Eastern Shore Oct. 13

Day 20

Just some final words about this trip.

Fall remains our favourite time to travel. There are fewer people and still lots of beautiful weather to enjoy and places to see.

This was a nice blend of beach, history and mountains. And the special reunion with Denny and Linda.

We met great people, as usual, and we continue to enjoy travelling this way (but I still miss my lap-warming kitty a lot).

Our final drive was pretty uneventful and we arrived home around 9:00 PM. The leaves have mostly fallen though one in the yard is the brightest orange! 

As we pack things away and do laundry, we begin dreaming about the next trip (and blog) some time in March!

Here are the Eastern Shore photos collected:

https://picasaweb.google.com/113390676240612869195/MotorhomeFall2012OuterBanks?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCP6lrL3W9tTaWA&feat=directlink

And 11 little videos (start with White Ibis):

http://www.youtube.com/user/rvtrippers?feature=watch

Eastern Shore Oct. 12

Day 19

It was a beautiful sunny but very cold start to the day.

I had read about The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, and we went to see it.

Wow. Given our trip through the south and crossing the Mason Dixon Line yesterday, we feel quite immersed in this period in American history, so the museum was a fitting end to the trip.

It was also a realistic (I think) depiction of the situation from both sides and very educational:

Again, the Americans really know how to display their heritage.

Our pictures were few, but the exhibits were beautiful. You need to see it:

After lunch, we headed to Lancaster and Amish/Mennonite country. Beautiful farmland, the occasional buggy and old-time farming techniques (hand picking corn???) led in to Intercourse, where I wanted to stay. But the town is full of tourists and taking 41 feet of vehicles through the crowded streets was not fun. Intercourse was full (I am leaving the innuendo up to you), so we headed towards Allentown and home.

We found the expensive ($43...it's OCTOBER people!) Pine Hill RV Park and pulled in to stay warm on this night which is expected to go below freezing (David is worried about pipes and water).

Talked to my Dad and he said it'll be -5 C in Bailieboro tomorrow. I want the beach!

Here's the final view from my chair for this trip. Next stop, home!

Eastern Shore Oct. 11

Day 18

REALLY brrrr...43 degrees inside and 34 out. Get us out of the mountains!

Away early and we're heading north out of the park. More beautiful fall colours:

We did see THREE live deer (who took their time crossing the road).

We got some propane, gas and coffee at the West Virginia (state #32 for us since I retired) Flying J and we continued through Maryland to Pennsylvania.

Not an eventful day, but a clear-skied, easy drive.

We found the PA Dogwood Acres Campground in Carlisle (site 18, $23). The owners were lovely and we have heat and water and TV!!!!

A quiet night, then some Pennsylvania touristy things for the next two days and home!

Here's the view from my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 10

Day 17

Brrr....

We set off early and sadly saw that the big bang last night was from having hit and killed a deer. It WAS dusk and the driver WAS going quickly...jeesh.

We headed north to the Shenandoah National Park portion of this drive.

We realized we needed gas and took a typical Harries ill-fated detour. It was a harrowing drive to a small town (the transmission sure worked...and stunk), but we found a Pilot station for cheap(er) gas and a free coffee.

We had bought our annual National Park Pass at Appomattox and with that $5 entry and Shenandoah's $15, we're 1/4 paid!

It was another nice drive to our next campsite, Loft Mountain:

Here there are many pull thrus, so plenty of good places (we chose E104). It's $15, no services.

After lunch, we took a bike ride on the Skyline Drive. Lots of twists and turns and beautiful sights. It was chilly, so we used our heated seats :-)

Back home, we took a walk on the Appalachian Trail that passed through the campground:

The trailside campsites had awesome Bear Vaults for food and other smelly storage.

A nice chat with the Camp Hosts revealed that there were a LOT of bears in the park, but we just saw a deer:

It became cold and windy (poor campers nearby in their tents!), so no campfire.

Here's the view from the bike (I loved these stone walls, original to the 1930's):

And the view from my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 9

Day 16

It's still chilly, and we're heading to the mountains! Our first sighting is from the Bedford Wal Mart at 850 feet.

We enter the Blue Ridge Parkway hit the Visitors Centre and start north through the beautiful scenery. The colours are probably 30%, so, though beautiful, have a long way to go:

We stop and chat with Honda-riding father and son from Michigan. Dad drives a Goldwing, so ideas for camera, trailer, heated clothes, etc. Still adjusting to the RV lifestyle, people and gear, and now this!

We set up camp at Otter Creek ($16, no services), then get on the bike and rode to Natural Bridge. Don't go unless you want to spend $19 plus for a view of a hole in the rocks. Hate that! But the ride was twisty turny and kind of fun with pretty views:

We stopped at the Visitors Centre and kind of coerced the non-communicative Ranger in to explaining the canal and locks we were viewing. He started talking (a lot, now) and we realized we were still in the South as he used the word Yankees a lot when talking about The War.

Back to camp, we ate and had a campfire! While sitting out, we heard a big bang and thought a car blew a tire. All seemed safe as the car soon drove away. What's with us and gun-like noises?

Here's the view from the bike (no apparent reason for this):

and the view from my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 8

Day 15

OH MY, it's freezing cold and raining. Twenty-four hours ago, we were standing on the ferry from Ocracoke Island in our shorts and t-shirts, and we're now in pants and fleecies!

It was a day of history.

We drove in to historical Appomattox and went to the Visitors Centre and got lots of information.

We drove up to Appomattox Court House, where Lee and Grant signed the treaty of surrender which ended the Civil War. These Americans sure know how to commemorate their past. It's a beautifully reconstructed village:

These from the actual room where Lee and Grant signed:

Slave quarters:

Intriguing tree and grave:

We talked with this Northern re-creator:

He was in character so well. He horked and spat and David said we would not catch that on film. Instead of laughing or being embarrassed, he talked how the Doc told him to “balance his humours” and remove the phlegm. He asked where we were from, and vaguely heard of the British "Canada". He asked about Fleming College (on my fleecy) and said that was another “flem”. He wondered if it were the Finishing School I graduated from! He was amazing.

Another cemetery on our way out became the theme for our afternoon:

THEN we passed the “Bruce and STIFF Funeral Home”!

After a Wal Mart visit, we drove to Lynchburg to visit the Old City Cemetery I had read about. Amazing. Though the Visitors Centre was technically closed, the charming volunteer gave us so much information for the tour.

The cemetery was established in 1806 and is a public cemetery which always buried anyone, including African Americans, unlike most others. There's a tribute to African American graves:

Few people have been buried there since 1925. But there are 2,200 Confederate soldiers:

This is a beautiful “museum” with several displays and buildings like "The Pest House", some with accompanying audio. This is a must see.

And hopefully, you'll meet Arthur, the cemetery cat:

We keep seeing these side-by-side signs in Virginia:

Romney Ryan/Hurt Congress

I laugh (and wonder) every time!

Anyway, we got some fried chicken and have been watching old TV shows! No view from the chair (it's too cold to go back outside). Tomorrow will be warmer and we'll head to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Eastern Shore Oct. 7

Day 14

We got an early start and I tried to get a final sunrise from the beach, lovely but clouds were low:

We were on the road by 8 and on the 8:30 ferry. And on we drove north to Norfolk, VA and across Virginia. It was mostly sunny, but got cooler and cooler as we headed west.

Strange sign for a complex of new, expensive homes: “100 Best MASTER Planned Communities-Albemarle PLANTATION”. Does no one screen this stuff? Or maybe they do.

Saw cotton and peanut fields starting in Suffolk, Virginia. We stopped in Wakefield, the Peanut Capital. I went in to buy some. Lemon Crab? Nope. Just plain, old salted and they are delicious.

Highway 460 is a great drive across the state with historical markers, some run-down 1960's buildings and trailers, antiques stores and churches.

One strip mall held a Taqueria, Mexican Market and a Divine Ministry.

There was a shop called “Barber, Beauty and Auto Shine” (everything!).

The “Amazon Fulfilment Warehouse” (okay, from which books are sent, but imagine fulfilling an Amazon?).

There was church after church (and van after van of church goers, many women with BIG hats since it was Sunday).

We got to Appomattox and pulled in to the Parkview Motorhome RV Park ($16.50 PA rate for one night then $33). It's very convenient and we have water, TV and HEAT (it's VERY cold).

Here's the view from my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 6

Day 13

Hiked 4 miles

It was a hot morning after a night disturbed by “pops” sounding like gun shots. After many requests for information from the Rangers, we found it was likely the drunk boys (across from Denny and Linda), who thankfully left today.

We took a long beach walk (since we're leaving tomorrow and will miss this) then lazed around in the shade.

We visited and had some beers with Jake and Linda (next door). Then, after dinner and a beautiful sunset:

...we had a bon voyage drink with the Fennels and friends to end a great visit with them and a glorious time at Ocracoke.

Here's the final view of David ON my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 5

Day 12

Hiked and biked 13.5 miles

Yep, another beautiful day.

We rode our bicycles back to the village and explored some more. We took the North Carolina Conservancy Trail to the beach and some protected grasses and oyster beds. I, of course, saw the snake slithering by. Big, black and scary! No pics of the snake, but some of the trail:

Here's David "Garcia" in his new tie-dye shirt:

We rode up to another section where there are a few more permanent homes and spoke with a couple who own the most beautiful small cottage they've fixed up.

We had a nice ride back. Our neighbours, a good ole boy and girl from Virginia with long white beard (him) and braid (her), keep us entertained. She just told us they brought 22 cases of 24 beer for their two week stay here. And they drink them all day long, including when they walk the park. They were Camp Hosts here once and she said it cut in to her “beer:30” time. But they're nice and fun and have given us some advice on routes and things to see in Virginia. We want to go to Appomattox and other Civil War sights. Her Daddy, apparently, is a cousin 13 times removed of General Lee. Gotta love it.

Another evening drink and visit with Denny, Linda and company. Another great day. Another beautiful sunset:

Here's the view of the RV and thus my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 4

Day 11

Hiked 3 miles

Another beautiful sunrise over the dunes and another beautiful day. 

We decided to take a motorcycle ride and headed north to the ferry.

We stopped at the Pony Pen (they claim the horses are the descendants of the “Bankers” which may have come ashore after a shipwreck in the 16^th century. Myth perhaps but nice story. They weren't quite as pretty as our Assateague horses:

The ferry brought us another dolphin (live) sighting.

We rode up to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse again and saw where it was originally built. The empty spot has been set up as a memorial to the Lighthouse Keepers, a circle of boulders inscribed with their names. Our favourite? Pharoah Farrow:

We rode to Avon, bought a few groceries and headed back to the ferry. We waited for 1 1/2 hours wondering why they weren't tucking us at the back of any of the three ferries that preceded ours (as they usually do with motorcycles). When we got to the front, they wondered the same thing. Oh well. We chatted on the way over with a couple on a Harley (he teased us for our Goldwing) and got back around 3:00.

Another cool beach walk:

...then some drinks with Denny, Linda and their friends Denny and Ellie.

Here's the view from the bike:

And the view (of a nice Towhee) from my chair:

Eastern Shore Oct. 3

Day 10

Hiked and biked 9.5 miles

Another beautiful day! Getting used to this, especially after the rain. Was welcomed by this sight: come in to the Ladies Room said the spider to the frog:

We headed to the beach first thing and walked towards “something” on the beach. Alas, sadly, it was a dolphin carcass. The Ranger drove by looking for it and said the Navy was doing something with radar off shore, and that may have caused the death. She was hoping the waves would wash it out (or else she was the one who'd have to haul it off the beach!).

We rode the bicycles the 3 miles along the paved bike lane to Ocracoke Village:

It's quaint, full of shops and restaurants and few people (can't beat the off season!). Talked to a local who said there are 1,000 residents year round, 400 rental units and 4,000 people in the height of the season! Can't imagine where they'd walk, let alone drive their golf carts or bicycles which are for rent everywhere.

There's Howard Street, one of the originals:

...some old cemeteries (quite a few tucked amongst the houses, so you were buried where you lived):

...a lighthouse:

...and other pretty spots. There was even a view of some Navy helicopter/plane overhead on the ride home:

We rode back and were sitting outside, when up rode Denny (he and Linda two of the six people we met in Texas in March 2011)! They were in South Carolina, were heading here and pulled in when they got today's email I had just sent from the Village. So funny. We had a great Happy Hour!

Here's the view of where my chair should be: