Southwestern PA: Laurel Highlands

Southwestern PA: Laurel Highlands

August 2020 Kentuck Knob We began our trek to Michigan with a short stay in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. On previous trips, we toured Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and the Flight 93 Memorial. This time, on a friend’s suggestion, we decided to visit Kentuck Knob, another of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural standouts. The Hagans were friends of the Kaufmanns and greatly impressed by Fallingwater. They approached Wright about this project in the early 1950s. Wright, who was 86 at…

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Virginia’s Northern Neck

Virginia’s Northern Neck

Belle Isle State Park, Lancaster VAJuly 2020 On July 9th, we celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary at Belle Isle State Park on the Rappahannock River. We arrived, set up camp, and then ventured out to find a restaurant with a water view and fresh, local seafood. We found the Horn Harbor Restaurant in Burgess, VA. The restaurant has a small marina, so guests can also arrive by boat. We sat outside, in the shade near the dock area, and enjoyed…

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Summersville Lake, WV

Summersville Lake, WV

Battle Run Campground, COEJune 28 -30 We felt fortunate to land a campsite at Battle Run Campground, one of the Corps of Engineer managed parks on Summersville Lake. Campsites near water often sell out, so to nab a lakeside spot on short notice was lucky. Our campsite was on a finger of land stretching into the lake, so we had a water view to the left and right. Summersville is east of Charleston, WV, and halfway between Beckley and Sutton….

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New River Gorge, WV

New River Gorge, WV

Babcock State Park, Clifftop, WVJune 26-28 This small state park campground is an oldie. Originally a CCC camp – Camp Lee – remnants of hefty stonework and projects from the camp peek out here and there alongside more recent construction. It’s a popular place, so our reservations barely snagged us one of the last available spots. Sadly, I have to say this wasn’t one of our favorite campgrounds. It’s funny how that works sometimes. On another day, with a different…

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Testing the Travel Waters, Again

Testing the Travel Waters, Again

July 2, 2020 Like many other full time travelers, we took a break from the road during the Covid-19 quarantine. What we imagined might be a several-week hiatus turned into three months. We are very fortunate and grateful that we had kind family members willing to host us and a lovely place to stay during this time. By mid-June, campgrounds were reopening, with the sort of safety precautions one would expect. We knew that traveling would be different, but we…

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Six Months In…

Six Months In…

We started traveling in late October 2019. As of today, April 24, 2020, we have stayed in eight states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. We have camped at 29 different sites – a combination of state parks, national parks, Corps of Engineers sites, privately owned campgrounds, and Harvest Host sites. Each place has its own personality and lessons to share. We’re very grateful to friends and family who’ve kindly invited us to stay in…

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Wanderings

Wanderings

“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…

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Low Country Oyster Festival, Mt Pleasant, SC

Low Country Oyster Festival, Mt Pleasant, SC

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…

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Fort Pickens, FL

Fort Pickens, FL

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….

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Hampton Roads Winery & Goats

Hampton Roads Winery & Goats

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,…

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