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…
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…
“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…
January 2020 It had been ages since we’d seen our friends Phyllis and John, but as is often the case with great friendships, it felt like we picked up right where we left off years ago. We spent time catching up and exploring their neighborhood, including a lovely visit to Naples Botanical Garden. A bonus was that Phyllis’ sister Lucretia and her husband George joined us. We giggled, explored the gardens, had a yummy lunch at the garden cafe, and…
November 2019 A day trip from our campsite at Red Top Mountain State Park brought us to The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Late November is off-season for visitors; the park was quietly gearing up for its holiday display of lighted snowmen and angels. This quiet, uncrowded time was perfect for us. We hiked a trail, took in the view from a tower high above Spanish-moss draped trees, and enjoyed the guided boat tour along the stream leading to the Suwanee…
We’ve been on the road since late October 2019. Traveling has quickly become a lifestyle for us and we are enjoying exploring new territory, meeting new friends, and coming to love our little house on wheels. We’ve been staying in parks, mostly state and national, and spending some time at friends’ homes along the way. We decided that bikes would provide an easy way to explore large parks without having to “break camp”. We found Townie bikes by Trek, which…