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".