Day 11, Tuesday

CHOCOLATE!  ALL DAY!  Morning spent at Hershey’s Chocolate World where we attended Hershey’s University and received our Master’s degree in Chocolate Tasting.  It was well earned.  Prior to University we attempted to go on Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour but it was closed due to a malfunction.  As compensation chocolate was freely given out.  After University graduation, the malfunction was cured and we went on Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour after which more free chocolates.  Then it was off to The Museum on Chocolate Avenue for the Hershey Story where we spent most of the afternoon.  In the café, we sampled chocolates of the world which included 6 different warm liquid chocolates made from cocoa beans from different countries each with differing cocoa contents.  Then off to the Hershey Gardens, 23 acres of beautiful flowers, plants and trees and also a butterfly garden.  The butterflies were so plentiful you had to be careful not to step on any when you walked and had to make sure they were all off of you before exiting.  Then a stop at the Hershey Hotel to marvel at the architecture. Dinner hour arrived and it was off to The Chocolate Avenue Grill. Beef  brisket with cranberry and apricot barbeque sauce washed down with, you guessed it, Chocolate Stout, from Appalachian Brewing Company.  Rosemary had chicken.

Day 10, Monday

Depart Gettysburg and head east 1 hour to York and a free tour of the Harley Davidson plant (see photo of bikermom Rosemary).  An unexpected pleasure as until the night before I was unaware of the York plant knowing the main H-D operation is in Wisconsin.  They make 4 types of bikes in York including the CVO which are custom made.  A shout out to my H-D rider friend Elliot who by the way is the only person who has me working on the trip so far reviewing 2 contracts.  Afternoon continue east through Columbia, PA and stop at the National Watch & Clock Museum.  AAA rates it a “gem” and we agree.  A history of time pieces and many and all types of time pieces are displayed.  The highlight was the Engel clock (see photo) which the museum demonstrates its workings including a pipe organ, marching soldiers, crowing rooster, lady justice, youth, middle age, old age, death, Jesus and the apostles and the devil himself popping up in at least 6 places.  Got lost on way to PA Dutch Country Campground near Manheim.  Google maps gps lacks a bit when in the rural areas.  Arrive campground after 5 pm and hook up just before the rain starts.  Leveling jacks indicate excessive slope so I got to use my leveling blocks for the first time and still get the excessive slope signal.  Not level but good enough.

Day 9, Sunday

Morning for Battlefield bus tour at the Gettysburg National Military Park.   All going well until after first stop at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial.  Get back on bus and bus is dead.  Better their bus than mine, thank goodness.  All off bus to take more pictures waiting for new bus.  New bus arrives in 15 minutes and tour resumes.  The battleground is amazing and covers quite a large area, several miles across.  Afternoon was a tour of President Eisenhower’s house and farm.  Left the way they lived in it was like a trip back to the 50's and 60's as to the furnishings, appliances and even the rotary telephones and tv’s in cabinets.  Very ordinary, not what you would expect for a President.  After that we had time to take the auto tour of the battlefield and spend more time than we had on the bus tour.  This allowed us to climb on the rocks at Devil’s Den (see photo) and go up to the top of the Pennsylvania Monument (see photo-that’s me waving to Rosemary from the top, she’s taking the pic from the ground) which offered a spectacular view.  We also got to stop and take a picture of the Florida Monument (see photo).  Back to the coach for home cooked dinner- grilled mahi mahi topped with tangelo infused honey, herbed couscous, string beans and our Rappahannock wine (see photos).  Very rough life indeed.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Day 8, Saturday
Rosemary woke me up and said we slept late and it’s 8:40.  I looked at the clock which indicated 6:40.  Next time Rosemary will first put her glasses on.  So we got an early start.  Pleasant 2 hour drive to Gettysburg and the Artillery Ridge Campground.  Afternoon spent at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum.  A film, A New Birth of Freedom, gave a good historical  background of the battle and then a cyclorama - an incredible 360 degree painting by Paul Philippoteaux (painted in 1880's), 42' high and 337' around showing the fury of the final Confederate assault, Pickett’s Charge, of the Battle of Gettysburg, with audio narration and booming sound effects.  Then the museum which kept our interest for 3 hours.

Dinner at the Appalachian Brewing Company (see photo).  Bratwurst smothered in spicy mustard and sauerkraut with potato pierogies washed down with Susquehanna Stout was a winner.  Rosemary had chicken.  After dinner a walk around downtown and a visit to 2 wineries downtown for free tastings.  Bought a bottle of Cab from Gettysburg Winery.  Rough life. 

Day 6, Thursday

Departed Front Royal and headed to Fredericksburg, VA, a 90 minute drive to the L’Hotel du Walmart.  Car drive to historic downtown and a visit to Mary Washington’s house (mother of George)(see photo), Mercer’s Apothecary (see photo) and the Rising Sun Tavern (see photo) in the house of Charles Washington (brother of George).  Each offered a guided tour with guides in period dress and in character.  Very amusing.  Then a walking tour of the Fredericksburg Battlefield coupled with a driving tour during which we saw 3 deer walking across a plain.  The Union Army destroyed the city but lost the battle due to the moronic Union General Burnside who sent wave after wave of Union troops across a 600 yard plain against the Confederates who were behind a stone wall with artillery above them of Marye’s Hill.  Thousands of Union soldiers died over eight hours of trying without ever reaching the stone wall.  Parts of the original wall still exist and you can walk the area and see the vantage point the CSA had.  It was nothing more than a suicide mission.  Fortunately, the Union had another general with a little more smarts, but that’s for Gettysburg a little later on the trip.  Also did an evening tour of the Chatham Manor grounds (see photo).  Chatham was built in 1771 and was occupied by the Union Army during the battle of Fredericksburg. While there we witnessed an unusual sight for us Floridians, 3 wild groundhogs scurrying about.  Thanks to repeated viewings of the movie, Groundhog Day, I recognized the critters.

Day 7, Friday

Did driving tour of the battlefields at Chancellorsville and Wilderness.  Visited Ellwood Manor which is still intact and was uilized by Robert E. Lee during the battle of Chancellorsville and by the Union General Warren during the battle of the Wilderness.  It was also where, after his greatest victory at Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson was taken after being shot by his own men and had his left arm amputated.  The arm was buried in the Ellwood cemetery and we visited the arm’s grave.  Such a site, not to be forgotten (see photo).  Jackson died 8 days later but was not buried with his left arm.  The afternoon was spent at Belmont, the estate of artist Gari Melchers (see photo).  The house and grounds are beautiful and included a very large stone building that he used as his studio and which displayed much of his art.

At 4:20 headed north on I-95 to Fairfax to meet our good friend, Marie-Claude, for dinner.  The 53 mile trip took 2 hours.  The bumper to bumper traffic resulted in 8.3 mpg.  I don’t think I will ever complain about Florida traffic again.  Overnight at Chez Walmart in Chantilly.

Day 4, Tuesday

Luray Caverns is the largest caverns in the east.  Carlsbad Caverns is bigger but Luray is quite  impressive (see photo attached-that’s right, photos on blog by popular demand).  One and a quarter mile path took us about 75 minutes - a very enjoyable walk and temp in the 60's so short sleeves for me, sweatshirt for Rosemary.  After a brief drive through the town of Luray (10 minutes tops and that’s for a roundtrip) headed to Front Royal (only 26 miles north) at the north end of the Shenandoah Valley and checked into North Fork Resort Campground and a space on the north fork of the Shenandoah River.  Car ride through Front Royal and trip to Rappahannock Cellars for a wine tasting.  Virginia wines are surprisingly good.  Bought 2 bottles of a Chardonnay/Viognier blend which I rate a 5 (of 5).  Back to campsite and grilled up some cod for which Rosemary made a special sauce which went well with our new wine.  A very relaxing day with not much driving until, Rosemary decided to do a load of laundry about 9:30 pm.  At about 11 pm, the washer was still going yet it was only a light load.  Turns out the washer will not drain when the grey water tank is full which it was.  I let some water out since we were hooked up and the washer finished.  Ran dryer for a little then hung clothes up on our clothes hanging tree.  A really useful device that folds up small yet can handle a full load.  Sleep came as soon as head hit pillow.  Rosemary couldn’t sleep and up all night (a female thing I guess).

Day 5, Wednesday

Morning came and since showers last night were without soft water, time to regenerate softener.  With one exception, it was a piece of cake since I had done it before, it was daylight and I wasn’t in my pj’s walking on ice water as last time.  The exception was finding the 2 lbs. of salt to add. I moved it from the usual place since we needed the extra pantry space to load up for 10 weeks.  I opened every cabinet inside, then every compartment outside and still no salt. Then Rosemary suggested under the bed and magically there it was.  After recharge, a trip to the Skyline Caverns (see photo).  We got our own personal tour guide as we hit a time when no one else happened to be there.  The caverns were much more rustic and cave-like than Luray.  Temp much colder (54 degrees) also so sweatshirt for me about half way through the hour and half tour.  Caverns featured underground rivers including a waterfall of about 40 feet into parts unknown.  They do not know the source nor the end of the rivers.  A unique feature found only in three US caverns and discovered first at Skyline is called anthodites, a calcite crystal formation that looks like white sea urchins hanging from the ceiling (see photo).  Afternoon was a trip to Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive which starts at Front Royal and eventually turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway about 100 miles south.  We stopped at Compton Gap at mile marker 10.4.  The park ranger said this was a good place to hike and only 1.2 miles (2.4 roundtrip) to a view from Compton’s Peak of the Shenandoah Valley.  We figured 1.2 miles was like a short 15 minute walk around our block back home.  The first mile of the route was along the Appalachian Trail then a right turn for .2 mile.  We gained 850 feet in elevation along a rocky, buggy, poison ivy strewn “path” having to step over fallen trees on the way while avoiding anything green since we were warned it was tick season.  We finally arrived in 30 minutes.  The view was breath-taking  (possibly due to the hike up).  Drank some water, took some pics (see photo) and after 10 minutes headed down, only 25 minutes this time.  Dinner at Osteria Italian Restaurant, only our second meal out this trip.  Owner has a noticeable Italian accent.  I had the nightly special, mussels in a spicy red broth, delicious.  Cannoli was the best I ever had and I have had a few as my baby bump evidences.

Day 2, Sunday

Departed the flea market 10 am, bought diesel (44 gallons) and headed north. About 5 pm just had to stop at the Carolina Premium Outlets, payback for my Barracuda Bob’s selection -  speaking of selections, the Cooter Ale by the Jekyll Brewing Co. of Alpharetta, GA, went well with the shrimp and grits.  Did some damage but thankfully the stores closed at 7 pm on Sundays.  Ate dinner in coach then onward to the Walmart Resort of Rocky Mount, NC.  Covered 366 miles but with the last hour after a 3 hour break made it tolerable.  Slept with no generator and thus, no a/c.

Day 3, Monday

Woke up early and Rosemary claimed to be freezing it being a delightful 49 degrees in Rocky Mount.  Changed planned itinerary and headed to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s house in Charlottesville, VA - looks just like the back of a nickel) arriving about noon after passing over the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Entrance road to Monticello (which is on the top of a mountain) was not designed for motorhomes but we made it.  Had to detach the car on a slope in order to park.  Great tour of the mansion and grounds.  High temp was 80 and not much humidity.  Makes me glad to be a rolling snowbird - who needs Florida summers.  About 5 pm, headed to the Shenandoah Valley.  Bought more diesel (62 gallons). The coach says 11.5 mpg but it sure seems like the diesel evaporates quickly.  Must be the low humidity.  Overnight in the  Luray Walmart Resort near the Luray Caverns which is tomorrow’s adventure.

Star Date 05312014, Saturday

Today we’re off on the “Big Trip”.  Ten weeks planned in our second home, on wheels of course. After an exhausting week trying to tie up loose ends at the office and preparing and packing the  coach we hit the road at 10 am.  Easy drive 310 miles arriving in Savannah, GA, and pulling into our “campground” at Keller’s Flea Market at 4:30.  Keller's is a host of Harvest Hosts of which we are members.  After stretching our legs at the flea market without a single flea bite we were off in the car to Savannah’s riverfront.  Lovely walk under cool skies, many restaurants and bars beckoning and we could not resist Barracuda Bob’s.  No menu needed as “when in Rome” order the shrimp and grits.  Jumbo shrimp with carmelized onion, roasted red pepper, andouille sausage, grits and cajun cream sauce.  Outrageous and worth the year it probably took off my life.  Ro had the parmesan crusted grouper topped with lump crab meat, also very good.  Dessert was at the Peanut Shop where unlimited samples are available for cheapskates like us; a taste of the dark chocolate almonds and brittle were all we could eat as we were quite full from dinner.  The vacation mode has set in and the exhaustion has given way to excitement.

Star Date: 03302014, Sunday

Ten days since my last blog.  Where does the time go?  Every day seems like a Saturday. Great fun and no time pressures.  But I must keep everyone better informed and will try at least 2x a week in the future.  That way each entry will not be too long as this one turns out and hopefully you won’t throw me into your spam folder.  Since this is also intended to be a reference in the future for me, I will try a different format for dates and places.

3/21/14, Friday: Perry GA to Salem SC

About 4 hour drive to visit our friends Edda & Mike who have a 19 acre spread near Salem.  Uneventful trip except for the traffic on the Atlanta bypass which is a place to avoid next time.  I’ll never complain about Tampa traffic again.  We knew our friends lived in the country but when we arrived on a gravel road only about 10 feet wide with fences on both sides (the coach is 8.5 feet wide) and several low hanging trees I thought I was going to test my driving in reverse skills to the max.  After Mike cut a couple tree branches with his chainsaw and a failed attempt to back into a part of their field, somehow I managed to turn the rig around and backed in at a different angle.  I was so focused on getting into that space I literally had no recollection of how I did it just after I shut the coach off.  OK, so the field was not too level.  No problem since the coach has leveling jacks.  As I was putting the jacks down, Rosemary came running to stop me as the coach steps were being plunged into the ground.  We lowered the back end a little to save the steps.  Fortunately, we just made the 3 degree tolerance for the refrigerator to work.   Dinner out with Edda & Mike entailed a 30 minute drive.  Good Asian restaurant in Seneca I think.  Good visit and Saturday departed for NC.

3/22/14, Saturday: Salem SC to Henderson NC

Arrived just before noon to visit my sister Staci, bro-in-law Jon and niece Avery.  Only a 70 minute drive from Salem.  Afternoon visit to Burntshirt Vineyards for wine, nibbles and music on a beautiful sunny, cool day.  Sunday morning, rain and cold.  It cleared some in the afternoon so we visited the Triple Falls and Hooker Falls waterfalls about 30 minutes away.  Monday spent in Asheville visiting artsy fartsy stuff for the girls in order for the guys to pick the dinner spot, the Wicked Weed Brew Pub. (The weed referred to is hops).   Good beer and good bison burger.  Tuesday and SNOW!!!  Two nights straight with temps down to the low 20's.  Kept my light on in the outside water compartment to have a little extra heat on the pipes.  But no frozen pipes. Jon has a 20 amp outlet for us to plug into.  The electric heat was fine on the 20 amps at first but tripped when we discovered Jon’s electric blankie was on the same circuit.  Thereafter, we used the LP furnace for heat.  Since LP was running low and I did not want to move the coach until we depart on Wednesday, I turned the heat off Tuesday during the day.  Staci (who designed the tasting room and more at the winery) had arranged a private tour of Burntshirt with the winemaker, Mike Sterling.  We sampled 5 wines of the 2013 vintage directly from the barrels since it had not been bottled yet.  Good stuff and Mike was a generous host.  Dinner at Flat Rock Wood Room.  Good BBQ and wood fired pizza too.  When we returned after dinner, the coach was a nippy 54 degrees.  The LP furnace heated us up in no time and went to bed hoping the LP did not run out before morning.

3/26/14, Wednesday: Hendersonville NC to Perry GA

Departed 10:15.  Stopped at Flying J at mm 160 on I-85 for LP, diesel, dump and lunch.  Took exit 149 to go 441 through Athens to avoid Atlanta.  Arrived Perry just after 5:00 and checked into Fairgrounds with full hookup.  Parked right next to two Roll ‘N Rebels coaches.  Thursday, a couple seminars and dinner of mahi mahi on our gas grill (outside the coach) in the sun with a cool breeze and a bottle of porter.  Evening entertainment and door prize give-aways afterwards keeps the crowd there til the end.  Out of about 440 coaches the first number picked for a prize was ours.  A silicone spoon rest!   Just what no one needs in a coach.  The next day we managed to convince the vendor who sponsored the spoon rest to let us exchange it for a comparably priced item, a kitchen timer, so we do not have to turn on the generator for the microwave timer every time Rosemary wants to time her tea.  Friday, guess what.  More rain.  Another muddy mess.  About 30 minutes of severe winds did some damage to others with flag poles and wind socks taking flight to outer space but our coach survived unscathed.  A couple more seminars including an RV Tour company who was giving away a tablet at the end of the seminar.  Guess what?  Rosemary got her tablet.  Another device she won’t know how to use!  Saturday we played hooky from Perry and went to the Aviation Museum in Warner Robbins, admission free.  About 30 minutes northeast.  Had a good time, lots of aircraft on display inside and outside.  Dinner at the rally was by Yoder’s, a Mennonite caterer.  More entertainment and a Chinese auction by which time our luck had run out.

3/30/14, Sunday: Perry GA to Andersonville, GA and Tiftin GA

Depart 10:00 for about 40 minute drive to Andersonville National Historic Site, the National Prisoner of War Museum and the National Cemetery.  We spent the entire day.  Fascinating story of the Civil War prison known as Camp Sumter as well as the history of all prisoners of war.  Some 30,000 Union prisoners housed in a prison designed for 6,000, operated from February 1864 to May 1865.  No shelter at all.  Just walls around the perimeter.  13,000 died.  Afterwards headed south to Tifton where we knew a good place to stay the night as we had at the beginning of the trip, the GA Museum of Agriculture.  Arrived about 6:00, dinner at Pit Stop BBQ, then shopping at Publix so we have a full fridge when we get home tomorrow.  I have never been homesick the last 17 days and wish we were staying on the road.  But lots to do when we get home before the really big trip this summer.  Enjoying motorhome life!  Until next time, happy travels.