It has been a whirlwind couple of days! We hit Savannah, but I also got hit with some malady that left me laying low, so we stayed at the campsite instead of going into the city. We had been there before, and it was wonderful, and I had looked forward to spending some more time there, but it will wait until the next trip. Which, by the way, will be less "scheduled!" We have reservations between Florida and Boston, as we panicked when the park there was booked for Memorial Day. But I think that was because of the holiday. The parks have had plenty of room. I would much prefer to wing it. As someone said, there is always Walmart, should the parks be full!!
Anyway, we relaxed among the moss draped trees of that park, after having spent the night before on the beach. Drove to NC on Thursday, where Bob and Judy had encouraged us to park in their driveway. Well, it was too tight a squeeze for this big boy, and we ended up staying at a state park on a lake near them. It was really lovely. And we had to remark how neat.....a beach house one night, and a lake house the next! However the spirit moves you!! The only draw back with that particular park was that we had to be back by 9pm! We ate a yummy but rushed dinner that Judy had prepared, and she sent us packing with a plate of brownies to enjoy in our coach! Would have been nicer to enjoy the brownies with them, but it was a sweet ending to the day!
The next morning I was up with the birds, and walked around the lake and took a few photos of the light coming up. I say light, because a line of showers moved in and the sun didn't make it! Bob picked Clem up for some golf, and I went and met Judy and we went to one of her favorite birding trails after the rain moved through. The trail is an old railroad line, called the Tobacco Trail, since the trains once went through carrying the tobacco crops to market. We were met with a cacophony of sound that nearly drummed out the bird calls! We later discovered that it was made by the once every 13 year emergence of cicadas! I could not believe how loud it was in places! I took photos of one of them before I knew what they were, so will post one.
The trail was lovely, with big trees shading our way as the day warmed, and providing habitat for an abundance of birds. I saw my first red headed woodpecker!!! Gorgeous bird. And NOT Woody Woodpecker! He is more the pileated woodpecker with the red headed coloring. Poetic license! The Florida landscape is so different from anywhere in the country, and I do enjoy it, and the weather and the beaches, but I do love being in the woods! And the aroma in this particular woods was so different and lovely. The only thing I could attribute it to was the honeysuckle along the trail, which was about finished.
Spring here is much earlier than the northeast, of course, and the huge magnolias were also about finished, though still showing signs of their beauty everywhere. The other thing that was striking was the huge beds of wildflowers along the highways! Masses of mixed colors poppies and other flowers combined. I was doing the driving, so no photos, unfortunately. I need to mount a camera on the dash!!
After the trail we walked through downtown Apex and took in an art exhibit at their local cultural center, then met the boys for lunch before heading out. We hit the road again and made Richmond VA, where I am happy to say we are spending three nights! Yay! I turned the captains chairs and set up house for a few days, which will be nice, instead of "breaking camp" every night! Now, we don't have to collapse the tent and stow it, but we pull in the sides and hook up the car, and of course drive! The cats are way more comfortable with the quieter , smoother coach, but they still are much happier when we are standing still!
One more thing before I end for today. Those of you who read our last travel adventures will remember our trip through the canyon that was so harrowing. Well, we had a bit of a mishap yesterday, thanks to the GPS. Only a few moments, which could not compare, but still enough to reinforce that we need the GPS made for trucks and RVs! We reached a point where we could have followed the map, or her, and unfortunately chose her! She likes to take the most direct route, and got us on city streets! Now, I was not happy about that in any case, but then we encountered an underpass that was 11 feet!! We are 13 and change!!!! NOT good! Circling around with 34 feet of RV plus the tow car, looking for a way out, cursing her every minute!
The good news is, we ended up taking a more rural two lane road for a while in order to catch up with the major route, and it showed us the character of the area. That is the way I really want to travel, instead of the highways, so that part was very interesting. And far from the monotony of highway driving. Part of the route was the Civil War trail, which was neat.
Well, we are off to visit the sights of Virginia, so I am sure I will have tales to tell!
Have a great day.
