Wednesday, 10/27
Interested in what did happen during the night? We thought so, because we sure were!
Essentially, the weather produced nothing of concern. Some heavy rain about 5 a.m. that ceased within the hour, never to return. However, to the southwest is Chattanooga, Tennessee which took a major hit, as well as other locations on a line to the west of us. Our friends, still in DC reported that they had more rain than we, but nothing more. We're lucky. Tornado warnings are given when the wind and storms are ripe for producing tornadoes, and did, but not for us.
Unfortunately for us, our refrigerator began failing at 5 a.m. That meant we had to find a repair service qualified to work on it. Not an easy task, but we succeeded and headed for a small outfit further toward our destination. Weather cooperated and abundant sunshine made for more spectacular foliage sightings in the mountains of southwestern Virginia. This was to become the best part of the day, as the fridge problem cannot be fixed until a part arrives tomorrow morning, and then we're not totally sure if the issue will be resolved. Grrrr!!
Now, it's another overnight in another Walmart parking lot. As you know by now, we find these locations to be safe, quiet and convenient for shopping. This time, there's an "Outback" steakhouse across the street that will satisfy our need for a good time on this day.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
The Shenandoah Valley & Tornado Watches
Tuesday, 10/26
After waiting for the notorious DC Beltway traffic to abate, we headed west to the Shenandoah Valley and I-81 southward toward North Carolina. While the sky was overcast, there was no doubt that Virginia's foliage was peaking in these soft, low-rise mountains. When the sun did shine, the colors were among the best of the trip. Rolling through rich farmland, on a smooth interstate was quite a break from previous freeway travels of late! Definitely, this highway is a great way to move toward the southeast. Fine roads and less traffic.
Tonight? Another Walmart parking lot experience. As we always do, we called ahead and received permission to park. However, on arrival, "security" told us to move on. "No RV parking allowed. Ever!" Sooo, another call to management and again, we were confirmed as desired "tenants". So much for effective corporate communication, even the printed memo that the security officer had in hand. However, the incident also confirmed the need to ask management for permission, regardless of what the websites and other sources tell us to do.
After inspecting the mall across the street, filled with several interesting restaurants, we returned to our coach to learn that severe weather, even tornado "watches" were in effect until 3 a.m. That news certainly energized us! What to do? Not much. We closed the front slide, made sure awnings were fully retracted, and slept fitfully.
After waiting for the notorious DC Beltway traffic to abate, we headed west to the Shenandoah Valley and I-81 southward toward North Carolina. While the sky was overcast, there was no doubt that Virginia's foliage was peaking in these soft, low-rise mountains. When the sun did shine, the colors were among the best of the trip. Rolling through rich farmland, on a smooth interstate was quite a break from previous freeway travels of late! Definitely, this highway is a great way to move toward the southeast. Fine roads and less traffic.
Tonight? Another Walmart parking lot experience. As we always do, we called ahead and received permission to park. However, on arrival, "security" told us to move on. "No RV parking allowed. Ever!" Sooo, another call to management and again, we were confirmed as desired "tenants". So much for effective corporate communication, even the printed memo that the security officer had in hand. However, the incident also confirmed the need to ask management for permission, regardless of what the websites and other sources tell us to do.
After inspecting the mall across the street, filled with several interesting restaurants, we returned to our coach to learn that severe weather, even tornado "watches" were in effect until 3 a.m. That news certainly energized us! What to do? Not much. We closed the front slide, made sure awnings were fully retracted, and slept fitfully.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Gettysburg, etc.
Monday, 10/25
Oh dear, only 2 months 'til Christmas! On the road for almost 2 1/2 months. It seems impossible that we left our "other" home midsummer, and now we're closing in on the holiday season. Still, there's much to see on this trip. So, while Doris and most of the group are enjoying their trek to Gettysburg, PA, I get to spend quiet time attempting to calculate how much we can see and what routes to take so that we arrive in California before Thanksgiving.
Gettysburg. Site of one of the bloodiest battles fought during the first days of July, 1863, there were between 46,000 to 51,000 casualties incurred in three days, with the Confederates suffering the most during this turning point in our Civil War . A powerful monument covers acres and should be a required visit for all people, regardless of nationality. I've been there several times during my tour company days, and have also circled it in an overfly during one of my cross country flying trips. If television were there to transmit the battle, the war may well have ended the next day by popular decree.
Oh dear, only 2 months 'til Christmas! On the road for almost 2 1/2 months. It seems impossible that we left our "other" home midsummer, and now we're closing in on the holiday season. Still, there's much to see on this trip. So, while Doris and most of the group are enjoying their trek to Gettysburg, PA, I get to spend quiet time attempting to calculate how much we can see and what routes to take so that we arrive in California before Thanksgiving.
Gettysburg. Site of one of the bloodiest battles fought during the first days of July, 1863, there were between 46,000 to 51,000 casualties incurred in three days, with the Confederates suffering the most during this turning point in our Civil War . A powerful monument covers acres and should be a required visit for all people, regardless of nationality. I've been there several times during my tour company days, and have also circled it in an overfly during one of my cross country flying trips. If television were there to transmit the battle, the war may well have ended the next day by popular decree.
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| Gettysburg battlefield, one of numerous monuments to this pivotal Civil War battle. |
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| The Union Army's hill top commanding view toward the advancing Confederate Troops below. |
Tonight? Another farewell dinner as we leave for Virginia while our friends continue their exploration of the Washington, DC area.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday Surprise
Sunday, 10/24
It was my day to work. Hours were spent washing the windshield (the first time in a month, thanks to few bugs at this time of year and the rains while parked), plus thorough dusting, mopping, vacuuming of the interior and some more outdoor chores. Setting off to buy some new windshield wipers, we encounter our old friends as they arrive from having spent four days immersed in New York City. What fun for all of us to see each other again!
Doris had already made her famous chili plus "wings" while Tom pulled out his grill and others whipped up more food, including special desserts from "the #1 bakery", found on Hoboken, NJ, and popularized on one of the food channels. Once again, good friends shared good times. It just doesn't get better than this when on the road. Maybe that's why it's difficult to part from them.
It was my day to work. Hours were spent washing the windshield (the first time in a month, thanks to few bugs at this time of year and the rains while parked), plus thorough dusting, mopping, vacuuming of the interior and some more outdoor chores. Setting off to buy some new windshield wipers, we encounter our old friends as they arrive from having spent four days immersed in New York City. What fun for all of us to see each other again!
Doris had already made her famous chili plus "wings" while Tom pulled out his grill and others whipped up more food, including special desserts from "the #1 bakery", found on Hoboken, NJ, and popularized on one of the food channels. Once again, good friends shared good times. It just doesn't get better than this when on the road. Maybe that's why it's difficult to part from them.
Towards Washington, DC
Saturday, 10/23
Leaving Delaware was another drive along country roads. First, were the beaches facing the Atlantic, then turning west, through little towns like Bridgeville, boyhood home of General Custer, and more corn and soybean fields, just like in the Midwest, except smaller fields.
A major RV park in College Park, Maryland was our destination for today. Doris & I couldn't write this blog until later because the group we'd left behind reads our blog and we wanted to surprise them with our decision to change plans and enjoy Washington with them rather than bypassing the Capitol and move further south.
Finding the park was easy, just off busy I-495 (the outer beltway). The park is filled with RVs and trees. Living in a forest only a few miles from DC gives a false impression of how close we are to the "headquarters" of the most powerful nation in the world.
Leaving Delaware was another drive along country roads. First, were the beaches facing the Atlantic, then turning west, through little towns like Bridgeville, boyhood home of General Custer, and more corn and soybean fields, just like in the Midwest, except smaller fields.
A major RV park in College Park, Maryland was our destination for today. Doris & I couldn't write this blog until later because the group we'd left behind reads our blog and we wanted to surprise them with our decision to change plans and enjoy Washington with them rather than bypassing the Capitol and move further south.
Finding the park was easy, just off busy I-495 (the outer beltway). The park is filled with RVs and trees. Living in a forest only a few miles from DC gives a false impression of how close we are to the "headquarters" of the most powerful nation in the world.
The Capital Area and The Beach
Friday, 10/22
Weather continues to encourage exploration, so off to the countryside surrounding Dover. Knowing that the Amish live in the area, we searched them out and found a fabulous country store with Amish delights ... especially in the bakery session.
The Amish are gentle people who specialize in farming the old fashioned way. No electricity, no cars, no telephones. They take care of each other during difficult times. One thing for sure: They are hard workers. Along with their draft horses and buggy-pulling horses, they are a special feature of the Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even little Delaware.
This election year, Delaware has produced a lightening rod of a candidate for US Congress. On this day, we found two political statements within a mile of one another:
Leaving Dover and the nearby Amish community, we continued south on towards the beaches of Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. Lewes is an old Dutch town that once relied on fishing and crabbing, like its neighbor, Rehoboth which was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, they are now tourist towns, catering to the big city populations attempt to escape the sweltering summer heat and humidity. We found them and the beaches to be very quiet at this time of the year, a pleasure for us. Home this night would be another Elks Lodge parking area. Again, nice people to greet us and make sure we were comfortable.
Weather continues to encourage exploration, so off to the countryside surrounding Dover. Knowing that the Amish live in the area, we searched them out and found a fabulous country store with Amish delights ... especially in the bakery session.
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| Doris doing what she happily does best: finding the best carbs for my waistline. |
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| Sharing the road with the Amish. |
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| I'll leave the caption for you to create! |
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| The Amish and their manure spreader at work ... a subtle (?) political statement. |
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| Neighbors for the night at the Lewes, DE Elks Lodge. Sure was quiet. |
The First State
Thursday, 10/21
We thought California roads were bad, but the highways circumnavigating NYC, including those in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are strong contenders for #1 in the involuntary dental filling extracting business. My God! How our coach stayed in one piece is a credit to Monaco, the manufacturer. Accentuating the problem is that one has to drive at 65 mph over the ruts, bumps, pot holes and occasional pieces of other vehicles in order to keep from being run over by other, highly aggressive drivers. And it makes little difference how little or large their vehicles. Combine bad roads and "kill or be killed" drivers and we have one stressed driver: Me. No wonder my sister says they avoid I-95 and the New York area when they make their snowbird trek from Vermont to Florida. We'll do the same when possible.
As we headed south, things got better. After refueling near Philadelphia, we crossed into Delaware and off the interstate to the capital, Dover. What a treat! A small city in the 49th largest state that was the first to ratify the constitution, Dover gave us more history, narrow streets to enjoy (although our coach "owned" them as we explored historic downtown) and more autumn beauty. Having stocked up at our first Costco since leaving the west, we ultimately landed at a local Elks Lodge for an overnight.
We thought California roads were bad, but the highways circumnavigating NYC, including those in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are strong contenders for #1 in the involuntary dental filling extracting business. My God! How our coach stayed in one piece is a credit to Monaco, the manufacturer. Accentuating the problem is that one has to drive at 65 mph over the ruts, bumps, pot holes and occasional pieces of other vehicles in order to keep from being run over by other, highly aggressive drivers. And it makes little difference how little or large their vehicles. Combine bad roads and "kill or be killed" drivers and we have one stressed driver: Me. No wonder my sister says they avoid I-95 and the New York area when they make their snowbird trek from Vermont to Florida. We'll do the same when possible.
As we headed south, things got better. After refueling near Philadelphia, we crossed into Delaware and off the interstate to the capital, Dover. What a treat! A small city in the 49th largest state that was the first to ratify the constitution, Dover gave us more history, narrow streets to enjoy (although our coach "owned" them as we explored historic downtown) and more autumn beauty. Having stocked up at our first Costco since leaving the west, we ultimately landed at a local Elks Lodge for an overnight.
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Dover, Delaware. One building among many that shows the history of this small, but important state. |
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