did it safely and eventually ended up in a Passport America Camping Resort in Hillsville, VA. We had a campsite in the trees and it was delightful-once we found the bug spray. There were some over-zealous mosquitoes who were intent on having me for dinner. but I was just as intent that they weren't going to dine on me! We had had a shower during the night and our folding chairs had to be stowed soaking wet-part of the charm of camping.

We left Hillsville, VA to once again hit the road-this time it was I-77 up and over a beautiful stretch of highway near Fancy Gap, NC with huge vistas across the numerous valleys once we headed back down the other side. Unfortunately, it was impossible to see those vistas due to thick fog. As we headed South closer to Charlotte we drove out of the fog and drizzly weather into sunshine and extreme heat and humidity. Lauren had found us a possible campsite in a SC county park on Lake Wylie-first come first served. When we got there they had room for us and it's a great place with full hook-ups-even WI-FI-for $10/night for senior citizens-sometimes it pays to be over a "certain" age. At any rate we'll remain here until next Mon. when will head towards home. While here we'll spend lots of time with Lauren and Hank accomplishing his "daddy-do" list. Might even do some white water rafting and its so hot it will be very enjoyable.

Am pleased to report that the bumper problem on the camper apparently has been solved as the bikes and spare tire seem to be riding comfortably. Thanks to our son-in-law, Tim & his brother Chris, the bumper has been welded back and appears to be much stronger than it was originally. The bikes suffered no permanent damage, but we did have to replace a couple of tires.

Gettysburg Battlefield

Am not sure what it is about Gettysburg that so intrigues me, but there is something. Discovered that since we had been here the last time that the old visitors center is gone and there is a new one in an entirely new location. We decided to purchase the self-guided CD to tour the Battlefield and go at our own pace. It was rainy and dreary-how fitting for a place that prompts thoughts about all that went on during those 3 days in July of 1863-but as the day wore on the rain ceased and we had occasional peeks from the sun. In order to read all the plaques and monuments placed around the battlefield it would take a week or more-there appear to be thousands of monuments alone! By 1:30 PM we were only half-way through the tour and hunger dictated that we return to the camper (in the Artillery Ridge Campground not far from Little Round Top) and get ourselves some lunch. Later in the afternoon we returned to our tour and drove slowly through the rest of the battlefield without stopping to read every monument along the way. We did have to stop at Devil's Den and explore the strange outcropping of boulders and take in the view of Little Round Top across the small valley.

Upon completing our tour we walked along the streets lined with souvenir shops-all pretty much the same-but did manage to find a couple of absolutely perfect Christmas gifts for those who will remain nameless!

Newport, NH to Gettysburg, PA

After making some successful attempts to see family and friends that matter in NH & VT we packed up this morning and headed south. We left Crows Nest Campground at 8:15 am and arrived here in Gettysburg at about 6:30 PM having only made brief stops for gas, lunch and at Cabella's in Hamburg, PA which has become a tradition if we are on I-78! And, of course we had to drive right by the exit for Cabella's and we both needed to stretch a bit. Went through numerous showers and one thunderstorm getting here today. After our near disasters with the bikes, we had Tim, our son-in-law, weld some steel plates to the bumper and the bikes and spare tire are riding confidently on the back of the camper once again. We plan to tour the Gettysburg Battlefield tomorrow, and when we get tired of touring we'll get back on the road. Am planning to take lots of Gettysburg photos...

Sun. 7/18-Mon 7/26 -Niagara NY to Vt & NH

More than a week has gone by and there's been no blogging from this source.. 1. Had no Internet connection. 2. We were visiting my mother, sister, Marj and hubby, Jim. Then it was decided that we'd get Mother's house cleaned out-sort through saleable items and get ready for a yard sale for Sat. 7/24 . Karen and the grandsons assisted -the guys cleaned out the attic and the cellar while I cleaned out 6 closets, the entire kitchen and 2 bedrooms, and Karen assisted with pricing all the stuff we figured might go in a yard sale. In the middle of the week we drove to NH for a break and stayed a couple of nights in the Crow's Nest CG in Newport. Drove back to VT (55 miles) on Fri. where we stayed in our camper in Mother's driveway. The sale went on Sat. with no advertising except signs out beside the road and we were relatively busy. At the end of the day a customer gave us her card and told us that if we had things which we wanted to dispose of that she'd come with a truck and haul away whatever we couldn't sell. She would then include our items in a large yard sale next month which would benefit a children's organization. So we packed the remains in boxes and my sister will call this lady to come collect the boxes. I spent yesterday cleaning Mother's house so it could be shown for sale as soon as practicable. Hank spent the day dealing with leftovers in the garage and repairing two garage door openers at my sister's-two totally different problems. We spent evenings with family of one sort of another for the past week. Tonight it is just the two of us back at the Crow's Nest Campground in Newport, NH where we'll camp until we leave NH for parts south. (Though we started this journey more than 6 weeks ago with no real plan, we've agreed on a plan for the remainder of the travels...More on that to come...) We'll be visiting Karen and family and old friends this week-having dinner with some of them at favorite haunts, etc. Apologies that this has been rather hum-drum, but can't make everything exciting! Not even any photos to demonstrate our week's work. Will try to do better with the next post...

Photos from Niagra Falls

Here are just a sampling of the photos we got at Niagra Falls! Crowds were such that it wasn't easy to get the shots we wanted, but such is life! It was a gorgeous evening when we were there-it was Sat. 7/17/10-and we enjoyed walking along the paths on the American side of the falls1

New Carlisle, OH to Niagra Falls, NY

After receiving routing recommendations from the Leonards we began the daylong journey from southwest Ohio to northwest NY travelling through more cornfields, and eventually into wine country in northwest PA and NY. Arrived in Buffalo late in the afternoon and when we got to the tollbooth to cross the Niagra River to Grande Island where we had reservations we found ourselves in a 6 lane traffic jam and at nearly a standstill-a good thing as the people in their vehicles on either side of us wanted to tell us about our bicycles and spare tire which were apparently about ready to come off the back bumper of the camper! Traffic was such that we just had to trust that these items would remain attached until we could get across that bridge and find a place to stop and make whatever repairs might be indicated. Once onto the bridge the 1st sign we see is: "Rough Road" -exactly what we weren't hoping for! But we edged our way off the bridge and onto the shoulder of the road. When Hank went to examine our latest "issue" he found he needed my assistance. Along our whole journey that day we had experienced some rather rough patches of road and the bumper took all that it could then started to split away from the frame of the camper-just enough to make the bikes bounce! So....we took the bikes off the bumper and put them inside the camper-hoping that we could get to our campground without destroying the inside of the camper. The spare tire went in the back of the car and we were on our short way to the campground! (We'll deal with the tired bumper on the camper when we get to NH. The bikes will have to ride in the car with us and the spare tire-after the front wheels are removed. ) We set up and got some dinner, then drove into Niagra Falls. Many years ago I had seen the Falls from the Canadian side, but I don't remember ever seeing them from the American side-it was about time I did! It was a delightful evening and we wandered along the paths with 40 kabillion other tourists-most of them from foreign lands was my assumption after hearing many languages! Took lots of photos of various aspects of the falls while we waited for darkness so we could see the lighting effects. Since we had been there an observation deck was constructed near the Maid of the Mist docks and fighting with those 40 kabillion visitors for a place by the railing was a challenge that neither of us felt up to-so we gave it up as a lost cause! Our photos taken when the lights were on the falls are a dissapointment, but at least we saw them!