Wandering in the Mountains
Thursday, July 28, 2016
A few months ago I made the mistake of buying & installing a large outline sticker map of the United States on Wilbur’s slideout. There are small stickers that you put over the blank states as you camp in each, showing all who see it where you have traveled. Being a rule follower by nature we will only put the state stickers on as we actually camp in each state. Although Perry & I have personally been to nearly all 50 states, Wilbur has only been to Florida & Georgia. So, our map is pretty pitiful. Which prompted our current trip to accumulate more stickers. Yes, that’s our excuse for this trip!
Our first stop was at Coneross Campground in Townville, SC. It’s a Corp of Engineer Park in a National Forest & was just 1 ½ hours from home. On the Recreation.gov website I was able to make the reservations in advance & select the camping spot from the map online. I picked one that was located by the water (Lake Hartwell) &, as we have never visited before, I was keeping my fingers crossed it would be a good one. We were not disappointed! The spot was huge with a perfect view of the lake & actual steps down to the shore. It was quiet & the park staff were friendly & helpful with info. They told us when Perry turns 62 in December he can get a Senior’s Pass which gets him a 50% discount at ALL National Parks. The camping fee at Coneross is just $78 for the 3 day stay but I like the sound of 50% off anyway! I bought a National Parks Pass for $80 when I made the reservations. Not so smart. It merely gives you free day pass access to all the National Parks, no discount on camping which is already included in your camping fee. IF we decide to visit any National Parks on day trips, it will come in handy. You live & learn.
We got Wilbur settled in & set up in record time & got on with the fun of vacation! It was hot outside so we stayed in the air conditioned camper & followed the pup’s idea of a good nap. Then we wandered around the park a bit to check out the other campers set-ups (this is a normal thing with campers) & meandered down the shoreline, watching the boats. We had a great dinner of grilled chicken, glamping taters & salad. Later, we sat outside, enjoying the view at sunset while keeping cool in front of the fan. We do like this modern camping life with the conveniences of home. At dark, we “retired’ back inside Wilbur, watched a little TV & used our new internet hotspot devise. Gotta keep in touch with the peeps! A good night’s sleep finished off a great first day.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Sugar & Spice are like live alarm clocks. They know when 7:00 is & insist it’s time to get up. Perry took them for a walk while I made the bed & lifted it into the wall – I love the Murphy bed! Perry made the pups their breakfast (they get a half pack of wet dog food every morning along with a tbls of coconut oil). Then I made breakfast for us – bacon I had broiled at home to keep the grease out of the trailer, then froze so we have enough for our entire 2 week trip, farm eggs from a neighbor’s chickens & a couple slices of the Cloud Bread I made days before we left. It’s really great! Here’s the recipe: Divide three eggs into two bowls. Add ¼ tsp of cream of tartar to the whites & whip them into stiff peaks. Add 2 tbls cream cheese & 1/4 tsp sweetener to the yokes & beat them until smooth. Fold the egg whites into the yoke mixture very gently & then place large spoonfuls on a couple lightly greased baking sheets – it should make about 10 to 12 “biscuits”. Bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until they brown like a burger bun. Remove to cooling racks. I made several batches & put them in a large ziplock bag so I could bring a bunch with us instead of buying bread along the way. These little delights are great with jam or jelly & are carb free!
Since we weren’t all that far from home, we drove back down to get my computer. I had intended to use my new iPad but it requires a code to open it & I have no idea what the code is – I most likely made one up & didn’t write it down. Without a computer I wouldn’t be able to write the Blog. There is no way I’d be doing it from my phone. Once back in camp we relaxed as the rain pitter pattered on the roof for a while.
Dinner was two Asian Pork Steaks I had marinated in a bag & froze some weeks ago. These little individual meals make dinner prep super easy. I sliced up a couple yellow squash & topped it with shredded cheddar & salt & pepper, then put foil over it & put it on the grill along with the chops. 15 minutes & it was perfect. We also had a big salad & were feeling virtuous about our healthy meal. Maybe the wine was not such a good choice but those steaks were awesome!
We walked around the park a bit & then settled in for the night. Again, the rain came but just for a short while to cool things down.
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Breakfast was delish & then we cleaned up for a day of adventure. We left the pups in Wilbur & headed to Anderson & the Jockey Lot. We used to drive up there some years back & enjoyed this big flea market/farmers market. Unfortunately, it’s not even half the size it once was & was a huge disappointment. And it was HOT outside! So, we didn’t stay long or spend any money.
We did stop in a cute little pizza place & have lunch – Perry had a Stromboli & I ate the meat & cheese out of a steak sub. Then we stopped in at the grocery store for more eggs (we’ll be out after tomorrow morning’s breakfast), lettuce & cherry tomatoes. Once back at the campsite, we were greeted by two VERY excited pups. They seem to love camping – at least as long as we are with them 24/7. A mid afternoon nap was needed to recover from the morning in the sun. Bliss!
As we were out, I started thinking about, God forbid, if something were to happen to us while away from the pups. I saw an article recently about posting the camp ground name, address, phone number & campsite somewhere in the trailer in case of an emergency. When dealing with an emergency, one could easily forget where they are when calling for help so this little plan would come in quite handy. I got a white board after seeing that suggestion & stuck it on the wall. And, for the last two camping trips, I have put this information on the board right after we arrived. Now I’m going to take a picture of that written info & text it to my son. If he gets word something happened to us, at least he can rescue Sugar & Spice. They, of course, have food & water & air conditioning for their creature comforts for a day or two but not long term. My mind worries about EVERYTHING!
I made one of my freezer to crockpot meals – Beef Stroganoff. It was “okay” but I think I need to tweak the recipe to make it better. The salad was my favorite part. I cut up Romaine lettuce, cucumber, celery, carrot, red onion & add cherry tomatoes. This all gets put into a large ziplock bag & “tossed.” Once divided into bowls, I add crumbled bacon, nuts & the best tiny little crotons we found at a WalMart in Florida months ago. Top it with salad dressing & it’s delish AND colorful! And a glass of wine made it perfect.
A little TV (thank goodness the political conventions are over) & then we hit the sack. Life is good!
Sunday, July 31, 2016
After the pups had their morning walk, we piled back on the bed, drank coffee & watched TV. No need to hurry the day along when on vacation, right? Then Perry made the pup’s breakfast while I made the bed & put it away. I again made bacon & eggs & cloud bread – our staple breakfast for this entire vacation. We intended to use the bathhouse before we packed up but there was an issue of a malfunctioning toilet in the men’s room that prompted us to move on out. The SC campground was a 10 on location & campsite maintenance but a 3 or 4 on bathhouse facilities.
We got on the road & headed toward North Carolina in short order. I do believe we have this set up & take down of the campsite down pat. As we passed across the state line, we turned due north & began to see some mountains. The roads – away from the interstate, took us through beautiful winding countryside & small towns. The campground – Warrior Creek was easy to find as was our campsite. Unfortunately, the water was WAY down because of a drought & our “lakeside” location had no lake. Also, the entire campground had only two bathhouses & both were far away from ANY of the camping areas & were not cooled or heated. THAT is a big negative.
Once we set up camp – of yes, it was also a very sunny location, not under the shade of trees – we did take showers & felt much better once back in the air conditioned Wilbur. Thunder was rolling in the distance & we got a few sprinkles but not much. Spice was all worried, as usual, so we gave her the Pet Gummies meds that calm her. Note to self: ONE gummy is PLENTY for our small dog – she was stoned! And wine before dinner is not a good idea for me – I may have been a bit tipsy, too. I am not a regular for alcoholic beverages & even mild wine can make me cross-eyed. Dinner was grilled Sweet Chipotle Chicken, black beans, broccoli & my all inclusive salad. Delish! As the rain started up again, Perry handled the clean up & I blogged. We must have been in a hole because we had NO internet service, even with our new fangled Hot Spot. GRRRR! Entertainment was in the form of watching another camper attempt to grill out in the rain – it really started coming down as we sat at the table. Poor woman was soaked while her family sat comfortably under a shelter. I think I would have let that dinner burn!
An early to bed evening provided a perfect time for reading an ebook I, thankfully, downloaded when we DID have internet connection. Sweet dreams followed!
Monday, August 1, 2016
The rain continued through the night while we were snug as a bug inside Wilbur. After breakfast, we had to take the truck to the far away bathhouse &, while there, we were able to talk with Suzy & Chris who were at our house checking on the cats. I had given Suzy some “AC in a Bottle”, a new product I was contemplating on adding to my line. It’s heavy on peppermint essential oil which gives it the cooling feeling when sprayed on. She had put some on her grandson’s wrists & it had calmed him down considerably. I had to do some additional research on peppermint oil because I was surprised it calmed instead of energized. It is reputed to increase concentration – good to know. I also found additional oils in my research that are good at calming an over active mind so Suzy mixed up a tiny batch in my Soap Studio while we talked. The results proved to be perfect!
We drove around the vast park & found little pockets where my phone could pick up reception – one spot was at a BEAUTIFUL pavilion overlooking a lake & gorgeous mountains. So, we hopped back to our campsite & got the pups. We returned to the pavilion, set up our computers with the Hot Spot device & “connected” to the outside world. The dogs had a grand time playing, stretching their legs & then snoozing on the picnic table on their thick cushions. I don’t share when we are out of town until we return so I try to post stuff to both my personal page & business page regardless. I shared pages of some of the stores that carry my Sweet Tea’s Soaps & Stuff products – just a few each day – & also descriptions & photos of products my friend Jessica Jackson has sent me. She is a MUCH better photographer than me. I also needed to answer emails & let people know who were sending web orders that I would mail their packages as soon as I returned. Meanwhile, Perry had a great FaceTime visit with his brother Paul & sis-in-law Cyndi. I do LOVE being able to keep in touch.
We then went back to Wilbur, had lunch & then a shower at the bathhouse. Back in the air conditioned Wilbur I was able to work on my blog, both past & present, while smelling the delicious aromas of the freezer to crockpot meal, Shipwreck, as it cooked away.
Dinner, a little TV – at least we could get PBS on the antenna – & then an early bedtime to read. Life is good & laid back!
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Alert the media! The pups actually slept until 7:30! The extra half hour of slept was much appreciated & set the day off on a good track. The normal walk, breakfast & clean up was followed by a trip up the mountain to “connect” to the world. After the requisite internet chores we headed back to the campsite to get ready for a day trip away.
The sky was grumbling so I gave Spice her Pet Gummy & turned the air conditioner & TV on to drown out the sounds that could frighten her while we were away. As we drove out of the park, the skies opened up. It was a deluge all the way to Wilkesboro, the county seat. We had to pull over to let it lighten up for a bit for fear of being swept off the road with the rushing water!
Once in Wilkesboro, we came across the Cooper Barrel Brewery. It was a one year old operation in an old, rehabbed building that had state of the art moonshine equipment. Yes, moonshine! We watched a video on how it came to be & learned all about the “old timer” who was an expert on making the smoothest moonshine around. We took a look at the massive equipment & talked to the hostess about how the process is done – they supply over 80% of the moonshine in North Carolina & will be expanding to the rest of the nation soon. It’s legal as long as the government gets their tax percentage. We did a little taste testing of the original, unflavored shine & several of their flavored offerings. Perry bought a couple bottles to take home. It was a REALLY cool place!
We also visited a nearby antique store for a wander through & then helped a couple ladies who were stranded with a dead car battery in the parking lot. The rain had stopped so the ride back to the campground was easier.
For dinner we had steaks, glamping taters, broccoli & salad. We had been using some cast iron cookware I picked up here & there over the last couple months & we decided we LOVE cast iron cooking. It not only reminds me of my sweet Grandma Ethel but it’s beautiful in its own right. I hope to find some little cast iron pans in which I can make individual cobblers during one of our antique store trips.
Wednesday, August 3. 2016
We seem to sleep better / more soundly while camping. And longer. 9 – 7. That’s 10 hours, only interrupted for a trip to the onboard bathroom here & there. Just a few short years ago, I slept maybe 4 – 5 hours a night. The stress of publishing kept me from the restful night’s sleep my body needed. Having given up that business for soaping full time & now semi-retirement, I could feel my health improve immensely. A huge THANK YOU to my friend Sandy Bruce for her encouragement along this path. We look forward to following her lead & continuing to regain good health.
After breakfast & pulling up camp, we headed further north into Virginia. Our next three days were in Grindstone Campground in Troutdale, VA. I am thankful for phone GPS in getting us to the general area. But then we hit a NO SERVICE zone in which GPS disconnected & left us floundering on our own. We did manage to find the place, set deep in a National Forest but the rain was coming down REALLY hard as we backed in.
Perry insisted on setting up the trailer immediately instead of waiting for the rain to let up. Not my idea of a good time so I let him do it himself while the pups & I sat in the dry truck cab. He was pretty mad at me but I was dry. As soon as he was done, the rain stopped. And he was soaking wet. So, there you go.
There was absolutely no internet service or TV reception in the entire campground. Bummer! We decided a visit to “town” was our best bet &, as we had some groceries to get, it made perfect sense. The Park Ranger was a tiny little woman maybe in her early 40s. She stopped us on our way out & said she had to take an “exit survey.” I told her we had just arrived a couple hours ago & wouldn’t be leaving for three days. She lifted her eyebrow & said we were headed to the exit so we were exiting, right? I think she had the impression I was not with all my facilities so she talked a little louder. I’m proud to say I zipped my lips, bit my tongue & sat on my hands because I was feeling the need to release the spider monkey on her. She asked Perry to pull over to the gate office to answer some “exit” questions & then suggested he get out of the truck. Seriously, I was wondering if she was going to call for back-up & search the vehicle! Perry assured her he could answer questions while sitting in the truck. She asked THREE questions … What is your zip code, are you “recreating” or is this a business trip & when will you be leaving. Goodness! I am thinking SHE is the one who doesn’t “get it!” And she thought he needed to get out of the truck to answer these questions. 🙂
We asked this lovely Park Ranger where we should go for groceries. She directed us to a little roadside grocery about 10 minutes away. Perry said he was really looking for a larger store in which he could get some froufrou (Perry’s words) creamer. He loves his Cream Brule. I wish I had a picture of the look on her face. A combo of disgust, surprise & pity all rolled into one. I burst out laughing. Then she began using the louder … are you hard of hearing … voice to him as she went on about how that was like nearly 30 miles away in Marion & it would take us so long. We certainly weren’t thinking 30 minutes was a great distance but maybe it is for some. It took her no less than 15 minutes to explain how to get there when it was literally a turn to the right, go 5 miles & then a turn to the left & you end up in Marion. She did provide comic relief & we laughed about the encounter for some time.
We got into Marion just at 5 so we stopped to eat at a restaurant there. And that’s all I’m going to say about that. We found a Food Lion, an Ingles & a Food City on the main drag & got our groceries. It was just as simple to get back to the campground. And we didn’t even have to ask directions.
After prepping the veggies for future salads & putting away all the groceries, I worked on the blog & Perry read a magazine. We could watch a movie but the quiet is sometimes better.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
It rained all night. Thank goodness we were safe & dry in Wilbur. The regular routine of walks, putting the bed away & breakfast for the pups & us was typical. I saw that the bathhouse had solid doors on the shower stall so I took Sugar down to bathe as I took my shower. For some reason, she gets a tad smelly after a week where Spice doesn’t. I love sweet smelling pups & try to keep them that way. Sugar did NOT like being held up under the shower spray & fought like a demon. I ended up with a few scratches but nothing major & my pup was smelling good once again. I will say it was odd to shower with the dog but necessity makes one open to new things. Right?
We drove back up to Marion & stopped at the National Forest Welcome Station along the way. We needed a map since GPS doesn’t work without internet. Then we shopped a little at WalMart for batteries & a thermometer. The temp was hovering between the low 60s & the low 70s but we couldn’t ask Siri as, again, we had no internet. We found a devise that shows both inside & outside temps like we have at home. Unfortunately, it required AAA batteries & I only had AA in the tool box. Always something.
On the drive back we stopped at Fox River General Store. It’s an old fashioned general merchandise store with a cute little coffee shop / restaurant inside. The owner apparently had a thriving business making full dinners for people to pick up & take home to reheat. That was rather cool.
Back at the camp ground, Perry met up with several of the other male campers who all stood in the middle of the lane swapping tales. There was an Airstream Convention starting the following day so most of the other campers were with that group. They were all very friendly, telling stories of their VAST travels throughout the United States & up through Canada into Alaska. One thing I did notice about the Airstreams seemed odd somehow. The body of the beautiful chrome trailers are smoothly rounded. Yet, their gas tank covers are square. I wonder why?
We had grilled Asian Chicken, leftover glamping taters & the remainder of the yellow squash I had in the fridge. And a salad – we must always include a salad. Our tummies were well satisfied.
Perry watched a movie he picked up at WalMart & I worked some more on my blog. I’m putting together a few extra entries about freezer to crockpot meals, marinating meats for travel & a good many super easy veggie dishes that can easily be prepared while camping. That will be a separate blog entry eventually. I was also immersed in studying an awesome essential oil book & gleaning some information on natural remedies, ointments & salves I can incorporate into my Glamping Medicine Cabinet. These will be for personal use only & not made to sell. I sell plenty of soap & body care products to keep me more than busy!
Again, the blog is mostly for our family with antidotes & a little history thrown in so Lily can have it to pull out & examine in the future. I’m happy others seem to enjoy it & get a laugh or two about our adventures & I’m always thrilled to see the comments.
I was originally going to call the blog Camping Capers but that name is taken. We I settle on another name, a blog will be born.
Friday, August 15, 2016
We had such a heavy tree cover we couldn’t tell when 7:00 came except for puppies getting wiggly to go out. Perry let them have a quick potty break in our campsite & then tossed them back on the bed. We spent some time reading & drinking coffee before finally getting up & getting the day started. Perry & the pups took a LONG walk around the campground & Sugar decided to bark at EVERY living thing she saw. This is a new, not so good habit. For our breakfast I served a couple boiled eggs I had made the day before & warmed up a tiny little apple pie we picked up at WalMart.
We left the pups in Wilbur with the air conditioner on & an essential oil dispenser that had Lavender & Peppermint in it to sooth them while we took a trek to the town of Whitetop, one of the stops for the Virginia Creeper Bike Trail. We met Alice there, a kind woman who was manning the old train station / museum. It turns out she is a full time RVer (she & her husband had made it a lifestyle for 14 years before he passed away in 2014 – she has continued the tradition because she loves it so much). Alice said she may be at Ft Yargo from November – March as a Camp Host. We made tentative plans on getting together while she’s there – always open to new friends! Next we visited Damacus, another stop of the Bike Trail. It’s an adorable little town I wish we’d had more time to explore. We had lunch at a good southern restaurant which reminded us of Casey’s in Winder. Good, but there is nothing as good as Casey’s for lunch!
We stopped back by the campground & walked the dogs before heading back to Marion. A tractor trailer had run off the road into the stream beside it so we were diverted down a dirt road that seemed to go on FOREVER! I can’t tell you how freaked out I was by the narrow winding roads in VA &, add to that, feeling as if we were lost. I was nearly in tears &, for the first time ever, feeling car sick! We did finally make it to Marion picked up the things we needed, checked in (internet connection – YES!) & got gas in preparation for the next leg of our journey. We used the roads we had grown more familiar with on the way back & the truck was gone – the debris was abundant though. I bet that driver messed his pants!
For dinner we had steaks on the grill, the remaining broccoli I had in the fridge & some corn, & a salad, of course. An evening stroll around the park with the pups always makes me sleepy (not as good as a golf cart ride with Chris & Suzy though). <sigh>
Saturday, August 6, 2016
We got up a little early so we wouldn’t have to rush the morning along. All the usual things were taken care of & then we packed up Wilbur, hitched him to the truck & headed out. One thing I noticed in abundance in the Virginia mountains was the beautiful wildflowers growing along the roads. Just stunning! The distance to the next site in Blue Heron, KY was estimated to be 3 ½ hours but, because we couldn’t connect to the internet from the campground, we headed back to Marion & then GPS directed us the rest of the way. It took us about 4 ½ hours. We used mostly interstate roads & the going was smooth. Even once in the mountains it wasn’t as difficult as it had been in VA.
Blue Herron was the least expensive campground we booked – our 3 day stay was $51. And it was clean & oh so pretty! And – drum roll – we connected to internet! The actual site we were parked in was roomy, right on a pond with an abundance of lily pads & the bathhouse was nearby. We did take note of the “Bear Storage” bins for tent campers throughout the grounds & the very sturdy metal trash receptacles. This can only mean there are bears in the park. YIKES! ShihTzus would be just the right size for bear appetizers.
Dinner was grilled Kickin’ Chicken, green beans & corn &, of course, salad. I had a little wine & Perry enjoyed a Cherry Ginger Beer. Delish! We FaceTimed Robby & Lily & caught up on all the happenings back home. Lily showed us a fan she made & her new shoes. It’s so good to have a granddaughter that reminds us the simple things in life are the sweetest. And we checked in with Chris & Suzy who assured us the cats were all fine & the house was secure. I cannot express what a relief it was to know these two were looking out for the home front. So very grateful!
The drive made us both weary so an early night was desired. However, there was a group of (2 RVs) campers nearby that shattered the sound barrier with their LOUD music & partying. So much for peacefulness! Standard (& posted) campground rules dictate noise level & quiet between 10pm & 7am. The music was shut off on the outside speakers right at 10, maybe from the campers own volition or because the camp host “had a word.” But, about 15 minutes later the music was turned on inside one of the RVs with the door wide open & lots of loud, drunken conversation. Our air conditioner drowned out most of it & we did eventually get to sleep.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Let me tell you about bull frogs! As soon as the sun set, the bullfrogs started their chorus of song in the lily pad pond & got more vocal during the night. It was a bit hard to hear over the obnoxious neighbor’s music but after the group went to bed the frogs were wild. It’s not something I have ever heard before & cannot describe. Not an unpleasant sound but very unique. Sugar & Spice were a bit freaked out by it, as they are to most things when they first encounter them. Funny dogs!
The party campers left by noon as did several other RVs. So, this beautiful campground was left to us, one other RV & a tent camper. And the campground hosts. If it weren’t for the abundance of gnats or if we had a slight breeze, it would have been ideal to sit outside. Our campground was probably the only mosquito free zone up the mountain. I liberally sprayed my skeeter concoction upon arrival, all around the site, under Wilbur & even into the trees. It reduced the number of gnats, too, but not completely. I took a gallon with us & used it in every site we stayed & it was awesome! Here’s the recipe … 1 bottle of beer, 1 cup Epson salts & one large bottle mint mouthwash (I used Publix store brand). Put the ingredients in a gallon jug & shake to dissolve the Epson salts. Then pour it into a spray bottle to use.
We needed to do a bunch of laundry so off we went to find a laundry mat. We had three mesh bags on a bungee cord strung across the bed of the truck (enclosed) that we were able to use to sort as we changed each day. These bags also made it easy to haul into the laundry & dump in the washers. After we took care of that chore we went to a grocery store & picked up additional supplies. A mundane day but one in which we were thankful for the freedom & the beauty afforded to us in the USA.
I made freezer to crockpot Shipwreak, a salad & corn for dinner & then we just relaxed with the pups. The night was much more pleasant without the party folks around & the frogs were just as musical.
Monday, August 8, 2016
To be a little different we made mushroom omelets for breakfast – yum! That was followed by a quiet morning & a slow moving day. We visited with the tent camper mom who told us she found a Copperhead snake in their campsite the evening before. Fortunately, she had just heard the Ranger’s demo about snakes in the mountains & didn’t freak out. Brave woman – I would have died of fear!
We went over to the Blue Heron Coalmine Museum. The gnats were crazy so I opted to sit in the truck while Perry wandered all over the park. He took several pictures, some shared on this blog, but it was more of a self-guided tour as the place was without even a single Park Ranger to tell the story. No doubt the weekends bring in more visitors & the Rangers are there. It’s worth a visit if you are ever in the area.
We then went to Williamsburg to visit an antique shop we found on the web. Ummmm. Certainly not what I consider antiques – none – zip. It was a very large thrift store. We wandered about anyway & bought nothing. It was good to get out & drive & see the beautiful mountains so it was still nice. We even saw a potential coonskin hat in the road! Oh, & Kentucky has as many, if not more, althea bushes than Georgia. One of my fav “old fashioned” flowering shrubs which are abundant in my yard.
Another travel trailer arrived while we were out – a HUGE 5th wheel & very nice. Two occupants around our age with plenty of room to roam in that thing. We are perfectly happy with our little 21’ pull-behind. SOOO much easier to get around & so much less to do to set up. Besides, Wilbur has become family!
As I was making dinner I saw a HUGE (I’m talking at least as big as a car – slight exaggeration) stripped spider on the dining table. Screams could be heard for miles! Perry smashed it & I suggested we just torch Wilbur. I HATE spiders!
Once my heart rate returned to normal we had freezer to crockpot BBQ Beef served with asparagus & a salad. I had gotten Perry some Moonshine BBQ Sauce for Father’s Day so he tried a little with his dinner. It was pretty hot but smoke did not come out his ears.
Later we had a visit from the woman in the RV that was onsight when we arrived. (Apparently those obnoxious campers from Saturday night were her family up for the weekend – good thing I didn’t mention how rude they were before she told us.) She said to watch out for the plentiful copperheads & especially the one that has made camp in the block by the bathhouse steps. YIKES! She said she & her husband camp at this park every year & last year they killed 98 of those snakes in a two month period! Also, she warned us about the 400+ lb black bear that roams the campground at night. These are stories nightmares are made of, people! If it wasn’t planned for the following day, we would have left Blue Herron Campground early!
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
We got up early & set about packing up Wilbur for the ride to TN. We kept wide eyes out for snakes given the conversation with a fellow camper the evening before but none were seen. We did take note of the HUGE claw marks on the metal storage containers & garbage receptacles. And we were THANKFUL we did not see the bear that made them! I think Perry was in a bit in a hurry to get hitched up & forgot to run the pin through the tow bar so, when he pulled forward to slip the hitch cap into place, the entire tow bar came off. He fixed it into place & all was well.
We drove down to Indian Boundary Campground along the VERY scenic Cherohala Skyway in Southeastern, TN. A very pretty, wooded & spacious park, but, after backing into our assigned site, we realized they had NO water hookup on site! Some will think of me as a whimp but this girl does not “rough it.” I NEED my creature comforts! Perry had a word with the very nice camp host but was assured there was NO water on ANY site at that park. So, we headed back the way we came & stopped in at the Welcome Center. There, we got maps & such & called around to a couple other campgrounds. We settled on Sweetwater KOA, just 30 minutes away.
The campground was really nice & most affordable – not quite as inexpensive as Indian Boundary but at $38 per night (minus the 10% discount for retired military) we were perfectly happy. They had electric, water, sewer, cable & internet at each site & really nice bathhouses. If we were so inclined, they even have a great looking pool. The campsites were small but we didn’t care. They even had an adorable fenced in dog run for the girls.
We cleaned up & went to dinner at an “interesting” Italian restaurant. That’s all I have to say about that. And then we took a quick tour of Sweetwater’s downtown area, taking note of the various antique stores with ideas of visiting the next day.
Back in camp, we made short order of walking the dogs around the park & then falling into bed exhausted.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
An easy going morning started the day off well. Breakfast for the pups, a good walk about the “neighborhood” & then eggs, bacon & cloud bread with homemade peach preserves & coffee was perfect. We took showers & decided we would, indeed, visit Sweetwater’s downtown for a leisurely walk. The antique stores yielded great old tools (Perry’s fav) & some cool old kitchenware I found would be useful in the trailer. Two pieces in particular were treasures I remember my grandmother using. Perry got a canteen from the WWII era. Very cool! We had an enjoyable lunch at Hunter’s Café & then shopped a little more. We didn’t buy much – we have more than we need already – but we had a good time looking & having memories triggered to be pulled out & smiled over.
The pups were glad to see us return to Wilbur & be taken for a walk. When we aren’t using the table, Spice likes to sit on it & keep an eye on all the happenings outside. She is the watchdog where Sugar prefers to snuggle under a blanket, head covered, snoozing & snoring. Sisters by birth but sooooo very different from one another.
The motor home next to us is super nice & remained without its people our first night in camp. But, around 4, the man who obviously belonged to it returned. He looked like an image guy. There was not a significant other with him so, tongue in cheek, I told Perry he probably uses the motor home as a “Sugar Shack.” I kept an eye out for a visit from a “Lady of the Night” or a guy – whichever – but no one joined him. Since that idea didn’t pan out, I guess he was just a businessman on a long assignment & brought his motor home to stay in because was incredibly more plush than a hotel room. The following morning, he did depart before 6 in his car which indicated the second guess was more likely. Makes me laugh to come up with stories about various people & things we see along the road. I know Perry & I are pretty boring but I imagine others to be more interesting.
We had grilled pork steaks for dinner with asparagus, corn & salad. Then we watched more of the Olympics before closing our eyes on yet another sweet day of vacation.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Mornings cuddled on the bed with our two pups, watching Good Morning America while sipping on coffee was the BEST way to start the day in our little home on wheels.
We piddled around until noon, had lunch & then went out to get some coffee pods for the last morning. I ALMOST had enough to last the whole trip. The final day of vacation sometimes grows long & makes you ready to get on the road that final time. Not really boredom but close.
One thing I was determined to figure out was how to light my stove. I’m a bit scared of gas &, although my sis-in-law did show me how to do it once, I must not have paid good attention. So, if all else fails, pull out the owner’s manual. And it turned out to be EASY! I had some brownie mix in the pantry so I mixed up a batch & poured it into a small roasting pan I had. Not the best choice but I didn’t have a square baking pan on board. The finished product was tasty but a bit dry – probably because it was spread out & cooked faster than it should have. No matter … I was just so proud to have figured out the stove! Awww, the additional things I can cook because of this discovery! Woot!
For dinner we had grilled Kickin’ Chicken, some zucchini I spiral cut to make it “noodly,” salad & a couple onion bombs. On a previous camping trip with Charles & Rhyse Potts, Charles made these bombs & shared the “how to.” Cut both ends off the onion & peel it. Scoop out a little of the center & put a half of a bouillon cube inside. Add a little butter in the hole as well & wrap it in foil. Put it on the grill as you cook the meat – maybe 20 – 30 minutes. Unwrap & cut into quarters. Delish!
After dinner, we had a long walk around the park with the pups & then were ready for bed. Our last night on vacation was peaceful.
Friday, August 12, 2016
A perfect morning – calm & not too hot. After breakfast & the usual morning needs we got Wilbur packed & ready for the road.
GPS offered us three choices for our trip back home. One was through Atlanta – no way did we want to play in traffic around the perimeter. Another was through the higher mountains which we didn’t really want to do pulling the trailer. The third was in between so we opted for that. A little longer of a trip but scenic.
We made it home without incident. What a welcome site the old house was & how very excited we were to see our five cats again. Home, sweet home!
Not all who wander are lost!