Yessamee too is now in the rearview mirror as we said our goodbyes to Linda and Randy Bray after having a lovely afternoon with Chicken Salad, pasta salad, artisan bread and milk chocolates for dessert. It was such a good visit and didn’t want it to end. However, retirement is all about exploring new avenues and venues and our wander lust keeps our noses pointed in new directions.
We are now staying at a Harvest Host around Nichols SC. It definitely brings back memories of Stanwood as they have, ducks, chickens, goats and a big white goose named Gerald. Not the friendliest of fellows, however, we have come to an agreement. He won’t bite me and I won’t clobber him with a rake. Seems a pretty fair exchange.
Drove I-95 most of the way here with no incidence. Just had a tight squeeze at a Flying J getting gas. The drive is very nice as the road is surrounded by trees. Also swamp which brings to mind trying to get through it back in the day was probably the inspiration for the classic movie The Defiant Ones. We’re heading to NC tomorrow to a 1000 Trails for 2 nights then into VA for a week where I will try to be as successful with the generator carburator as I was with the lifts on the Escape rear door. Then we won’t have to worry about the generator cutting out as we travel with the coach AC on. This rig does get hot in sun. Nothing else to spectacular to write about so will stop for now. Did I mention we’re still loving retirement?
Day 68
What a great day for our final day in South Carolina. We stayed at a harvest host called the Rough Cut Ranch. It is located on a dead end road called Oven Bottom Road. Who comes up with these names? Enroute to the freeway, we had to take Chicken Road. What a wonderful stay, albeit a short one. The host Bill and Christina we ideal hosts. We were entertained by parading ducks, crowing roosters, and bleating goats. It was so peaceful and serene. Made us want to go back to our farm, but then realized all the work involved and the thought immediately vanished. This retirement gig is way too much fun to give up.
The drive to get to North Carolina was incredibly short. We were literally inches from the North Carolina border and didn’t even realize it. Back to our hosts, they sold us some fresh eggs and then gifted us some homemade insect repellent. Vicki almost did a back flip as she being an oiler totally digs organic and chemical free stuff.
Our journey through North Carolina was uneventful and thankfully it was cool as the generator is still on the fritz. The new parts will be meeting us in Virginia and hopefully I’ll get the new carburetor installed and all will be good again. The Thousand Trails we are staying in now is ginormous and will take a bike ride around to see the extent of its size. Other than that, not too much else to report. We did watch Guardians of Galaxy 3 on our steaming service. Frankly it was a disappointment. Not to give too much away, but the movie dragged on in several parts. The humor seemed forced and the characters phoned it in. I don’t want to ruin a good franchise for you, but it was totally underwhelming.
Looking forward to Virginia and exploring all it has to offer. By the way, we’re still loving retirement.
Day 70
We made an amazing discovery this morning about our Thousand Trails Campground here in Twin Lakes, Chocowinty. We’d actually stayed here in 2020. The difference being that is was 3 days post hurricane. We didn’t hardly recognize the campground with all the clean up and improvements made. We recognized it as we exited the park as we approached the campground from a completely different route. Once we got oriented the memories flooded back. Took a two mile bike ride around and admired all we saw. At the end of the ride we stopped in the store for a ginormous scoop if ice cream. Good thing I didn’t order a double scoop!!!
We packed early the next morning and got on the road around 7:30. Filled the rig with gas and pointed our way north toward Virginia. A spectacular drive which avoided the Interstate system for almost 200 miles. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, the back roads and highways don’t allow you to make time, but they do allow you to take time and really see how America lives. The tree lined roads would open every few miles to reveal a cluster of homes, farms, and even manufactured homes. Some neat and tidy, with others that were, well, ready for demolition. Many very admirable homes, but none I would trade our lifestyle for.
We arrived in Lynchburg 1000 Trails. What a disappointment!!! The roads are very washed out, the sites are very uneven, and a majority of the sites are only 30 amp. I did have to get 11 gallons of propane, so the flattop lives to cook another day! Apparently this particular campground gets rocking after Memorial Day. Something we won’t see it.
We did get a bit of fantastic news. Our youngest grandson Emmett has been selected for the USSSA regional baseball team. He tried out and is one of 36 kids from CA, OR, WA, and ID to be chosen for that honor. He’ll be playing in Central Florida at the end of July, so guess where Mimi and Papa are heading after Vegas? Yup! Back across the country to Florida. Gotta love the nomadic lifestyle and being able to adjust destinations based on what life throws at you.
Frank continues to adjust to his cardiac issues, all the while winning at the casino. Where he got that good luck gene we’ll never know. Looking forward to exploring VA and seeing some civil war sites. We saw where the civil war started at Fort Sumpter, now we’ll see where it ended at Appomattox which is literally just miles away from us.
Will see today if our new carburetor has arrived and hopefully complete repairs on the generator. Other than that, we are healthy and did I mention we’re still loving retirement.
Day 72
As we have proceeded north, the temperature has followed a linear progression downward so to us the mornings have been a bit brisk. Kinda nice putting on a hoodie to walk the hounds in the morning. Also slows the biting insects of the south to a tolerable level. The clouds parted, the birds sang, and yes the packages with our drugs and generator parts arrived. After a third trip to YouTube to watch the carburetor switch out video, I gathered my tools, the parts and mostly my courage and started the task. I promised myself that I would only take 1/2 an hour on the project and would quit for the evening. I did just that and only lacked disconnecting the fuel line and the choke/butterfly valve to the carburetor rod and spring.
The next morning after preparing blueberry pancakes and bacon on the new griddle, it was back to removing the carburetor from its mount. It succumbed to efforts easily as it knew who was in charge. 64 year old knees and hips are not accustomed to kneeling on the ground. Thank goodness for the step stool which allowed me to sit with my legs extended preventing the cramps that were sure to follow by doing the entire procedure on my knees on the rocky ground. After determining which gasket was which, cleaning all the surfaces with alcohol, (rubbing, not drinking) it was time for reassembly. This went much faster than expected and was really no trouble at all. Having just repeated the removal process in reverse order all the parts were in place, no extra bolts, screws or nuts. The air filter was replaced, the engine was primed, and my fingers were crossed. I held my breath, depressed the starter button, and Viola! The generator fired right up and ran smooth as if it were new. The big test will be when we head down the road and we’ll see if it holds up to a load for an extended period or time.
Went into Lynchburg to shop at Walmart and tomorrow we’ll head to Lynchburg to see and explore the 3rd oldest community market in the nation. Should be fun. Love sitting outside in the temperate weather. We are experiencing the regional accents which we find fascinating. How can we do this from our campsite you ask? Mostly because we are surrounding by folks who are 10 years our senior and seem to all be quite deaf! LOL The thing we’ve also picked up is how they great each other. Instead of ‘Hello, Jane, so good to see you’, it’s ‘ Hello Miss Jane, so good to see you’. The folks here in Virginia are apparently very formal. Also, the frequent use of the words damn, sugar, and recipes as the major topics of conversation. Sound travels very well in this park as we can attest. Planning on a pot roast for supper with all the fixin’s so better close for now. Guess what? Still loving retirement.
