On The Road Again - To Ft Pickens Jan 2012 Day 1

Unfortunately, we had to cancel our trip east this past fall because Charlie had become blind as a result of complications from diabetes.  His eyes had ruptured, and were removed, but he is recovering very well.  We wanted to rent a cabin in the Georgia mountains in January to enjoy the cooler weather, but the "fine print" scared us, so we decided to head to the Pensacola area where the temperatures would be cooler than in Bonita, but where we wouldn't have to worry about freeezing since our travel unit isn't winterized.  Bob found a park in Ft Pickens in the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola.  It is a federal park, so our interagency senior pass gets us in there for $10 a night.  Pensacola is about 10 hours from us, traveling by interstate.  We decided to make a stop over in White Springs, north of Gainesville, so that we could take a more scenic route along US 98 tomorrow.

At our fuel stop in Wildwood, some folks were releasing pigeons from the back of their truck.  I didn't get a chance to ask the why's or wherefores of that, but they let about 8 pigeons out of a coop, then closed up the back of the truck and took off.

Just a bit south of Gainesville, traffic came to a dead halt.  We were stopped for almost an hour.  Turns outs there was an accident southbound which involved a livestock truck.  Cattle had escaped and we saw one running behind a fence along the interstate.  The rescue responders were driving up and down the south lanes trying to get close enough to tranquilize it.  When we were allowed to proceed, we saw two cowboys with lassos on horseback, who were evidently trying to round up the dogies.  Too bad we couldn't get any pictures of that!  The 3 lanes south bound were stopped for about 7 miles up the road.

Here is the park in White Springs:  Lee's Country Campground.  It is one of our Passport America parks, so we get half price stays.  It is very nicely maintained, and we're glad we decided to park for the night.

Anderson, SC Aug 2 - 4 2012

From Bulltown, we had a very scenic route thru the mountains along I-77, I-81, and I-26, especially  in Tennessee and NC, and ended at  Springfield  Campground, another Army Corps of Engineers park in Anderson, SC, on Lake Hartwell. The water level was quite low, but we were told it fluctuates from week to week.  Friday we spent most of the day taking care of some maintenance on the truck.  We enjoyed campfires both nights until thunder storms forced us inside. Saturday, we connected with Bob's brother, Leon, and his wife Amy.  We had a fun afternoon at Jockey Lot flea market and visiting at their home, along with their two dogs, Smoky & Shelby.  Tomorrow we'll start the trip home.

Leon & Amy's home

The brothers looking over model plane designs, a passion both share

Leon & Amy 

Amy and her new found friend, Wayne, a jolly vendor at the market.  Amy bought the porcelain cowgirl doll she's holding from him, making him even jollier.  Glad she didn't want to buy his hat!

Amy and I

Fishing at Burnsville Lake

Tuesday evening, we tried our reels on the banks of the lake, and Wednesday Bob got Rubber Ducky up and running.  We decided there are no fish in Burnsville Lake or maybe they couldn't read the t-shirt I had on (given to me by a good friend, Audrey).  Bob very ingeniously has the wheels rigged to the boat so that we can tow it and pull it into and out of the water without taking them off.  He also devised a sliding platform in the storage section of the travel unit so he can  take out or put away the boat motor easily.  Since we didn't have any luck fishing, we decided to take a ride to see the dam, about 20 miles away.  Tomorrow, we'll leave and head for South Carolina.

 

Bulltown Historic Site - Day Two con't

In the afternoon, we took a walk through the historic site of  Bulltown, where on October 13, 1863, there was a 12 hour skirmish between 800 Rebels who were trying to capture an encampment of 400 Union soliders in order to block Union communications between two valleys.  The Confeder ates finally had to withdraw. Moses Cunningham, who owned the farm where the battle took place, was shot in the leg when he ran from his house to yell "Hurrah for Jeff Davis."  The battle is re-enacted on the grounds in October each year.  Several buildings were on the grounds including a granary, root cellar, springhouse, barn, church, the Cunningham home, and  other cabins from the surrounding area that were bought by the Army Corps of Engineers and moved to the park.  The trail is part of a 10 mile historic turnpike.

Cunningham Home

Day 2 at Bulltown

Tuesday morning we went into Gassaway, to see about getting fishing licenses.  It was about 25 miles away, but there wasn't much else around Bulltown.  We were able to get them at a small TruValue Hardware store in town.  Gassaway is rather old fashioned, but had a nice home town feel, and an establishment that Bob would really like if he lived there.  

Bulltown Campground West Virginia

We arrived at the campground about 4 pm.  Bob had reserved site #24 on Burnsville Lake, but it didn't have a water connection, and we weren't prepared to use tank water from the unit, so we moved to a different site.  It was shown as being a water site, but a berm blocked the view.  However, the space was much larger and very private.  We had to share it only with a jack rabbit and a deer.  Although we couldn't get cell phone or computer connections while at the park, Bob was able to find the Direct satellite signal, so we were able to watch some television.

The space Bob originally chose

The site we moved to so as to have water, but not water view

Mahlon and ride to WVA

Monday we took off for Bulltown, West Virginia, to a campground run by the Army Corps of Engineers.  After getting off I-81 at Hagerstown, MD, there was not much traffic, but lots of scenery along I-68 and I-79.

The campsite at Mahlon Reservation in New Jersey

I couldn't believe we were in Maryland, just outside of Hagerstown

 Gap near Cumberland, MD in I-68