Last Stop

Wednesday, April 1st saw us visiting our daughter Joanne, son-in-law Charlie and grandson Ben who live in Dartmouth. Ben will be 2 years old on May 30th and the rambunctious little fellow was putting on quite a show for his grandparents! The Tortola family also dropped by to welcome us home. Faye’s mother Ruby and sisters Connie, Beatrice and Ella were happy to see us on Thursday in Windsor where they were regaled with tales of our journey.
On Friday morning we hitched onto the RV which we had left parked behind the Irving Big Stop in Aulac, N.B. then headed across the Confederation Bridge, arriving home in Souris West in mid afternoon.
Since leaving on November 15/2008 we traveled 28,342 kilometers through 6 provinces, 2 territories, and 26 states. We left Calgary on January 25th towing the 24 ft. Fun Finder travel trailer heading straight south crossing the border into Montana. We were pleased that the trusty V-6 Dakota with tow haul transmission with cooler was equal to the task.
For security reasons and other comforts such as electricity, water, wireless, cable, and sewer, etc. we chose to stay in RV parks rather than dry camp in farmer’s fields, side roads or places such as Wal-Mart. We became members of KOA, Passport America, Good Sam, and Reserve America and were able to recover most of the fees through the discount. We found the State Parks excellent with KOA a close second. The RV parks gave us the opportunity to meet people and make acquaintances from many parts of North America. It was amazing how many of these people knew about PEI and Anne of Green Gables and wished they could visit. We became personal friends with a number of them with promises to visit here on PEI. In addition we always passed on The Communities of Eastern Kings website www.ekpei.ca (note the link to Souris Wildlife) run by Waldron Lead from Kingsboro, so these people could witness firsthand the beauty of our part of the Island.
This “once in a lifetime trip” was a truly worthwhile experience. We saw awesome landscapes, attended events local to whatever community we were in, met wonderful people, and learned a great deal about the history, culture, and lifestyles along the way.

End of road……. Thanks for keeping up with us.

Shenandoah Valley and Heading Home

After leaving the KOA near Lexington, Virginia we headed up the valley on I-81 to do some sightseeing. Our first stop was the Frontier Culture Museum. The concept behind this place is to show the lives of the early pioneers from Europe & Africa before and after their arrival in America. Farm homes, their furnishings and buildings in England [dated 1690], Ireland [early1700s], and Germany [early1700s] were taken apart, shipped to the museum site and reassembled. People in period costume were cooking and doing their chores in the manner back before life overseas before immigration to America. The last stop demonstrated an example of early American pioneer homesteading in Northern Virginia starting about 1780 to 1840 and the changes during that period. Three pioneer homes show the homes, furnishings and buildings.
We then booked into an RV site called Cosy Acres close to the Luray Caverns in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley. Next morning we toured the Luray Caverns, an amazing experience walking 1.25 miles underground through stalactites and stalagmite pillars which took millions of years to develop. Next door to the caverns was an old car and carriage museum, numerous extremely well preserved vehicles starting in 1903.
We managed to finish this tour before heading north towards home making our way to the I-95 bypassing Boston and sleeping two nights at rest stops in New Hampshire and Maine.
We stopped in Fredericton for a Monday night stay with Paul’s brother Joe. Some time during the night Julie returned from her trip to Las Vegas and gave us a good breakfast. Tuesday night we stayed with friends George and Donna in Onslow Mt. outside Truro. We were happy to also see their son, Robbie, his wife Janet, and their baby daughter Georgia. We had a great evening looking at their western trip photos, DVDs on Janet & Robbie’s hike, and ended with cowboy/retired farmer George singing & playing guitar.
After a delicious breakfast, Wednesday took us to Dartmouth to see Joanne & Charlie and our handsome dark haired grandson, Ben who loves to roughhouse with Grampie Paul. He’ll be two on May 30th and a real joy. Our redheaded grandson in Whitehorse just turned three and we just received the birthday pictures. He loves guitar music and his cake looked like a guitar. We look forward to the summer when all our family will be together on PEI.

Later…..

Savannah, Georgia, March 23, 24.

We stayed for two nights at a KOA near Savannah. We had read about the area in many books and wanted to see it.
Paul has just finished reading The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant and was keen on visiting Fort McAllister, an earthen fort built during the Civil War to protect Savannah. It defended the area well for two years against shelling by several warships until Dec.13, 1864 when General Sherman attacked from the land side. All the defences were pointed out across the Ogeechee River. Still, the Confederate soldiers put up a gallant defence before being overwhelmed by General Sherman's army. The fort lay in ruins until Henry Ford bought the land it stood on and began restoration. It is also the site where, on Feb.28,1863, the iron clad Montauk destroyed the Privateer Nashville {renamed The Rattlesnake during the Civil War} Americans do a wonderful job at keeping their history alive and present.
Our next stop was Savannah. After finding a parking spot along Bay St. we stepped down a stone stairwell to River Street paved with ballast stones from the days of sailing ships. These stones were also used to build homes and fences. The land side of the street is lined with buildings that had once served as the Cotton Exchange. Savannah was an important cotton port. These have been converted into restaurants, taverns, and numerous kinds of shops. The walk along the river is lined with benches and a saxophone player fills the air with sweet music. It is a lovely, relaxing place. We took an hour sail up and down the Savannah River on the Georgia Queen, a paddle wheeler, which is a replica, before going to see Market Square. Although we didn’t see all the sites we had picked out in the tourist brochure, we were tired and were happy to get back to our trailer. While Paul cooked, Faye did the laundry and then we prepared for our next stretch to Fayetteville, North Carolina.

St. Augustine Historic Village

After arriving at Pacetti RV and Marina on March 19th, we set up the RV, relaxed a bit and caught up on laundry.
Many people we have met along the way told us that St. Augustine is a lovely and interesting place to visit. So it is.
At 9:30 next morning we parked in the city and boarded a tour tram with an entertaining bus driver/tour guide named Charlie. As we passed through the streets from site to site, he gave colourful accounts of the history and significance of each place. As it was founded in 1565 by the Spanish, many places have Spanish architecture and names. The fort of Castillo de San Marcos took 23 years to build, 1672 – 1695. It is a massive structure built with coquina rock, which consists of shellfish which died long ago and the shells bonded together to form the stone. Guides are dressed in the style of the original guards – very colourful. St. George Street is a historic walking mall filled with many small shops and restaurants. Paul lost Faye only once. The Milltop Tavern has a working overshot water wheel originally powered by an artesian well, a replica of the original used to grind wheat. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is beautiful as are the magnificent mansions, hotels, and churches built by railroad tycoon, Henry Flagler. The Bridge of Lions to Anastasia Island is being rebuilt. For some reason, they had to use at least 60 per cent of the original bridge in order to keep the same name, so construction is slower than normal as the original materials are cleaned, repaired, and updated. We saw the Lighthouse, the oldest house, a cannonball lodged in the side of a house, the oldest wooden school in the US, and the Old Drug Store which actually sold old time remedies made mostly from dried plants. We have yet to visit the Fountain of Youth and the old Jail. There was simply too much to see and do in one day but our tram pass is good for three days. .
On Saturday we drove to Venice to visit Bill and Carol Trenholme. After dinner we visited Jerry and Karen Sutherland who live in the same park. Sunday was a fun day. Before church we toured Venice Beach and parts of the city. After church we went to a flea market and garage sale, then drove around with Bill acting as tour guide.

Day Trips from Perry, Florida

We drove to Perry KOA RV Park on Monday, March 16th. On Tuesday we toured to Keaton Beach which is a small seaport resort on the Gulf Coast. The highway to Keaton from Perry is through pine forest wilderness, huge plantations. Their program appears to be very successful as clear cut logging on 20-30 year old plantations was being carried out.
In Keaton Beach there are very unique bayous bisecting inland with numerous private boat moorings attached to residences. We were told that the houses have to be 20-22 feet in the air on posts before the insurance companies will provide protection from occasional tidal surges. We noted some fishing vessels set up for lobster and some shrimpers. Keaton Beach is a haven for bird watchers; we saw a small flock on the sandy beach which nobody we spoke to was able to identify.
After Keaton Beach we came upon Steinhatchee Falls, a picnic site set up by the State. There were footpaths along the river and nature trails through the surrounding forest.
We returned to the RV Park in time to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned ham and cabbage with other park residents. Faye’s crossword expertise won her first prize in a timed contest!
Today, Wednesday we drove to Wakulla Springs Lodge and State Park which is a 6,000 acre wildlife sanctuary. The heart of the park is the world famous Wakulla Springs which flows at 400,000 gallons a minute from the majestic springs to create the Wakulla River, one of the last pristine rivers in Florida. The bowl of the springs is one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, a haven for local youths who love the exhilarating rush of a leap from the dive tower into the 125 ft bowl. Check it out online at www.floridastateparks.org. The Wakulla Springs Lodge was built in 1937 by Edward Ball, a well to do Florida businessman, and is an excellent example of Mediterranean Revival architecture.
We took the forty minute boat tour and saw alligators, turtles, white egrets, wood ducks, ospreys, hawks, white ibis, water snakes, and other wildlife. The pristine clear water revealed numerous mullets jumping all over the place with catfish feeding on the bottom.
We then drove to Tallahassee, the state capitol before heading home to our RV in Perry.

Later…..

Top Sails and On To Perry KOA in Perry, Florida

Wednesday (11th) was a great day. We visited Cliff & Carole Hardin who live on a horse farm near Dothan, Alabama about 190 km. from Topsail State Park. They are friends of Robbie & Janet McNeil, son & daughter-in-law to our friends George & Donna McNeil, all from Onslow, Nova Scotia. Janet & Robbie and Cliff are all hikers. Cliff and Carole were very welcoming and showed us around their lovely property. We were introduced to their champion Palamino horses, and then toured the farm before having a delicious lunch. Carol has started her garden with carrots, lettuce, radish, potatoes and we observed fresh asparagus sprouting. Her Iris, Viola and Sweet William flowers are in full bloom. These are very accomplished people. They both train and show horses and have both won numerous prizes including world championships. Besides that, Carole is a nursing instructor and Cliff has hiked major trails in the US, New Zealand, and other places in the world. He has earned the Triple Crown of hiking.
Paul has just returned from Miss Lucille’s Gossip Cafe where he goes most mornings to check e-mails along with The Guardian, a PEI newspaper.
The rain was coming down hard early this morning but has now stopped. The air is clear and sweet with the scent of pine trees. Birds are singing and Paul is rearranging the trailer on its new site so we can step out on to the cement pad and put down the awning. We are more secluded here with bushes and trees all around the site. We had to move to another site in this park as we decided to stay another three days.
Yesterday we went to the beach. The sun was hot and the waves a beautiful clear bottle green color crashing into white foam at the shore. Most people simply sat and watched as wave after wave rolled in – a hypnotizing effect. We splashed in the water and then, to dry off, walked up the shore to a sandbar where we found some pretty seashells. We’re going to check out that spot again. Everyone along the beach smiles and says hello – accents from all over the northern states and Canada. They all ask where we come from. Obviously, they think we also have an accent!!!
Sharon and Leo Walsh, a couple from Ontario, stopped by shortly after we got back from the beach and we all decided to go out for dinner to Enzo’s, an Italian restaurant. Faye was given a half hour to get ready and, believe it or not, she did!
On Sunday afternoon it was raining so decided to say hello to Wendell & Joan Deagle from Souris West who are vacationing in Fort Walton Beach. We called ahead and daughter-in-law Louise informed us that, very unfortunately, Joan’s brother had passed away in Ontario. We then toured Henderson State Park just down the road from Top Sails with impulsive thoughts to staying there another time as this location fronts the same beach as Top Sail.
Leo and Sharon dropped over. After a great visit, we said our good byes with promises that they would visit PEI sometime in the near future.
We have discovered that a unique feature of RV camping is that it affords the opportunity to meet great folks, most who have retired. We have been very fortunate with this. Faye says the laundry room is a great place to meet like minded ladies while Paul talks it up with surf fishermen or anyone else he should happen to meet. Couples with 40 ft. Class A rigs are just as down to earth as couples towing 24 ft. trailers.
Today, March 16th we drove to Perry KOA RV Park in Perry, Florida arriving here in mid-afternoon. We thoroughly enjoyed camping at the Gregory E. Moore RV Park in Top Sails State Park having stayed for fourteen nights. It has been the best RV park experience so far on our journey.

Later…..

Top Sails Preserve State Park

We booked in on March 3rd for ten nights at The Gregory E. Moore RV Resort in Top Sails Hill Preserve State Park located just east of Destin, Florida. Gerry and Sherri arrived in on the same date. We enjoyed each other’s company for six days alternating hosting dinner in the evening, celebrating Gerry’s 59th birthday, playing Sequence (a board card game) and doing some touring in Destin and Santa Rosa where Miss Lucille’s Gossip Café is located. We were able to do our internet and email business there as this resort does not supply that service.
After a busy six days, Gerry/Sherri left Monday morning proceeding on their escapade towards Alabama and Louisiana.
This state park is located on the Gulf of Mexico with a beautiful white sand beach where we managed to spend a couple afternoons. This beach does not have life guards; however warning flags about rip tides are posted daily when necessary.
We managed to book another three nights here, now checking out on March 16 and then heading towards The Old Pavilion RV Park in Keaton Beach which is about four hours drive east and south of Destin but still on the Gulf of Mexico.
March Spring Break is about to hit the Florida beaches causing some concern about park availability. We were on the phone and internet today booking RV Parks until our trek home up the eastern seaboard commencing at St. Augustine on the Atlantic side on or about March 23.
This park has two ponds with one having one or more resident alligators. There are also a great number of dogs residing here with their RV owners. Alligators love dogs!! There are stories about an alligator suddenly emerging to make its successful dog snatch!!
The frog peepers have come out in full force within the last few days. The steady cacophony throughout the night is calming and a sure sign of Florida spring. Another unique happening is the steady patter of dew falling on the roof each morning caused by heavy condensation forming on the huge pine tree branches immediately above the RV.
We have enjoyed the company of a number of friendly RVers at this park. Many are from the northern states and everyone is interested in knowing about the Maritimes. We encourage them to visit – in the summer. We’re very impressed with the politeness and graciousness of the service people in the stores and restaurants. They can’t seem to do enough for you. All in all, this is a great place to stay.

Later…..