April 28, 2012...A road trip to Concord, NC, to view and take delivery of our new fifth wheel.  We carried most all the stuff we needed for camping after the deal was closed.  The unit is beautiful.  We love everything about it.  But, there were a couple descrepencies inside the unit.  Therefore, we did not accept and ordered another unit.  Hopefully we'll have one by July.  Had a nice country drive back home getting lost a couple times as my navigator was busy talking instead of watching the GPS.  Below is a pic of what our 2013 Flagstaff Classic Super Lite 8524 RLWS by Forest River will look like.  We ordered the Diamond Package with all the upgrades including this nice taupe exterior color with the new style dark windows.  17' awning will be nice as well as 2 slides...one for our standing table with 4 chairs and the other a wardrobe in the bedroom.  There is a ceiling fan in the living area that will make cooking with a breeze nice.  Our bedroom and bath are kind of together creating a nice open room with toilet tucked in a small room to itself with roof vent.  Wonder why?  LOL  Lots of storage space inside and out.  J has now purchased a gennie to have when we dry dock.  It will turn over the 15k a/c if needed.  Next biggie will be to install a front hitch on the truck with a T bar and yakama roof racks to haul our canoe.  Want to have a receiver on the rear of the trailer, too, for our bikes.  Lots to do.  Looking forward to that maiden trip.  Have been reading the Forest River Forums sites learning quite a bit.  Also learned (after calling the factory) they line-up every other week for fifth wheels/tag travel trailers.  Our re-order was slated for April 30th with the line to be running for 5ers the next week.  So, maybe we'll have a July 4th fifth wheel celebration. 
Tick Tock...see you by the campfire.

Cedar Point, NC



With only 500 miles on our new truck...we decided to pull the Haulmark cargo trailer with our tent supplies to camp for a few.  This way the 3K# trailer would help break in the truck prior to our new 5th wheel of 8K# plus in May.  This is our last tent camping spree before the luxury of a rolling condo. 

Our campground stay was great.  Met a nice Beaufort, NC, couple who had trouble with tag trailer sway.  So, the guys put their heads together to figure it out while D and I rode our bikes around the campground.  Pollen count high the air at times looked like a dust fog as it changed our campsite to a yellow green hue.  We enjoyed watching a pair of osprey work diligently on their nest for the season high in an old snag near the White Oak River.  There were bunnies and deer venturing out along the roadside at night.  Birds woke us every morning with their happy songs.

One campsite had 15 dogs.  Dear me!  Yes...15.  Mama & papa Rotweiller, 10 puppies, and 3 other mutts.  They also had a couple birds that chirped or sang their daily songs.  From the look of things, they were a displaced couple trying to make it.  Before we left they had sold 7 puppies with hopes to sell the other three.

One day a caravan of 3 large motorhomes arrived with the Canadian French speaking Snowbirds.  We really enjoyed chatting with Dick, Tom, Harry, and others.  Looking forward to doing this more often.  See you by the campfire.

March 10, 2012...5th Wheel Ordered

After many months searching the web and RV lots...talking to campers pulling tags and 5th wheels...we finally found our dream condo on wheels that will work for us.  Our four season 2012 Flagstaff  Classic Super Lite Series #8524 RLWS by Forest River should arrive for pick-up mid May from a Concord, NC, dealer.  We chose the swivel rockers for the rear living instead of sofa.  We chose the free standing table with 4 chairs instead of dinette booth.  Minimal carpet and ceiling fan.  We chose the Diamond Pkg. with all the upgrades which includes the new taupe exterior color, shielded awning covers, tinted bonded frameless windows, corian counters in kitchen and living areas, and slam latches on most exterior doors.  Hickory interior wood, Santa Fe decor, deluxe interior window treatment with combo day/night shades, plus.  First time I have seen the large back window that opens.  Here the large back window is divided about 3/4 way down so the bottom corner thirds roll out for ventilation.  Cool!  We are very pleased with this unit.  We will get 2 days stay on the dealer's lot to get hooked up and taught about this 'n that.  Then we get $200 spending dollars in their camping store.  We also get 5 FREE days stay in one of their two campgrounds in NC.  So, already planning to immediately camp.  We have 500 miles on our 2011 truck.  Planning to pull the cargo trailer with our tent supplies somewhere within the next week to camp for a few to start breaking in the truck.  See you by the campfire.

Surfside Beach, SC

Top of the morning to all.  Hope this finds you well.  We are here in a timeshare condo having a blast.  Our 2 bedroom unit with loft is nice with a surprise twist of 30 stairs to climb.  15 steps to the main living area and 15 more steps to the loft with the king bed.  Our goose & duck families woke us every morning honking & quacking as they landed on the pond outside our balcony.  There were ??? carp in the pond 2+ feet long.  We walked across the driveway to the indoor heated pool, hot tub that would blow your socks off.  Their steam room and sauna were nice, too.
 
First couple days here we gadded about with our Sunday drive to Georgetown and almost to Charleston.  In the area we visited The Hampton Plantation State Park located in the Francis Marion National Forest.  The plantation house was pretty.  The grounds were in bloom with camelias and azaleas of all colors.  Was interesting to see the old rice fields with their irrigation canals...all grown up...but, one could imagine.  There were areas along our woodland walk with uprooted ground where the wild hogs had been busy.  We also checked out camping at Buck Hall Recreation Area, Huntington Beach State Park, and Myrtle Beach State Park.  Had several nice chats with campers in the parks.

Time for wine after this exciting day.

We traded our fun $$$ for tickets to Medievel Times dinner theater.  The pageantry and thrills of an authentic medieval tournament came to life inside the walls of the King's 11th century-style castle.  Six armour-clad Knights on valiant horses saught the title of Champion amidst the clashing of lance and shild and heart-pounding combat.Andalusian stallions performed feats of  equine skill and the Knights of the Realm competed in thrilling games on horseback as the pagent unfolded with cheers from the King's noble guests.  Chivalry...Rivalry...Revelry.  We had the best seats in town...ring side row...center end...with entrance door at the other end of the ring.  The horses ran so close we were not sure what we we were eating.  Our four-course feast included tomato bisque soup with a garlic bread, oven-roasted half chicken, spare rib, herb basted potato, Pepsi Cola, pastry of the castle (apple turnover) with coffee...all eaten with your fingers.

The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.  It measures an impressive 200 feet above sea level and is the only observation wheel of its kind in the US.  The attraction boasts 42-climate controlled Swiss-manufactured fully enclosed gondolas and an impressive, one-of-a-kind lightshow held nightly. 

It's always fun sneaking up on the varmints for a photo shoot.  Here an Egret dove for dinner. 

The Slider turtles enjoyed the sunny pond banks and stumps with warmer spring-like temps in February.

Home for New Years...

Friday, Dec. 30, we left our wonderful Williamsburg condo for home via the Surry ferry across the James River.  As we boarded our travel ferry, we could see Jamestown in the distance.

Today I learned a new nautical term...dol...which is what you see below...several pilings grouped together and bound in place with ropes.  This seagull was enjoying the folk drive off the FREE ferry.   As we were unloading the ferry there was a PAPCO tanker filling the other ferry with diesel fuel.  We next headed for Skippers, VA, where we stopped at the Good Earth Peanut Company purchasing a couple bags of nuts in the shell along with a few boxes of yummy chocolate covered dried cherries and peanut brittle.  YUM!  

Our curvy country drive along Rt. 40 and Rt. 10 was pleasant.  Little to no traffice and in the country.  Then we hit I-95 that was almost bumper to bumper and busy, busy, busy.  I drove the rest of the way home giving J a break and fun looking at travel trailers and fifth wheels roll down the road for home or vacation spots.  Arrived in our town in time to pick up our mail, get a few groceries and then home for the weekend.

Today, Saturday, was mull thru the travel bags, a couple loads of laundry hung out on the lines as the sun popped out after night and early morning light rain.  J worked in the yard...mowing...raking....and picking up pine cones.  While we were away our canoe was on sawhorses outside our shop.  Last weeks gusty winds gave it flight landing right side up on the other side of the shop ramp.  J has put it back up on the horses; but, this time against the fence and bunged to the fence.  LOL  That canoe has gone thru a lot the last few months.

2011 has come to an end with a new year barking at her heels.  Happy New Year to all and to all a good night.