Camping and Retirement Blog - Page 9 of 17

Camping at Pigeon Forge with Friends

Camping at Pigeon Forge

This was our first time camping at Pigeon Forge or anywhere in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. We have visited several times in the past though, staying in a cabin or chalet. This was a trip planned by our friends from ballroom dancing. We stayed at Kings Holly Haven RV, which is in a great location near Pigeon Forge attractions. Holly Haven offered full hookups for only $40 per night, which was good considering the location. Our friends have much larger RVs and the campground can easily accommodate large rigs. We were the only small camper there.

Tennessee is a beautiful state for camping. We have also camped in Crossville and following is a link to that post: Camping and a Total Eclipse of the Sun.

Cades Cove

We visited Cade’s Cove many years ago, but wanted to see it again. It is an 11-mile scenic loop located within the Smoky Mountain National Forest. The establishment of the park was in 1934. There are several hiking trails along the road, but we were with non hikers, so we just checked out the buildings. The road is one way and even though it was a weekday after school has started, it was quite crowded.

Camping at Pigeon Forge — Blue Ridge Mountain View from Cade’s Cove

The park has several buildings dating back to the 1800s, built by European settlers.

The establishment of the Primitive Baptist Church was in 1827, but the building below replaced the original in 1887. Some early settlers are buried in the cemetery. However, we saw graves dating from the early 1800s to as recent as 2019.

We made several stops along the loop and while at the Methodist Church, a bear cub whizzed by and crossed the street into the woods. So exciting!

The Methodist Church at Cade’s Cove — The Methodist Church

We stopped at the Cable Mill Area and saw several old buildings including a blacksmith’s shop, grist mill, and the large Gregg-Cable house. A park ranger provided a lecture about how life was in the Cove so long ago.

Grist Mill at Cade’s Cove — John P. Cable Grist Mill

Gatlinburg Skybridge

The Skybridge is relatively new to Gatlinburg and was on the top of my list of things to do. A few of our friends went while we were at Cade’s Cove and one couple was a bit nervous crossing the bridge. I still wanted to do it, but was prepared for a little uneasiness.

The Skybridge is 680 feet long, consequently, it is North America’s longest pedestrian suspense bridge. It opened in 2019. Because it is a suspension bridge, it wobbles a bit as you move across it. A section of the bridge has a glass bottom and you can see the drop of 150 feet below.

I was a little nervous, but it was not too difficult to manage. We arrived at a time just after a rainy morning and the bridge was not at all crowded. However, I did see a few people who appeared quite uncomfortable crossing it. I just walked it without holding on to the side except for glass bottom. I could just imagine the glass cracking under my weight. My husband had no qualms whatsoever.

Man on Skybridge — My Big Guy on the Skybridge

View From the Top

The view from the top was so worth the effort. The entire Skybridge area is new and attractive. More noteworthy, the view of the mountains from the bridge was breathtaking.

Gatlinburg From the Skybridge — View of Gatlinburg

Camping at Pigeon Forge and visiting the Skybridge — The Mountain View from the Skybridge

Our senior discounts made our trip to the top plus access to the Skybridge cost only $46.82 for both of us. The price of a ticket also allows as many trips to the top as you wish for the day. I doubt we will do this again, but am so glad we were able to do it once.

Camping at Pigeon Forge Activities

We had two potluck meals with all the couples in our group that included games after dinner. On another night we had an amazing time at the Smoky Mountain Opry. It is a variety show that was surprisingly good. My favorite was the aerialists, but the juggler/comedian was also very good. I highly recommend the show.

My husband also had the opportunity to visit Smoky Mountain Knife Works and also was able to fly his new DJI drone near the campground. We stayed busy our four days in Pigeon Forge.

Restaurants in the Area

We had two very good meals in Pigeon Forge. My favorite meal on our trip was at The Old Mill Restaurant. We had a 30 minute wait, but it was worth it. Be aware that the meals are huge. We shared an entree and it was still plenty of food. The Local Goat was also quite good. Everything is fresh and homemade. The Goat also has an extensive offering of craft beers. We tried an oddity for me, fried deviled eggs. They were quite tasty.

In Gatlinburg, we ate at Blaine’s Grill and Bar. The food was good and reasonably priced for being in the center of Gatlinburg. The only thing to be aware, the restaurant is on the second floor and there are quite a few steps.

Lunch at Blaine’s Bar and Grill — Lunch at Blaine’s

It was a wonderful four days camping at Pigeon Forge with our friends!

T@B 400 Modification and Third Year Camping

T@B 400 Modification

We began our third year of camping with a nüCamp T@B 400 Boondock Lite and we love it! I have provided a link to the NüCamp T@B 400. It is fantastic camper, as was our previous nüCamp product, a T@G MAX XL. The 400 was designed with a lot of input from owners. Consequently, we did not need much in the way of T@B 400 modification. We only made a few changes and most were in the front storage compartment.

Lever on Storage Compartment

My husband saw a Storage compartment lever on a later 400 model that was not on ours. It holds the lid open with a shock. We obtained the part at ùCamp 19 and my husband installed it. It makes it much easier to use the storage compartment.

400 modification Lever for Storage Lid — Storage Compartment Lever

Enclosed Back of Compartment

The front storage compartment was totally open on the back, which could allow small items to slip through. We don’t carry a lot of small items in there, but wanted the option to do so. My husband added a piece of metal with holes throughout so the area would be ventilated.

400 Modification Back Panel — Back Panel for Storage Compartment

400 Modification, 2nd Propane Tank

For future boondocking, we wanted an additional propane tank, especially since our storage compartment is large enough hold it. We had our dealer, Bankston, add the tank and holder while our camper was there for a replacement to a window shade.

400 Modification Extra Propane Tank — Extra Propane Tank

400 Modification-Zamp Connector

We purchased a Zamp Solar Suitcase when we had our T@G. However, the T@B 400 does not come with a Zamp connection. Because we hope to do more boondocking using the Zamp, my husband installed the connection. I was very worried about putting a hole in our brand new camper, but he did an amazing job. We have a separate post with step-by-step photos on how he did it: Zamp Connector Added to our New Camper.

New United States Map

We attached our previous United States map to our T@G and we sold it last year. So, we bought a new one just like our old one and filled in the states in which we have camped in both of our campers. Somehow, I find it gratifying filling in that map.

States visited — States Visited by Year Three

Camper Name

Our new camper has the same name as our first camper. The T@G was named Endeavor, so the 400 became Endeavor II. The T@G’s name was on the back , but that did not work with the 400. We settled on the front of the 400 for the name and I think it looks pretty good.

I ordered the letters from DIY Lettering . It was easy to install and only $25. We also added the blog’s URL in smaller letters on the side of the camper for $24.

400 Modification, Endeavor II — Endeavor II

400 Modification Not Done

In life, you can’t have everything. We wanted the platform that we see on many T@Gs and T@Bs because it is really nice for storage. I asked the experts at nüCamp about adding it to our 400 while we were in Ohio. Sadly, they did not recommend adding the platform to our model despite the fact that our vehicle can handle a tongue weight of 900 pounds.

We can’t install the platform because our air conditioner is at the front of our camper, which could make the tongue weight too heavy relative to the overall weight of the camper if we added much weight on the platform. The air conditioner for the 2020 model 400 was moved to the back of the camper and it allows the platform to be added. The tongue weight of our 2019 model is 465, while the 2020 model is only 372 pounds.

Warranty Replacement

This was not a modification, but it is something altered on our camper. The shade on our front window became somewhat difficult to close soon after we bought the camper. It bunched up in one side at the bottom. It would only close correctly if done very slowly.

Our dealer, Bankston RV, confirmed that our shade had some issues and a different one was currently being used. Bankston ordered the replacement and installed it. It lowers much easier now. However, because the shade is so large and we want to keep the folds crisp, we keep it down when in our storage facility.

Camping Trips

All of our trips were in our new T@B 400 for this third year of camping. We took five trips and traveled 5,988 miles for a total of 63 nights in the camper. One trip was quite long with 35 nights and we took two trips each at ten and four nights. All our camping was with groups except the trips to new states. This was great because we really like camping with friends.

We have a goal to camp in all fifty states. I am happy to say that we added six new states this year to our map: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. Additionally, we camped in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, and Florida, though not for the first time. Can you tell I was an accountant?

Now Camping Year 4 Begins!

Alabama Camping with a SE Camping Group

Alabama Camping at Cheaha

Alabama offers great camping opportunities. We often use our camper to travel to far away places and consequently, our home state’s campgrounds have not been extensively visited. However, Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends, a camping group for owners of smaller campers like ours, held a meetup at Cheaha State Park. So, we were happy to have the opportunity to camp with them so close to home.

The State has made a good many recent improvements to Cheaha State Park. The campground is really quite nice now because two loops offer full hookups. We had Site #5 and it was a wonderful, shady site. The shade was needed because temps were in the high 80s. The sites included nice picnic tables and a fire ring.

Alabama Camping at Cheaha State Park — Site #5 at Cheaha State Park

Alabama Camping with a Camping Group

We had a fabulous time camping with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs and Friends, which is a Facebook camping group. Everyone was friendly and fun to be around. It is a very laid back event, which we like. There was a potluck that everyone attended and several hikes with varying group members. I really love that there are so many opportunities to camp with this group because there are about five or six meetups per year.

View Above Bald Rock — View above Bald Rock and SE Camping Group

Hiking at Cheaha

I really enjoyed hiking with our friends with the SE camping group. My husband is not a big fan of hiking so I don’t often have others with whom to hike. It was a real treat for me. I participated on three small hikes and my husband was on two of them.

CCC Observation Tower, Highest Point In Alabama

Cheaha CCC Observation Tower and Alabama camping — Cheaha Observation Tower

Cheaha State Park was built in 1933 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Observation Tower at its highest point (2,407) was dedicated to the park on April 4th. The hike from the upper improved campground to this spot was pretty easy except for a small area with big rocks over which you had to climb. Also, the last bit of the hike had a pretty good incline.

I climbed to the top of the tower and the view was not outstanding, but the tower and surrounding area was pretty nice.

Pulpit Rock

My husband passed on this hike and I was very glad he did. It was very steep in places and since he has had a knee replacement. The hike is only .3 mile, but the terrain makes it a workout. There is a big payoff in the end though, that makes all the effort so worth it. Pulpit Rock was my favorite view at Cheaha.

Bald Rock

Bald Rock was the easiest hike that I did at Cheaha because the incline was not steep. There are two options: a trail or a boardwalk. I did the boardwalk with my husband and it was a very easy .3 mile hike.

Bald Rock Overlook Alabama Camping — Bald Rock Overlook

Cheaha also has several other trails that were taken by members of our camping group.

Other Alabama Camping Activities

When my husband and I are camping by ourselves, we spend a lot of time visiting surrounding areas. Because we had our camping group friends to hang out with, we stayed at the campground the entire time. We had lots of campsite chats, shared drinks and snacks, plus the big potluck. Lastly, we had a very rousing game of Mexican Train Dominos with a few friends.

There are quite a few activities that would be fun in the surrounding area of Anniston. Cheaha is a beautiful park and with the surrounding area attractions, it is a very desirable place to camp.

Previous Alabama Campgrounds Visited

Alabama is a beautiful state with great areas in which to camp. The following are other Alabama campgrounds we have visited with links to the posts:

Deerlick Creek Park, Tuscaloosa

Desoto State Park, Fort Payne

Gulf State Park

Happy Camping Y’all

How to Use Your Phone to Watch TV

Using Your Phone to Watch TV

It enhances our camping experience to have the ability to use our phone to watch TV. While we love camping and the freedom of being outdoors and visiting new areas, we really like to watch a little television before going to sleep at night. Unfortunately, there are little or no options in some of the lovely, remote areas we like to visit. That is where having the option of entertainment via our phone is so nice.

The Jensen TV in our camper is not a smart TV and I believe this is true for many campers. However, any television can display content like a smart TV using the process described in this post.

Actually, it is quite easy to use a phone to watch TV and it is particularly useful when there is no cable and poor cell/Internet/air antenna reception. I am specifically addressing the use of the iPhone or iPad with the Jensen TV. I suspect there are similar options with android phones, but I am not familiar with them.

Here is What You Need

It is a very simple process, but a few essential components are needed.

1) Content on Your Phone or Device

The foremost thing needed is access to a streaming source. Netflix is probably the most popular streaming source and many watch Netflix on smart televisions. With a Netflix subscription, one can also download shows and movies to their phone or tablet to watch later when no cable, Internet, or even cell signal is available.

We dropped cable many months ago and now all our viewing is through streaming services. This link covers our conversion, Cable Cutting, A Retirement Cost Savings Strategy. However, we had Netflix and Amazon Prime long before dropping cable, both of which allow downloads to view when there is no cell/Internet service. Just be sure to do a little planning to download a few shows/movies you like before arriving in remote areas.

When Internet or cell service is available, we also use our phone to watch TV through YouTube TV. It provides live television and many channels, including local. So, it essentially gives us as many options as we have at home! The only concerns are the strength of the signal and data plan limits.

2) Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

The next item needed is this handy little adapter to connect the Apple device (iPhone or iPad) to an HDMI cable. This link takes you to the adapter on Amazon, Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter. The cable currently sells for $49 and also has a receptacle to allow charging of the iPhone or iPad while using the phone to watch TV. It is also available through Apple and other retailers.

Use phone to watch TV with adapter — Apple Lightning to Digital AV Adapter

Adapter for phone to watch TV — Receptacle for HDMI Cable and Apple Charging Cable

We use this cable to listen to music on a stereo at home that does not have Bluetooth as well. It is quite handy!

3) HDMI Cable

The HDMI cable is the same on both ends—one connects to the Apple adapter above and the other connects to the television’s HDMI port.

For the Jensen TV on our camper, I wanted a short cable to keep the area around the television neat. The following link is to a 1 ft HDMI cable that is only $7 and does a great job: HDMI Cable .

Optional Equipment

After we began using our phone to watch downloaded shows and streaming channels, we discovered it was a pain to have to unhook cables between watching with an air antenna and the phone. If we were in an area with good air antenna reception, we liked to use it for local stations. So, it would be very beneficial to have the the ability to use both options without having to access the back of the television. Our air antenna is just a piece of coaxial cable, but it does a remarkable job picking up channels if there is a good signal.

Air antenna on teardrop camper — Air antenna

Our solution was a splitter to switch between antenna and phone. The item sells for approximately $10 and a link follows to the item on Amazon: Signal Splitter.

Signal Splitter to use phone to watch TV — Signal Splitter

For this option, two short HHMI cables are used. One end goes into the top of the splitter and the other end goes into the back of the television, as in the photo below.

HDMI cable inserted in Jensen Television — HDMI Cable inserted in back of Jensen Television

Now for the bottom of the splitter: insert the television cable into one side of the splitter instead of into the back of the television. Next, plug the other short HDMI cable into the other side of the bottom of the splitter. Lastly, attach the other side to the Apple Lightning to AV Adapter, which attaches on the other side to the phone.

Splitter for Jensen Television — Splitter and cables attached

With this configuration, the signal can be changed from air antenna to phone by pressing button one or two.

If you are interested in the basic operation of the Jensen TV/ DVD player, check out my post, Jensen TV and DVD Player—Basic Use .

Please let me know if this is helpful. Happy camping!

Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales, UK Summer Tour

Lastly, we visited Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales on our Collette British Landscapes Tour. Two other posts, London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour and Edinburgh, United Kingdom Summer Tour describe earlier parts of the tour.

While on the way to Wales, we rode by coach along the northeastern border of England through the beautiful Lakes District.

The Lakes District

The Lakes District is a very mountainous region that is very popular with hikers and campers. It was so nice to travel through that lovely part of England. It was very overcast as you can see in the photo below. The purple flower is heather and it was abundant in Scotland and northern England.

While in the Lakes District, we stopped for lunch at Grasmere. It is a village where the poet, Wordsworth, lived. He called it, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.” Grasmere is also known for its gingerbread, which is made using a hundred and fifty year-old recipe that is kept in a bank vault. It was quite different, but delicious.

Wales

Wales is a mountainous country in Great Britain with probably the most beautiful countryside of our trip. It has a distinctive Welsh language and a strong Celtic culture.

Ruthin Castle

We had one night in Wales at Ruthin Castle , a medieval fortress that was built in the thirteenth century. If those walls could talk! We have visited many ancient castles, but this was our first opportunity to sleep in one. Ruthin Castle is reputed to be haunted by the Grey Lady, who presumably murdered her husband’s lover with an axe and consequently, was sentenced to death. Ghost or not, it was an amazing castle.

Our room in the castle had modern conveniences and a great view. The bathroom was totally modern. We had a mysterious incident with a luggage lock that freaked me out just a bit, but we slept like babies.

The grounds at Ruthin were beautiful and there were multiple peacocks roaming around.

Dinner was in the castle with the entire group. Afterwards, a charming Welsh lady told us stories about the castle and the area. She sang to the men in our group in Gaelic, hugging each one. It was amusing to watch their reactions. The next morning we headed to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford was the home of William Shakespeare, considered the greatest writer of the English language. He is also the best-selling fiction author of all time. Consequently, Stratford plays homage to him in many ways. There is a large Shakespearean theatre, a monument, his birthplace, and his daughter’s home. Lastly, he is buried there at Trinity Church.

We had two nights in Stratford at the Doubletree. It was just a short walk from the City Centre. The tour devoted one day to sightseeing in Stratford. We toured Shakespeare’s birthplace in the morning and took a cruise on the Avon in the afternoon.

Writers from all over the world have etched their names in a window in the birthplace home because it has been a pilgrimage for many.

Window in Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford — Window in Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Trinity Church in Stratford — Trinity Church

Our cruise on the Avon was so relaxing. As an added bonus, we went through a lock. This was a first for us. It was manually operated.

Lock on the Avon River at Stratford — Lock on the Avon River

The next morning, we headed to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is considered the world’s most famous prehistoric monument because parts of it are estimated to have been built approximately 5,000 years ago. The stone circle is thought to have been erected in about 2500 BC. Some think it was built to study the movements of the sun and moon. Others think it was a place of healing.

The Cotswolds

After Stonehenge, we drove to the Cotswolds. The government has designed the Cotswolds an Area of Outstanding Beauty because of its honey-colored towns built on rolling hills.

Lunch was in Burton-on-Water in Gloucestershire. I had Welsh Rarebit and it was quite good. We both had hot tea as we loved to do on the tour. While lunch was delicious, it did not leave much time for exploring.

Cotswold stone building — Cotswold Stone building

Back to Stratford-on-Avon

We returned to the Doubletree in Stratford for the last night of the tour. There was a farewell dinner at Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s daughter and her physician husband. The house dates back to the early 1600s and consequently, has extensive artifacts from the time.

Hall’s Croft in Stratford — Hall’s Croft

While dining, two Shakespearean actors performed scenes from several plays. It was so wonderful!

The next morning, most of our group rode in the coach for the two-hour drive to the airport. Lastly, we said goodbye to our new friends and our fabulous Collette guide, April, and our excellent driver, Skippy. We highly recommend Collette Tours!

Edinburgh, United Kingdom Summer Tour

Getting to Scotland

Edinburgh is just across the English border in Scotland, which was the second leg of our Collette British Landscapes Tour. This post picks up after my first post, London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour.

A large rock rock marks the border with England written on one side and Scotland on the other. We stopped and took some photos. It was very windy and cooler than our time in England had been. The countryside looked different too, with purple heather blooming everywhere and cows and sheep always in sight.

We stopped for lunch in Jedburgh, a small town just past the border. There was a big shopping facility with a restaurant. I bought a pair of earrings made from heather. We had a delicious and inexpensive lunch that was described as “Tea for Two”. It was wonderful. Small sandwiches of our choice, scones with clotted cream and jam, tea, and cupcakes for dessert beautifully presented.

It rained while we were inside, but cleared before we departed . We were very fortunate this way regarding the weather for our entire trip—it rained while we were inside or on the coach most of the time.

Edinburgh

Our hotel was the Apex Grassmarket, a modern hotel right in the center of Old Town. We had two nights there. During our stay, the world’s largest annual international arts festival, The Fringe, was taking place. It coincided with the Royal Military Tattoo, which was included on our tour. Consequently, Edinburgh was very, very crowded.

Dinner that night was with the group. We rode by coach to New Town, which began in the 1760s. It was where the rich moved to to get away from the overcrowding of Old Town.

We ate at Stac Polly, which was not our favorite. The food was average, but the room was very hot and stuffy and there was no air conditioning. The staff was not overly pleasant either. I wouldn’t want to return to that restaurant.

City Tour

A city tour was provided by Sandra, a local guide. We toured by coach through town and then stopped at the Palace of Holyrood, the official house of the British monarch in Scotland. It has been home to the King and Queen of Scots since the 16th century. The Palace is attached to the ruins of an abbey founded in 1128.

Sandra gave us an overview of the history of the castle and of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, a major historical figure at the palace and the castle. We were able to tour the palace at our own pace with headsets to inform about each area. It was very interesting, particularly the history regarding Mary. One modern item was also there. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was on display and it was simply beautiful.

Photos were only allowed outside the palace, so we took some shots of the gardens. The grounds were absolutely stunning.

Finally, the castle was on our tour. Our coach driver, Skippy, dropped us off a couple of blocks away. We walked up the hill to access the castle, which stands on volcanic rock. Archeologists have established that humans were present going back to the 2nd century and its history goes back 1100 years. Consequently, it was under seize 26 times. The castle is also the site of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The castle overlooks the city, so you can see all the way to the North Sea. The view is breathtaking!

View from the top of Edinburgh Castle — View from the top

We had afternoon tea at the Castle’s Tea Rooms. The tea was exotic to us, a lemon and elderberry. It was very good.

National Museum of Scotland

The afternoon was free time, so we walked to the National Museum of Scotland. It is a very eclectic museum, with modes of travel (old car, locomotive, and airplane), wildlife and natural history, Dolly the cloned sheep, and clothing throughout many periods. I particularly enjoyed looking at some of the clothing, can’t say why.

Dinner was on our own and we had the best fish and chips ever for both of us at a little restaurant near our hotel, Uncles Fish and Chips Cafe. They were also very helpful in identifying a Scotch Whiskey for me. It was Deanston Single Malt and I really enjoyed it. I believe it was also the best meal of our trip.

The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

This was the 69th annual Military Tatoo. Each one is different and the performance also occurs outside—rain or shine. Military bands come from all over the world. The performances are very creative. It exceeded all my expectations! They hold the Tattoo just outside Edinburgh Castle and it is certainly a spectacle. The music and precision marching of the bands was beautiful to watch. Fires were burning at the castle and lights were projected on it during the show.

Furthermore, they played four songs that I love. They were: “Amazing Grace”, Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, and The Greatest Showman’s “The Greatest Show”, and “This is Me”. That sealed it for me; my favorite part of the entire tour was the Tattoo! So I really want to see it again sometime.

We left early the next morning in the coach and enjoyed the beautiful Scottish countryside.

Gretna Green

Gretna Green was such a delightful surprise! April, our tour guide, told us we would be stopping at a popular place for weddings related to a younger age requirement. However, I was unprepared for how wonderful it would be.

It became a place for weddings in 1754, when the Marriage Act in England required several rules for marriage including an age of twenty-one to avoid parental permission. Gretna Green, just over the Scottish border, did not have the age requirement, so it became a marriage destination. Since that time, it is known for romance and runaway lovers.

Gretna Green was a blacksmith’s shop so its priests were known as ‘anvil priests’. Thousands of couples from all over the world are married there each year.

At the blacksmith’s Anvil at Gretna Green — At the blacksmith’s anvil

Gretna Green Statue Te. If Dance — Gretna Green Statue, The Big Dance

We loved everything about our time in Scotland, but especially the Tattoo. Next, we headed to Wales and then Stratford-upon-Avon, which are in my last post for the tour. Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales, UK Summer Tour

London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour

London and York

London and York were a part of a United Kingdom tour that we booked. It was Collette’s British Landscapes Tour through Alabama Public Television. Since we were traveling in August, the high season, it meant longer days, better weather, but unfortunately larger crowds. As a Downton Abbey fan, I was excited that Highclere Castle, the location of the show, was part of the tour. Our tour group of 38 people had nine nights in the UK, but we really saw a lot in those few days.

London

During our visit, London was extremely crowded. However, there is history and beautiful ancient architecture in abundance to make it worth the challenges. Our hotel, the Leonardo Royal Hotel, was a few blocks from the London Tower. It was very nice and just a couple of blocks from the London Tube.

Unfortunately, London was hosting a bike race the weekend of our visit, which greatly hindered our tours ability to get around and caused significant delays. Still, we saw quite a bit.

London Tower

We had a few free hours, so we walked to the Tower and purchased tickets. The Tower has an interesting history dating back to the 1070s. Currently, it houses the Crown Jewels and the infamous Tower Ravens. However, in the past it imprisoned and tortured many famous people. Unfortunately, we were so jet-lagged that we were pretty much walking zombies.

The famous Tower Bridge was a sight to see. We walked to the north side of the river and sat on a bench, but were soon nodding off. Not feeling safe to sleep on a bench, we headed back to the hotel.

Dinner was with the group at The Inn of Court. I had a meat pie and minted green peas that I liked, but my husband did not like most of his meal. It was our first real opportunity to get to know some of our traveling companions.

Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle is in Hampshire, a couple of hours away from London. It is the home of the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, but is more widely known as the filming location for Downton Abbey. Our coach transported us there from London on our first full day. I was thrilled to be seeing it in person.

The castle was even more than I expected. The rooms were incredible—so opulent, but still familiar. One would almost expect to see a cast member from the show appear.

A King Tut exhibit is on the lower level of the castle. The 5th Earl of Carnarvon and a colleague discovered the tomb in 1923. Consequently, the castle houses an extensive collection of artifacts, including the mummified remains. I had no idea it was there, so it was an added bonus.

We had tea and scones with clotted cream and jam at a cafe behind the castle. Next, we had cocktails made with a special gin that had botanicals from the estate. Flavored gin is a pretty big thing in England right now.

Grounds of Highclere Castle — Tea and scones at the castle

Photos were allowed outside and in the garden, but not inside. The gardens were lovely and so peaceful.

Highclere Castle Garden — Highclere Garden

Highclere was everything I hoped it would be. So we arrived back in London with a few hours free. The bike race still had roads blocked so we just walked the areas near the hotel and had dinner at a nearby pub, The Minories. The fish and chips was quite good.

Tour of London

First, a local guide took us on a tour of London in the Collette coach. We saw many rather famous landmarks including Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, Big Ben was behind scaffolding while undergoing renovations.

London from the Tower Bridge — London from The Tower Bridge

Westminster Abbey In London — Westminster Abbey

We saw the end of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I could not believe the number of people in the area. The changing of the guard was exciting to see—the prancing of the horses, the precision of the marching, and the music. So we loved it!

Victoria Memorial atBuckingham Palace — Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace

London’s Fab Food Tour

Finally, we went on walking tour of London’s food with Eric, a local guide. It began in Spitalfields, a local market for food, fashion, and arts. There has been a market at that location for over 350 years. I would love to go back and spend more time there.

We had wine and cheese at Bedales, a small serving of fish and chips at Poppies, a full curry meal at Aladdin on Brick Lane, ales at The Pride of Spitalfields, and bread pudding at The English Restaurant. The fish and bread pudding were favorites of our group. Eric also gave us an overview of the history in the area. So, well-fed and educated on the area, we took the Tube, London’s subway, back to our hotel. Our second day in London was over and we were to head for York with a stop in Cambridge the next morning.

The English Restaurant in London — The English Restaurant

Cambridge

We stopped at Cambridge for a couple of hours on our way to York. Cambridge University has 31 colleges, with some dating back to the 12th century. It is a beautiful city with ancient architecture everywhere one might look. However, with limited time, we focused on King’s College, founded by Henry VI in 1441.

While there, we has crepes at a local restaurant. However, it took awhile for them to be served, which really cut into our time.

York

York was founded in 71 AD by the Romans, but it is famous for the Magnificent York Minster and its city walls. We spent one night just outside the city walls at the Doubletree.

City Walls

The city walls were interesting because they encircle the City Centre. At 3.4 kilometers long, hence they are the longest medieval town walls in England. While walking them, you can view sections of ancient Roman walls.

The Minster

The York Minster is perhaps the main attraction in York. Its official name is the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Saint Peter in York. It is the second-largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe. Construction was from 1230 to 1472. It is still an active church and a service was occurring while we were there.

The Shambles

The Shambles is a medieval shopping street which has overhanging timber-framed buildings, some dating to the fourteenth century. It has mistakenly been attributed to Diagon Alley in Harry Potter films. It certainly has the look.

The Flavors of Yorkshire was an option we took on our tour. It included an ale tasting and a three-course dinner at the Chopping Block at Walmgate Ale House. The restaurant is in a 17th century building that is reputed to be haunted. The roast beef with Yorkshire pudding was quite good and I have become a big fan of sticky toffee pudding, which was served at most of the restaurants.

York was such fun! We would have liked more time in York, but that was true of all our stops. The next morning we departed early for Edinburgh. However, we stopped at Hadrian’s Wall on the way.

Hadrian’s Wall

The Roman Emperor, Hadrian, built a 73-mile wall between England and Scotland in A.D. 122. It was constructed using nearby materials. In some places it was almost ten feet wide and over sixteen feet tall. It’s purpose was to keep out the Scottish people. Today, it is a National Trail. The section we visited was right next to some beautiful horses.

The next leg of our tour is in a separate post, Edinburgh, United Kingdom Summer Tour.

We so loved seeing London and York! It would be great to go back someday.

Delaware Camping at Cape Henlopen

Delaware Camping

Delaware camping was very new to us. Neither of us had ever been to the area before. We were there as part of our Long Summer Trip 2019. It is a lovely state, but not exactly what I expected.

Crossing the Chesapeake Bay

To begin Delaware camping, we crossed the enormous Chesapeake Bay. I found the Bay very beautiful and quite interesting. It is an estuary, which means it is a mix of saltwater and fresh water. It is the largest estuary in the United States and the third largest in the world. The surface area is approximately 4,480 square miles. It is quite shallow with an average of only 21 feet, but a six foot person could wade through more than 700,000 acres. However, an area near Annapolis is 174 feet deep. As an estuary, the Bay supports more than three thousand species of plants and animals.

Bridge to Delaware camping — Crossing the Chesapeake

The Bay Bridge opened in 1952 and is 4.3 miles long. There is a toll crossing it eastbound only. We crossed it on a Monday and all the traffic was going the other way where it was very slow and congested. Consequently, it was a was cool experience for us to cross this amazing body of water. When we crossed leaving Delaware, the same was true. It was on a Thursday and there was very heavy traffic going into Delaware. Timing is everything.

Cape Henlopen State Park

Our Delaware camping was entirely at Cape Henlopen State Park , where we spent three nights. We had an electric and water site near the front gate, site 27A , and it was not a bad site. It was quite hot, but we had a little shade, plus the important A/C.

Delaware camping at Cape Henlopen — Site 27A

Cape Henlopen has some extraordinary attractions! There is a fort with a unique history. Additionally, there is a beautiful beach, well-stocked store, single-user bathhouse, fishing pier, nice laundry, and fabulous bike trails. I loved this campground!

The Beach

The beach is accessible by walking. Additionally, there are places that can be reached by car or bike. The water was a bit cold for my Deep South blood, but it was very pretty.

There is also a place called The Point, which was isolated and relatively unpopulated. You can see a lighthouse, the Delaware Breakwater East End Light built in 1885, in the distance. There are benches and it is a great place to just sit and enjoy the view.

Lastly, there is a less populated beach by the fishing pier.

Delaware camping at the beach — Beach by the pier

Fort Miles Museum and Historical Area

Fort Miles is like no other fort we have seen because of its interesting history dating to before WWII. Funds for the fort were approved in 1934, but construction did not begin until 1941. The gun batteries at the fort were to defend the Atlantic Seaboard against the German Navy. More than 2,500 soldiers were stationed there in a high alert status.

There were a series of observation tours designed to spot approaching enemy ships. We saw two of them in the park and were able to climb to the top of one.

View from top of observation tower — View of top of observation tower

There are still six barracks buildings on the site, plus many types of armaments and the Artillery Park.

The most fascinating piece, however, is Battery 519. It is a 15,000 square-foot fortified underground building. We took a tour that explained how they built the battery and the complicated process used to determine how the gun should be shot. It was a part of our history of which I was totally unaware.

At the end of the tour, they demonstrated an example of 1/10th of the fire power. We both both heard and felt the blast!

The tour was free and I recommend it to anyone interested in history.

Loaner Bikes and Bike Trails

Cape Henlopen has some of the best Bike Trails I have seen at a State Park. There is a 3.5 mile paved trail through the park and to the beach and pier. There is also a much longer loop, but we only did the shorter one.

We stopped to check out the pier. Many were fishing and the beach had a few sunbathers as well.

While the trail is excellent, for me the special thing about this park is the loaner bicycles they provide at the Nature Center. There is a program ran by volunteers which loans a bike for two hours, free of charge. You must return the bike within two hours, but you can borrow it again. We really appreciated this because we do not bring our bikes on a long trip like this and do not have a way to transport them if rented offsite. We had a nice morning on the bikes. Rain threatened, but did not materialize.

Delaware camping and Bike Trail — Bike Trail

The Town of Lewes

The State Park is in the Town of Lewes. It is a quaint little town with a population of around 3,000. The thing about it is that it is so old. It began as a Dutch colony in 1631! It was the first European settlement in Delaware. I really wanted to go inside the Zwaanendael Museum, but it was closed. The unusual building below was built in 1931 to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the settlement

The other interesting thing in the town was how the cemeteries closely surrounded the churches. In the South, it is not unusual to see a nearby cemetery, but these churches had the cemetery all the way around the building.

We observed two downtown churches that had the same situation with the cemetery, so it must have been a custom. However, it is not something I have seen in the South.

I could see from looking at the headstones that some were quite old. The sign below states that the cemetery is over 300 years old. Very interesting!

Plaque regarding graves — Plaque regarding cemetery

On the subject of cemeteries, we also noticed a very large one as we drove through the area. It looked strange at first to see such a large cemetery in such a small town, but this small town has been around for almost 400 years and that would create a need for far more graves than the typical Southern town.

Rehoboth Beach

Rehoboth is a nearby beach and boardwalk. You can bike or hike to it from Cape Henlopen, but it is much further by car. The City of Rehoboth is also old. It was incorporated in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church as a “permanent camp meeting ground and Christian sea-side resort.

Today, Rehoboth Beach is one of the most popular resorts on the Atlantic coast.

Crab Cakes

I only mention food from on our travels that is extraordinary. Maryland crab cakes were something I had several times on the trip and they were very good, but the ones I had in a place in Delaware was hands-down the best I have ever tasted. They were at The Surfing Crab. Wish I had some right now!

In Conclusion

Delaware camping at Cape Henlopen State Park was one of my favorite stops on our trip. It is the second smallest state, but it is a great place to visit.

Virginia Camping, State, City and National Park

Virginia Camping

Virginia camping was new to us, but we have previously visited the state. Some of the best experiences of our Long Summer Trip 2019 were in Virginia and each stop was a different variety of camping. We stayed at a State Park, a City Park, and also mooch docked with friends.

Claytor Lake State Park

Claytor Lake State Park was an amazing campground—one of our favorites! We had an unassigned, but guaranteed, water and electric site. Upon checking in, I learned that they have reserved sites as well, but they fill up quickly. We had our choice of at least ten sites, all okay, but I loved the one we chose.

Virginia camping at Clayton Lake — Site # 11

Our site was large, level, shaded, and secluded—some of my favorite things in a campsite. The surrounding forest had a heavy layer of pine needles and for some reason, I found it quite appealing.

Virginia Camping in the Forest — View of our back yard

Hiking in the Forest

There was an entrance to a trail at the back of our site. The trail was mostly shaded and level and also wide. It was a very pleasant walk in the woods.

Virginia camping and hiking at Clayton Lake — Hiking Trail

The Lake

We liked the campground so much, we spent our free full day there. The lake had a beautiful marina and a very nice beach, complete with lifeguards.

Marina at Claytor Lake — Claytor Lake Marina

We spent several hours at the beach because it was a comfortable temperature in the shade. I briefly got in the water, which was very clear for lake water.

Virginia camping on the Beach at Claytor Lake — Beautiful beach at Claytor Lake

There were a few picnic tables with grills in shaded areas. We grilled hot dogs and had our lunch there. It was beautiful and peaceful.

Virginia Camping on the lake — Lunch on the lake

We had a relaxing tine at Claytor, which is definitely in the top ten campgrounds we have visited. Everything about the campground was well-maintained and the staff was very friendly and helpful.

Virginia Camping with Friends

We met Heidi and Mark at a Tiny Christmas Campout a couple of years ago and they offered to let us camp on their property near Shenandoah if ever in the area. We had Shenandoah National Park as a stop on our trip, so we took them up on their offer. They have hookups on their beautiful property and we spent three very comfortable nights there. This was Virginia camping at its finest and they were amazing hosts!

Their property is so beautiful and it has Shenandoah National Park as a backdrop.

Virginia Camping with friends — View from the property

Shenandoah National Park

One of our two full days was spent at Shenandoah National Park. Heidi and Mark guided us to things we would like. We saw Skyline Drive and views from an amazing lookout, plus a hike to an incredible Overlook.

Heidi and Mark took us on the Stony Mountain trail because it was not too strenuous in deference to my husband’s knee replacement. It was a very pleasant experience because it was quite cool. It felt good to move around to get warm.

Couple hiking Stony Mountain Trail — Hiking Stony Mountain

The payoff for our efforts was an incredible view that overlooks Shenandoah Valley, the town of Luray, and the Massanutten and Allegheny mountains. Heidi and Mark’s home is also down there.

We had lunch at the park and it was quite good. After that, we went back to Heidi and Mark’s and spent the evening playing Mexican Train Dominos, drinking adult beverages, and eating Amish cheese and sausages.

Montpelier, James Madison’s Home

Montpelier is an hour and a half away from Luray, where we were camped. However, we decided to make the drive because it was something we really wanted to see. It was the home of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and his wife, Dolly. The home, built in 1764, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Our docent was very knowledgeable and painted a vivid picture of the life and times of this famous couple.

James Madison is considered the architect of the Bill of Rights and he shaped the ideas that would become the U.S. Constitution. His wife, Dolly, was a very popular lady and a warm, gracious host. She was gregarious, while her husband was a quiet intellectual. But, they seemed to offset each other well.

Statues of James and Dolly Madison — James and Dolly Madison

I remember studying the constitution in college and reading a couple of books about the men who influenced the formation of our country. Madison, of course, was very prominent in those books. It gave me great pleasure to see his home and to hear about his life.

Guest Room in Montpelier — Montpelier Guest Room

There were always guests at the home during the time the Madisons lived there. The most fancy room in the house was for guests.

The Dark Side of Montpelier

Certainly, the issue of slavery was prominent in the tour of the home and there are exhibits dedicated to the enslaved population who lived on the property. The suffering that resulted from slavery was openly acknowledged.

The Montpelier home and tour also did not sugar-coat the personal history. Madison’s stepson was a gambler and drinker who was always having money troubles. He brought them much grief. The Madisons paid so much related to his actions that after James died, Dolly lost her home.

The Home After the Madisons

Consequently, the home was sold in 1844 and was occupied for many years by private owners. The DuPonts purchased it in 1901 and kept it till 1983. They made several changes to the house and dedicated the land to horses. One room in the house was ultra modern in their time. The room below is a replica of how one of the major rooms looked under their ownership.

duPont Art Deco Room at Montpelier — DuPont Art Deco Room

Lastly, when Marion DuPont Scott died, her estate transferred the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation It provided funds for restoration to the house to make it look the way it did when the Madisons were there.

This was a great way to spend our second day in the area.

Newport News

Our last camping in Virginia was in Newport News. I like to visit small to medium cities while camping. It helps me know more about the culture of the area. In addition, there is always something of interest to see. We searched for camping near Newport News and were happy to learn there is a city campground.

Newport News Park covers over 8,000 acres and, consequently, is one of the largest city parks in the United States. There is a lake and golf course, plus a very large campground. It also has an archery range and a field for remote controlled aircraft.

Newport News is very near the Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown. However, we visited there several years ago and wanted to do something else this trip.

The Campground

We liked everything about the campground except the maintenance of the bathhouse. Our visit was in the middle of the week and there were very few campers. However, the bathhouse was filled with bugs and spider webs, inside and out. A utility door was open with ugly maintenance things strewn about and a light was on the entire time we were there. I had to kill a big, scary spider in order to take my shower!

Virginia camping at Newport News — Site A 12

Other stuff—the site, the park, store personnel, and laundry facilities—were great. I don’t know what happened on the care of the bathhouse.

The Mariners’ Museum & Park

Mariners’ is America’s National Maritime Museum and is so worth the time and effort to see. For example, there isthmus Nolan Trail, a wonderful trail around the museum and Lake Maury. It is beautiful, wide, and shaded with birds and turtles to see. We walked a good part of it. It is a popular place; there were lots of hikers and runners.

The museum itself has so many artifacts and lots of information related to maritime topics.

Within the museum is a 3D movie, model ships, and artifacts from ships dating back to the 1700s. There is a wooden anchor from 1783. The racer from the America’s Cup was in display with videos about the team and training. There were so many other full size boats as well.

Boat at Mariners Museum — Boat at the Museum

Lastly, the museum’s biggest claim to fame is major pieces of the actual USS Monitor, the Union Navy’s iron-hulled steam-powered warship used during the Civil War. The wreck of the Monitor was discovered in 1973. The story about the Union and Confederate clash of iron-bulked warships is very interesting. In addition, there is a replica of the monitor and a very compelling dramatization of the battle between the two ships.

Replica of the Monitor — Replica of the USS Monitor

Lastly, we visited the City Center, which has beautiful fountains, restaurants, and shopping. So, we walked around a bit and had some delicious ice cream.

In conclusion, Virginia Camping was a delight! We are so glad we were able to be there.

Maryland Camping Adventures

Maryland Camping

We included Maryland camping in our Long Summer Trip 2019 and it was one of our favorites. Neither of us had been there before and were happy to visit two very different campgrounds, Cunningham Falls and Assateague State Park.

Cunningham Falls State Park

Cunningham Falls is a very nice state park and we had a good site with water and electric. We arrived on a Saturday night though and the campground was very crowded. There were lots of loud, unruly children producing much yelling and screaming. They had also trashed the men’s bathhouse. No one appeared to be providing any supervision. It was so unappealing that we closed our shades and spent the afternoon and evening in our camper.

Maryland camping at Cunningham Falls — Site # 20

The Lake and Falls

Sunday was Fathers Day and we checked out the swimming area at the lake. It was nice, but we did not get in the water.

The Falls were more of an attraction to us. We took the easy hike to the falls. The path was wide and though there was a bit of a climb, it was not too steep. There were lots of families on the path.

The waterfall was pretty and well worth the effort to see it. We stayed there for awhile just taking in the view and watching the people.

Back at the campsite, all the people with the unruly children had left and it was so pleasant to be there. My husband heard from all our children, wishing him a Happy Father’s Day. That made him very happy.

Gettysburg

Gettysburg is not in Maryland, but it was only a thirty-minute drive from where we were camping. We had the afternoon and I was afraid if we didn’t see it at this opportunity, we might never. Gettysburg was the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War with over 40,000 casualties. We have wanted to visit it for some time. So, we drove to Pennsylvania to visit the Gettysburg National Military Park.

We did not get to do everything, but toured the museum and saw exhibits and a movie. There was an enormous Cyclorama Painting depicting the battle. The canvas is 42 feet high and has a circumference of 377 feet. It took the artist, Paul Philippoteaux, and a team of assistants a year to complete. There is a show with lights and sound effects. I really preferred seeing the painting with full lights on though.

There was a bus tour of the battlefield, but we did not have the time for it. However, we saw part of it as we were leaving. It was worth the drive to visit this historic site.

Sachs Covered Bridge

The Sachs Bridge is very near the Gettysburg battlefield. It was built in 1852 in Adams County.

The truss bridge was standing during the Civil War and was used by both Union and Confederate soldiers. It has been designated Pennsylvania’s “most historic bridge”. It is also reputed to be severely haunted.

Maryland Camping at Assateague State Park

Assateague State Park was my favorite Maryland camping. We could only get one night there, but were nearby and very much wanted to see it. It is on a barrier island inhabited by approximately 150 wild horses.

Assateague Visitor Center — Visitor Center

Most importantly, the island is natural and undeveloped, a rarity for such a desirable vacation spot. The northern two-thirds is in Maryland and includes Assateague State Park and Assateague Island National Seashore. The remaining third is in Virginia and is managed by the National Park Service.

Conditions at Assateague — Conditions at the State Park

The park has a very nice gift shop and a restaurant. They warn you about the wild ponies—no food should be left out or taken to the beach. Plus, you are told to stay at least forty feet away from them.

Maryland camping at the state park — Site H302

We arrived at our site at about 2 p.m. There are very few sites with electricity, so we we dry camping. However, we were good for everything except the lack of A/C. It was very hot with zero shade. The wind was very high though, so it was fairly comfortable to be outside. However, inside the camper was hot.

The bathhouse was right behind us and was the nicest I have ever seen in a state park because it was very new and immaculate. The path to the beach was right in front of us, so we had a very good location.

The Beach

We spent some time on the beach. It was certainly windy. Our umbrella blew backwards and consequently, we had to retire it. I did put my feet in the water and it was a bit cold. While at the beach, we kept an eye out for ponies, but no luck.

Maryland camping at the beach — Testing the water

Wild Ponies!

I read reviews of the park and sometimes people come and do not see ponies or they see the from a great distance. We had been in several areas of the park for a couple of hours and no ponies. I told my husband to be prepared for a visit without them. While he was in the restroom, I saw four walking along the road on our loop. Quickly, I got the phone to take some photos. While I was standing on the step at the door, they started towards me. I quickly ducked inside. The park information stated that they bite!

Wild horses at Assateague — Wild Ponies!

As my husband headed back to the camper, I signaled him to look a couple of sites down at the ponies. I did not want him to miss them. Later, I had to keep on him not to touch them.

Man and wild horse — My husband getting too close

The ponies stayed in our area all evening. One also came back and visited our site. We loved seeing them! It made our visit to Assateague so special!

Maryland camping with wild ponies — Wild Pony in our campsite

Maryland Food

Generally, we had good food on the road, but we had some particularly good food in Maryland. Before entering the park, we had lunch at Crabs to Go Seafood Market in Berlin. Everything was good, but the fried scallops were divine!

We also had an extraordinary lunch in Annapolis at Red Hot and Blue. I believe it is a chain. I had barbecue and my husband had one of his top ten ever hamburgers.

Lastly, I had a delicious seafood dinner, including crab cakes at Rik’s Cafe in Hagerstown. However, the absolute best crab cakes I had was in Delaware, near Cape Henlopen at The Surfing Crab.

Maryland Camping was superb!