“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien from The Fellowship of the Ring March 25, 2020 We had intended to travel down The Natchez Parkway, from Nashville to Natchez. Our first few days were quiet and interesting. And peaceful. We saw very few other cars on the road. The Trace is one of America’s oldest routes. It was used for trade and travel long before paved roads came into existence. It…
January 26, 2020 The World’s Largest Oyster Festival takes place yearly at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens near Charleston. On the last Sunday in January, thousands of hungry participants arrive to chow down on steamed oysters. This festival goes through 65,000 pounds of steamed oysters in one afternoon. Volunteers tend giant vats that billow with steam and turn out oysters by the bucketful. Experienced attendees come equipped with gloves, oyster knives, and lots of paper towels. Novices quickly learn the…
Fort Pickens sits at the far end of Santa Rosa Island, a long narrow island separating The Gulf of Mexico from Pensacola Bay. We never tired of the “commute” to and from the campground. Dramatic skies, aquamarine waters, swooping pelicans and wading birds on stilt-like legs quickstepping through the surf always added interest. The area has a rich history, including early explorers and pirates, quiet camping, great sunsets, and some of the palest blue water this side of the Caribbean….
October 2019 Our Harvest Host debut. For those of you who are new to boondocking, the Harvest Host program is a fun way to get your feet wet. Members pay a modest membership fee to access a directory of establishments willing to host a “self contained” RVer for a night. We call ahead to make the arrangements, and then plan to arrive in time to enjoy the establishment’s offering and settle in. The location might be a winery, brewery, museum,…
December 2019 O’Leno State Park near Gainesville is one of Florida’s oldest state parks. We camped here close to Christmas and debuted our van’s Christmas light display. Well, we didn’t exactly light up the night, or provide a beacon in the darkness, but it somehow helped us ease into our first Christmas without a traditional house. We hiked the park trail along the Santa Fe river to its “sink,” the spot where the river disappears and continues underground, resurfacing miles…