West Virginia camping was part of our Long Summer Trip 2019. This trip was the first time in the state for both of us. I expected mountains, but was surprised that we did not encounter any relatively flat areas as we made our way through the state. I learned that WV has an average elevation of 1,500 feet and the highest elevation of any state west of the Mississippi. So, we were always going up and down some pretty big hills.
Kanawha State Forest Campground
I chose Kanawha for several reasons: it was a State Forest, on our pathway to üCamp 19 in Ohio, and near a city we wanted to visit. It also had a Google rating of 4.3.
The drive to the campground was somewhat daunting. We went through multiple neighborhoods with very curvy, narrow roads. I was grateful we did not have a big camper. Sadly, the last neighborhood before reaching the campground was very economically depressed.
We were happy to see that once we were in the forest, it was lush and beautiful. However, there was a pretty long drive to the campground and absolutely no cell signal.
Site # 27 at Kanawha
As we drove through the campground, I was alarmed at the small and uneven sites we saw along the way. I was afraid we would have difficulty making a lot of them work for us. As it turned out, we had the best site in the entire park; large, level, secluded, and utterly beautiful.
There was a road above us on both sides, but no campsites in our little wind in the road. The area surrounding our site was very green with a creek flowing nearby.
Our little part of the forest
Unexpected Power Outage
Though isolated with no cell service, we had water and electric at our site. It was rather hot despite the immense shade. While spending the late afternoon planning cards, we noticed our air conditioner had stopped coming on. We first thought there was an issue with it, but discovered our power was out. Having no nearby neighbors, we did not know if it was an problem with our site or the entire park. So, we went to the bathhouse and discovered it too did not have power. As there was nothing we could do about the situation, we settled in that night with no power. It was a bit warm without the A/C, but not too bad. Out T@B Boondock provides lights and television through the batteries, so it was not a big deal. The power was restored mid-morning the next day and we were glad to see it.
Charleston
As this was our first visit to the state, we wanted to see one of its major cities. Charleston was perfect because it is the largest city in West Virginia and the capital. The capital building is very beautiful, but we did not get to see it in its full glory because of work being done on the dome. The building was open to the public however, so we went inside and roamed about quite a bit. The building was dedicated in 1932 and has a very retro feel on the inside.
West Virginia State Capital
The grounds in the area were incredible! Beautiful flowers and amazing green grass and foliage. The city’s groundskeeper is doing an amazing job.
Beautiful grounds of the Capital
The West Virginia State Museum is in the same area as the capital. It is free to the public and well worth taking the time to see.
West Virginia State Museum
West Virginia has a rich history of coal mining which is honored with the statue below and with multiple exhibits within the museum.
The WV Coal Miner Monument
The Company Store was an major part of life in coal mining areas for many years and this exhibit has examples of what they were like.
West Virginia State MuseumInside “The Company Store”
A fact of which I was unaware. Our Civil War resulted in only one change of territory. West Virginia separated from Virginia and became the 35th State.
Civil War Change of Territory
The Origin of Mother’s Day
Mothers, you can thank West Virginia for giving you your day of honor. Before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis formed Mother’s Day Clubs in an effort to improve health and sanitary conditions and they raised money toward those goals. During the war, the clubs remained neutral and treated both Union and Confederate soldiers. I love the way that Mother’s Day began! She was such a hero!
Mother’s Day Began In WV
Downtown
The city of Charleston was lovely as the photo below shows. We had lunch at an excellent restaurant, Pies and Pints. We ordered Char-grilled wings and they were unlike any other we have had . . . in a good way. Also, we had a large pizza, half Chicken Gouda and half Pine and Swine. We had lots of leftover pizza, but it did not go to waste. The pints were also delicious! I was happy to learn that this is a chain and we have one in our city. We will definitely be visiting.
Downtown Charleston WV
Our one day in Charleston was great. West Virginia camping was so much fun! The state is beautiful with its own unique character. We loved our time there!
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.
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.
Picnic table area
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.
Cradle of Forestry OverlookCradle of Forestry Overlook
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.
Fryingpan Tunnel
Across from the campground is the Pisgah Lodge. It features a restaurant and gift shop, but its greatest asset the breathtaking views.
View from Pisgah Lodge
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).
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.
Looking Glass Waterfall
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 the Wright Brothers planeThe 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.
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.
Sunset over the SoundSunset 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.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
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 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.
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 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.
Inn at Rodanthe
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.
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.
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.
Stagville Plantation Home
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.
Stagville Plantation Parlor
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.
Monet’s The Cliff, Étretat, Sunset
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 Family Home
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.
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.
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!
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!
Hiking at VogelPotluck at VogelPotluck 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our morning viewShenandoah
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.
Tru, aka the Kracken
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hanna Park Coastal Hammock
We camped in site # 17 and loved it. The sites are fairly large and offer a degree of privacy.
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.
A Night of Queen
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
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
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 SpringsChilling 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.
Bear Swamp Trail
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.
Site # 101
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!
Prayer of the WoodsHillsborough River
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.
Columbia Restaurant
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!
Ybor City docent, Mitzi, and me
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!
Why did we go to Miami Beach? It is difficult for us to stay at home all winter since we have retired. While working, we were busy and had limited vacation time, but retirement has changed all that. In the winter, it is easy for me to become bored and lazy. We took a trip to Los Angeles last year, Escape from the Cold to Los Angeles .
A warm climate in a place not previously visited was the goal and Miami Beach fit the bill for us. It is also one of the big cities we have not visited and it has great weather in the winter. We left Alabama, which had daytime temperatures in the 40s, for Miami’s mostly sunny days in the low 80s. Such a pleasure!
Miami Dream Hotel
The Dream is located in Miami Beach, just a couple of blocks from the famous Versace mansion. It is on Collins Avenue, one block over from Ocean Drive and a couple of blocks from the beach. The hotel has excellent reviews, a perfect location, and a very reasonable price for the area. However, the rooms are quite small. The Dream is actually a combination of two Art Deco buildings and still has the sign for the Tudor Hotel. The hotel was built in the 1930s and has the original exterior, but is ultra modern inside. So, if we return to Miami Beach, the Dream will be our first choice for a hotel!
Miami Dream Hotel
The hotel has a fantastic restaurant, The Naked Taco, and we had several excellent meals there. The restaurant also provides light food and drinks to the hotel’s rooftop pool area, which we also enjoyed.
Miam Dream Rooftop Pool
Getting Around in Miami and Miami Beach
We flew into Miami and did not rent a car because parking is very expensive. But, we really did not need one because it is so easy to get around. Miami Beach has a free trolley system that is easy to maneuver and we used it frequently. There is also a separate trolley system for the city of Miami. However, I never discovered a way to get from Miami Beach to Miami using the trolley.
We took an Uber to and from the airport as we had a good bit of luggage. It was only $22. There is also a bus that goes from the airport to Miami Beach.
Because we wanted to orient ourselves to the city, we took a hop on and off bus tour. It was only $49 each for two days, which gave us information about the area and provided transportation between Miami and Miami Beach.
Big Bus City Tour
We also took an Everglades tour with Miami Tour Company . They picked us up at our hotel and provided transportation to the Everglades. It was much easier than renting a car.
We also walked quite a bit during our stay and I am very happy to say that my husband’s new knee did quite well. This was our first exposure to significant walking since his surgery six months earlier. We got about 14,000 steps on our first day, which involved lots of airport walking.
Miami Attractions
There was so much to see and do in Miami! Our six days there enabled us to pretty much do everything we wanted.
Wynwood Area
Wynwood Walls is accessible via a city bus tour. The Wynwood warehouse district elevates the work of graffiti artists. Wynwood Walls brings the work of the world’s greatest graffiti artists to a concentrated area. It is difficult to believe that this art is created with only spray paint. It is a walkable outdoor museum. Art lover that I am, this might just be my favorite Miami attraction.
Wynwood Walls
The mural below was created by drilling into concrete. It is impressive from afar and even more up close.
Concrete art in Wynwood Walls
All around the Wynwood area, there is art on the buildings. The photo below was snapped while on the tour bus and is not a high-quality pic, but I had to include it in this post because it is so amazing. The woman’s eyes appear to follow you. Mesmerizing and beautiful!
The eyes follow you in this painting
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Vizcaya was on my list and easily accessible as another stop on the tour bus. It was the summer home of James Deering. The exterior of the Italian Renaissance villa has appeared in several films. The home, located on Biscayne Bay, was completed in 1922 for a cost of $15 million.
Vizcaya Mansion
The grandeur of this mansion is not something easily found in the United States as the photo below of one of the interior rooms indicates.
Elegant decor
This home made me think of Downton Abbey and was of a similar time. The home is grand and during its heyday, it sported a staff of thirty. The kitchen below looks similar to Downton Abbey’s as well.
The kitchen
Miami Beach and Ocean Drive
The beach was beautiful and the water was a gorgeous turquoise color. Our hotel provided chairs and towels, so we were quite comfortable enjoying the warmth and sunshine.
The Beach at South Beach
I tested the water and it was much too cold for me to get in, but quite a few people did not seem to mind.
Crystal clear water
South Miami Beach is known for its Art Deco Architecture. The buildings along Ocean Avenue and Collins, where we were staying, cannot be changed from the outside. Consequently, it has one of the largest known concentrations of 1920-1930s resort-style architecture.
Art Deco hotels along Ocean Avenue
Ocean Drive is also famous for Casa Casuarina, aka the Versace Mansion. The house was built in 1930 and fashion designer, Gianni Versace, purchased it in 1992. He lived there until he was shot in front of it in 1997 by a serial killer. The mansion is now a very expensive hotel. We contemplated having lunch there to see the inside, but we did not find the time.
Versace mansion on Ocean
The Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach
The Holocaust Memorial was a sobering place to visit, but it is important to remember this tragic time and the lives lost. The memorial is dedicated to the six million Jewish lives lost to the Holocaust. We learned that Miami Beach has one of the largest populations of holocaust survivors in the world. Going through the memorial brought tears to both of us.
Holocaust Memorial
Little Havana
Little Havana is the definitive Cuban neighborhood in Miami. It is popular for shopping, restaurants, and bars.
Little Havana sign
Little Havana is the place for authentic Cuban cuisine. We made a special effort to visit Versailles Restaurant while there. The restaurant claims to be “ the world’s most famous Cuban restaurant.” Even at mid-afternoon, we had to wait to be seated. Below is one of the specials, but I can’t identify everything. I liked most of it and the price was very reasonable. My big guy had a hamburger.
Lunch at Versailles Restaurant
In a shop in Little Havana, we were pleasantly surprised to see, Fidel, a friend from a tour we took to Italy eight years ago. He owns Havana Collection, a group of clothing shops in Little Havana. Fidel recognized my husband as soon as he walked in. He sold my husband some shirts at highly discounted prices. It was so nice to see him again.
The Everglades
While so close, we took a Miami City bus tour to the Everglades. We learned that the Everglades is a slow-moving, shallow river that moves at a rate of about a mile a day. The airboat ride through it was exhilarating.
Airboat ride in the Everglades
While on the airboat, we saw several alligators.
Alligator in the wild
Wolfsonian Museum, Miami Beach
The Wolfsonion is an affiliate of Florida International University and houses an extensive collection of Art Deco artifacts. It was a good place to spend a few hours.
Wolfsonion Art Deco MuseumWolfsonion Art
A Short Haircut
The humility and open air rides made my hair impossible to deal with during our stay. I have been wanting to go short and finally mustered the courage while there. Summer is coming and this cut should be easy to manage. What do you think of the cut in the photo below ?
Conclusion
We loved Miami and Miami Beach! It was so relaxing to spend a few warm and sunny days away from winter weather. Incidentally, we returned home to 28 degrees! Brrr!
Miami Beach is beautiful and its people were so warm and accommodating. I highly recommend it!
Recently, I noticed our cable bill was considerably higher. I learned our contract had expired and we were no longer eligible for bundle discounts. We also have Internet and a land line through the cable company. The increase brought our monthly cost of cable to $114 per month. The breakdown was: $65 for the Expanded Basic, $20 for DVR Service, and $30 for four receivers. Needless to say, I was not happy. Cable cutting became a major initiative with that phone call.
We wanted lower costs, but did not want to lose options. This meant that streaming services would be needed. Millennials are known for using streaming services, but we have learned that they are a good strategy for retirees too.
Our Cable Environment
My husband and I are retired and, consequently, have lots of free time. When we are not traveling, we have become accustomed to lots of entertainment options.
I must admit, we were pretty spoiled by our cable service. Our provider gave us reliable service and the ability to record programs we enjoy. So, we were able to fast forward through commercials, a big plus for my husband.
We routinely watched local network channels and a few cable network channels. Most of our viewing was of shows we had recorded on the DVR.
Only recently, we gave up premium channels such as Showtime, HBO, and Cinemax. It seemed their offerings were mostly older content. However, we replaced them with Netflix DVD, which allows us to choose the current movies and shows we liked. It was a win for us.
A couple of years ago, we became regular Netflix subscribers and have enjoyed the added viewing options. The neat thing about Netflix is the lack of commercials at a moderate price.
Lastly, we are Amazon Prime members, mostly for the free shipping, but there is also a streaming service that is not bad.
Roku Devices
An appropriate streaming device was an important first step for us in cutting cable. If you have a smart television with your desired streaming channel, you can omit this step. Only one of our televisions is a smart TV and it is old and does not have the streaming services we desire. So, we needed the device.
From my research, the Roku Ultimate seemed a good option to replace our cable boxes. It has good reviews and is reasonably priced. Costco had them at a special price of $69.99, so we tried it. It was easy to set up. It requires a HDMI cable that plugs into the television’s HDMI input. The remote pairs with the television so it can be used to turn it off and on and control the volume. The Roku device was a hit!
Roku Ultra
We also have televisions in our bedroom, guest bedroom, and den. So, we bought two additional Roku devices. The Costco special has expired, but Amazon has a competitive price. (Roku Device link.) We have an older model Apple TV device and we also set it up in one of the rooms. It did a fine job as well.
For a one-time cost of $210 for devices, we are saving charges of $50 a month to rent cable boxes with the DVR capabilities. After four months to recover our purchase price, we will be saving $50 a month.
Streaming Services
The Roku device enables access to tons of streaming services. Think of it as a smart television on steroids. We decided to try Hulu Live. It offers tons of shows for downloading, live local programming, and the ability to record live shows. The Live Subscription includes 50 hours of cloud-based recording with an option to add more. Below are the channels Hulu currently offers in our area.
Hulu Stations
Hulu recently had a monthly price increase from $39.99 to $44.99, which was sizable. But, Hulu is basically replacing our $65 cable package bill. Only one channel that we like, AMC, did not come with Hulu. There are options to get AMC, such as Philo and Sling for additional fees. Another major streaming service, YouTube, has similar channels and options and includes AMC. We will definitely be giving it a try.
Most streaming services offer a free trial and no contract. So, it is very easy to try different offerings. It is a good feeling to know that if you are not happy with a service, there are other options. I anticipate that we will make many changes to our streaming services in the upcoming years, unlike with cable, which was our only provider for the last several decades.
Advanced Sound Option
Our family room is our major viewing area and our cable transmitted through our surround sound system. Cutting cable, but losing our ability to use our sound system would not have been a good outcome for us. I am happy to say that we were able to have the Roku utilize our sound system.
To do so, we attached the HDMI cable to the stereo receiver instead of the television. Our receiver has an input labeled Stream Box and we used it for the input for the Roku. To view Roku, we must also appropriately set the inputs to the receiver and television.
Stereo Receiver Set to Stream Box
The only negative for this option is that the receiver remote is needed to adjust the volume of the sound. It was a small price to pay for the great sound we are able to obtain for our television viewing. However, we had one more option to simply the remote situation.
Harmony Remote
We have used a Harmony Ultimate for several years to enable one remote to operate our television and sound system. I believed that I could set up the remote in a similar fashion for Roku. However, I ran into one major issue, the Harmoy required a firmware update before I could make programming changes. It was very difficult to get the Harmony to update, but once it did, setting up Roku was very simple. I just added the Roku device and then added an activity to turn on the three devices (RoKu, TV, and Receiver) with the appropriate inputs.
Harmony Set for RokuHarmony Keys for Streaming Options
Lessons Learned
Our Cable Cutting Savings
Once a few months pass to capture the upfront cost of the RoKu devices, we will save $50 a month on rental of cable devices. I believe we will land on a subscription to Hulu or YouTube TV, which are $40 to $45 a month. This represents a minimum saving of $20 for content. So, the monthly savings after the fixed costs of Roku is $70 per month. The monthly cable cost was $114; therefore, we lowered our monthly cost by 62%.
Cable Cutting, the Cons
There is a learning curve for watching television via streaming versus cable. It took some exploration on my part to find everything we have and to utilize the recording feature. But hey, we are supposed to keep learning and challenging our brains—right?
Every streaming service works differently, so with changing services, adaptation is required.
Cable cutters need technology skills for set up and utilization of streaming services. If you don’t have them, you might need a grandchild.
It is not always predictable which recorded shows allow fast forward. A few of our recordings had commercials.
Sometimes, the program momentarily loses reception while the data is buffering. It usually is brief and does not happen often. We also had occasional viewing issues with cable, but the buffering is a little more frequent.
Channel changing is a slower process with streaming.
Cable Cutting, the Pros
The savings for us were significant.
Additional content is available through the Roku channel and Hulu. There are also numerous free channels available.
It is very easy to add and delete subscriptions over time as new competitors come into the market.
How Low Can You Go?
If you are really looking to reduce your costs to as low as possible, an air antenna may work. We added one to our main viewing area and are able to get good reception on all the local channels. Our air antenna can be obtained for just under $10. After setting up the antenna, there are no additional costs for the local channels. Also, antenna television does not require a wireless network.
If you want more options and have a smart television with Netflix or other streaming services, you can add it for just the monthly subscription cost. However, you must have WiFi.
Lastly, you can add a Roku device. Then, a wide array of subscriptions are available. A Netflix non-HD subscription is currently $8.99 a month and basic Hulu is $7.99 a month.
More About Us
Cutting cable television is just one strategy we have employed in our goal to maximize our retirement. If you are interested in our other retirement activities (camping is a major player), check out my blog: Retirement and teardrop camping!
Our first camper, a T@G MAX, had a Zamp Solar connector. Because of this, we purchased a Zamp Solar Suitcase. We liked using it and expected our new camper to be wired for Zamp as well. However, our nüCamp T@B 400 is not wired for Zamp.
So, this became our first official modification on the 400. I wanted to use the solar suitcase, but was concerned about drilling a hole into our new camper. My husband convinced me that he could do it without creating any issues. He did a fantastic job and it works great! I am sharing his step-by-step instructions for any of you who might also want a Zamp connector.
Items Used
Zamp Connector and WireTools used
Zamp Connector with wire. We purchased the connector and 10’ of the wire for $23. You can get the connector cheaper with a very short wire, but we did not want to splice to add needed wire.
Painter’s Tape
A drill.
Drill bit for screws 1/8” Jobber Drill Bit.
Drill bit 1/4” for pilot hole.
Paddle bits: 7/8”, & 11/16”.
4 Phillips Head screws, #8 x 3”, type A point.
2 each 3/8” Lugs, 12 gauge.
Silicone, clear.
The Hole
To begin, he put painter’s tape on the drill spot to protect the finish and to mark it.
Painting tape to protect finish
The hole in our new 400 was really three holes. Firstly, he drilled a 1/4” pilot hole approximately 3/8” deep to start the hole. Secondly, he drilled a 7/8” hole that was 1/8” deep. It is for the lip of the flange. Lastly, he drilled an 11/16” hole all the way through the camper wall. This is to accommodate the bulk of the connector.
Three-stage hole for Zamp
Attaching the Zamp Port
The Zamp connector fits perfectly into the hole and the four screws attach it securely to the wall of the camper. My husband marked the spot before drilling, drilled the holes, and tightened the screws. Next, he applied silicone around the connector to seal the area from water.
Zamp Connector inserted into hole
The above wire extends to a heavy duty distribution stud that can be accessed under the bed.
Connecting to the Batteries
Next, he connected the wire to the batteries. We have two six-volt AGM batteries and the Zamp connector can access them via a heavy duty distribution stud that came installed in the camper. You may be connecting to a single battery and not using the distribution studs.
View under the bedView of battery posts
Also, my husband cut approximately 4 feet of surplus wire. He then crimped and soldered the black and red wires. He also added shrink tube to the ends.
We were a little concerned about how to attach the wire to the battery posts because of everything we have heard about reverse polarity and the Zamp. So we contacted Zamp and they explained to us that the positive wire would be coming from the male lead on the port. For our cable, it was red, so we basically just attached the red cable to the positive post and the black to the negative post.
We asked the Zamp technician what would happen if we connected it wrong. He said that it would just show an error on the charge controller. That made us feel better.
Conclusion
Finally, we gave it a trial run in our driveway and it worked beautifully. So, we now have a Zamp port on our new camper just like we had on our first camper. My husband also ordered a Zamp decal. I would have been good without the decal, but love the port.
Our second year of retirement was wonderful, except for a couple of months which were quite difficult. We settled into a routine when not traveling that was comfortable and companionable. I can honestly say I do not miss working. We were also able to travel extensively and it was amazing.
I am writing this post primarily for my husband and myself. It is like a journal of our experiences. Because it will likely be boring for those who do not know us, it will not be posted on camping social media sites.
The time that we previously spent working is now being taken up by a slow, comfortable pace of living. We start our days later now, with ample sleep. Most of our meals are at home and are generally healthier than before retirement. We work out at the gym about four times a week, me with classes and my husband doing a combination of exercising and socializing. Our days start around 7:00 and we are usually asleep before 11:00. Sadly, we have officially become old folks!
Family Time
We now have much more time for family and we see them every opportunity, but we do try not to encroach upon their lives too much. It is great to know that we can be there for them if they need us without having to worry about working.
I have been working on a family cookbook since I retired and finally finished it. I gave family members copies of it on Thanksgiving. They seemed to like it and the personal notes in it. It is nice to have all my favorite recipes in one spot and on line.
A day with the grands
We were able to take a couple of road trips to Tampa to visit our son. Retirement has enabled us to have much more time for trips like those.
Good times in Tampa
I am trying to keep my brain challenged, so I spend a good bit of time doing Luminosity games, Sudoku, and others. For some reason, I find them relaxing and somewhat addictive.
Planning trips and later writing about them is also something I enjoy. I know that one day, we will not be able to go like we do now and I am working to capture our memories. Also, in a small way, I believe I am helping some new campers navigate their way. I have received responses from several who let me know how much they appreciated the blog.
Yardword and housework also take up parts of our days and it is good to be able to devote more time to them.
Lastly, we watch way too much television. We try to limit it and honestly do get a little sick of it, but there you have it.
Our Big Event
Knee replacement for my husband is something we have been working on since we first retired. It was delayed by needed vein surgery that was done in our first year of retirement. Unfortunately, there were complications that resulted in pulmonary embolisms. Then, we had a period of time on blood thinners and testing to see if it was advisable to move forward. It pushed the surgery to August of our second year.
He got through the surgery fine. While he was at a higher risk for blood clots, thankfully there were none! However, his rehabilitation was harder than for most because he had significant swelling related to the vein issue. It was very, very painful for him and challenging for me as well because I helped him with his rehab at home. Wow, it was tough! It was scary too because I wasn’t sure at first that he would even get back to where he was before the surgery.
A new knee
He is now much better and we are told his knee will continue to improve many months after the surgery. We are so glad to have this behind us.
The Inevitable Decline
We both are very aware of the effects of aging. My husband had the bad knee for several years and though older, I was much more active. Now, his knee is better and we are hoping he will be able to do more. It seems that now I am going to be holding us back. An orthopedist told me that I will eventually need shoulder replacement. Additionally, a hip that was only occasionally an issue before has become quite painful.
Not to be all doom and gloom, but these things make me acutely aware that we had better go and do what we want to do while we still can.
Recreation
Yes, we do have lots of fun! I think it makes it that much sweeter knowing that this is not something that is just going to go on forever.
Camping in the T@G
We have been camping for just over two years now and we both love it. I think we got along better in that small teardrop camper than we do in our very roomy home. There is so much beautiful country to see. There is also the feeling of overcoming obstacles and working together.
Our retirement goal is to camp in all fifty states. Toward that goal, we were fortunate to take two amazing month-long trips. The first west all the way to California and the second north to the Upper Peninsula. Both were incredible!
Winter trip out WestSummer trip North
Our summer trip included the nüCamp 18 rally in Sugarcreek, Ohio. We also attended the Key Lime Rally in Gulf Shores and the Tiny Christmas Campout in Pensacola. Lastly, we went camping with several friends at Stone Mountain. We have so many wonderful memories of those trips! I feel so blessed that we had this time together.
Next Level Camping
Our little T@G gave us so many wonderful days camping that we knew we were all in for much more. We had been looking for something that offered a few more amenities—a bathroom and a place to be comfortable when inside during the day. The nüCamp T@B 400 was our choice.
Our new camper
We loved it immediately, but felt that the tongue weight on our tow vehicle was under too much strain. So, we traded our tow vehicle for something bigger. Lots of changes in our camping world occurred that week in November!
Very much bigger tow vehicle
We were able to use our new toys on our last camping trip of the year to the Tiny Christmas Campout. We did some camping in South Carolina on the way. Another state for our map!
First T@B 400 trip
We made quite a bit of progress in our goal of camping in all fifty states. Still a long way to go though!
Our states map
Big Cities
We were fortunate to be able to travel to two big cities during our second year, Los Angeles in January and Chicago in July. Both cities were exciting to visit—amazing food, interesting museums, and lots to see and do. We like to stay at hotels in the heart of big cities to be able to see as much as possible.
Warner Brothers Studio TourChicago Water Tower
Dancing
Ballroom dancing has been a big part of our lives for several years. We are members of a dance club and two dance groups. From the sound of that, you might assume we are good dancers. That is not the case, but we do enjoy it and we get to spend time with some truly wonderful people.
The declining knee has resulted in declining dancing over the last few years, but I hope we can dance more in the next year.
Our dance club’s Leadout
Second year retirement was a great for us! We look forward to our third year of retirement and whatever adventures it may bring.
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.
Sesquicentennial State Park Site 71
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.
South Carolina State Museum
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.
Rural Electrification Exhibit 1930-1955
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.
Rare 1927 Hupmobile
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.
South Carolina State House
The architecture of the State House was pretty cool, but it was the grounds that most impressed me.
State House Grounds
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!
Low Country Boil at Pearlz
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.
Edisto Site 53The 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.
Angel Oak Tree
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.
Morris Island Lighthouse
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!
Charleston pralines
Lastly, Edisto also provided us with an amazing sunset.
An Edisto 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.
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.
Kings Mountain Battlefield Trail
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.
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!
The Farm at Kings Mountain
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.
Carolinas Aviation Museum
Lastly, we had lunch at a pretty cool restaurant, Cabo Fish Taco. I had tacos with grilled scallops—delicious!
The shakedown trip in our new camper was planned several months earlier and we expected it to be on our T@G. However, we purchased the 400 sooner than expected and it was just prior to our rather long trip to South Carolina and Florida.
Our long path to Pensacola
The T@B 400
We have always camped in the much smaller T@G, so the 400 was a quite different experience. If interested in our thoughts for making this change, check out Replacing Our Tiny Camper, A Big Step .
The trip of approximately 1,400 miles had been on the books for several months, but the timing of our T@B purchase just a few days before the trip meant that we would have a very long shakedown trip in the 400. Yikes!
The Good and Great
The bathroom and indoor kitchen were wonderful! It was pretty chilly in the early mornings and at nighttime because it was an early December trip. Not having to go into the cold for the bathhouse late at night was amazing. Preparing breakfast in a warm camper was pretty nice as well.
Speaking of warm, the Alde system did an excellent job of keeping both the water and the camper warm. It was comfortably warm and also very quiet.
Set up and takedown were also very easy. We do not need as much external camping gear as we needed with the T@G.
Both of us could easily stand in the camper and changing clothes was much easier.
Wet Bath
The Not So Good
Our gas mileage was awful! I was expecting 12-13 mpg and we barely got 10 mpg. The new vehicle had only 4,000 miles on it when purchased and I have been told it should get better. I certainly hope so.
Our 400 is a Boondock Lite and is quite tall. We like the extra height, but it can’t be good for gas mileage.
We were prepared for the bed to not be as good as our T@G because it was a king and had doors on both sides. The 400 has a queen bed and access from only one side. There is also the curve in the back of the camper that impacts one side of the bed. My husband and I traded off sleeping in the back of the bed. It really was not as bad as I expected, but this part was still a downgrade from the T@G.
T@B Issues
We expected some minor issues with the camper, but I must say we did not find anything significant. Unfamiliar with the Alde, there was a learning curve, but it performed very well. The temperature it shows is not the same temperature of the actual room, but it is my understanding that it is an Alde thing.
Our biggest issue was the size (18 gallons) of the gray tank. The only thing that went into it was from dishes and hand washing because we took showers in the bathhouses, yet we had to dump gray water in the bathhouse a couple of times. (We do not have one of those pull around tanks yet.)
There was also one shade that had to be pulled down carefully or it would bunch at the bottom, particularly on one side. That side of the window has a bigger gap at the bottom than the other.
We will be following up with our dealer, Bankston RV, about the shade.
The problem shade
Overall, I am feeling good about T@B 400 quality and our choice of camper based on this trip!
Tow Vehicle Shakedown
It was a shakedown trip for the Ford Expedition, our tow vehicle, as well. We bought it just a couple of days after the camper and felt good about its towing capacity of 9,000 pounds and a 900 pound tongue weight. It is a V-6 with twin turbos and gets 24 mpg on the highway when not towing. However, I was very disappointed at its mpg while towing.
Our Misadventure
We enjoyed the Expedition on the trip except for the low mpg. It does have one annoying and potentially dangerous trait though. The hands free function on the tailgate operates if you kick your foot under it. It hit my husband in the head a couple of times as he was working around the hitch. We tried disabling it, but then it was totally manual and my husband did not like that.
As we were stopped at the dump station in the last campground before heading home, I noticed our 7 pin was not yet connected. In an attempt to protect my husband from the tailgate, I took the keys from him and tossed them in the console of the car. But then I decided to get out for a minute and all the doors immediately locked. I had locked all keys, wallets, and phones in the car and it was running!
There was a code to the door, but with the rush to get ready for the trip, neither of us had committed it to memory.
It was about 6:30 in the morning and most of the campground was sleeping, but we had one friend who we knew had been up earlier walking her dog. She rescued us! We used her phone to call for help and waited in her warm truck for roadside assistance.
Conclusion
Despite our misadventure, our shakedown trip was wonderful and we love our new camper and tow vehicle. (Needless to say, we both have memorized the code to our car door.)
