What State Park Passes do we love using as full-time RV travelers? How did we get them? What is the cost, and what are the benefits? Which ones are the best? This post is updated from the previous July 2023 post. Updated May 2024 South Dakota I also qualify for different state programs. South Dakota […]
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This is our end-of-year review. Where did we go and what did we do in 2021? (The states we visited in 2021 are above this paragraph next to the date.) What amazing things did we see along the way? In 2021 we added eleven new states to our route map. Other than Louisana we spent
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Carolina Plantations is the title, but the subject is antebellum plantations in Virginia and in North and South Carolina. When in Georgia, we will probably tour a few more plantations and we have already toured several southern plantations scattered around the south. Of course, you probably already know this by following our journey. The story
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We explored both the historic Roanoke and Jamestown settlement sites while in Virginia and northern North Carolina. These were the locations of the first attempts of England to settle in North America. Roanoke settlement was a complete failure and Jamestown settlement was a huge struggle. The national park service and Virginia both had great exhibits
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Stratford Hall Plantation is a Virginia plantation dating to prior to the Revolutionary war. The Lee family built the Stratford Hall Plantation on the south shore of the Potomac River in Virginia. The plantation is to the east of Pope’s Creek. Pope Creek is the birthplace of George Washington. I mentioned Pope Creek Plantation in
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What was Washington’s greatest gift to our country? While in Virginia we have been visiting locations associated with George Washington. Perhaps more words have been written about George Washington than about any other American. Without his monumental effort, our country wouldn’t exist. His gifts to our country have a lot to do with the birth
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There are only a few places that I know of that inspire people to write songs. Shenandoah is one of these places. Shenandoah is at the north end of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unlike most of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Shenandoah River flows lazily along the valley parallel to the ridgeline. The Shenandoah River
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For the previous 200 hundred years in West Virginia, coal from the coal mines was the number one resource that everyone wanted. Everyone in every West Virginia town that we have visited worked for the coal mines, even if they were not coal miners. Coal Miner’s Daughter Coal Miner’s Daughter doesn’t describe me but does
It wasn’t the plan, but we have been following the New River for most of the summer. I love the irony that the “New River” might be the oldest river in North America and one of the oldest rivers in the world. The New River is about 330 million years old. The New River starts
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Drinkin too much likker causes wampus caterwauling . As we explore western Virginia and West Virginia we are really enjoying it. That doesn’t mean we understand the locals when they talk. It is way different than I expected. The locals call it mountain talk. One local even mentioned the word hillbilly. I will explain more
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Campsite Review: Claytor Lake State Park Campground is located southwest of Roanoak Virginia on the north side of Claytor Lake. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Roanoak, Virginia. Claytor Lake State Park Campground has easy access and a boat launch on Claytor Lake. There are 106 water and electric hookup
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We have found two Virginias in Virginia. I am not referring to West Virginia and Virginia. Rather, two Virginias inside the state of Virginia. Years ago we visited the Washington D.C. corner of Virginia. That was our first introduction to Virginia. We are now in the other of the two Virginias. Most people divide Virginia
Crazy kudzu is everywhere. This is our number one observation over the last month. Crazy kudzu dominates North Carolina and southern Virginia. I first heard of kudzu in the 1960s. It was already a problem invasive species intentionally imported from Japan as decoration in 1876. It spread as food for animals and erosion control. I
Campsite Review: Horseshoe Point Campground is located northwest of Martinsville Virginia. The campground is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the east side of Philpott Lake. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Roanoak, Virginia. Horseshoe Point Campground has easy access and a boat launch on Philpott Lake. There
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Campsite Review: Goose Point Campground is located northwest of Martinsville Virginia. The campground is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the west side of Philpott Lake. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Roanoak, Virginia. Salthouse Branch Campground has easy access and a boat launch on Philpott Lake. There
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Campsite Review: Salthouse Branch Campground is located north of Martinsville Virginia. The campground is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the east side of Philpott Lake. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Roanoak, Virginia. Salthouse Branch Campground has easy access and a boat launch on Philpott Lake. There
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Campsite Review: Buffalo Park Campground is located west of Clarksville Virginia. Buffalo Park Campground is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the south side of the John H. Kerr Reservoir. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Raleigh, North Carolina. Buffalo Park Campground has easy access and a boat
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Campsite Review: Rudds Creek Campground is located east of Clarksville Virginia. Rudds Creek Campground is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the east side of the Rudds Creek arm on the north side of John H. Kerr Reservoir. The nearest city big enough to have the most services is Raleigh, North Carolina. Rudds
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We had an explosion in our RV yesterday. Thankfully we were home when it happened and we were not driving. Actually being home didn’t really help. I think I would have noticed the oil puddle under the RV. It was also dripping down the side of the RV. Oil was both inside and outside the
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