Tuesday, January 01, 2002
Summary
Trailer miles 6,132; Truck miles 15,203
Parking $5214.27; Gas $2526.58
Parking $5214.27; Gas $2526.58
Monday, December 31, 2001
Pioneer Beach Resort, Port Aransas, TX - Dec 1-31
We're here, along with our friends Pat & Dennis, for 2 months by the lovely Texas coast, mostly just relaxing, preparing for the Holidays, playing bridge & enjoying the beach. We are enjoying our stay here on beautiful Mustang Island. The weather has been much warmer than last year, and we have gotten to enjoy the beach a lot more. Doug flew to visit his dad in Tucson for a long weekend. Both his brothers were able to be there during that time and they enjoyed a nice family reunion. While he was gone, Willie got to experience the Holiday lighted boat parade. She was able to ride along on one of the carol-singing boats. It was lovely to see the boats & enjoy the singing.
We also were able to attend our annual favorite, Tuba Christmas, held in Corpus Christi this year the Saturday before Christmas, in the food court area of a shopping mall. We enjoyed it immensely, despite the Holiday shoppers. There is something special about all those lower brass instruments playing together. We also went on an evening bus tour of houses with some of the best Holiday lights in Corpus Christi. Christmas day was spent going to the movies ("Harry Potter") & out for Indian food with our good friends Pat & Dennis, who are traveling with us for several months. Their presence made our holiday extra special. Two days after Christmas, our friend Penny Baskin flew in from Denver to visit us for 4 days. We had a wonderful time showing her the area and enjoyed eating at our favorite restaurants.
New Year's Eve we had two couples over for games & snacks. That is about the maximum number that can be entertained in our home. We had a good time & managed to stay awake to see in 2002. After all had left, we went for a short walk on the beach & found a lovely sand dollar; we consider it our anniversary present from the sea.
Friday, November 30, 2001
Goliad State Historical Park, Goliad, TX - Nov 28-30
This stop was more for historical interest than beautiful surroundings. Still, the cg was quite pleasant. The Mission Espiritu Santo de Zuniga is located in the SP, so we toured it during the day & again by the light of the full moon; outlined with Christmas lights & with luminarias along all the walkways, it was quite lovely. Just outside of the park is Fannin's Grave, Presidio la Bahia, & the birthplace of General Ignacio Zaragoza. A short drive east of town is Fannin Battleground. In 1836, Col. Fannin surrendered to superior Mexican forces at the Battle of Coleto Creek. As part of the surrender terms, the men's lives were to be spared.
They were imprisoned in the Presidio La Bahia. Despite guarantees to the contrary, Gen Santa Anna ordered Fannin & his 342 men executed. The Texans were buried near the Presidio in a site now marked by a monument. This event, along with the Alamo, became a rallying cry for the Texans. The Presidio La Bahia is a Natl Historic Landmark, considered the world's finest example of a Spanish frontier fort. It saw participation in 6 natl revolutions or wars for independence. Our Lady of Loreto Chapel, erected for use by settlers living around the fort, is the oldest building in the compound, with continuous use since the 1700s. Gen Zaragoza, born in the settlement outside the fort, was the leader of 4000 poorly equipped Mexican soldiers who defeated over 8000 French at the battle of San Jacinto on May 5, 1862, giving birth to the Cinco de Mayo holiday celebrating Mexican Pride.We also enjoyed visiting the lovely historic town of Goliad & shopping in the town square. We came back at night for their annual Christmas parade & festival. We especially enjoyed the Cream of Jalapeno soup, a specialty of the Blue Quail Deli. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in getting the recipe.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Brazos Bend State Park, Needville, TX - Nov 25-27
We drove the 5W right through Houston (it wasn't too bad because it was a Sunday) to reach this beautiful SP about 25 miles SW of Houston. We were one of only 5 rigs in the cg, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. There are many hiking trails & birdwatching locations. Unfortunately, the day with the best weather was spent getting a flat tire fixed. We did get in a nice hike before the storms hit.Saturday, November 24, 2001
Rainbow's End Escapee Park, Livingston, TX - Nov 19-24
Thanksgiving was a bountiful feast with a combination of turkey & gravy, prepared by volunteers, & ample side dishes provided by the participants at each table. We were at a table with our friends Pat & Dennis, which made the event extra special.
The next day, when we had finally digested enough food to move, we hiked some trails in The Big Thicket Natl Preserve, in areas we had not visited before. There is a different mood in autumn, with the crunching leaves underfoot. One trail was through a lovely cypress swamp area. We enjoyed visiting with friends Gin & John Maxwell, full-timers for 15 years, now residents at Rainbow's End. We played bridge twice with the group & enjoyed it immensely, and got to visit our friends Sandi & Doug who are volunteering at the CARE (Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees) Center at Rainbow's End for several months.
The next day, when we had finally digested enough food to move, we hiked some trails in The Big Thicket Natl Preserve, in areas we had not visited before. There is a different mood in autumn, with the crunching leaves underfoot. One trail was through a lovely cypress swamp area. We enjoyed visiting with friends Gin & John Maxwell, full-timers for 15 years, now residents at Rainbow's End. We played bridge twice with the group & enjoyed it immensely, and got to visit our friends Sandi & Doug who are volunteering at the CARE (Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees) Center at Rainbow's End for several months.Sunday, November 18, 2001
Martin Dies SP, Jasper, TX - Nov 17-18
We made a brief stop at one of our favorite sps for a layover on our way to the Escapee park for Thanksgiving. We were fortunate enough to have clear weather the morning of 11/18 & were able to view the Leonid meteor shower for about 90 minutes. It was spectacular! We also did a bit of hiking and birdwatching (saw a Pileated Woodpecker).
Friday, November 16, 2001
Country Livin' RV Park, Libuse, LA - Nov 14-16
This little basic RV park was located 4 miles east of our cousins who live in Pineville, LA. Since our only reason for making this stop was to visit with Joe & Marilyn, this cg met our needs just fine. We spent 3 wonderful days with them, enjoying their company very much. We also have to comment that Marilyn makes some of the best pies we have ever eaten. She's a very good cook in other areas, too!! We enjoyed a nice day of hiking with them in the Kisatchie Natl Forest, west of Pineville. We also helped get them set up on email, so they can receive these travel letters! We enjoyed our time with them very much.Tuesday, November 13, 2001
Rocky Springs CG, Natchez Trace, near Port Gibson, MS - Nov 9-13
This is our favorite of the 3 cgs along the Natchez Trace. It is a lovely cg, & both times we have managed to get our favorite pull-thru solar site, so our solar panels have been able to keep our batteries nicely charged.
One day we went to Vicksburg and toured the historic part of the city. This is along the Yazoo & Mississippi Rivers, and there are many lovely old homes still standing. We walked several miles through beautiful antebellum homes. A lot more of Vicksburg was destroyed in the Civil War, so there aren't as many houses as in Natchez.
Another day we went to see Windsor Ruins, where 23 columns are all that is left of an antebellum mansion that was south of Port Gibson. The house made it safely thru the Civil War but was burned down as the result of a careless smoker in 1890. All the drawings & plans for it were gone in the fire. In 1990, when archivists were going thru Civil War papers, they found a soldier's drawing of the house. That is the only reason they know what it looked like.
We also hiked on the sunken trace (part of the old trace that has sunk lower than the surrounding land due to years of use) over to the remains of the town of Rocky Springs, abandoned about 1900. The town never recovered after the Civil War, yellow fever epidemics and boll weevils ruining the cotton crops -- all of which occurred in the last half of the nineteenth century.
One day we went to Vicksburg and toured the historic part of the city. This is along the Yazoo & Mississippi Rivers, and there are many lovely old homes still standing. We walked several miles through beautiful antebellum homes. A lot more of Vicksburg was destroyed in the Civil War, so there aren't as many houses as in Natchez.
Another day we went to see Windsor Ruins, where 23 columns are all that is left of an antebellum mansion that was south of Port Gibson. The house made it safely thru the Civil War but was burned down as the result of a careless smoker in 1890. All the drawings & plans for it were gone in the fire. In 1990, when archivists were going thru Civil War papers, they found a soldier's drawing of the house. That is the only reason they know what it looked like.
We also hiked on the sunken trace (part of the old trace that has sunk lower than the surrounding land due to years of use) over to the remains of the town of Rocky Springs, abandoned about 1900. The town never recovered after the Civil War, yellow fever epidemics and boll weevils ruining the cotton crops -- all of which occurred in the last half of the nineteenth century.Thursday, November 08, 2001
Lake Tiak-O-Khata, Louisville, MS - Oct 25-Nov 8
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here near Willie's parents. We were able to help with some lawn chores, and the weather was just perfect. We visited friends Pat & Dennis Wood who stayed 2 nights at Jeff Busby CG on the Natchez Trace; they followed us up to Starkville for Chinese food & a MSU volleyball game. It was fun to meet with them again. We got up early Nov 3 to view the conjunction of Mercury & Venus, and were rewarded by also seeing (after first hearing) an eastern screech owl.We visited the Noxubee NWR near Starkville for a day of interesting birdwatching (mostly woodpeckers). This refuge is home to about 42 nesting pairs of endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. While there we talked with the Refuge Mgr about the possibilities for volunteering. He was quite interested, so we have even more ideas for future stays in the area.
Thursday, October 25, 2001
Raccoon Mountain CG, Chattanooga, TN - Oct 14-17
We went from Raccoon Valley to Raccoon Mountain. Raccoon Mtn CG is nicely situated just a couple of miles from Chattanooga, TN. It's a Passport America park (half price for members -- they warned us that if the campground got full, we would have to pay full price). There is plenty to do and see in the area.
First we went to the TN Aquarium; its "theme" is Rivers of the World, which means that it features fresh-water fish, generally less colorful than salt-water fish. Our arrival coincided with about 800 school kids; we were apprehensive, but they were pretty well behaved, just QUITE noisy. The "Venom" exhibit (poisonous animals of all varieties) was, of course, the most difficult to ootch our way through.
Optional (with additional $$) was admission to the IMAX 3D theater. We saw a tolerable movie on the Galapagos -- the 3D gimmick (yes, we had to wear those glasses) was interesting for a few minutes, but also frequently annoying, since objects near or far were often out of focus, & the brain didn't get it. After IMAX we walked along the TN Riverwalk & partway across a pleasant pedestrian bridge.
Chattanooga is a pleasantly small city in the process of renovating its downtown area. A free electric shuttle runs the length of downtown, from the Aquarium to the Chattanooga Choo Choo, formerly the Terminal Station, now a number of shops, rose garden, and hotel (including rooms on the refurbished train). We enjoyed walking around the complex, but were short of time (& energy) after our time at the Aquarium.
The next day we drove to the Raccoon Mtn Pumped-Storage Plant, an experiment by the TVA somewhat like a large storage battery. Water is pumped from a lower to upper reservoir at night when electricity is cheap. Then, during peak demand, the water is released, generating electricity at a more expensive rate. Unfortunately, the facility was closed to the public for security reasons.
Not closed, however, was the Chickamauga & Chattanooga Natl Military Park, the first ever Military Park, established in 1895 to commemorate two separate clashes in the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. Chickamauga (the first engagement, which the Union lost) was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, with CSA losing 18,000 out of 66,000 engaged, & USA losses of 16,000 out of 58,000. Also interesting was an exhibit of rifles (or "shoulder arms", as they're more properly called), some 300 rifles from ~1590 to 1918 -- a fascinating chance to see the development from matchlocks to cartridges. Within walking distance of our campground were the Raccoon Mtn Caverns, thought to be one of the largest caverns in the Southeast. We took the short (45 min) tour through the developed (lighted) section; there are also 2, 4, and 6-hour tours, & an overnighter. The extremes of the cavern are still being explored.
We wanted to spend one extra day in order to go to a nearby catfish restaurant that is supposedly wonderful, as well as Russell Cave Natl Monument, an archeological site inhabited from approximately 10,000 BC to 1650 AD, but our campsite was reserved. Since we had to go through the hassle of getting everything ready to move, we decided we might as well head to our next destination rather than moving 100 feet & then having to go through it all again the next day. It gives us a good reason for returning.
First we went to the TN Aquarium; its "theme" is Rivers of the World, which means that it features fresh-water fish, generally less colorful than salt-water fish. Our arrival coincided with about 800 school kids; we were apprehensive, but they were pretty well behaved, just QUITE noisy. The "Venom" exhibit (poisonous animals of all varieties) was, of course, the most difficult to ootch our way through.
Optional (with additional $$) was admission to the IMAX 3D theater. We saw a tolerable movie on the Galapagos -- the 3D gimmick (yes, we had to wear those glasses) was interesting for a few minutes, but also frequently annoying, since objects near or far were often out of focus, & the brain didn't get it. After IMAX we walked along the TN Riverwalk & partway across a pleasant pedestrian bridge.
Chattanooga is a pleasantly small city in the process of renovating its downtown area. A free electric shuttle runs the length of downtown, from the Aquarium to the Chattanooga Choo Choo, formerly the Terminal Station, now a number of shops, rose garden, and hotel (including rooms on the refurbished train). We enjoyed walking around the complex, but were short of time (& energy) after our time at the Aquarium.
The next day we drove to the Raccoon Mtn Pumped-Storage Plant, an experiment by the TVA somewhat like a large storage battery. Water is pumped from a lower to upper reservoir at night when electricity is cheap. Then, during peak demand, the water is released, generating electricity at a more expensive rate. Unfortunately, the facility was closed to the public for security reasons.
Not closed, however, was the Chickamauga & Chattanooga Natl Military Park, the first ever Military Park, established in 1895 to commemorate two separate clashes in the fall of 1863 in some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. Chickamauga (the first engagement, which the Union lost) was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, with CSA losing 18,000 out of 66,000 engaged, & USA losses of 16,000 out of 58,000. Also interesting was an exhibit of rifles (or "shoulder arms", as they're more properly called), some 300 rifles from ~1590 to 1918 -- a fascinating chance to see the development from matchlocks to cartridges. Within walking distance of our campground were the Raccoon Mtn Caverns, thought to be one of the largest caverns in the Southeast. We took the short (45 min) tour through the developed (lighted) section; there are also 2, 4, and 6-hour tours, & an overnighter. The extremes of the cavern are still being explored.We wanted to spend one extra day in order to go to a nearby catfish restaurant that is supposedly wonderful, as well as Russell Cave Natl Monument, an archeological site inhabited from approximately 10,000 BC to 1650 AD, but our campsite was reserved. Since we had to go through the hassle of getting everything ready to move, we decided we might as well head to our next destination rather than moving 100 feet & then having to go through it all again the next day. It gives us a good reason for returning.
Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Jeff Busby Campground, Natchez Trace milepost 193.1, MS - Oct 23-24
This is one of the free (no hookups) campgrounds located on the Natchez Trace. It is nice to see our tax $$ actually providing something that we use! While here we visited the short part of the Trace that we hadn't seen before. We went to the town of Kosciusko (named for the Polish hero of the Revolutionary War) & walked around the historic district. It is also the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey. We walked on two lovely nature trails along the trace & visited the French Camp historical area. French Camp was inhabited by the Natchez, Choctaw & Chickasaw Indians before Louis LeFleur arrived about 1812. He built an inn, which was called French Camp, and married a Choctaw woman; their son became a state senator & the chief of the Choctaw tribe. There are several houses, a visitor center & a cafe where you can eat lunch.
Monday, October 22, 2001
Tishomingo State Park, Tishomingo, MS - Oct 21-22
This lovely park, located just inside MS along the Natchez Trace Pkwy, is one of our favorite places to stay. The campsites circle around Haynes Lake, which is part of its charm. We met people camping here that we had met at the rally in Holden, ME, in Aug. It was fun getting to know them & their Greyhound, Bo, better.
Saturday, October 20, 2001
Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, AL - Oct 18-20
After climbing a few hundred feet on a curvy road made more narrow by construction in one lane, we arrived at this large, nicely wooded cg, to find the office closed for lunch -- fortunate, since we got to choose our site rather than having them assign us one. None of the sites are "bad", but we picked one secluded from the clump of assigned campers. Heading our "to see" list was the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, which highlights our nation's achievements in space exploration. Included was an IMAX film on a dome screen -- quite impressive (as opposed to 3D, mentioned in our last tripnews). Also impressive was a mock-up of one module of the space station, which gave a good feel for the closeness & complexity of the layout. We got to see actual sleeping, bathroom, kitchen & science "modules". There were numerous hands-on exhibits, collections of various rockets & missiles, and a lot about the history of the space program in Huntsville. Fun, too, was "Mars Mission", a simulated Mars excursion and a "Mars" rock-climbing wall. Unfortunately, the bus tour of Marshall Space Flight Center to see actual construction of the Space Station was canceled for security reasons. On display outside on the grounds were a Saturn V rocket, a Space Shuttle and many other NASA rockets. This was a wonderful place, one which we'd like to return to again -- especially if we could also take the bus tour. For anyone saving campground info on our locations, there is an RV park connected with the Space Center, which is quite inexpensive & very nice. Reservations are a must. We would pick it over the SP in the future.Also in Huntsville we visited the historic downtown & strolled around a bit. Of note was Harrison Brothers Hardware Store, AL's oldest hardware store, which now sells mostly things you "can't live without".
Sunday, October 14, 2001
Raccoon Valley Escapees CG - Sept 30-Oct 14
We decided to head straight for this Escapees park just north of Knoxville. Since Doug had gotten sick earlier in Sept, and he didn't seem to be getting any better, we thought it would be better to be at a friendly place for a couple of weeks, where he could find a dr. That strategy worked (he was diagnosed with bronchitis or early pneumonia), and he is almost fully recovered now.
The cg is fairly small with spaces quite close together, but the Escapees friendliness (& low price!) makes up for that. There are also lots of interesting things to do in the area.
The first week we mostly relaxed, but were able to do a few things. We went to the Museum of Appalachia, which was an interesting collection of historic buildings & unusual relics of the mountain people of Southern Appalachia. The stories are told of people from many walks of life who had their roots here. It was quite interesting but a little daunting in sheer volume of some of the items.
We attended a UT Lady Vols volleyball game, where we saw them beat a nationally-ranked opponent. It was an exciting game & we really enjoyed the new NCAA scoring method used for the first time this year. We also found an event called "Bearfoot in the City", which consists of statues of 24 bears that are sponsored by various businesses and created by local artists that are on display throughout Knoxville. We got a Bear Tracker map and were able to see about half of the bears.
The second week, Doug was feeling better, so we were able to do a bit more sightseeing. We took a one-day drive from Knoxville thru Pigeon Forge & the outskirts of Gatlinburg, glad to finally enter Smoky Mtn NP. We thought since it was a Tues, the crowds wouldn't be too bad, so we set out for Cade's Cove. WRONG! It was quite crowded -- and LOTS of families with school-aged children. Don't know why they weren't in school where they belong! We saw about half of Cade's Cove & then drove out a back way, down a one-way lane where the scenery was gorgeous & people were minimal. The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area is crowded beyond description, with stores/hotels/motels/gas stations/tourist attractions continually along for miles -- & four lanes of constantly weaving traffic.
On Thurs we attended the Tennessee Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia, which is one of the nation's largest and most authentic old-time mountain, craft & music festivals involving about 400 musicians. We mainly focused on listening to the music, which was well worth the price of admission. Some of the more famous people we saw were Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, Raymond Fairchild and Janette Carter. The less famous people were also quite good -- this close to Nashville, even the unknowns are great! One of the most interesting demonstrations was sorghum cane grinding & molasses making.
Our final sightseeing outing was to Oak Ridge, to visit the American Museum of Science & Energy (AMSE). Oak Ridge was a "secret city" built in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project (a wartime effort which produced the world's first atomic weapons). Three facilities were built here: Y-12 which separated U235 from U238; K-25 which separated U235 by a more economical method; & X-10 where a graphite moderated nuclear reactor was constructed. The AMSE tells the story of Oak Ridge, & also has exhibits on past, present & future uses of fossil fuels & alternative energy sources.
The cg is fairly small with spaces quite close together, but the Escapees friendliness (& low price!) makes up for that. There are also lots of interesting things to do in the area.
The first week we mostly relaxed, but were able to do a few things. We went to the Museum of Appalachia, which was an interesting collection of historic buildings & unusual relics of the mountain people of Southern Appalachia. The stories are told of people from many walks of life who had their roots here. It was quite interesting but a little daunting in sheer volume of some of the items.
We attended a UT Lady Vols volleyball game, where we saw them beat a nationally-ranked opponent. It was an exciting game & we really enjoyed the new NCAA scoring method used for the first time this year. We also found an event called "Bearfoot in the City", which consists of statues of 24 bears that are sponsored by various businesses and created by local artists that are on display throughout Knoxville. We got a Bear Tracker map and were able to see about half of the bears.
The second week, Doug was feeling better, so we were able to do a bit more sightseeing. We took a one-day drive from Knoxville thru Pigeon Forge & the outskirts of Gatlinburg, glad to finally enter Smoky Mtn NP. We thought since it was a Tues, the crowds wouldn't be too bad, so we set out for Cade's Cove. WRONG! It was quite crowded -- and LOTS of families with school-aged children. Don't know why they weren't in school where they belong! We saw about half of Cade's Cove & then drove out a back way, down a one-way lane where the scenery was gorgeous & people were minimal. The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area is crowded beyond description, with stores/hotels/motels/gas stations/tourist attractions continually along for miles -- & four lanes of constantly weaving traffic.On Thurs we attended the Tennessee Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia, which is one of the nation's largest and most authentic old-time mountain, craft & music festivals involving about 400 musicians. We mainly focused on listening to the music, which was well worth the price of admission. Some of the more famous people we saw were Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, Raymond Fairchild and Janette Carter. The less famous people were also quite good -- this close to Nashville, even the unknowns are great! One of the most interesting demonstrations was sorghum cane grinding & molasses making.
Our final sightseeing outing was to Oak Ridge, to visit the American Museum of Science & Energy (AMSE). Oak Ridge was a "secret city" built in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project (a wartime effort which produced the world's first atomic weapons). Three facilities were built here: Y-12 which separated U235 from U238; K-25 which separated U235 by a more economical method; & X-10 where a graphite moderated nuclear reactor was constructed. The AMSE tells the story of Oak Ridge, & also has exhibits on past, present & future uses of fossil fuels & alternative energy sources.
Saturday, September 29, 2001
Green Acres Campground, Princeton, WV - Sept 28-29
A 2-night stop to rest up after the Escapade. The cg is quite basic & fairly close to the WV Turnpike. We will return another time to do justice to WV and VA. They are lovely states.
Thursday, September 27, 2001
Escapade, WV State Fairgrounds, Lewisburg, WV - Sept 23-27
This was our first time at such a large rally. There were over 800 rigs parked at the fairgrounds, lined up in rows with a bit of room in between. There were lots of seminars (some fairly informative), gatherings of people with like interests (petlovers, boondockers, stitchers), door prize drawings (won nothing), vendors with RV-related wares (spent too much money!) & friendly interaction with Escapees. It was educational, enjoyable and very exhausting!Saturday, September 22, 2001
Twilight Overnite Camping, White Sulphur Springs, WV - Sept 22
An overnight stop the night before the Escapade, so we could arrive earlier in the morning to register. It was basically a place to park behind a motel (PU).
Friday, September 21, 2001
Campground at Natural Bridge, Natural Bridge, VA - Sept 18-21
We had planned to stay somewhere else before the Escapade, but found that friends Fred & Linda and Sandi & Doug were staying here, so we changed our plans. We met lots of nice Escapees here and really enjoyed just relaxing before the Escapade. It was quite nice, with attractive shaded sites.Since we were enjoying socializing so much, we didn't do much sightseeing here. We did go into Lexington for groceries and stopped by Washington & Lee Univ to visit the Lee Chapel & Museum. Robt E Lee & family members are buried here, as well as his beloved horse, Traveller (outside). Lee's Office is preserved exactly as it was the last time he left it. The museum contains a portrait collection of the Washington-Custis-Lee families, linked by marriage. The museum tells the history of the university & the importance of Lee in its continuation after the Civil War.
While here we took Gracie & Trixie for their annual vet checkups. They are both in good health. Gracie has lost wt, so she is happy that she can eat more now!
Monday, September 17, 2001
Falling Water Campsite, Falling Water, WV - Sept 14-17
A fairly nice cg located in the northern panhandle of WV, from here we visited Antietam Natl Battlefield, during what happened to be the anniversary weekend celebration -- not good since it meant it was much more crowded than usual. Antietam has the dubious distinction of being the bloodiest single day of the Civil War. Federal losses were 12,410; Confederate 10,700. Neither side gained a decisive victory. The most interesting fact we learned here was that the Emancipation Proclamation, issued following this battle, did not free ALL the slaves, but only those in states still in rebellion against the US. We also visited Washington Monument SP in Boonsboro, MD. In 1827 the townspeople built the 30-ft high, 54-ft circular monument to honor Washington. It was used during the Civil War as a signal tower. In the 1930s the CCC restored the monument & developed the SP.
We also visited Harpers Ferry, a restored village with a multi-layered importance in US history. It was the site of the first successful application of interchangeable parts at the US Armory & Arsenal, established in the late 18th century. John Brown selected Harpers Ferry as the starting point of his drive to free the slaves. Although he failed, his trial focused attention on the moral issue of slavery and headed the US toward civil war. In 1867, Storer College, an integrated school designed primarily to educate former slaves was started there. Harpers Ferry was also important as a Civil War battlesite.
We also visited Harpers Ferry, a restored village with a multi-layered importance in US history. It was the site of the first successful application of interchangeable parts at the US Armory & Arsenal, established in the late 18th century. John Brown selected Harpers Ferry as the starting point of his drive to free the slaves. Although he failed, his trial focused attention on the moral issue of slavery and headed the US toward civil war. In 1867, Storer College, an integrated school designed primarily to educate former slaves was started there. Harpers Ferry was also important as a Civil War battlesite.
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Jonestown KOA, Jonestown, PA - Sept 12-13
This stop was conveniently located near Hershey & Lititz, home of Wilbur's Chocolates & Sturgis Pretzels. The KOA was one of the better ones & not as expensive as some. We went to Hershey's Chocolate World, Wilbur's & Sturgis on one day, & they were all quite enjoyable, especially to chocolate lovers like us! At the Hershey store you can buy entire bags of Special Dark miniatures -- a real find!Tuesday, September 11, 2001
River Beach Campsites, Milford, PA - Sept 10-11
This is where we were when we learned of the disaster; that's probably all we will ever remember it for. We had cable TV & were able to watch CNN almost continuously, once we learned what had happened. What a shock it was! It is still hard to accept the images as reality. There's not much else to say.
Sunday, September 09, 2001
American Legion State Forest, Pleasant Valley, CT - Sept 6-9
This was our CT stop, & it was a very pleasant change from the private cgs we have been in all summer. It had no hookups, & unfortunately for our solar panels lots of shade. However, we conserved & made it fine thru 4 days. The sites, while a bit tricky to park in, were huge, with very little view of even your closest neighbors. There was free firewood everywhere because they had recently trimmed trees, so we were able to enjoy campfires every night. It was just like "going camping"! One nightwe attended a wonderful ranger program on the park.
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
Oak Embers Campground, West Greenwich, RI - Aug 30-Sept 5
This cg was picked for location. We "needed" a RI stop, & this seemed fairly off the beaten path as a place to "hide out" for the Labor Day weekend. It was nice & quiet, except for the holiday weekend, when it became very crowded, noisy & filled with smoke. Holiday weekends are very intrusive when you full-time! Each campsite had its own smoky fire, barking dog & competing radio station.We drove to several towns in southern RI -- most notably Watch Hill, Galilee, Jerusalem, & Narragansett. We went to Ninigret NWR & hiked on a couple of trails. We didn't find much of interest except for surprising a couple of nude sunbathers. Actually, they didn't seem bothered in the least, so I guess the surprise was ours! Our favorite place was Point Judith, where we enjoyed the rocky coastline & viewed the lighthouse. It was uncrowded & very lovely.
We drove to Newport another day, walking along most of the famous Cliff Walk coastline trail, passing many of the famous mansions. The mansions are huge, palace-like structures, used as summer cottages by the wealthy of 100 yrs ago. Many are now part of Salve Regina University, a private college. On the way to Newport, we stopped at Beavertail Point at the south end of Conanicut Island (between the mainland & Newport) & saw the Beavertail Lighthouse & enjoyed the secluded rocky coastline. The natural beauty here far outshone that of the opulent mansions.
While here we also took Rainbow & Amber for their rabies shots. The vet there proclaimed them in fine health. They were both especially vocal, which was duly noted by all in the waiting area. We are happy to report that both seem to be thriving & have gained weight as we travel.Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury, MA - Aug 26-29
This park was a delightful change from the private parks we have been at recently. Even though still fairly crowded, the location was wonderful -- right next to the beach at the mouth of the Merrimack River. There were beaches on two sides & a salt marsh on another. Unfortunately, it was situated near so many interesting sights we didn't have much time to just sit & enjoy the ocean. We went to the historic towns of Newburyport, Ipswich, Essex & Gloucester. We walked around Newburyport, enjoying the nicely maintained historic buildings. Ipswich is noted for its abundance of pre-Revolutionary homes & the Ipswich clam. We enjoyed both! The architecture of the early homes certainly reflects the puritan tastes of the early settlers. There are absolutely no frills! Unfortunately, we did not have time to try out the rival Essex clam, but the fried Ipswich clam certainly deserves its reputation as the "world's best".
We also spent a lot of time at the Parker River Natl Wildlife Refuge, located on Plum Island near Newburyport. They had many good observation areas & very nice trails. We saw two new birds here -- Canada Warbler & Baltimore Oriole. Our best sighting, however, was not a bird but a playful River Otter, which we watched cavorting around in a pool for some time.
We went to Cape Ann & visited Halibut Point State Park, which was interesting for several reasons. First, it is located on a beautiful rocky point jutting out into the ocean. It is the former site of a granite quarry, with an interesting interpretive trail along the quarry's edge. The visitors center is located in a renovated WWII fire-control tower, the only one of its kind open to the public along the New England coast. It was used during the war to provide aiming info to gunner crews protecting the area from attack by sea. Today you can climb up and see beautiful coastal vistas from all levels. The building also uses many forms of environmental friendly technology, including composting toilets; a greywater recycling system; a photovoltaic system to generate electricity; solar/thermal panels to provide hot water; & a geothermal pump to augment the heating/cooling system.
While on Cape Ann, we also visited the town of Gloucester & met a new Escapee friend, Claire Perrault, a local weaver & knitter who is a participant in a co-op in Gloucester. She plans to leave the area & go full-time in a Class B (van conversion) starting 1/1. We enjoyed meeting & visiting with her very much.
We also spent a lot of time at the Parker River Natl Wildlife Refuge, located on Plum Island near Newburyport. They had many good observation areas & very nice trails. We saw two new birds here -- Canada Warbler & Baltimore Oriole. Our best sighting, however, was not a bird but a playful River Otter, which we watched cavorting around in a pool for some time.
We went to Cape Ann & visited Halibut Point State Park, which was interesting for several reasons. First, it is located on a beautiful rocky point jutting out into the ocean. It is the former site of a granite quarry, with an interesting interpretive trail along the quarry's edge. The visitors center is located in a renovated WWII fire-control tower, the only one of its kind open to the public along the New England coast. It was used during the war to provide aiming info to gunner crews protecting the area from attack by sea. Today you can climb up and see beautiful coastal vistas from all levels. The building also uses many forms of environmental friendly technology, including composting toilets; a greywater recycling system; a photovoltaic system to generate electricity; solar/thermal panels to provide hot water; & a geothermal pump to augment the heating/cooling system.While on Cape Ann, we also visited the town of Gloucester & met a new Escapee friend, Claire Perrault, a local weaver & knitter who is a participant in a co-op in Gloucester. She plans to leave the area & go full-time in a Class B (van conversion) starting 1/1. We enjoyed meeting & visiting with her very much.
Saturday, August 25, 2001
Wasamki Springs Campground, Scarborough, ME - Aug 22-25
This was another too expensive, fairly unpleasant campgrounds in an area we wanted to visit. We would not recommend it! It was right under the landing pattern for the Portland airport, so jet noise was frequent. There were many tall oak trees, which dropped acorns, loudly bonking on our roof, startling the cats (& us!). It was full of seasonal occupants. Hard to believe that people would knowingly come back to such a place! Despite the cg, we enjoyed the area.
Places we visited for hiking & birdwatching were Rachel Carson Natl Wildlife Refuge, Natl Audubon East Point Sanctuary at Biddeford Pool, Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Area, & Fort Williams Park. We saw 8 lighthouses along the coast -- Portland Head Light, Portland Breakwater Light ("The Bug"), Cape Elizabeth Lighthouses East & West, Sprint Point Light, Ram's Ledge Lighthouse, Wood Island Lighthouse & Goat Island Lighthouse. New birds we saw in this area include Solitary Sandpiper & Willow Flycatcher.
Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Red Barn RV Park, Holden, ME - Aug 15-22
We came to this park to attend our first Escapee rally, sponsored by the Northeast SKP chapter. It was fairly large for a chapter rally with about 80 rigs in attendance. One couple, who still live in a house, had a major RV breakdown just as they were leaving for the rally, so they showed up with a tent! Most of the local attendees seemed to be people who still have houses in the area, but visitors had come from far & wide. It was interesting to talk with them all.Our friends Fred & Linda met us in Bar Harbor for a week and are also spending a week here. We have enjoyed spending time with them. We also met several couples attending the rally who volunteer at Acadia. We hope to see some of them later at the national Escapee rally, called an Escapade, which will be in Lewisburg, WV, at the end of Sept.
Tuesday, August 14, 2001
Hadley's Point CG, Bar Harbor, ME - Aug 1-14
We picked this campground because it was fairly close to Bar Harbor and and Acadia Natl Park, and it was one of the least expensive. They are all expensive for what you get. Also full of people. We were lucky enough to have a free shuttle that would take us to Bar Harbor and out to various points in Acadia, so we got through the two weeks only having to drive our truck one day, saving a lot on gas to make up for the expensive cg.
Acadia NP, which takes up much of Mt. Desert Island, is the only NP consisting entirely of donated lands, and the first established east of the Mississippi River. It's a curious patchwork, with little areas of private land sitting in the middle of much larger tracts of park land. A network of carriage roads (44 miles, no motorized vehicles allowed) was financed entirely by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Acadia got a large addition after a devastating fire in 1947 destroyed many of the mansions that had been built on the island.
At first the crowds everywhere seemed overwhelming, but as we got "used to it", we started to appreciate the area more. We did several enjoyable hikes in Acadia, including one on Willie's birthday where we got lost (twice) and wound up climbing down a 10-foot sheer rock wall and then scrambling down a boulder field. We bought a good topo map the next day. We also wandered around the town of Bar Harbor, which has many good and surprisingly reasonably-priced restaurants, especially for a tourist town. We went on many ranger-led activities, including two early-morning bird walks. This was not, unfortunately, the best time of the year for birds. Still, we were able to add American Redstart and Black-throated Green Warbler to our list. We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain and went to ranger talks about the area. Our cats did not think much of Acadia or Bar Harbor, since we often weren't home until 8 or 9 pm.
We also went out on a whalewatch boat. What a contrast to Campobello! We were the only boat within sight, and the pilot would cut the engine to a slow crawl when we were near whales. We were lucky enough to see Finback, Minke and Humpback Whales -- our first humpbacks. A pair of humpbacks played near the boat for quite a while, surfacing parallel to the boat and doing tail flips. The crew took photos of the tails and were able to identify one as Gemini, first spotted in 1976! The boat also took us to an island where the Atlantic Puffins breed, so we were able to see them quite well. We saw Greater Shearwaters, Wilson's Storm-petrels & Leach's Storm-petrels while out on the ocean. It was a wonderful trip.Tuesday, July 31, 2001
Sunset Point RV Park, Lubec, ME - July 25-31
This cg is right on Johnson's Bay off of the Bay of Fundy. The cg is quite basic but has LOVELY views. The rising & falling of tides (they average about 25 ft) is quite dramatic, and the sunsets right from your campsite are spectacular. Lubec is the easternmost TOWN in the US (not to be confused with Eastport, which is the easternmost CITY in the US!).
The activities in this area are abundant. We went to Campobello Island (New Brunswick) several times. While there we took a whale-watching trip into the Bay of Fundy. We saw a lot of Finback Whales & it was quite thrilling. However, the minute one would spout, about 2 dozen boats would rush towards it, so by the end of the 2-hr trip, we were rooting for the whales. 
We also went on a tour of the "cottage" & grounds of FDR's summer home of many years. It was lovely but hardly a cottage with over 30 rooms. We hiked several trails in the International Park, including a very interesting one through a peat bog. It was a slow day, so we had the naturalist to ourselves and learned much about this interesting terrain. We timed a visit at low tide so we could walk out to the East Quoddy Head Lighthouse. At high tide it is completely surrounded by water, but at low tide you can scramble over the rocks & up & down some ladders to reach it.
You can see distant whales from this point also, but nowhere near as good as from the boats, where you can see & hear them spouting & breathing. We also visited Herring Cove Provincial Park, also on the island, walking on their beach & walking through the campground. From various places you can see seals playing in the ocean.
Another day's outing was to Quoddy Head State Park (the easternmost SP in the US!) just outside of Lubec. We walked to the lighthouse there (the easternmost lighthouse in the US!) and hiked on the trails along the ocean cliffs and through the peat bog. On the way back we visited the easternmost gift shop in the US! As you can see, they really beat the "easternmost" theme to death!
We drove the Quoddy Loop: starting in Lubec, head over to Campobello Island, take a ferry (VERY SMALL) to Deer Island, drive across Deer Island & take another ferry to Letete, NB (we visited Green Point Lighthouse there), drive through St. Andrews & St. Stephen, and return to the US in Calais, ME. We ate lunch in St. Andrews and enjoyed walking around the pretty harbor town. St Stephen, also known as Chocolate City, was the home of Ganong Chocolate Factory & Museum (AND Gift Shop of course!). We visited the museum & gift shop. The factory only gives tours during the annual Chocolate Festival, which unfortunately is not while we will be here. The museum was interesting; we learned as much as we want to know about the chocolate dipped candy making process and had some yummy free samples. We also visited the city of Eastport, the Moosehorn Natl Wildlife Refuge and did some more hiking in an area called the Bold Coast, which has wonderfully lovely views of rugged cliffs on the ocean.
Interesting new birds we have seen here are Nashville Warbler, Common Eider and Black Guillemot. We love this area and could easily spend more time here.