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...