Leaving GA & Into FL

I'll never remember all their names. Each and every one of them have warm greetings, the gals with a hug and the guys with a smile and handshake. I'm not the youngest and sure not the oldest. There are several RV'ers in their mid to late 80's and one who will shortly celebrate 91!! One full timer in a small class "A" is in a wheelchair and a few others need walking assistance. Yet they drive their rigs all over the country and participate in as many of the camp site activities as they're able. Spaghetti dinner with a homemade sauce was provided by the co-hosts. I helped the guy at a nearby site back his 37' 5th wheel in. Lots of activities planned by these campers. We did the usual hike, had a private lecture at the nature cabin, toured the historic town of St. Marys, GA, took a 30 minute ferry ride to the largest GA barrier island and hiked around, we had a mini golf tournament, went out to dinner one night, I played golf with a few campers. Every morning there was community coffee and breakfast at the co-hosts rig. They had a few delicious dinners plus the usual pot luck. After dinner we usually sat around a campfire with one of the co-hosts playing country western songs on his guitar. It took me back to summer camp as a kid. It was great.

Most of the group headed out as a caravan to the next camp out in Bushnell, FL. I stayed over looking forward to dinner with my cousin (hi Bobbie). Bobbie gave me a tour of Fernandina Beach, FL, a really lovely area. We had a very great dinner, a stroll, and even some ice cream. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The next morning I loaded out and joined a LoW rally. A few chapters had a joint gtg in Bushnell, FL. Lo and behold the same 5'er I helped park was again parked at the adjacent site. This was my first private RV resort, all the prior ones being state or municipal parks. As a private cg, this was also my first full hook up site, water, electric, and sewer. It was also the first site not completely in the trees. After six weeks on the road I was finally able to get Direct TV from the roof satellite and able to experiment with my solar system. My experiment was actually by accident. Another camper was helping me set up quickly so we could go play golf. Between us we forgot to hook up the electric. A few days later, after several loads of wash, setting up both TV's, using the a/c lots, and all the usual electric usage I finally drained the batteries. With careful electric usage I'm pretty sure I could go for a week or more.

The almost 91 year old is also at this rally. He actually teaches line dancing and is a bundle of energy. In addition to the usual activities the rally had catered meals and a DJ. I danced more these few days than for the several years prior. A very interesting hike was of the Seminole Battlefield. Those interested should look it up. More history never taught in school. I've fallen in love with these beautiful trees called "live oaks". The Spanish Moss likes to float into the branches and the branches themselves can sometimes re enter the ground and grow back out a second time. They are magnificent!

First Entry

It's been about a month and a half on the road and all is well. Actually, life is even better than I had hoped. The RV and truck are working great and very comfortable. I've met lots of really great people both in the various groups I'm part of and just around the campgrounds (CG). I picked up the RV in West Chester, PA and immediately had it weighed. Just to be sure it was well within the trucks tow limits. The total gross weight came in at 17,000lbs and the trucks published limit is 22,000lbs. No worries.

My first CG was Locust Lake State Park (SP) in Barnesville, PA. A beautiful lake surrounded by hills of perfect Fall foilage. I actually had to measure the space before I was convinced my RV would fit between the trees. My first time backing in, it took me about 10-15 minutes with inches on either side of my rig. After I was done another camper came over and said "... no one ever gets a 5th wheel in that space. They always ask to change." I felt good.

The next morning, three other members of the PA/NJ Loners on Wheels (LoW) chapter showed up. Over the next several days we shared morning coffee, hiking, biking, a pot luck dinner, and great weather.

In early October I took a long but easy drive to Newport News VA and stayed in what is billed as the largest county park in the country. It is a very nice park and much easier to back into. I guess my "practice " at the PA park paid off. I was joined by several members of the VA-LoW chapter. Several of the other members spent some time kayaking. Some of them joined me for hiking and biking. We again shared morning coffee, a pot luck dinner, and went out to eat one evening. Some of us also toured Jamestown and attended the 230th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown. In a few hours I learned more history than I ever learned in school (lol).

I moved on to a cute little CG called Little Pee Dee SP near Dillon, SC. It was the most rustic of my stays so far. Parking was easy with my first pull thru site. I had gotten in the habit of walking the park after I set up. As I walk around I wave and say hi to anyone I see. Most people wave and say hi back. Several wave me over and share a drink (usually a beer, sometimes a water). I end up meeting people quickly. At Little Pee Dee SP I saw a guy with an airborne pin on his hat. It was a great conversation starter. His wife is a fantastic cook and I ended up eating by their campfire several evenings along with about a half dozen other campers. We all brought something to contribute whether my bottles of wine or someone elses marshmellows. It was great! My air horn compressor broke. I found a local garage where I almost had to beg to get them to take money. The guy worked on my truck for several hours but couldn't fix it so he didn't want any payment. Just like NY & NJ mechanics (lol). I found an air horn in a local parts store and the guy put it on.

I do enjoy the air horn. As I drive along in the right hand lane, it's proving quite common for drivers to enter the road with a cell phone in their left hand and completely oblivious to me and my rig as they go to merge. Leaning on the air horn not only wakes them up but usually gets the cell phone flying out of their hand. It's been great amusement and keeps me laughing for awhile.

I arrived at Crooked River SP in St. Marys, GA in mid afternoon the day before the LoW get together (gtg). As per my new habit, I walked the park and met several folks. Ended up sitting with a husband & wife who do what they call "Double Full Timing". They are both retired psychiatrists, the wife from private practice and the husband from the VA. They spend six months in their RV and the other six months cruising the Atlantic in a catamaran. The SE-LoW gtg got under way quickly the next day. There were about 25 or so people in RVs ranging from pop up campers to several large class "A's".