Newport 2009

Spent 3 days in Newport, FL, with the intention of riding my bicycle while Buddy & Josh went hunting. Friday was cold and overcast but decided to go wearing jeans & windbreaker. Very good roads and bike trail with little traffic. Saturday it rained all day. Sunday was warmer and fog all day but went for another good ride.

Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
The Tallahassee/St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail runs from Florida’s capital city, past the Apalachicola National Forest, and ends in the coastal community of St. Marks. Through the early 1900’s, this historic railroad corridor was used to carry cotton from the plantation belt to the coast for shipment to textile mills in England and New England. Today, as a paved trail, it provides an excellent workout for street bikers, walkers and skaters. It also provides opportunities for horseback riding on the adjacent unpaved trail, and access to the Munson Hills Off Road Trails in the National Forest. St. Marks offers seafood, fishing or San Marcos Apalache Historic State Park to top off your journey.

Time to Head South

First Fall Frost for 2009

We had our first frost at Down by the River this morning and it is 34 degrees.

Down by the River, Pineola, NC

Down by the River, Pineola, NC

Tuesday, May 26 We arrived here this morning, everything looks nice and green, and the woodspirits kept a watch over the winter. I forgot how nice this park is compared to others.

Wednesday, May 27 All settled in, today Sue shut the door on the truck and the back window blew out, they have to replace the whole 3 piece window, we have an appointment in Boone Friday to get it replaced.

Tuesday, June 2 Enjoying the weather, not much else happening, if it does you will hear it here.

Sunday, June 7 This morning we went to Moses Cone Memorial Park, milepost 291 there are 3, 500 acres in the estate and 25 miles of carriage trails, great easy place to walk. http://www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway_tour/parks/293_0/

Monday, June 8 Took a trip to Lowes in Banner Elk for more flowers and I got to take one of my shortcuts. From downtown Newland take Hickory Nut Gap Rd for 7.3 miles of the best black top I have been on. I thought Sue wouldn't mind this road, seeing it was not gravel (wrong). This road could rival North Carolina's 129 (Tail of the Dragon) there were many tight curves. Sue told me the next time I wanted to go this way I would have to go by myself.

Saturday, June 13 We finally went to a church breakfast at the Crossnore Presbyterian Church with Mike, Tina, Chris & Kim. The breakfast was excellent, they would make omelets to order. After breakfast we toured the historic church which was built in 1924 with rocks from the Linville River, I will bring my camera next time.

Friday, June 19 We ate lunch at Knight's in Blowing Rock today and I think that is the place to eat in Blowing Rock on Friday, good fried oysters & fish. We went with Mike & Tina after lunch to Linville Gorge, and Wiseman's View.

Friday, June 26 Things are going fine and all is well, been keeping busy, churning left handed ice cream for Ron's 73 birthday, fertilizing the flowers & weed and feeding the grass, putting up the flag, ate pizza at new place in Newland very good. Getting in miles walking and riding the bicycle.

Saturday, June 27 Today is breakfast at Crossnore Baptist Church and it was excellent, then we went on a hike with the group on Rough Ridge Trail just past the Lin Cove Viaduct, and then ice cream at Krista's, and then eating dinner this evening with lots of friends at the picnic pavilion.

Friday, July 3 Chris Hillebrand and I went fishing for about 6 hours on the Holston close to Emmett, TN, nice river to fly fish the water is clear, cold and nice and wide. Caught a few trout. When the horn at the dam blows pay attention, because the water could rise quickly, just ask me.

Saturday, July 4 When we went for our walk this morning it was 49 degrees and it was 48 when we finished. Had covered dish dinner at noon in the activity center.

Thursday, July 9 -- Monday, July 13 We drove to Maryland for the weekend to visit Eddie & family

Wednesday, July 29 It is raining today, but been staying busy every day socializing, walking, eating here and there, fly fishing, bicycle riding, playing Joker on game nights, going to the gym, crashing airplane in the woods, playing horseshoes, watching the grass grow.

Wednesday, August 5 We had one of our potluck lunches at the activity center and as usual I ate to much.
In the process of coordinating a trip on the Virgina Creeper Trail, trying for Wednesday September 9th this time. http://www.adventuredamascus.com/Trail.htm
We went last year and it is a fun ride, down hill all the way.

New River State Park, Jefferson, NC

New River State Park, Jefferson, NC

Monday, May 18 Arrived around noon and we are the only people here so had our pick of sites we chose # 12. The wild roses are full of buds only a few have opened, but the flaming azaleas are blooming.

Tuesday, May 19 It was 36 degrees this morning. We met Jim & Joanne in Jefferson for lunch at the barbecue joint. The parking lot was full and we got the last space, must be the place to eat.

Wednesday, May 20 It was also 36 again this morning, the first two nights we were the only ones in the park now it is 3/4 full.

Thursday, May 20 Today we went Jefferson and did the laundry, Wal-Mart and ate lunch at the Brick Stone a fine dining pizza and pasta restaurant. We ordered a veggie pizza, it came, the waitress placed it on an elevated wire rack. We each had one piece before the pan and pizza slid off onto the floor. We had had a previous discussion on how the table was not level, little did we know. So we got another pizza and finished lunch.

Monday, May 25 Memorial Day, Yesterday we went to Motley's Barbecue for lunch, it wasn't as good a I remembered from a year ago. It has been overcast and drizzling of and on the last couple of days. We will be moving to Down By The River in Pineola NC tomorrow.

Lake Robinson, Lexington, VA

Lake Robertson, Lexington, VA

This is a good informative link http://www.lexingtonvirginia.com/default.htm

Monday, May 11 Left Maryland and arrived at Lake Robinson around noon, it wasn't near the rush driving the roads getting in here to the park as it was the first time, even Sue was more relaxed, since we knew where the road led. This county park is one of my better finds.

Tuesday, May 12 On our walk around the lake today I noticed a few small trees that a beaver had cut down, the chips were still semi fresh. Those were the first fresh signs of live beavers, there must have been a bunch that lived here years ago, because they have cut down some big trees.

Wednesday. May 13

Thursday, May 14

Friday, May 15 Remembering my friend Phil

Saturday, May 16

Sunday, May 17 We are the only ones left in the campground this afternoon, should be quiet tonight. Will be leaving in the morning for New River in NC.

Greenbrier State Park, MD

Greenbrier State Park, Boonsboro, MD

Monday, May 4 Arrived here around 1:00 and got situated in site C1, rained most of the way here and is still raining, the ranger said it had rained all weekend. Traffic was and is ridicules in this area.
My last years epoxy fix to the anti syphon valve in the black water flush line let loose this morning, will do better this time.

Tuesday, May 5 False assumption on the anti-syphon valve the epoxy job is strong as ever, the valve must hung up, working fine now.

South Forty Camp Resort

South Forty Camp Resort, Petersburg, VA

Friday, May 1 Arrived at the usual time little before noon, had to wait for someone to vacate the spot before we could set up.

Sleepy Bear's RV Park

Sleepy Bear's RV Park, Lumberton, NC

Wednesday, April 29 We arrived here around noon, I-95 thru SC is not good but they are working on it. This campground is from the 50's era, but everything is brightly painted and the grounds are clean and trimmed.

Thursday, April 30 We did the laundry at the campground, I carried it, then we went to Lumberton, Wal-Mart, Sam's, & Pier 41 Seafood for lunch which was a very good restaurant we both thought so. Meet another Bighorn owner here in the park and they seemed to have more piddly problem with their unit than us.

This inspired me to think about why the air conditioner could be freezing up, I think I have found the problem, the sensor that shuts off the compressor when the coils get to cold was not seated against the fins sufficiently.

Ft McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill, GA

Ft McAllister State Park, Richmond Hill, GA

Monday, April 27 We arrived here this morning around 10:00 nice park, nice coastal hammock area, nice deer flies & sand gnats, nice sites we are in #47, and lots of squirrels. Everything you need is conveniently located not to far away.

I only had to fix two things today the latch for the screen door fell apart and a piece of molding fell off, Super Glue to the rescue.

Tuesday, April 28 The trails here at the park are some of the best maintained trails with good clearance for walking and riding a MTB that I have seen and the roads are nice also, not excessively long but adequate.

Ate lunch at a good restaurant Southern Image, the east side of Richmond Hills on the Atlantic Coast Highway (US 17).

Country Oaks Campground & RV Park, Kingsland, GA

Country Oaks, Kingsport, GA

After boarding up the house & tiddying up the place some, we went to lunch with Buddy & Patsy and after returning home we decided we would leave instead of waiting until Monday. We got to the campground just over the Florida/Georgia line at exit #1 around 6:30.

Start of 2009 Summer Travels

The tenative departure date is 04/27/09 Monday and the first stop will be Ft. McAllister, Ga.