6/15/2009 Panama City Beach FL Seasonably hot, up to 95.
Nothing exciting here. Got up, drove 300 miles to our house in PCB.
All was well with the house, unlike some other trips where we found the A/C dead.
We spent most of the rest of the afternoon emptying the trailer into the house and doing laundry.
Tomorrow, I'll put the trailer back in storage at Naval Support Activity, Panama City. The locked storage area there is about as secure a place as I can think of. Most people couldn't find it with a map and a flashlight.
The truck accumulated 6,325 miles this trip through twenty-three states and Ontario. It has now been in 49 states, plus 10 Canadian provinces and two Canadian territories.
That's it.... nothing more to say. We'll leave this up until we move it to a web site somewhere....
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
6/14/09 Mayport FL
6/14/09 Mayport FL Warm (74>92).
Slow day today. We got up a little late and went directly to B&L's house. Donna had fixed quiches, so we had some of that, and other party leftovers. Deviled egg (turns out the vultures didn't get them all) for breakfast is a little odd, but ok.
Vic & Donna departed for Atlanta, leaving only the four of us. Three of us loafed while I installed the third ceiling fan into bedroom 3; I'd done the other two earlier this year. It went in without too many complications.
Then all four of us loafed until time to go to church. We took their convertible with the top down - haven't done that in a while. Did church, then a light dinner at Beachside Cafe.
Then back to the house to pick up stuff we'd left there. We called Susan, who couldn't talk at length (cleaning the refrigerator) but said hi. Afterward, we said our goodbyes until next month and left.
Back to the trailer and to do these little chores. Then we'll prep for tomorrow's trip home.
Then to bed.
Slow day today. We got up a little late and went directly to B&L's house. Donna had fixed quiches, so we had some of that, and other party leftovers. Deviled egg (turns out the vultures didn't get them all) for breakfast is a little odd, but ok.
Vic & Donna departed for Atlanta, leaving only the four of us. Three of us loafed while I installed the third ceiling fan into bedroom 3; I'd done the other two earlier this year. It went in without too many complications.
Then all four of us loafed until time to go to church. We took their convertible with the top down - haven't done that in a while. Did church, then a light dinner at Beachside Cafe.
Then back to the house to pick up stuff we'd left there. We called Susan, who couldn't talk at length (cleaning the refrigerator) but said hi. Afterward, we said our goodbyes until next month and left.
Back to the trailer and to do these little chores. Then we'll prep for tomorrow's trip home.
Then to bed.
6/13/09 Mayport, FL
6/13/2009 NS Mayport, FL Hot (79>94).
Up and back to Bill & Lana's house. We were then in and out all day, getting stuff and making things for the baby shower party. My chore was to make two dozen deviled eggs, as well as to haul things from one place to another, swab out the patio, wipe off the patio chairs, and so forth.
I was the designated mule.
The guests started arriving at 7:00 and things got quite active after that. Vic cooked the sliders and rollers. Everyone enjoyed the food (especially the custom cupcakes). The deviled eggs disappeared. A couple of cases of Lite were done in.
Then the unwrapping of gifts took place. Lana (and Bill) received many nice things that will help tend the child when he shows up.
One of Bill's co-workers wife is due two days before Lana, so they were comparing sizes. Both were in black-and-white dresses.
After a while, perhaps 10:00, people left and we were left alone. D & I left a little after that, and after the initial cleanup. We'll finish it tomorrow.
Back to the trailer and a good night's sleep.
Up and back to Bill & Lana's house. We were then in and out all day, getting stuff and making things for the baby shower party. My chore was to make two dozen deviled eggs, as well as to haul things from one place to another, swab out the patio, wipe off the patio chairs, and so forth.
I was the designated mule.
The guests started arriving at 7:00 and things got quite active after that. Vic cooked the sliders and rollers. Everyone enjoyed the food (especially the custom cupcakes). The deviled eggs disappeared. A couple of cases of Lite were done in.
Then the unwrapping of gifts took place. Lana (and Bill) received many nice things that will help tend the child when he shows up.
One of Bill's co-workers wife is due two days before Lana, so they were comparing sizes. Both were in black-and-white dresses.
After a while, perhaps 10:00, people left and we were left alone. D & I left a little after that, and after the initial cleanup. We'll finish it tomorrow.
Back to the trailer and a good night's sleep.
6/12/09 Mayport, FL
6/12/2009 NS Mayport, FL Hot (79>94).
We got up at a reasonable time and headed out. We passed slowly down US-17 through rural Georgia until we passed Brunswick, then used I-95 to the Jacksonville area. Entered the base with no problems and set up in the base RV Park "Pelican Roost".
Then we headed over to Bill & Lana's house and did laundry. They came home after five. We went out for Italian with them - good food, placed named "Fontana" for the big fountain inside. Then a grocery stop and back to the house.
Lana's birth mother (she was adopted) and husband came in from Atlanta a little later. We sat around talking and having a drink or two.
Dolores & I headed out about 10:30 and came home to settle in for the night.
We got up at a reasonable time and headed out. We passed slowly down US-17 through rural Georgia until we passed Brunswick, then used I-95 to the Jacksonville area. Entered the base with no problems and set up in the base RV Park "Pelican Roost".
Then we headed over to Bill & Lana's house and did laundry. They came home after five. We went out for Italian with them - good food, placed named "Fontana" for the big fountain inside. Then a grocery stop and back to the house.
Lana's birth mother (she was adopted) and husband came in from Atlanta a little later. We sat around talking and having a drink or two.
Dolores & I headed out about 10:30 and came home to settle in for the night.
6/11/09 Richmond Hill, GA
6/11/2009 Richmond Hill GA
Out to Waffle House for breakfast, then into downtown Savannah.
We did a pretty good job of viewing the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, and some of the city museum in the trainshed of the old Central of Georgia RR station. A lot of the RR stuff is restorable and folks are working on it.
We took a very short "train ride" around the site behind a 44-ton and small coach. It would run onto the turntable, then into the shed on another track, out into a field after turning again, out again on another track. All the while, a person was describing the place and the plans for it. Very good site, not much in terms of rolling stock.
Then, it being very hot, we drove around Savannah and its "squares" and its great old houses. It's a beautiful place. I'll have to re-read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", called hereabouts "The Book". Being here might even force me to see the old "Forrest Gump" thing, some of which was filmed here.
When we finished our ride around town, we took local streets back out to the little house, stopping for a late lunch on the way. Then back to the little house to avoid the heat.
The lake (pit?) next to the campground here is unique. In the evening, there are several white swans in it; at dusk a couple dozen white birds (egrets?) fly into the trees on the island in the pond. Quite a few Canadian geese, and several ducks seem to be resident here. Interesting.
Out to Waffle House for breakfast, then into downtown Savannah.
We did a pretty good job of viewing the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, and some of the city museum in the trainshed of the old Central of Georgia RR station. A lot of the RR stuff is restorable and folks are working on it.
We took a very short "train ride" around the site behind a 44-ton and small coach. It would run onto the turntable, then into the shed on another track, out into a field after turning again, out again on another track. All the while, a person was describing the place and the plans for it. Very good site, not much in terms of rolling stock.
Then, it being very hot, we drove around Savannah and its "squares" and its great old houses. It's a beautiful place. I'll have to re-read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", called hereabouts "The Book". Being here might even force me to see the old "Forrest Gump" thing, some of which was filmed here.
When we finished our ride around town, we took local streets back out to the little house, stopping for a late lunch on the way. Then back to the little house to avoid the heat.
The lake (pit?) next to the campground here is unique. In the evening, there are several white swans in it; at dusk a couple dozen white birds (egrets?) fly into the trees on the island in the pond. Quite a few Canadian geese, and several ducks seem to be resident here. Interesting.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
6/10/09 Richmond Hill GA
6/10/2009 Richmond Hill GA Hot (76 > 90).
We did 200 more miles south on I-95 to here. After setting up and feeding the ducks (we're on a lake - many ducks & geese), we headed into Savannah to the Visitor's Center in the old Central of Georgia terminal.
We took the city tour by trolley and found a lot of neat places - many "squares" (originally 24, now 21) that are mini-parks. Lots of nice old houses and museums.
Midnight in the City of Good and Evil is "The Book" here. When one says "The Book", everyone thinks you mean that. So MITCOG&E is a big deal, as is Forrest Gump, the two most noted movies made here.
Now that we've seen the overall city, we'll decide what to cover tomorrow.
We bought some groceries, and diesel fuel, then returned to the little house for our Stuffed Pork Chop dinner. After that, we'll let it cool down and walk by the lake for a while before settling.
We did 200 more miles south on I-95 to here. After setting up and feeding the ducks (we're on a lake - many ducks & geese), we headed into Savannah to the Visitor's Center in the old Central of Georgia terminal.
We took the city tour by trolley and found a lot of neat places - many "squares" (originally 24, now 21) that are mini-parks. Lots of nice old houses and museums.
Midnight in the City of Good and Evil is "The Book" here. When one says "The Book", everyone thinks you mean that. So MITCOG&E is a big deal, as is Forrest Gump, the two most noted movies made here.
Now that we've seen the overall city, we'll decide what to cover tomorrow.
We bought some groceries, and diesel fuel, then returned to the little house for our Stuffed Pork Chop dinner. After that, we'll let it cool down and walk by the lake for a while before settling.
6/9/09 Florence SC
6/9/2009 Florence SC KOA Warm, then hot (72 > 90).
We slogged our way 370 miles to the KOA at Florence, and then called D's nephew Peter, as arranged. Later, he & Brenda returned the call and came to get us.
We went out to Fatz Cafe for dinner and talking. Finally, we left there and went to their house. We met the dogs and toured the grounds, then went inside and chatted some more. They have a nice location on two acres surrounded by a farm that most likely won't ever be developed.
After a bunch of chatting, they brought us back to the little house, where we settled in for the night.
We slogged our way 370 miles to the KOA at Florence, and then called D's nephew Peter, as arranged. Later, he & Brenda returned the call and came to get us.
We went out to Fatz Cafe for dinner and talking. Finally, we left there and went to their house. We met the dogs and toured the grounds, then went inside and chatted some more. They have a nice location on two acres surrounded by a farm that most likely won't ever be developed.
After a bunch of chatting, they brought us back to the little house, where we settled in for the night.
Monday, June 8, 2009
6/8/09 PrWm Forest Park Travel Trailer Village, VA
6/8/09 PrWm Forest Park Travel Trailer Village, VA
What a day!!
We went to Val & Pat's for breakfast (very good eggs, bacon, bagels, and things, with excellent coffee) and wound up talking and showing each other pictures on Macbooks and talking about trips and discussing kids and so forth until they finally had to leave to go to Maggie and Brian's house for a grandson Jack's gymnastics event.
We all hugged and vowed we'd get back together as soon as possible. Wonderful visit.
Then we wandered back to the campground via the store for lettuce, and settled in for a bit. I realized I'd forgotten to get bottled water, and went back to get that. Then I got email from Val that we'd forgotten something there, and they'd left it in the front door inside the screen door.
A 5th wheel trailer & truck came in about this time and parked two spaces up from us. He (and she) resembled people we'd met before.
We met Bob and Judy in 2001 at St Ignace, MI while they were touring in the motorhome they owned then. It had an Oregon plate, so we inquired whether they knew people there that we knew. We talked and liked them a lot. It turned out that Bob had family history in Manassas, VA, where we lived then, and relatives still living there. So we, of course, invited them to call us whenever they could visit the area. They showed up in Manassas a year or two later, and we transported them around the county renewing their memories of what's where. We had a great time with them. He's a civil war history person, so we had some things to talk about. Then we went west in 2003 and met them in Delta, Colorado. We stayed there two or three days and they showed us around the area, especially up onto Grand Mesa. We moved away from Manassas in 2004. In 2005, we went west again and met them in Bend, Oregon, while we were visiting my cousin's husband there.
The people two spaces up didn't like the site and moved their rig around to our left and started to set up. I walked that way, found the truck had an Oregon front plate, and it hit me. I walked toward the guy and said, "You look just like Bob (x)." He looked up and said, "You look just like Owen (x)." We walked to each other and shook hands. He took me to the door of their rig and told Judy there was a salesman to see her - she came to the door and gasped, then yelled "Hi". I led them back to our trailer and Dolores gasped and ran out to hug them.
It actually IS them.... Bob & Judy!! the biggest coincidence I can imagine.... how could this happen? Incredible.
They'd come up from NC today to spend a few days here to see the elderly aunt and the cousin. Then they're going on to Maine and around back to Colorado and Arizona when it cools there.
I ran off to get the forgotten item and returned. We chatted like mad, then we merged assets and began making a combined dinner to eat outside at the picnic table between our rigs. Judy cooked the fish, D did the potatoes and her fish, Judy did salad & I set the table. We drank a little wine and ate our fishes, potatoes, salad and bread. Then we talked until darkness came, and talked some more until the bugs started buzzing around us. We did see a few fireflies coming out to do their dance.
It was an outstanding day - seeing old friends of two different communities.
What a day!!
We went to Val & Pat's for breakfast (very good eggs, bacon, bagels, and things, with excellent coffee) and wound up talking and showing each other pictures on Macbooks and talking about trips and discussing kids and so forth until they finally had to leave to go to Maggie and Brian's house for a grandson Jack's gymnastics event.
We all hugged and vowed we'd get back together as soon as possible. Wonderful visit.
Then we wandered back to the campground via the store for lettuce, and settled in for a bit. I realized I'd forgotten to get bottled water, and went back to get that. Then I got email from Val that we'd forgotten something there, and they'd left it in the front door inside the screen door.
A 5th wheel trailer & truck came in about this time and parked two spaces up from us. He (and she) resembled people we'd met before.
We met Bob and Judy in 2001 at St Ignace, MI while they were touring in the motorhome they owned then. It had an Oregon plate, so we inquired whether they knew people there that we knew. We talked and liked them a lot. It turned out that Bob had family history in Manassas, VA, where we lived then, and relatives still living there. So we, of course, invited them to call us whenever they could visit the area. They showed up in Manassas a year or two later, and we transported them around the county renewing their memories of what's where. We had a great time with them. He's a civil war history person, so we had some things to talk about. Then we went west in 2003 and met them in Delta, Colorado. We stayed there two or three days and they showed us around the area, especially up onto Grand Mesa. We moved away from Manassas in 2004. In 2005, we went west again and met them in Bend, Oregon, while we were visiting my cousin's husband there.
The people two spaces up didn't like the site and moved their rig around to our left and started to set up. I walked that way, found the truck had an Oregon front plate, and it hit me. I walked toward the guy and said, "You look just like Bob (x)." He looked up and said, "You look just like Owen (x)." We walked to each other and shook hands. He took me to the door of their rig and told Judy there was a salesman to see her - she came to the door and gasped, then yelled "Hi". I led them back to our trailer and Dolores gasped and ran out to hug them.
It actually IS them.... Bob & Judy!! the biggest coincidence I can imagine.... how could this happen? Incredible.
They'd come up from NC today to spend a few days here to see the elderly aunt and the cousin. Then they're going on to Maine and around back to Colorado and Arizona when it cools there.
I ran off to get the forgotten item and returned. We chatted like mad, then we merged assets and began making a combined dinner to eat outside at the picnic table between our rigs. Judy cooked the fish, D did the potatoes and her fish, Judy did salad & I set the table. We drank a little wine and ate our fishes, potatoes, salad and bread. Then we talked until darkness came, and talked some more until the bugs started buzzing around us. We did see a few fireflies coming out to do their dance.
It was an outstanding day - seeing old friends of two different communities.
6/7/09 PrWm Forest Park TTV, VA
6/7/09 PrWm Forest Park Travel Trailer Village, VA Nice, warm.
We took it easy until time for church - went to D's old church (All Saints in Manassas). Afterward, we went to the home of Pat & Val, our old friends here.
With them, we then did the following....
Chatted for a while.
Out for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Manassas.
Off to Pearmund Winery west of Gainesville off US-29 for wine tasting and purchase. We bought six bottles and they bought six, so we got a nice discount. It's a nice place with 15 different Chardonnay grapes to blend together to form their Chardonnay.
Then we went off across country (gettting confused only once) to The Winery at LaGrange, east of Broad Run off VA-55. Their tasting room is in a beautiful brick house started in 1790. As we entered, a small lady swooped up and grabbed both Dolores & Val in a huge hug - I had no idea what was happening until I recognized Sharon. The three of them worked together part-time about 1984 (25 years ago - wow) and we'd been close all the time we lived here. Sharon was nearly in tears, she was so happy to see her old friends.
Sharon's husband John has accepted a three to five year assignment in Germany and she's about to leave to join him, so meeting her here was a fantastic opportunity. She was with another couple; they went to the terrace to sip wine while we bought our and then joined them. We bought six more bottles, so did Pat & Val. We put them into the car and then drank Sangria on the terrace with them. We had a fine time catching up and understanding their plans.
Then we roared off to Wegman's, a new market and type of market just west of Gainesville. Fantastic place - more of a destination than a shop. I can't really describe it but to say the selections and service are both excellent. We bought stuff we never intended to get, but it was there so we bought some to try.
Then back to the house for more chat and steaks with potatoes and tomato/mozzarella salad. Great.
Finally, it got past 10:00 pm and since they're still operating on Alaska Standard Time (they returned from a cruise yesterday), we departed so we could all rest. We'll see them again tomorrow for a bit.
Back then to the little house....
We took it easy until time for church - went to D's old church (All Saints in Manassas). Afterward, we went to the home of Pat & Val, our old friends here.
With them, we then did the following....
Chatted for a while.
Out for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel in Manassas.
Off to Pearmund Winery west of Gainesville off US-29 for wine tasting and purchase. We bought six bottles and they bought six, so we got a nice discount. It's a nice place with 15 different Chardonnay grapes to blend together to form their Chardonnay.
Then we went off across country (gettting confused only once) to The Winery at LaGrange, east of Broad Run off VA-55. Their tasting room is in a beautiful brick house started in 1790. As we entered, a small lady swooped up and grabbed both Dolores & Val in a huge hug - I had no idea what was happening until I recognized Sharon. The three of them worked together part-time about 1984 (25 years ago - wow) and we'd been close all the time we lived here. Sharon was nearly in tears, she was so happy to see her old friends.
Sharon's husband John has accepted a three to five year assignment in Germany and she's about to leave to join him, so meeting her here was a fantastic opportunity. She was with another couple; they went to the terrace to sip wine while we bought our and then joined them. We bought six more bottles, so did Pat & Val. We put them into the car and then drank Sangria on the terrace with them. We had a fine time catching up and understanding their plans.
Then we roared off to Wegman's, a new market and type of market just west of Gainesville. Fantastic place - more of a destination than a shop. I can't really describe it but to say the selections and service are both excellent. We bought stuff we never intended to get, but it was there so we bought some to try.
Then back to the house for more chat and steaks with potatoes and tomato/mozzarella salad. Great.
Finally, it got past 10:00 pm and since they're still operating on Alaska Standard Time (they returned from a cruise yesterday), we departed so we could all rest. We'll see them again tomorrow for a bit.
Back then to the little house....
Sunday, June 7, 2009
6/6/09 PrWm Travel Trailer Village, VA
6/6/2009 PWFP Travel Trailer Village. VA Rain ending, clearing, 60's to low 80's, sunny in the afternoon.
The rain ended in the night. We loafed, then showered and dressed for the wedding this afternoon of Wilson Cochran & Laura Doud.
Wilson's older brother Tripp ran with our son Bill as teenagers. HIs parents, Frank & Fay, were fellow members of the Ben Lomond Swim Team for years as the kids swam in the summer season. Then they became life guards and spent many of their hours at the pool. They got into the usual amount of kid foolishness during the years.
We fought our way up I-95 and I-395 to Glebe Road, north through Ballston to St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Arlington.
It was a very nice ceremony, straight out of the Book of Common Prayer, with the crowd of 150 or so split between members of St. Peter's and members of the Cochran's church in Manassas, with a few others thrown in.
The reception took place in the garden of the church, both on a terrace and under a tent. The ground was soggy from all their past rain, so many just hung out on the terrace. The nibblies were very nice and there was a selection of beer & wine to quench the thirsts.
The terrace was the location for the informal ceremonies, including cutting the cake, champagne toast, speeches, a song by Frank Cochran (who is an accomplished guitarist and good singer) and a little wedding party dancing.
It was a great event and we enjoyed it thoroughly. We took a bunch of pictures and will have to send back a CD of them to certain folks.
We left as others started to leave, took our hour to get back to Montclair, and stopped for a light dinner at a neighborhood place. Then back into the little house in the trailer park to rest.
The rain ended in the night. We loafed, then showered and dressed for the wedding this afternoon of Wilson Cochran & Laura Doud.
Wilson's older brother Tripp ran with our son Bill as teenagers. HIs parents, Frank & Fay, were fellow members of the Ben Lomond Swim Team for years as the kids swam in the summer season. Then they became life guards and spent many of their hours at the pool. They got into the usual amount of kid foolishness during the years.
We fought our way up I-95 and I-395 to Glebe Road, north through Ballston to St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Arlington.
It was a very nice ceremony, straight out of the Book of Common Prayer, with the crowd of 150 or so split between members of St. Peter's and members of the Cochran's church in Manassas, with a few others thrown in.
The reception took place in the garden of the church, both on a terrace and under a tent. The ground was soggy from all their past rain, so many just hung out on the terrace. The nibblies were very nice and there was a selection of beer & wine to quench the thirsts.
The terrace was the location for the informal ceremonies, including cutting the cake, champagne toast, speeches, a song by Frank Cochran (who is an accomplished guitarist and good singer) and a little wedding party dancing.
It was a great event and we enjoyed it thoroughly. We took a bunch of pictures and will have to send back a CD of them to certain folks.
We left as others started to leave, took our hour to get back to Montclair, and stopped for a light dinner at a neighborhood place. Then back into the little house in the trailer park to rest.
6/5/09 PrWm Travel Trailer Village, VA
6/5/2009 PWFP Travel Trailer Village. VA Rain. 50's. Yuk.
Continuous cold hard rain. We stayed in the trailer and took it easy.
Later, we took a ride to view our old environment of five years ago. We looked at our neighborhood (Sudley) and the town of Manassas, and the area in between. We toured the Manassas campus of NVCC where mom worked and taught. We visited McKay's used book store (another old favorite) and bought more reading material.
Then we went out to Gainesville and beyond to the Blue Ridge Seafood Restaurant. This old shack it now surrounded by new buildings and is hard to find. They still serve great food, though, and we enjoyed it as we did.
Then we came back to the trailer by way of the Battlefield Park and settled in.
Our take is that we moved at the right time. Traffic is horrific & there seems to be a stop light at every corner. The place has a big-city attitude unlike that of the little village we moved to in 1978.
So we'll do our stuff here and move on...
Continuous cold hard rain. We stayed in the trailer and took it easy.
Later, we took a ride to view our old environment of five years ago. We looked at our neighborhood (Sudley) and the town of Manassas, and the area in between. We toured the Manassas campus of NVCC where mom worked and taught. We visited McKay's used book store (another old favorite) and bought more reading material.
Then we went out to Gainesville and beyond to the Blue Ridge Seafood Restaurant. This old shack it now surrounded by new buildings and is hard to find. They still serve great food, though, and we enjoyed it as we did.
Then we came back to the trailer by way of the Battlefield Park and settled in.
Our take is that we moved at the right time. Traffic is horrific & there seems to be a stop light at every corner. The place has a big-city attitude unlike that of the little village we moved to in 1978.
So we'll do our stuff here and move on...
Thursday, June 4, 2009
6/4/09 Prince William, VA
6/4/2009 PWFP Travel Trailer Village. VA Cloudy, mist, a little rain. Cool (60's).
Here we go again - totally cloudy and cool with misty junk.
Up & out of Killens Pond State Park and westward through Denton MD (county seat where we got our marriage license), the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and the "spaghetti bowl" where I-95, I-495, & I-395 join. Through that mess (actually much improved since we lived here) and south on I-95 (not improved at all) to VA-234, Prince William Forest Park and its Travel Trailer Village. We lived in Prince William county for 26 years after Navy retirement.
The Travel Trailer Village (TTV hereafter) is a nice facility. We have a full hookup site (no cable in the the park, but DC channels come in well) & the Wifi is great. We're catching up on e-mails and so forth.
I went out briefly for some food items (and wine). It only took a few minutes and 1,000 yards, so I can't talk about the traffic differences yet.
Son Bill called in mid-afternoon to say he's here in Virginia, on his way to UVA for "Reunions" night tonight. Seems he found some points he could apply to the flight, Lana thought she'd do just fine without him for the weekend, and he can crash with his former house-mate John. That will perk up the weekend, since we'll see him at the wedding and reception at least.
The evening news sounds just like it did five years ago when we lived here. Same old announcers, too. Watched Channel 9 news then Channel 7 for the later news and weather. Flood watch in effect for the area per the weather-weasel (our old favorite Doug Hill), rain all day tomorrow with cool, Saturday should be nice in the low 80's. After that, it gets hot.
So we're all set up in a familiar place and enjoying it....
Here we go again - totally cloudy and cool with misty junk.
Up & out of Killens Pond State Park and westward through Denton MD (county seat where we got our marriage license), the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and the "spaghetti bowl" where I-95, I-495, & I-395 join. Through that mess (actually much improved since we lived here) and south on I-95 (not improved at all) to VA-234, Prince William Forest Park and its Travel Trailer Village. We lived in Prince William county for 26 years after Navy retirement.
The Travel Trailer Village (TTV hereafter) is a nice facility. We have a full hookup site (no cable in the the park, but DC channels come in well) & the Wifi is great. We're catching up on e-mails and so forth.
I went out briefly for some food items (and wine). It only took a few minutes and 1,000 yards, so I can't talk about the traffic differences yet.
Son Bill called in mid-afternoon to say he's here in Virginia, on his way to UVA for "Reunions" night tonight. Seems he found some points he could apply to the flight, Lana thought she'd do just fine without him for the weekend, and he can crash with his former house-mate John. That will perk up the weekend, since we'll see him at the wedding and reception at least.
The evening news sounds just like it did five years ago when we lived here. Same old announcers, too. Watched Channel 9 news then Channel 7 for the later news and weather. Flood watch in effect for the area per the weather-weasel (our old favorite Doug Hill), rain all day tomorrow with cool, Saturday should be nice in the low 80's. After that, it gets hot.
So we're all set up in a familiar place and enjoying it....
6/3/09 Killens Pond State Park, DE
6/3/2009 Killens Pond State Park, DE Mostly cloudy, 70's. T-storm watch.
Bacon & Eggs for breakfast, then off to Felton to look for the laundromat. It was there, but only two small machines were open. We went on to Dover Mart in Dover. There, a gang of people were converting the place to a card-operated remote-control operation. Still, we got in and did our clothes with not too much fuss.
When we came out, we found the tailpipe had separated from its hanger and was drooping close to the ground. The laundromat manager came up with some wire for dropped ceilings; I tied it up temporarily. We proceeded to Scotties Exhaust & Muffler and got it repaired. They replaced three hangers with a type wherein the bolt through the rubber that provides vibration isolation can't work through the rubber and drop out. Quick work and $50 - not too bad.
Then we went west on DE-8 to Marydel MD/DE to look at the place where we were married. On to Sandtown DE to look at D's parent's old farm, now subdivided into several residential lots with nice houses. The little house she moved to later is still there and looking ok, next to the house where Tom & Phyllis lived at the time. Memories.
Back into Felton to fuel up for tomorrow's trip. Then back to the little house in the trees for hamburgers, etc., which tasted just right in the forest.
Now we'll just take our ease and prepare to fight the Washington DC area tomorrow.
...
Bacon & Eggs for breakfast, then off to Felton to look for the laundromat. It was there, but only two small machines were open. We went on to Dover Mart in Dover. There, a gang of people were converting the place to a card-operated remote-control operation. Still, we got in and did our clothes with not too much fuss.
When we came out, we found the tailpipe had separated from its hanger and was drooping close to the ground. The laundromat manager came up with some wire for dropped ceilings; I tied it up temporarily. We proceeded to Scotties Exhaust & Muffler and got it repaired. They replaced three hangers with a type wherein the bolt through the rubber that provides vibration isolation can't work through the rubber and drop out. Quick work and $50 - not too bad.
Then we went west on DE-8 to Marydel MD/DE to look at the place where we were married. On to Sandtown DE to look at D's parent's old farm, now subdivided into several residential lots with nice houses. The little house she moved to later is still there and looking ok, next to the house where Tom & Phyllis lived at the time. Memories.
Back into Felton to fuel up for tomorrow's trip. Then back to the little house in the trees for hamburgers, etc., which tasted just right in the forest.
Now we'll just take our ease and prepare to fight the Washington DC area tomorrow.
...
6/2/09 Killens Pond State Park, DE
6/2/2009 Killens Pond State Park, DE
Nice day - cool in the morning (65*) and warm in the afternoon (88*).
We took off from the trailer for Lewes, where we went to Tom's boat (M/V Last Chance) and took pictures of it so we can show them to the rest. We bought foodstuffs on the way back to the trailer.
Tom called and suggested "Where Pigs Fly" for dinner. We went, and met Richard & Karen with their son Alex, Tom (Abby had a prior appointment) and Carl (whose companion is at home nursing a terminally ill dog). Alex could wear out anyone. We had pig and chicken and tea and chatted and had a good time. Carl can tell stories, and Tom makes it even funnier by egging him on or supplying details.
We finally broke up, then re-convened outside the entry for another half-hour of chat. Then, reluctantly, we broke up.
Back then to the trailer to settle in. Big day tomorrow - laundry.
6/1/09 Killens Pond State Park, DE
6/1/2009 Killens Pond State Park, DE Sunny, warm (low 70's).
Up a little early and onto the road for the longest distance this trip. West on I-95, NW to I-84 across the Hudson River, then South on I-87 (NY Thruway) and I-287 around Newark NJ. Then onto the NJ Turnpike, over the Delaware River Bridge into DE, and down DE-1 to US-13 and the campground at 4:00 pm. Some 410 miles total.
The trip wasn't all that hard but there was enough traffic to force one to pay attention, and a sufficiency of squirrels doing strange things like exiting to the right from the left lane. Only saw one accident and it didn't look bad.
D's brother Tom and companion Abby had us come to their townhouse for drinks and chats, then we went to the M/V Last Chance, a 65' boat owned by five old reprobates who decided to have fun with a boat. It's going to be beautiful when they finish, and parts of it are beautiful now. I'll go take some pictures of it tomorrow. There's some real work gone into making over that boat.
Then we went to a mexican restaurant for dinner, and chatted some more. Lots of laughs and fun.
We departed when we returned to their house to get home not-too-late. Now I'm doing these notes and will shortly settle in....
Up a little early and onto the road for the longest distance this trip. West on I-95, NW to I-84 across the Hudson River, then South on I-87 (NY Thruway) and I-287 around Newark NJ. Then onto the NJ Turnpike, over the Delaware River Bridge into DE, and down DE-1 to US-13 and the campground at 4:00 pm. Some 410 miles total.
The trip wasn't all that hard but there was enough traffic to force one to pay attention, and a sufficiency of squirrels doing strange things like exiting to the right from the left lane. Only saw one accident and it didn't look bad.
D's brother Tom and companion Abby had us come to their townhouse for drinks and chats, then we went to the M/V Last Chance, a 65' boat owned by five old reprobates who decided to have fun with a boat. It's going to be beautiful when they finish, and parts of it are beautiful now. I'll go take some pictures of it tomorrow. There's some real work gone into making over that boat.
Then we went to a mexican restaurant for dinner, and chatted some more. Lots of laughs and fun.
We departed when we returned to their house to get home not-too-late. Now I'm doing these notes and will shortly settle in....
5/31/09 Mystic, CT
5/31/2009 Mystic CT Warm (low 70's), sunny.
This was sort of a lost day. Ray called to say he wasn't feeling well and was going to take a nap. We went into the USSVI branch for brunch, very good. Said hi to John Carcioppolo and chatted with him for a bit.
We returned to Olde Mystick Village shopping center and walked through it. Bought a couple of things in the Scandinavian shop. Then Dolores started feeling uneasy, so we went back to the little house.
We sat around doing a lot of nothing. Ray called later to say he had slept a long time but feels better. We chatted for a bit, and agree to stay in touch.
Then we just sort of settled in gradually, preparing to move as we did.
This was sort of a lost day. Ray called to say he wasn't feeling well and was going to take a nap. We went into the USSVI branch for brunch, very good. Said hi to John Carcioppolo and chatted with him for a bit.
We returned to Olde Mystick Village shopping center and walked through it. Bought a couple of things in the Scandinavian shop. Then Dolores started feeling uneasy, so we went back to the little house.
We sat around doing a lot of nothing. Ray called later to say he had slept a long time but feels better. We chatted for a bit, and agree to stay in touch.
Then we just sort of settled in gradually, preparing to move as we did.
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