Teardrop Camping Archives - Page 3 of 5

North Carolina Camping, Mountain, City, and Coast

North Carolina Camping

This was our first experience with North Carolina camping. I like that we were able to visit mountains on the west and the Outer Banks on the east, plus the area near Raleigh. It was certainly three very different experiences. We visited North Carolina as part of a longer trip, Long Summer Trip 2019, with Friends Old and New

Mount Pisgah

Mount Pisgah is part of the Appalachian Mountain Range and the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It is almost six-thousand feet at its highest elevation. The attraction for me was the cool weather and the Blue Ridge Parkway, which we have not previously experienced.

Mount Pisgah Campground

We were dry camping at Mount Pisgah, but it was very easy because our 400 batteries can handle everything except the air conditioner and the microwave. We were very comfortable our two nights at the campground because of the high elevation and our shady site. However, the area to park the camper was very narrow and short. We barely fit.

North Carolina Camping at Mount Pisgah — Mount Pisgah Campground Site B16

The campground provides picnic tables and fire rings, but they are not typically next to where the camper is parked.

We met a very interesting couple, Walt and Casey, from Maryland while sitting in the chairs above. As we were going to Maryland in about a week, we planned to meet them for dinner. You meet such nice people while camping.

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway has been a National Parkway since 1936, covering 469 miles. However, we only covered about 50 miles of it while in North Carolina. There are many scenic spots along the way and eight campgrounds, but they do not have hookups. There is no commerce on the parkway, no gasoline, food, advertisements, etc. They designed the Parkway to provide a beautiful drive with only nature to distract you.

The parkway has many tunnels that were carved right through the mountain. Some, like the one below, were not long, but we saw one that seemed quite long.

Across from the campground is the Pisgah Lodge. It features a restaurant and gift shop, but its greatest asset the breathtaking views.

Mount Pisgah Waterfalls

There are many waterfalls on Mount Pisgah, but we only had time to visit two, Sliding Rock and Looking Glass. Both were an easy walk from the car.

Sliding Rock is a popular spot to slide down a sixty foot waterfall. There are three paths down, slow, medium, and fast, all of which which drop into an eight-foot deep pool. It looked pretty scary to me, but there were lots of brave souls taking the plunge. Supposedly, thousands do the slide each summer. I spoke to one young woman who had done it once and her boyfriend was trying to get her to do it again. She was not interested! I understand it is also quite cold (approximately 60 degrees).

North Carolina Camping and Waterfalls — Sliding Rock Waterfall

Looking Glass was beautiful and you could hear and feel the water from the lookout. They named the waterfall Looking Glass because it looks like a mirror when the water freezes and glistens in the sunlight. There were quite a few people in the water and climbing among the rocks. This Waterfall is also sixty feet tall.

A Problem

On the last night of our stay, we arrived back at the campsite at about 4:30 pm to discover that one of our tires had a screw in it. Because we were leaving early the next morning, we were concerned about finding a place to fix the tire before everything was closed.

We drove to Asheville and happened upon Discount Tire about ten minutes before they closed. Thankfully, they agreed to take care of our tire. While we watched through a glass, the technician removed our tire and went through all the predictable steps. They offered us water and were very gracious even though we kept them past closing.

The technician, who we were surprised to see was a young woman, completed the job pretty quickly. Amazingly, there was absolutely no charge, despite the fact that we did not buy our tire from them. We were told it is their policy to fix tires free of charge. We were very impressed! I hope there will be a Discount Tire in our hometown when we are ready to buy our next set!

Days and Nights In Rodanthe

I am a huge fan of the writing of Nicolas Sparks so the Outer Banks (OBX) has been a desired destination for quite some time. Additionally, a post some time ago on a camping Facebook group included some extraordinary photos taken at Rodanthe Water Sports and Campground. Rodanthe Water Sports became my goal and we booked several months out to secure a waterfront site. It would be a very different version of North Carolina camping.

Getting to Rodanthe, Wright Brothers National Memorial

The Outer Banks has a very cool attraction in Kill Devil Hills, the site of the first flight and the Wright Brothers Memorial. It is a must see while in the Outer Banks. Below is a replica of the plane used for the historic flight. The original is at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.

Replica of Wright Brothers Plane — Replica of the Wright Brothers plane

Wight Brothers Flight Path — The Flight Path

Rodanthe Water Sports and Campground

The campground is small, as are the sites, but the view of the sound is extraordinary! The water is very shallow and as warm as bathwater. The campers were a younger crowd who enjoyed kayaks, surfboards, and paddle boards on the calm waters of the sound. We were a bit more sedentary, but I can say that the hammocks in the background are extremely comfortable in the late afternoon as the sun is going down.

North Carolina Camping In Rodanthe — Site # 12 at Rodanthe Water Sports

We witnessed the most beautiful sunset that I have ever seen. However, I am not much of a photographer so these photos do not do adequately represent its astonishing beauty.

North Carolina Camping Sunset — Sunset over the Sound

North Carolina Sunset From Rodanthe Water Sports — Sunset at Rodanthe Water Sports

For me, it does not get much better than this!

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, circa 1870, is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States at 198.49 feet and 269 steps. It replaced a shorter lighthouse that did not meet the needs of ships in the area. I was a little hesitant of the climb as it is known to be quite strenuous, but am happy to say I made it to the top.

The view was certainly worth the climb. Also, it was not as bad as I feared. Taking it slowly made the climb very doable.

In 1999, they moved the lighthouse to a site 2,900 feet away. The move was completed in 23 days and the lighthouse reopened for climbing the next year. The move included seven historic structures that were placed in the same relationship as the original site.

View from Cape Hatteras Lighthouse — View from the Top

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

The sea along the OBX has long been very treacherous for ships because of the shifting landscape and shallow waters. The hundreds if not thousands of wrecks has caused it to be called the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The life-saving service concept began in 1784 and the U.S. Treasury standardized it in 1871. The stations were manned by local men trained to rescue those in danger in the sea. The station provides a history of the life-saving station and biweekly live demonstrations of the process. We were lucky to see a live drill. It was very informative and included a canon shot.

Chicamacomico Life-saving drill — Live life-saving drill

Interestingly, the life-saving services, along with other services, was later rolled into what became the United States Coast Guard.

There are many artifacts at the station, including a house from 1907 that I really enjoyed seeing.

Midgett House 1907 — Midgett House circa 1907

The Inn at Rodanthe

No trip to Rodanthe would be complete without checking out the inn from the movie, Nights in Rodanthe. The exterior of the inn is an iconic image in the movie, though they shot interior scenes elsewhere. Sadly, the shifting sands of the area put the house in danger several years ago. It is my understanding that same company that moved the lighthouse moved the house. I believe it is now a vacation rental house. The new location is not as picturesque, but I was still happy to see it.

North Carolina Camping Near Raleigh-Durham

On our return south, we camped near the center of the state at Falls Lake Recreation Area in the Rollingview Campground. Our site was very long and partially shaded. The site was nice and peaceful and the nearby bathhouse was clean.

North Carolina Camping in Rollingview Campground — Rollingview Campground

We spent one day in the campground and nearby area. The campground had an area for swimming and a marina. It would be a wonderful place if you had a boat, but alas, we had none. There were also paddle boats and kayaks for rent, but it was miserably hot.

North Carolina Camping at Rollingview Campground — Rollingview Campground Swimming Area

Stagville State Historic Site

We decided to visit Stagville State Historic Site, a nearby plantation. It is actually the largest pre-Civil War plantation in North Carolina with a rich history that spans many decades. The docent provided a thought-provoking account of life on the plantation from both owner and enslaved population perspectives.

The house was built in the late 1700s and by 1860 was on almost 30,000 acres of land with an enslaved population of nearly 900. Currently, the historic site is on 71 acres and also includes four two-story, four-room enslaved family dwellings and a massive barn. Stagville represents a time in history that I believe it is important to know and understand.

Raleigh Attractions

We spent our second full day in Raleigh, a city we haven’t previously visited. It would have been nice to visit the courthouse and Governor’s Mansion, but they were closed for the weekend. However, we did get to see a great museum and visit another historic site.

North Carolina Museum of Art

Raleigh has an excellent art museum, the North Carolina Museum of Art. It opened in 1956 and the state legislature created and funded it, a first for a state government. The Museum is free to the public, though it requests donations. Two buildings buildings contain the art, which includes several Monets, countless Rodan statues, and works by Georgia O’Keeffe, Pissarro, and Boudin. I loved it! There were more works by German and English artists than I have typically seen. They were quite good as well.

The museum also includes many outside exhibits on a trail, but the heat made that not so desirable.

Mordecai Historic Park

Mordecai Historic Park was somewhat similar to Stagville in that it was a plantation that began in the late 1700s, though at 5,000 acres, it was much smaller. The home is similar to Stagville in size and style. The family built the house in 1785 and it is the oldest residence in Raleigh.

Mordecai has an added historic building, the birth home of Andrew Johnson in 1808. Johnson was the 17th President of the United States. His mother worked in the home, which was originally at another location. Johnson became president after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and he was the first impeached president.

Birth home to Andrew Johnson — Home In which Andrew Johnson was born

In Conclusion

North Carolina camping was diverse and quite amazing! Mountains, plantations, lighthouses, and the amazing eastern coast. We enjoyed it all, but I must say that the Outer Banks was my favorite.

North Carolina camping, check it out!

Atlantis Ocean at Rodanthe — The Atlantic at Rodanthe

Long Summer Trip 2019, with Friends Old and New

Long Summer Trip

We like to head north for a long summer trip each year. Summers in Alabama are sweltering and it is good to get away for awhile. For two years in a row, the highlight of our trip has been the nüCamp rally in Sugarcreek, Ohio. As we head there and back, we visit states where we have not previously camped. This year, we were fortunate to also be able to connect with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends and to reconnect with friends along the way.

Over the course of five weeks, we pulled our camper almost 3,000 miles and camped in seven states, five of which were new states for us and camping.

Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends

This Facebook group, managed by Jeff Lackey, is quite active and we joined them at Vogel State Park in Blairsville, Georgia. It was the first stop on our trip. Also, our friends from Florida, Peggy and Chandler, met us there. We were so happy to be able to spend time with them. They are the best camping buddies ever!

Long summer trip at Helton Creek Falls — With friends Peggy and Chan at Helton Creek Falls

It was great getting to know other nüCamp owners who are also relatively close to home. We hope to camp with members of the group often. We spent time with three couples from the group; Diana and Jeff, Victoria and Fred, and Lois and Gary. We also spent time with two single campers, Allison and Karen. All were very nice. There was a potluck one night and the food and company was amazing. We hiked with Jeff, Diana, and Karen, plus her dog, Cashew. We had not for planned a long hike, but Jeff and Diana offered water and snacks, plus loaned us hiking poles and a hat. They are both so nice!

Potluck at Vogel State Park — Potluck at Vogel

Long summer trip at Vogel — Potluck at Vogel

nüCamp Rally, Focus of Long Summer Trip

The üCamp 19 event was awesome, despite some challenges with the weather. It is clear that nüCamp still engenders tremendous loyalty from its customers because of the service it provides and how its people treat the customers. One person this year, Robert Yoder, went out of his way to take care of a minor problem that was our creation.

Winklepeck was lovely and we had a spot with some shade that did not flood too badly.

Long summer trip at üCamp 19 — Our happy place at Winklepleck

We did the factory tour and saw the new, larger camper, the Avia. It was really nice, but we still are happy with our 400.

NüCamp Avia assembly line — New Avias assembly line

It was great to see Kevin, Gloria, and Sheryl, our neighbors from the 2018 rally. Two couples and one single lady we met at Vogel were also there. We had great neighbors again this year, especially Rosa, who was so generous with her homemade pumpkin cookies.

Five New States

Five new states will be added to our map from this trip: Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and North Carolina. We had some great times! Below is a post for each state.

Delaware Camping at Cape Henlopen

Maryland Camping Adventures

North Carolina Camping, Mountain, City, and Coast

Virginia Camping, State, City and National Park

West Virginia Camping in the Mountains

Reconnecting With Friends

We met Mark and Heidi at a Tiny Christmas Campout in 2017 and have really enjoyed their company. They offered to let us camp on their property if we were ever in the area. It so happened that we wanted to visit Shenandoah National Park and they live just a few miles away, so we took them up on their offer.

Long summer trip Mooch docking — Our mooch docking site with hookups

Heidi and Mark live on a beautiful piece of property and we loved spending a few days taking in the views.

Heidi and Mark live closely to nature with a minimalist attitude. It is inspiring to be around them. They were wonderful hosts! Mark prepared a meal for us and they gave us honey and blackberry preserves they cultivated and prepared. We also played Mexican Train Dominos. We hauled the game around for five weeks and were glad for an opportunity to play.

One passion both Heidi and Mark share is their dog, Tru. He has a great life with them as his parents.

Heidi is an amazing woman. She completely built the house that is behind them. All the labor! I am blown away by her skills and because there doesn’t seem to be anything she won’t tackle.

Summer trip in Virginia — Heidi, Mark and the House Heidi built

Long Summer Trip and New Friends

Lastly, we met a lovely couple, Casey and Walt, at our campsite in Mount Pisgah. They are both charming and we really enjoyed their company. They are from Maryland and we were visiting there later in our trip. So, while camping near them, we met for dinner.

Long Summer Trip meeting friends — New Friends, Casey and Walt

It is so nice when you meet people along the way that you really enjoy and have a rapport. Not everyone you meet falls into that category, which makes those who do so special.

We can go to new places and enjoy them without knowing anyone in the area and without really connecting in a significant way, but it is really good to enjoy travels with people who are special to you.

Safe Travels Everyone!

Florida Campgrounds, Three Highly-Rated Parks

Florida Campgrounds, Three Different Types

Florida campgrounds are incredible, especially in the spring before it gets too hot. Our trip began with in Jacksonville at Hanna Park Campground, which is a city park. Second was Salt Springs Recreation Area, which is a federal park and Hillsborough River State Park was last on our journey . Campers have rated all three of these Florida campgrounds highly and we found all to be uniquely beautiful. Each also offered very different ways for us to experience the surrounding area.

Hanna Park Campground

Hanna Park was one of the most beautiful Florida campgrounds we have visited. For all that the park offers, its nightly fee of $30 for full hookups was a bargain!

Enormous Live Oak trees enshrouded in Spanish Moss were everywhere. It is described on the website as a “coastal hammock” that is increasingly rare on the Atlantic coast. I felt we were in a tropical paradise while there.

We camped in site # 17 and loved it. The sites are fairly large and offer a degree of privacy.

Florida Campgrounds Hanna Park — Site # 17 Hanna Park Campground

The park is in Jacksonville, with all its attractions available to campers. This trip originated for us because of a desire to attend a concert at the Florida Theater and Hanna Park was a perfect home base. We were camping with friends who also attended the concert. It was a great evening! My only complaint is that the music was unnecessarily loud.

The campground includes a very large private beach right on the Atlantic. It was a reasonable walk from our campsite. We only walked on the beach, because it was too cool for us to get in the water. It was not the least bit crowded.

Beach access at Hanna Park — Beach Access at Hanna Park

Hanna Park had amenities that we did not have an opportunity to use. Bikes are available for rent and there are 15 miles of bicycle trails. There is also a freshwater lake.

Since we were camping with friends, we cooked in for most meals and played games (Mexican Train, Hand and Foot, Uno). We had a fabulous time.

The Negative

This Florida campground is amazing! It would be perfect except for the lack of cleanliness in the bathhouse. They were not the worst we have ever seen, but they certainly were a sharp contrast to the quality of everything else in the park. In fact, I used the shower in our T@B 400 while at Hanna because of this. As former T@G owners, we did not have that option nor did we have a toilet. It would have been a bigger issue with our previous camper.

Salt Springs Recreation Area

Salt Springs is in the heart of the Ocala Forest. The campground and facilities were immaculate and offered full hookups. Because we have a small grey water tank, this was very nice. With our Senior Pass, the nightly rate was only $23. 18, another bargain in Florida campgrounds. It was easier to keep our camper floor clean at Salt Springs because the site had asphalt. The campground also offers WiFi, though we were told it was sporadic. We happened to be near an access point and it wasn’t bad.

Salt Springs Site 17 — Salt Springs Site # 17

Our site had shade for part of the day, but when it did not, it was quite hot. We moved our rug and chairs around a lot to avoid direct sunlight.

The Springs were the main attraction and we really enjoyed them. We got into the water on two of our three days there. It gets its name from the potassium, magnesium and sodium salts in the water, which is a constant 74 degrees. The Springs provide a very clear, shallow pool that ranges from approximately 2 to 5 feet deep.

Salt Springs Florida Campgrounds — Chilling at the Springs

We also hiked the 1.5 mile Bear Swamp Trail, which was a treat for me because my husband’s knee replacement now allows him to be more active. It was an easy, shaded path with beautiful vegetation.

Our friends were with us at this campground too and we enjoyed cooking in and more games. We had lunch and one breakfast at a nearby restaurant, but the meals at the campground were much better.

The Negative

If there is a negative at this campground, for me, it would be that there is nothing of interest outside the campground. For some, this may be a big plus. We loved the Springs and time spent with our friends, but by ourselves we would miss nearby things to do after a couple of days.

Hillsborough River State Park

The third of our Florida Campgrounds was actually a repeat. We stayed at Hillsborough River in the fall of 2017. This is a link to our earlier post. Our son and his girlfriend are in Tampa, so we stay at this park when camping and visiting them. We had Site # 84, but it was quite sunny when we arrived, so we requested a change to 101. The site was quite large and shady. Sadly, no sewer though. It was a bargain as well at a nightly rate of $29.50.

The park has several hiking trails. We walked the Rapids Nature Trail, which runs alongside the river. It was an easy, shaded walk with magnificent views of the river. I so loved the “Prayer of the Woods” at the beginning of the trail in the photo below!

Florida Campgrounds Hillsborough River Prayer of the Woods — Prayer of the Woods

When we were at the campground before, the pool was closed. This time, it was open and we loved it! It was huge and a perfect temperature and not a bit crowded, though that will probably change once school is out for the summer.

Enormous Hillsborough River State Park Pool

The Negative

Hillsborough River State Park is wonderful, but we had terrible experiences with bugs. First, it was lovebug season and they were all over our SUV. We were told they like white vehicles and they certainly liked ours. The only way to get the massive numbers of dead ones off our vehicle was using dryer sheets. If you allow them to remain on your car, they are corrosive and can destroy your paint.

Secondly, I had a bad experience with chiggers. They bit my ankles and I had major bumps and itching. I think I also transferred some to my arms and legs for additional bites. I had no idea chiggers could be such a big deal! Hypochondriac that I am, I imagined much more serious possibilities for my bites until my son talked me down.

Ybor City

We also visited Ybor City, a fascinating neighborhood in Tampa that was founded on the cigar industry . On another trip, we had dinner at the wonderful Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City and wanted to eat there again.

I am so glad we also decided to check out the Ybor City Museum State Park. The neighborhood has a most interesting history. We toured the museum with Mitzi, a lovely docent from Venezuela who has lived in the U.S. for forty years. She provided a tour of a replica of the homes during the 1800s. She made the 1800s and early 1900s in Ybor City come alive for us. All this for just $4 each. I won’t spoil it for those who might want to visit, but encourage everyone to check it out. It was great!

Family Time

Of course, our favorite time in Tampa was visiting family. Our son and his girlfriend prepared a delicious steak and lobster dinner for us. The interesting thing about the lobsters is that they caught them. They are both experienced divers and our son has just become a certified Divemaster. We are very proud of their accomplishments.

Favorite Restaurants on Trip

Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City on the way to Tampa was awesome. Surprisingly, their Gator Bites with horseradish sauce was great. The best thing there, however, was the goat cheesecake with gingersnap crust. We also liked The Great Catch in Zephyrhills. Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad and the White Chocolate Bread Pudding were also wonderful.

In Conclusion

This, our first camping trip of 2019, was everything we could have wanted. We were blessed by wonderful weather and soul-soothing closeness with nature. Our time with friends and family was priceless. This trip was retirement at its very best. Florida campgrounds rock!

South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip

South Carolina Camping

South Carolina camping was our first opportunity to use our new T@B 400. My separate post, Shakedown Trip in New TAB 400 covers the performance of the 400 on the trip. We camped in two South Carolina State Parks, the first in Columbia, the State Capital and the second on the Atlantic. Our trip began early in December and the fall colors were so beautiful!

Sesquicentennial State Park

South Carolina camping began in Columbia. It was our very first campsite in the 400 and we arrived just before dark in the pouring rain. Stressful! Our set up went relatively well, but we were wet and cold when we were done. We had dinner at a nearby restaurant and were very happy to be warm and dry.

There were few campers at the campground. We chose Sesquicentennial because it is in Columbia, which we wanted to visit. Our site was close to the bathhouse and was nice for a state park, just a little too warm. Though our 400 has a shower, we did not use it on this trip. We will save it for boondocking.

Columbia Attractions

We had one full day to see the sights. The rain was off and on for our sightseeing and the temperature was in the 70s.

South Carolina State Museum

The four story museum has a variety of attractions, including a domed planetarium, a variety of exhibits, and a 4D interactive theater. It is the largest museum in the state and seemed a good way to spend a rainy afternoon. The museum offers an abundance of activities for children.

Many exhibits depicted early life in South Carolina like the one below. In 1936, less than 2.5% of the state’s farms had electricity. However, by late 1941, about 40% had acquired it and by 1959, 90% had public power through the efforts of the Rural Electrification Administration.

Another interesting exhibit was the Hupmobile below. I have never heard of one, but Detroit manufactured them from 1908 to 1941. The car below was purchased in Columbia. One interesting fact is that the Hupmobile appeared in front of U.S. Treasury on the 1920s-era $10 bill.

South Carolina State House

The State House was closed because we were visiting on a Sunday. However, we did walk the grounds, which displayed beautiful fall colors.

The architecture of the State House was pretty cool, but it was the grounds that most impressed me.

We had a fantastic meal at Pearlz Oyster Bar. I wanted to have a SC classic, Frogmore Stew, aka Low Country Boil. Pearlz did not disappoint—everything we had was amazing. It was our best meal in the state!

Our two nights in Sesquicentennial were comfortable. Our new camper and its Alde heater made it nice in the mornings to have breakfast inside. We did not spend very much time in the campground, but it was quiet and peaceful.

Edisto State Park

South Carolina camping was next at Edisto State Park. It was lovely, but more remote than I had imagined. There was torrential rain the night before we arrived resulting in large puddles of water throughout the campground. However, it was was lovely and well-maintained.

South Carolina camping at Edisto — The beach just beyond our campsite

Nearby Attractions

There is much to see along the South Carolina coast and we tried to do as much as possible on our one full day allocated for seeing the sights.

Angel Oak Tree

The Angel Oak is a giant live oak tree on John’s Island. It is estimated to be 400-500 years old. The tree is 66.5 feet tall and its longest branch is 187 feet long. I love trees, particularly live oaks, so this one was a must see. It was majestic! We later learned that there is some controversy regarding the tree and the cost of producing electricity in the area. I don’t know the specifics, but the tree is amazingly.

Morris Island Lighthouse

The lighthouse on Morris Island opened in 1876. It is on an island that is shrinking and the shoreline is at the base of the lighthouse. It is at great risk to be claimed by the sea and there are efforts to save it. Boats take tourists to the island, but they cannot enter the lighthouse. We viewed it from Folly Island via a beautiful walk along the beach.

Pralines in Charleston

We visited Charleston several years ago and loved it, but did not plan to spend time there on this trip. However, Folly Island was quite close to Charleston. So, we made a little side trip to pick up some pralines at Market Street Sweets. They were wonderful!

Lastly, Edisto also provided us with an amazing sunset.

We loved our South Carolina camping. It is a beautiful state with friendly people, great food, and lots to see and do. I’m glad we were able to spend several days there.

This trip ended in Pensacola at the Tiny Christmas Campout and was our last trip of 2018. For us, it was a great year for camping!

South Carolina Camping Update

We were unable to see everything we wanted on our first South Carolina Camping Trip, so we stopped at an area of interest while on our Long Summer Trip 2019. Kings Mountain was our last stop on that trip.

Kings Mountain State Park

We stayed for three nights at the State Park. The site we booked was terribly uneven and we exchanged it for one that was level, Site # 108.

South Carolina Camping at Kings Mountain — Site # 108

The park and the site were okay, but we had some terrible neighbors who were yelling and cursing late into the night. Not very pleasant!

While there, my husband’s back began hurting because he was away from his routine at the gym for almost five weeks. He spent a good bit of time on mats at the campsite doing back exercises. I am happy to say the exercises helped a lot!

Kings Mountain Military Park

We were there to visit Kings Mountain Military Park, which is next to the State Park. I am so glad we did because it provided some very interesting history that was new to us. A major battle during the revolutionary war was fought on the mountain.

England was trying to recruit loyalists in the South to aid in the battle to the North. England’s Major Patrick Ferguson had recruited an army of 1,000 loyalist militia and 100 red-coated Provincials. The Patriots had 900 riflemen and were led by Virginia Col William Campbell. The battle ensued on October 7, 1780 and the Patriot victory was said by Thomas Jefferson to be a turning point of the war. Ferguson died on the mountain and he was the only Englishman to fight in that battle.

The Park has a 1.5 mile trail on the battlefield. The trail was wide and was made of soft rubber. It had markers and monuments along the way. However, at times it was quite steep.

1880 Centennial Monument — Made it to the Top

My husband complained a lot, but made it to the top. I felt it was well worth the effort, but he was mostly glad it was over.

Kings Mountain Farm

The Farm was settled by a Scottish immigrant around 1765. He was considered to be a “yeoman farmer”, neither rich nor poor. There are several buildings on the property and a cotton gin. The government purchased the property in 1935 for what would become the state park. The Farm is very well-kept and we were told that events with people dressed in period clothing occurs occasionally. It is really lovely!

Carolinas Aviation Museum

Charlotte was very close, so we visited the Aviation Museum. My husband is a big fan of aircraft and I had to make up for the walk on the mountain. The museum has the actual airplane that Captain Sully landed on the Hudson, plus many others. The plane below was one of my husband’s favorites. He also did a great job in the flight simulator.

Lastly, we had lunch at a pretty cool restaurant, Cabo Fish Taco. I had tacos with grilled scallops—delicious!

So glad we got to revisit South Carolina!

Stone Mountain Camping with Friends

Stone Mountain camping during a few beautiful autumn days with our friends was amazing. There was a total of five couples, all friends from ballroom dancing. It was so great to be able to spend some quality time with them in such a beautiful setting.

Stone Mountain Camping

This was our first trip to Stone Mountain and we encountered a new restriction for teardrops campers, they must camp in the tent area. The area was cheaper, but did not offer sewer or cable television. This was not a problem, but it meant we could not be in the same area as our friends.

We originally booked site #51 because it was closer to our friends , but site #55 was much nicer and they allowed us to take it instead. The road to the site was not well-paved, but it was right by the lake with an incredible view. The photo below was taken from our site.

We arrived on a Thursday amid steady rain. We just removed the items that are transported in our cabin and went to hang out with our friends who have much larger campers. Consequently, because of the rain when we arrived and many activities with friends, we never really set up much of a campsite. No tent, awning, nor rug. We did not even hook up the water.

By midday the next day, we had beautiful weather that continued for the remainder of our stay. However, it was cool at night and quite chilly in the mornings. It made breakfast at the campsite not so desirable. We had one very basic breakfast that we ate in our cabin and we ate out all of the other mornings.

Stone Mountain camping was a great experience for us despite the sparseness of our campsite. Our site by the lake was peaceful and lovely and the park staff was very accommodating.

Weekend Activities

Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum

Our single rainy morning breakfast was at Folk Art Cafe, followed by a visit to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. https://www.jimmycarterlibrary.gov/ We are trying to visit all the presidential libraries and it was perfect for this trip because it was only about fifteen miles from the campground. All the libraries we have visited have been worthwhile and this one was no exception. There is always so much to learn about the life and times of our country’s highest leaders.

I was an adult while Jimmy Carter was president, but there were quite a few things I did not know about him. Most noteworthy to me was that he came from very humble beginnings, significantly more than I had imagined. His family did not have electricity and running water until he was a teenager and he and Rosalyn lived in public housing early in their marriage. His efforts on the treaty between Israel and Egypt and his lifetime contribution to humanitarian causes were highly impressive.

The grounds behind the library were beautiful with fall colors and there was a pond. Many geese were residents to the area.

Rear Grounds of Carter Presidential Center

Stone Mountain Attraction Center

The Attraction Center has shops and restaurants plus a lift to the top of the mountain and a train that travels five miles around the perimeter. For children, there is a farmyard, miniature golf, a dinosaur-themed playground, and a 4-D theatre. It is my understanding that there is a pretty impressive laser light show, but it ended for the season the week before we arrived. Most of the restaurants and shops were also closed for the season.

We took the lift to the top and the view was amazing. It was a beautiful day and we walked around quite a bit on the top of the mountain. A couple of our friends actually hiked to the top. That is something I would have loved to do, but we are still rehabbing my husband’s knee replacement.

Retired Couple on top of Stone Mountain — On Top of Stone Mountain

The train was not very exciting as there was not much to see. A Native American Pow Wow was occurring while we were there, but we left early to ice the knee. Our friends really liked it. I think the light show and a climb up the mountain will be my preferred activities if we return.

Stone Mountain is a 1,683 feet tall granite block with a circumference of at the base of 3.8 miles. Blocks of the granite has been shipped all across the country and around the world. It has been used in courthouses and in many federal buildings and structures.

Stone Mountain Memorial

There is a giant carving into the granite of Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. The sculpture is 42 feet deep and 400 feet above the ground. They completed the memorial in 1970. It is so large that it has been said that a grown man could stand inside one of the three horses mouths. The sculpting efforts were led by Walter Kirkland Hancock and it is the largest high relief sculpture in the world. The memorial is a subject of ongoing controversy today.

Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial — Stone Mountain Memorial

In Conclusion

Stone Mountain camping was a great experience for us, but the best part of the trip was that we had lots of time to visit with our friends. We had dinner together each night and played cards. Loved it!

This was our first camping trip since my husband’s knee replacement and it was exhilarating to be camping again! If you would like to see posts of other states and campgrounds we have visited, we have a page with all the links. States Visited, a Campsite Resource

Happy Camping!

Indiana Camping, A Large City and Two State Parks

Indiana Camping

Our Indiana camping experience was excellent from start to finish. It was the last state we visited on our monthlong, four-state, camping trip. We loved Indiana and its natural beauty, plus all the wonderful things to do in the areas we visited. Below is link to the plan for our overall trip.

Summer Camping, Planning a Long Summer Trip

Indiana Dunes State Park

Our first Indiana camping was at Indiana Dunes for just one night, but we arrived early and had some time to enjoy the park. Our site was ideal—large, flat, shady, and just across from the bathhouse. The bathhouse was pretty new and also had a water source. Our site had electricity, but no water.

We took the walk to the beach. It was a good bit of walking for my husband’s bad knee, but we stopped and rested several times along the path. The walk was mostly shady and there was a boardwalk for much of the distance with places to sit, so it was not a bad walk.

Indiana Dunes Boardwalk — Indiana Dunes boardwalk

The Dunes were very nice with hundreds of people, many swimming in Lake Michigan. I only put my feet in the water. The lake was warmer than the dunes farther north in Michigan, but still a bit cold for me.

Indiana Dunes State Park — The Dunes and Lake Michigan

The park was established in 1925 and the State later built an enormous pavilion. At one time, it held a soft drink parlor, grill room, two stores, and dressing rooms for beach users. Long ago, the pavilion had a hotel beside it, but it was removed in 1970. Currently, the building is locked up and unused, but it is my understanding there are plans to restore it. It is a lovely building and it is sad to see it unused.

There were newer changing rooms and restrooms next to the pavilion—very functional, but not nearly as grand!

Indiana Dunes Pavilion — Pavilion at Indiana Dunes

We returned to our site just barely ahead of a fairly strong thunderstorm., which we enjoyed from the comfort of our tiny camper.

Indianapolis

Big city Indiana camping was nice as well. We enjoy visiting large cities during our travels and Indianapolis beckoned. While we normally like to stay in public campgrounds, they are not usually close to larger cities. Lake Haven Retreat is located two miles south of Indianapolis and is also very near shopping and lots of nice restaurants, so it was very convenient.

We had a gravel site with a little shade and full hookups. While at this park, our camper was a baby among giants, some for extended stays. The bathhouse and laundry were a bit of a hike, but were very nice and well-maintained. We were quite comfortable during our stay at Lake Haven, but it was pretty hot. The one full day we were there, we left early and did not return till late afternoon.

Benjamin Harrison Home

We enjoy visiting Presidential libraries and museums. Benjamin Harrison has the distinction of being the twenty-third President of the United States and the only one from Indiana. Today, his Indianapolis home is a museum with tours that provide information about his life and presidency.

Harrison was from a political family; his grandfather was the ninth United States president. He was also the great grandson of William Henry Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Harrison was president from 1889 to 1893, a time when the country was in the healing process after the Civil War.

Presidential Tour of Harrison — Presidential Tour in 1892

Harrison and family members took an unprecedented train trip cross country during his term. (Seephoto above.) They traveled 10,000 miles in 31 days covering 21 states and delivered 150 speeches. He even visited our home city of Birmingham!

Piano in Benjamin Harrison’s home — Piano in Library

The Harrison home has much of the original furnishings. That, plus the memorabilia and very informative tour guide made it very easy to get a sense of the life and times of this president. We were very glad that we had an opportunity to visit this presidential museum.

Museum of Art (Newfields)

Indianapolis is fortunate to have an amazing art museum. We arrived just in time for me to participate in a Gallery Tour, “Neoclassicism to Modernism”. My husband chilled with his tablet while I received a fabulous art lesson that included some of my favorite artists: Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, Seurat, Van Gogh, Cezannne, and O’Keefe. Heaven for me and relaxing for my husband. I will share some of the highlights of the tour.

The above painting is one of the later examples of Neoclassicism, which is characterized by idealistic forms, inspirational subjects, shallow space, Classical subject matter, and an utterly smooth surface without visible brushstrokes.

Millet’s Peasant with a Wheelbarrow — Millett’s Peasant with a Wheelbarrow

Realism (naturalism) came after Neoclassicism and the painting above shows how subject matter is represented truthfully without exotic or supernatural elements. The common man was often highlighted as in the above painting.

Impressionism was a major force in art and the museum has many of those works. Post-Impressionism followed and George-Pierre Seurat’s pointillism is one of my favorites. It is a very labor-intensive way of painting using individual dots instead of brush strokes, but the results are very interesting. I love the expressions on the sisters above, particularly the older one’s. I can just see the thought, “Why do I have to do this?”

The Newfields price of admission includes a tour of Oldfields, also known as the Lily House. It is the impressive home of J.K. Lily with eight historic furnished rooms depicting elegant country living in the 1930s. The home and it’s 26-acre grounds and gardens are a National Historic Landmark. Docent tours are sometimes available, but not at the time we were visiting.

City Sights

While in the city, we checked out some interesting architectural design. The first, Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The 284-foot structure has been a landmark in Indianapolis since 1902. It was the first monument in the United States to be dedicated to the common soldier.

An affiliated body of Freemasonry owns the Scottish Rite Cathedral pictured below. It is such a large, impressive building that it does not fit in one shot. It was built between 1927 and 1929 and is one of the largest Masonic buildings. Guided tours are available daily, but we did get an opportunity to do anything beyond seeing the outside.

Indiana Camping at Clifty Falls State Park

Indiana camping ended for us at Clifty Falls. It is a beautiful state park with excellent, well-marked trails and abundant shade. Unfortunately, the abundant shade was everywhere except the campground. We, along with quite a few others, had a very sunny site for most of the day. The weather was very hot during our stay and our awning was essential!

The site had electricity, but no water or sewer. The Park staff did a good job of maintaining the bathhouse and it was relatively close to us.

We arrived on a Saturday and the park was very crowded with mostly young families with children. By mid-morning the next day, the campers had vacated most of the sites.

Indiana camping at Clifty Falls State Park — Clifty Falls State Park, Site 81

We checked out the falls. There was not much water flowing, but the walk down to the them was very nice. The park information states that the falls are best from December through June.

A big public pool is inside the park, but we did not get an opportunity to use it because of its very limited hours. I actually complained and the pool attendant told me that they have a very hard time getting lifeguards after school starts. I later learned that there is a very nice public pool in nearby Madison with more accommodating hours. Sadly, we did not get a chance to visit the pool with its historic bathhouse, which was built in 1938.

The Public Pool in Clifty Falls State Park

I would love to visit this park again when my husband’s knee recovers from replacement surgery to hike the trails, but I would like one of the few shady spots.

Town of Madison

We really, really loved the little town of Madison! As small towns go, it may be my favorite. There is a historic section of the town, right on the river, with blocks and blocks of well-preserved historic homes. Madison was recognized as “The prettiest small town in the Midwest” by Ladies Home Journal and “Best Preserved Town in the Midwest” by the Chicago Tribune.

We took a guided tour of the Lanier Mansion, built in 1844 with a Greek arevival style. The home still has many original furnishings. There is a walking tour of 44 historic sites, but we did not have enough time.

Lanier Mansion Historic House — Lanier Mansion Historic Site

My favorite hour on this monthlong trip in four states was the Rockin Thunder Jet Boat Ride on the Ohio River.

https://rockinthunder.com/

We had a blast! We became quite wet as the boat did spins, slides, and fishtails. The people who operate the rides were great and Will, our captain, provided lots of interesting tales about the area. I felt absolutely safe during the ride, but loved getting wet and going fast on that very hot afternoon.

Rockin River Boat Tour — Rockin River Tour Boat

Our excursion into Madison ended with a delicious meal at Key West Shrimp House. It provided a view of the river, delicious food, and excellent service.

We plan to return to Madison and Indiana camping. There was so much more to do, plus Madison is an adorable town just across the river from Kentucky. As we make our way to other states to visit, I would gladly go out of my way to revisit.

Indiana camping was amazing and we loved our visit to this beautiful state.

Upper Peninsula: Summer Camping in Michigan

Upper Peninsula Camping

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was high on our list for our summer camping trip. We were counting on cooler weather because it is so far north and had high expectations for beautiful sights.

Straits State Park

Most of our time in the Upper Peninsula was spent at Straits State Park in St. Ignace. It was a base as we traveled to surrounding areas and because it was on the Upper Peninsula side, we did not have to cross the bridge every day to reach our destinations.

We loved many things about Straits. It was very near places we wanted to visit and offered electricity and a nearby bathhouse. Also, the Straits of Mackinac were only about a thousand feet from our site with a killer view of Mackinac Bridge. The only downside was our site, which was small and not level, so it would have been a good trade off to have a level site farther from the bathhouse.

Upper Peninsula camping — Site # 110 at Straits State Park

The view of the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Bridge from the campground was amazing. Several of our fellow campers enjoyed getting in the water, but it was too cold for anything but toes for me.

Woman with feet in Straits of Mackinac — Testing the water

The nighttime view of the bridge and the water was mesmerizing. This was such a peaceful place.

We were very comfortable at Straits State Park in the evenings, but spent most of our days on short trips to surrounding areas.

Daytime Activities

St. Ignace

Our campground was in the small, but lovely town of St. Ignace and we had several meals there. My favorite was breakfast at Java Joe’s where I had some delicious crepes.

While in St. Ignace, we visited Castle Rock, a 200-foot ancient lookout of the Ojibway Indians, referred to as Pontiac’s lookout. It is also a spot related to the legendary Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox, Babe. We took the climb and it was quite a view.

Top of Castle Rock — Great but cloudy view from the top

Another spot we liked was the lighthouse. St. Ignace has a relatively new one, Wawatam Lighthouse, built in 2006. Its beacon is visable for over 13 miles over Lake Huron.

It was overcast and/or raining for a couple of the days we were in the area, but it did not prevent us from seeing the sights. The temperatures were very comfortable though, with high seventies and low eighties in the daytime. Also, the days were very long and it was not dark until well after eight p.m.

Wawatam Lighthouse in St. Ignace — Wawatam Lighthouse, St. Ignace

St. Ignace is also a departure location for the ferry to Mackinac Island. We used Sheplers because they also take you under the Mackinac Bridge.

Mackinac Island

We loved the day we spent on the island; it’s a truly unique place. Accessible only by ferry, it is on Lake Huron near the Upper and Lower peninsulas. The island is only 3.8 square miles, yet still boasts the largest summer hotel in the world, The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887. The Biddle House, dating back to 1780 is also on the island.

We had lunch at the hotel. It was pricey, but very, very good. It was interesting to see the inside of the hotel. You have to pay $10 each to even get close to it, but if you have the buffet, they credit you for that amount. I considered booking us a room for the night in the hotel until I discovered it would be $700. Too rich for our blood! We settled for lunch instead.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the island is that cars are not allowed, except for emergency vehicles. Horses or bicycles are the modes of transportation. We took the carriage tour that covered downtown and the State Park.

Carriage on Mackinac Island — Carriages everywhere

Arch Rock was also part of the carriage tour.

Mackinac Island is a truly magical place! It is like stepping back to an earlier time. In fact, the movie, “Somewhere in Time” was filmed on the island. I will need to check on it.

I took lots of additional photos while there. If interested, you can find them on the Big Guy Tiny Trailer Facebook page.

View from Mackinac Island — View from the island

The Island in the Winter

We learned something interesting about the island. In the winter, the ferrys shut down when the lake freezes and the only way to cross the lake is by snowmobile. In fact, they create a path where the ice is frozen and outline it with Christmas trees to make it easier to cross the lake. I would love to experience that!

Tahquamenon Falls

We took the scenic drive to the falls. There were few cars along the drive and the area was generally unpopulated with very little commerce. The Lower Falls are a series of cascades with rowboats available to rent that provide access to an island and hiking trails.

Sault Ste. Marie

Salut Ste. Marie is Michigan’s oldest city, incorporated in 1668 and is currently celebrating 350 years. Its major attraction is the famous Soo Locks, built over 150 years ago to enable ships to navigate the 21-foot drop between Lake Superior and the lower lakes. I never really understood locks before this visit, but now think of them as a bit like an escalator for ships.

The Corps of Engineers operate the Soo and there is a large viewing area for visitors to see ships passing through the locks. We watched two ships pass.

Canada and the United States both have locks along the Saint Mary’s River, which is the connecting waterway to Lakes Superior and Huron. The locks on the Canadian side are used exclusively for recreational vessels. In the photo below, the bridge on the left leads to Canada. We were very close, but did not cross the border because we did not have our passports. Also, we want to see much more when we eventually go to Canada.

Ship passing the locks — Ship passing the lock

The Soo Locks are attributed to enable $500.4 billion of iron ore to be shipped through each year. They are an important resource for this country and have a major impact on the economy. The Visitor Center had an abundance of information about the locks and the their history, including videos.

While in the city, we had a nice lunch at Karl’s Cuisine just down the street from the entrance to the locks. We had a killer bread pudding there.

Shipwreck Museum and Whitefish Point

Whitefish Point is located at a spot on Lake Superior where many shipwrecks have occurred, including the famous Edmund Fitzgerald that sank in 1975, burying 29 crewmen. Gordon Lightfoot tells its story by a song by the same name.

The bell was retrieved in a burial ceremony twenty years later and a replacement bell with the names of all the crew was installed on the sunken ship.

Edmund Fitzgerald bell — Edmund Fitzgerald Bell

The museum had many artifacts about the ships that have gone down in the nearby treacherous waters. There was also a film about the retrieval of the Fitzgerald bell.

Over 300 Recorded Accidents along this coast

For a small additional fee, you can climb the light station, which I did. It was a tight, steep climb, but the view from the top was nice and the tour guide had lots of good information about the area and its history.

That is Lake Superior below, the largest lake in the world based on surface area.

Munising

We chose the Munising area to also visit because we wanted to camp in a more remote area of the Upper Peninsula and we wanted to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

We visited Pictured Rocks on our way to Munising. Pictured Rocks are sandstone cliffs along Lake Superior that tower as high as 200 feet. There are many access points for boating and hiking. My husband’s bad leg and my bad shoulder would have made many of the cool spots difficult for us. However, one of the more spectators views, Miners Castle, has a lookout view that was easily accessible.

Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

The view was truly beautiful. We spent about an hour at the viewing area and then headed to our campground.

Widewaters Campground

Widewaters is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and is located between Irwin Lake and the Indian River. It was truly remote! There was no one to check in with when we arrived, but they had our site reserved with our name.

We had a lovely, large, partially-shaded lot. Also, temperatures were very comfortable during our stay, bugs were not an issue, and there were well-maintained vault toilets just across the street. We were aware that there were no electrical hookups and no showers. As we were only there for one night, we felt we could survive.

However, we were expecting access to water near our site, based on the map of the campground. We never found it and I searched twice. Despite the lack of any amenities beyond the vault toilets, we enjoyed our time there.

It was our first opportunity to try out our solar panels and we at least had a chance to become more familiar with them. We used them more extensively on our way home in Kentucky. I have written what we learned about them in a separate post. Solar Panels for Newbies, Access to New Places

We took a short walk to the Indian River, which is on one side of the campground. It was lovely with the shadow of the trees reflected on the water.

The cool temperatures and the lack of hookups meant that we could sleep in the peaceful quiet of the forest without the noise of a fan. I loved that part of our time there!

Regrets

We had a fabulous time in the Upper Peninsula and I don’t regret anything that we did. We tried to squeeze as much as we could during our time there. I do regret that we did not squeeze just a few more things into the trip.

We did not see the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. We were both a little tired when we got to the park and had been driving quite a bit. Also, we have seen quite a few waterfalls lately, so we just left after the Lower Falls. But, we were so close and now looking at the literature, I have major regrets.
I would have liked to have stayed a night near Marquette, the largest city in the Upper Peninsula. We saw the small city of St. Ignace with many nearby attractions and remote Munising, but not we did not see the city in which most Upper Peninsula residents live.
I think we would have enjoyed Shepler’s Lighthouse Cruise along the straits. There was just not enough time.
We did not get an opportunity to try a pastie, an Upper Peninsula traditional meat pie that is eaten by hand. When we were near a place that had them, we were not hungry and when we wanted one, there were none nearby.

So we will just have to return to the Upper Peninsula. Once was not enough!

Wheel Bearing Maintenance-A Safety Necessity

This post is for new campers who may not be aware of important maintenance that should be routinely performed on the wheels of their campers for safety.

Reasons for Wheel Bearing Maintenance

Wheel bearing maintenance is not an exciting topic, but it is something in which campers should know. As members of several Facebook camping groups, we have learned that wheel bearings on campers should be packed with grease routinely. On this topic, we have seen recommendations for annually and for every 10,000 miles.

This maintenance prevents unnecessary friction on the bearings and enables the identification of worn bearings or a dry axel. Grease breaks down over time and the heat generated during braking speeds up that process. Therefore, adding fresh grease addresses this problem.

This maintenance is an important safety procedure. First, if bearings are not properly greased, the wheels could lock up and cause an accident. Additionally, the axel could also be damaged by improperly greased wheels.

Our Wheel Bearing Maintenance

As we have had our camper for about eighteen months and have towed it close to 10,000 miles. Clearly, it was time to perform this maintenance.

We contacted a local RV dealer to have the work done as my husband has a very bad knee. They said that they do not usually do the work and that it would be a significant wait. However, they informed us that a local tire dealer has a person who routinely does this task. We contacted him and got an early morning appointment. The technician completed the task in a couple of hours for $150.

E-Z Lube System

We later learned that if you have one of the later NuCamp campers with the E-Z Lube System, it is a very easy and quick process to add fresh and remove old grease using a grease gun. Our camper has this Lube System. The link below is to a very informative video with detailed instructions. If we had known it would be this easy, we would have done this ourselves.

https://youtu.be/XT0RKDGgDm8

It seems that many who own campers do this work themselves. To assist, there are several YouTube videos with detailed instructions. It is my understanding that it does not require a lot of special tools.

Sealed Bearings on Some Models

There is one last bit of information provided by a reader of this post. Early T@B models have sealed bearings that cannot be cleaned or repacked and it was recommended that owners keep a set of bearings with them as spares. This is probably true for some other camper models as well. It would be a good idea to determine if this is true for your camper if you have an older model.

Whether you do it yourself or find an expert to do the job for you, I encourage new campers to not ignore wheel bearing maintenance, an important safety task.

If you would like to read more about what we have learned on our camping adventures, we have a Camping Resources page for new campers you might want to visit.

Happy and Safe Camping!

SW Trip Stop #14, Albuquerque Camping

Our enjoyed our stay in Albuquerque. We had planned to visit Santa Fe, but weather concerns changed our route.

Albuquerque Camping

Albuquerque camping was at another KOA because my husband has become a fan. The KOAs do offer consistency in amenities. This one was very nice and we had the added bonus of being near a sweet couple in a T@B for one of the nights. We don’t often see other teardrops, so it was nice talking to Trisha and Jim. We took the opportunity to do a little laundry while there and to connect with a local CVS to get a prescription filled.

A Facebook traveler recommended that we have a green chili cheeseburger in New Mexico and we finally did while on the way to Albuquerque at the Blue Moon Diner in Farmington. I cannot say enough good things about this adorable 50’s restaurant with great food, including homemade ice cream. The cheeseburgers were amazing and the service was stellar! I would drive well out of my way for another meal there.

Old Town

We decided to spend our one full day in Albuquerque’s Old Town. We wanted to take a tour with ABQ Trolley, which begins in Old Town and has great reviews. The ABQ Trolly tour is a two-hour scheduled tour in a 14-passenger Mercedes van, despite its name. But, I did not book on line in advance. It was fully booked by the time we arrived. Regrets!

Consequently, we decided to take ourselves on a tour of Old Town. First, we began with lunch at High Noon Restaurant. The restaurant has been in operation since 1974, but the building dates back to 1785. The High Noon building is reputed to have been both a gambling parlor and a brothel. Legend has it that it is also haunted! We did not see any ghosts, but we did have a nice meal. I had a margarita with an added southwestern twist: a chili lime salt rim and cucumber. Quite tasty.

Man standing in front of the High Noon Restaurant — Lunch at the High Noon

Next, we visited the Albuquerque Museum of Art, located in Old Town. It was a very nice museum with many interesting pieces. I highly recommend it.

San Filipe De Neri

We also visited a landmark in Albuquerque, San Filipe De Neri, which is a beautiful church. San Filipe is a site not to be missed while in Old Town. Most noteworthy, it is the oldest church in Albuquerque and has been in continuous use for over three hundred years.

The original building dated back to 1706. The Catholic Church built the current structure in 1793 after the original building collapsed.

A lovely adobe courtyard surrounds the ancient adobe church. The church is beautiful in its simplicity and longstanding history. We sat for quite awhile in the sanctuary taking in its peaceful, calming presence. The church had draped the holy images in purple for Lent.

Other Attractions

Lastly, Old Town has many restaurants and shops. We both had frozen yogurt (for dinner) and did a little shopping. I am trying to be less of an acquirer of goods these days, but I did buy some nice handmade soaps. A link to Old Town is below the next photo.

An Old Town Courtyard — Old Town Courtyard

http://visitoldtownalbuquerque.com

Snow Flurries

It became much colder on our last night and as we drove out of Albuquerque the next day, there were actual snow flurries, the first of our trip. This confirmed for me that it was a good decision to not stay in the higher elevations of Santa Fe. Albuquerque camping was a great for us.

Next, we will camp in Amarillo as we make our way home. A link to that post follows.

SW Trip Stop #15, Amarillo Camping

Tiny Christmas Campout in Cool Tears Magazine

Our trip to Pensacola, Florida for A Tiny Christmas Campout was written up by yours truly and published in the January issue of Cool Tears Magazine.

Tiny Christmas Campout

Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola Florida was the location of the first ever Tiny Christmas Campout last month. We had a wonderful time and also the opportunity to meet a lot of nice people with a similar camping styles. We hope this will become an annual event. I write about our all teardrop camping experiences and the following link offers more about us and our travels.

Retirement and teardrop camping!

Cool Tears

The organizer of the event asked me to do a write-up to submit to Cool Tears Magazine. Happily, the magazine has included my write-up of the campout in its January issue. Because I have never had anything published before, I was thrilled to check this item off the bucket list.

Anyone interested in the event can access the magazine by clicking on the link below. It is not necessary to sign up to view the digital version of the magazine. I hope you will read it and also consider attending the 2018 Campout. It is my understanding that there will likely be one this year.

https://www.cooltears.com

Lastly, I hope everyone is having a good start to 2018!