So much time has passed since we started this trip without blogging that I am now just going to recap each day. Internet connection has been the problem.
Friday, August 4th we left our Fruitland Park storage yard with our 2 youngest grandchildren along. They had been staying with us for about a month and it was time to get them back home. Traveling a short 77 miles to Port Orange, Florida we checked in to Rose Bay RV Park. We planned to stay here for 2 nights in order to go to Daytona Beach with the kids. Needless to say we had a great time going to the beach. We gave the kids the choice of a third day of going to the beach with 2 long days of travels or forget the third beach day just get on the road and travel 3 days. The third beach day won out. It was wonderful seeing these 2, Parker (8 on 8/12) and Gabi (5) enjoying playing in the waves fearlessly.
On Monday, August 7th, we began our trek north going 403 miles to Florence, South Carolina. We stayed at Swamp Fox RV park. It was a long day for all.
Tuesday 8th, we continued our travels to South 40 Resort near Petersburg, Virginia, 269 miles. This would be our last night of the kids being with us. We did stop in Skippers, Virginia at a peanut factory where we all sampled a variety of peanuts (salted, spiced, and chocolate coated and other concoctions and nuts).
August 9th, Wednesday, Todd came to the campground after getting off work at 8am to get Parker and Gabi. We all ate breakfast at a restaurant next to the campground and then said our good-byes as Todd and kids headed home to Stafford, Virginia as we headed off unsure just where we were going. We did go southwest to Graham, North Carolina located between Durham and Winston-Salem, 221 miles. We stayed here for 2 nights at Hidden Lake Park. On Thursday we went to Old Salem, a Moravian community that was settled many years ago. Interesting old town with people dressed in period costumes talking about past life in this community.
August 11th, Friday, we drove on for 186 miles to Hendersonville, N.C. Being a weekend we couldn't find a campground in the Boone, N.C.area so we settled for Park Place in the Flat Rock/ Hendersonville area. This area is the mountainous area of western North Carolina. Chimney Rock is a state park that we drove to but did not go into the park. It costs $13.00 per person and there was many steps to climb to get to the top. There is an elevator which was not working - the price of $15.00 per person had been reduced because of this problem.
Monday, August 14th, another 128 miles and we were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at Creekside RV Park where we are staying until Friday 18th. On Tuesday we drove to Gatlinburg and walked around the stores. Wednesday (today) we went to Dollywood for the day, had a nice day of enjoying rides (our first ride of the day was on a raft ride which we both got soaked and did not get dried out until afternoon) and seeing shows. One show featured Dolly Pardon's brother, Randy, as well as a couple nieces and cousins and other non relatives, nice show.
The goal for this trip is to be in an area to see the August 21st solar eclipse. Somewhere along our way Tom learned of a gathering in Tennessee north of Nashville for seeing this event. We will be at this gathering Friday through Monday.
Cape Cod Canal
4 hours ago
