Headed home

Saturday, March 26

We’re heading North.

We stuck pretty close to our 4 hour max driving.  As usual, on the way we started deciding where we would stop.

We ended up at a County owned RV park about 15 miles off the interstate near Brunswick, Ga.  Our experiences in the past have been very good with county parks, and this is no different. 

The park is located on the Altahama River.  As soon as we settled in, I got the kayak and went out on the river for an hour or so, then we both hiked a while, and then I rode the bike for a while.

This is a very well kept County park, with lots of new facilities (bath houses, general store, docks, swings, etc). 

Kayaking in the backwaters of the Altahama River

The park is located where a railroad bridge was once.

It’s really great to stumble on places like this in our travels.  It’s not for every traveler, but this is the kind of place we are really comfortable and enjoy.   It was definitely a place for those that like country music and there weren’t any big motor homes.  But it was filled with families enjoying a nice day on the river.

Sunday, March 27

It’s great to be able to travel and have the time to make quick decisions without having to worry about to many deadlines.

Such was today.  

We got a little late start leaving Altahama.  A bedroom slide wouldn’t come in – until I found the wire under the bed that had somehow become disconnected.  

With the problem corrected, we headed North with the intent on making it about half way home today (Home being Spruce Pine this time).  About an hour on I-95 and we ran into heavy (and I do mean heavy) rain. 

I checked the radar and forecast and it is predicted to be this way through at least midnight.

Clara is driving and we’re down to 35 mph in stop and go traffic (I do mean heavy rain).  After a little of this, I figure it’s not worth driving in this for 4 hours, taking the chances that could be involved.  

So with a little checking, I find a nice RV park a little up the road North of Savannah, make reservations and 30 minutes later we’re checking in and getting settled in for a quiet day listening to the rain, relaxing and catching up (we didn’t have Internet service at Altahama). 

Holding up in a soggy South Carolina

Such are the niceties of retirement travel.

Monday, March 28

A travel day.  I actually believe we broke the rule - 10 to 2 or 200 miles - by a little.  But it's always hard to stop when you're close to home.

We drove to Spruce Pine.  A very comfortable drive arriving around 3 PM.

We're leaving the motor home at the Walmart parking lot tonight and plan to move it tomorrow to a friends industrial plant (Buck Stove) tomorrow where they have plenty of space.

We quickly settled into the big house.  I commented to Clara that is amazing how quickly we're able to transition from traveling in a 40 foot motor home to a 3,000 square foot house so easily.  We certainly don't need all this space - but it's nice to have.  But it's a long way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Tuesday, March 28 to Wednesday, April 6

The highlight of the week and the reason we drove to Spruce Pine rather than directly to Beaufort is a visit with the kids (all four).  They arrived Thursday and stayed until Sunday.  It's not often we get together in Spruce Pine anymore and every time we do, it is special.

Our favorite place for pictures on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  In the background is The Orchard at Altapass (the red barn) and just above the barn is the ridge on which our Mountain Home is located.

Linville Falls 

Hanging out with Doc Watson in Boone

Anna got some new (to her) boots so she can do some "boot scootin'"

Wednesday, April 6

We have finished our winter trip with the drive back to Beaufort.

Since departure from Beaufort on January 8, we've driven the motor home 2757 miles and stayed in it 81 days (it was 91 days away from home, minus the 10 days we flew back to Beaufort).

It's been a great adventure, and is exactly why we enjoy RVing.

Now we're starting to plan for our summer trip out West.