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West 2019

February - June 2019
February - June 2019 Read more
  • 60footprints
  • 1countries
  • 132days
  • 205photos
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  • 5.5kmiles
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  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 1

    Winchester, VA - Candy Hill Campground

    February 14, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    "On the road again". Finally!!! After several departure misfires due to needed RV repairs, we have launched our 2019 trip. As with previous years, we're headed west via an express route southward to the Gulf coast and warm weather.

    Our first stop finds us in Winchester, VA for a one night stop. We have stopped in Winchester several times in the past, but never took the time to actually look at the town. Today we snaked through residential Winchester and found many historic homes, some of which showed a wealthy, stately origin. Since Winchester hosted several major Civil War battles, many of these home probably witnessed battles that actually raged up and down Main Street. Very impressive!

    One has to venture beyond the highways and interstates to experience the real USA.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 2

    Natural Bridge, VA - Natural Bridge KOA

    February 15, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Another one night stop along our dash to warmer weather. Natural Bridge is just a small town with not much to offer, EXCEPT, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the Modern World, the Natural Bridge. The Bridge is a natural arch, a rare geological formation. It and surrounding land was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Unfortunately, our limited time precluded us from viewing the Wonder. Something for another visit when time permits.

    While many campgrounds come with resident dogs and cats, today's campsite came with 3 chickens. One was extremely friendly, working right up looking for a handout. Someone reached down to pet a head and got a pecked hand for her effort.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 3

    Statesville, NC - Statesville/I-77 KOA

    February 16, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Today started with snow falling. Can't seem to leave the white stuff behind us. Thankfully it only stuck to the ground areas and not the streets. We managed an uneventful trip, taking in all the interstate splendor, and arrived in Statesville, NC, safe and sound.

    Why Statesville? No particular reason, except that we ranged our mileage limit and our campground of choice, a KOA, is in Statesville.

    It appears our 2 day stay here will be a quiet one. Time for a "time out" from driving.

    We apparently have selected the right spot for some quiet time. Statesville is a modest little city, surrounded by diary farms, corn and soybeans. It appears it's only claim to fame it is only 40 miles north of Charlotte, NC. Supposedly, Statesville's ancestors were stoic and unassuming. This foundation has given rise to a friendly, humble, hard working, gentle community. Probably not a bad place to live if quiet and unassuming is your lifestyle of choice.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 5

    Anderson, SC - Anderson/Lk Hartwell KOA

    February 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Finally found the warm weather! It took only a 700 mile drive. Anderson, SC welcomed us with a sunny 66° temperature.

    Today's drive took us through Charlotte, NC, with a stop at a Microsoft store for repairs to a tablet. We did better than a repair. Microsoft gave us a new tablet, even with the old being out of warranty. The old tablet had a overheating battery. We figured Microsoft felt it cheaper to replace the tablet rather than deal with damages from a fire. The store is located in the upscale SouthPark mall. Upscale being the key word. There's something to be said for a mall with Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms as anchor stores compared to one anchored by Sears and JC Penny's.

    Anderson, SC enjoys a very vibrant economy that is attributed to it's geographic location, halfway between Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA, along the I-85 corridor; and a strong manufacturing presence, especially in the of area of plastics. The area in general is recognized internationally as a automotive supplier hub. I suspect the BMW automobile manufacturing plant located here has something to do with all of Anderson's prosperity. Also, Clemson University is right next door. Probably a good place to live.

    An equally important facet of the Anderson locale is Lake Hartwell. This huge body of water was made by damning 3 rivers. Hundreds of feet deep, the reservoir and adjoining Statesville Park provide the usual outdoor activities associated with a recreational lake. Much to enjoy!    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 6

    Pine Mountain, GA - Pine Mtn RV Resort

    February 19, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    After a fun filled drive through monsoon rain, thunder and lightning, we have arrived in Georgia. This trip segment took us around Atlanta via an interstate beltway. We saw nothing of Atlanta, not even a skyline view due to the heavy rain. We did have plenty of time to look since we crept along, stop and go, at 35 mph. Enough of Atlanta!

    Pine Mountain, GA is a small sleepy town known for it's unique art scene, shopping, and food offerings; and the famous Calloway Gardens.

    Today, Callaway Gardens is a 6500 acre resort complex with all the amenities. In 1930 Cason Callaway discovered a rare azelea that gave birth to the Garden idea. Callaway purchased 2500 acres in 1932 on which to build his home. Gradually his holdings were expanded and in 1952 Callaway Gardens began in earnest. In 1970's Callaway Gardens was opened to the public.

    One of the signature features of the Gardens is the Cecil B. Day (founder of Days Inn) Butterfly Center. There are 2000 butterflies housed in North America's largest glass enclosed tropical conservatory.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 8

    Pine Mountain, GA

    February 21, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    What's a day without rain? Apparently this is a question the residents in the southeast US cannot answer. It has rained every day of our trip so far, except one. Flooding is the issue here, not snow plowing.

    Last of our 3 nights in Pine Mountain, GA. Days were spent relaxing away from windshield time. Just as at home, maintenance needed to be done. This time fixes were minor consisting of a broken lock replacement in the fresh water hatch and an nterior ceiling light replacement. Luckily a mobile RV service technician was available to make a house call. What appeared to be an easy fix turned out to be more involved. Glad I left it to a professional.

    Last night here, and weather issues wouldn't be complete without sitting through a "Tornado Warning" and more pouring rain. Thankfully, no actual tornado, no wind, just buckets of rain. Sitting in an RV and watching the weather radar, provdes a whole new weather experience.

    Had planned on a Callaway Gardens visit, but the RV repairs took precedent. Did want to see the butterflies! Next time!    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 9

    Greenville, AL - Sherling Lk Campground

    February 22, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    "Sweet Home Alabama"! Sunny sky and 74°. Finally!

    Greenville is known as the Camellia City. The city grew from an agrarian cotton growing area, to a major trading center, brought about by the railroads coming to town, and finally into todays industrial manufacturing economy. Today it maintains a laid back family atmosphere that is associated with many small Southern towns.Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 11

    Spanish Fort, AL - Meaher State Park

    February 24, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Finally made it to the coast! We are now enjoying 75° weather and a warm breeze on the Gulf of Mexico. We are camped right on Mobile Bay.

    Spanish Fort is situated on the Eastern shore of the Bay, across from the city of Mobile. Spanish Fort was an undeveloped area until the 1970's. Rather than get annexed as part of a large city, the area inhabitants banded together and Spanish Fort was formed in 1993. Although the town was created recently, the area has a rich and varied history going back to 1712 when discovered by the French. Over time, control transferred to Britain, Spain, and finally to the US as a spoil of the War of 1812. As part of the Confederacy, the Spanish Fort area saw the last Civil War battle east of the Mississippi, allowing the Union to occupy Mobile.

    To see this "new" town, we did a local road trip. Spanish Fort is indeed full of new construction, of very nice homes and busy commercial activities. The town appears to be upscale, and it is close to Mobile, it probably is the bedroom community for the city. All in all, Spanish Fort appears to a desirable place to call home.

    Our excursion took us to one of Mobile's "sights to see", the battleship USS Alabama. We did not do the full ship tour, but rather just took in the hugeness of this ship from the outside. We have done a full tour of the battleship USS Massachusetts, and if you have seen the inside of one battleship, you have seen them all. Still just standing next to this ship was an experience. The USS Alabama had the honor of leading the US Naval forces into Tokyo Bay at the end of WWII for the signing of the armistice.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 13

    Gautier, MS - Shepard State Park

    February 26, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Moving westward now, hugging the Gulf coast, and have arrived in another state, Mississippi.

    We are camping in our favorite setting - quiet, peaceful, with happy birds singing, surrounded by woodlands. This setting is usually what camping in state parks provides and what we enjoy the most. The commercial, private, resort campgrounds do have their place in our itinerary; usually when laundry needs to be done. The full service amenities provided by the commercial campgrounds such as a pool, exercise/game facilities, community room, shuffleboard are not our type of camping. These also come with higher costs and lots of people, many who want to be your closest friend.

    The attraction of Gautier, MS is a visit to the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. We have visited the Refuge before, and thought another visit would provide an opportunity to see the sandhill crane. But, as with our previous visit, no cranes to see. They are rare, only about 100, and being spread over 1000's of acres, they are elusive. This Mississippi sandhill crane is a subspecie of the crane clan. There are more prominent crane species which we have seen, so we weren't too disappointed this time.

    Awakening to the last morning here came early (5:30 AM) due to noise (pitter patter on the roof) from a brief rain shower causing a check for open windows (yes open, it's 65°). However, a reward for rising early came from the hooting owl. What a peaceful sound in the early morning stillness.!    Read more

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