Saturday, 29 July – to Saganing Eagle Landing Casino, Standish MI

Yep, needed our blankie last night and woke to a brilliant blue sky, and condensation running down the outside of the coach.

Early morning at Lake Pontiac State Park, view from front window

We don’t have a long way to go today and leave camp around 10am, heading north on the I75.  Nice road, 4 lanes each way and in good condition, not much traffic   Motor cyclists don’t wear helmets in Michigan either.  Seems to be the northern states where law doesn’t require this.

I 75 - four lanes, don't know about driving tiny Smart convertible at 70 mph

The Coors advertising just balances the photo!

First stop is Saginaw Michigan (we finally made it, two years later).  I half expected to hear Johnny Cash singing the song as we drove in to town.  We turned down Tittabawassee (now that’s a mouth full) Road and arrived at our destination.  Kim collected the parts from the Sears pick up area and I had a power shop in Fashion Square Mall.  On the road again just after 1pm. Just before we got to the casino we drive through the little town of Pinconning, the cheese capital of Michigan – apparently!  Well at least we did see numerous cheese shops.  Michigan is famous for fudge too, but the best places are mostly further north.  They will get a checking out to see if the claim is true!

Pinconning MI - Cheese Capital

Arrive at Saganing Eagle Landing Casino RV Park, near Standish, around 2.30pm.  The RV Park is not obviously visible as we approach the casino, so we drive right under the entrance portico and I go see where we check in.  Ohh - we are getting a free gift, just need to take the voucher over and pick it up later – exciting!

So the 50 site RV Park does have 50 amp and water, the site is level and paved, we have scored a picnic table and at this stage of the afternoon only another half dozen RVs in the whole place.  We are parked next door to a pretty fancy looking big airstream but we haven’t seen the owners, maybe they gamble 24 hours a day.  Surprisingly there is an electric car charging station in front of us!  There’s not much in the way of shade or ambience, so let’s hope having dinner out and seeing some live music makes up for it.  Maybe we’ll throw a $ or 2 in one of the 800 slots and see if Kiwi luck is any good here.

Slight disappointment  : (  This casino is not as our “Casino Camping” book claims, all that good stuff we were expecting here is at the sister casino - Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt Pleasant, not Saganing Eagle Landing.  There is no live music, hasn’t been for a couple of years and the food is a burger and pizza joint.  Must say though the cheese and bacon burger was pretty good and a glass of wine was $2.25!!  And I didn’t have to cook!  We have booked in for two nights so tomorrow will ask the shuttle to take us down to the marina and wander around there for a while.

This casino does have 800 slots and as we walked through saw that at least 750 of them were being played!  The carpark was full, but I guess this is the only entertainment around, we are not even in a town, and it is Saturday night.

Friday, 28 July – to Michigan, Pontiac Lake

The wind came up during the night and morning arrived with dull grey skies.  Time to move on!  We will miss this park and have put it on the list of places we would like to come back to one day!  As we pulled out we were further impressed by the supplied hoses at the dump station and they also offer air!  For now though we are off to Michigan.

We pass through Toledo but as it is only 10 am we don’t stop at The Bar across from the Depot and chat to Lucille, anyway she is probably still tending the four hungry children and the crops in the field.  We cross over the state line from Ohio into Pure Michigan and stop at the Welcome Centre to pick up some literature.  The team here is very friendly, they even take our photos with Elvis.

Welcome to Michigan

Elvis and us

We then skirt around the left (west) of Detroit.  Apart from a stream of traffic coming towards us on the I75 it wasn’t too busy and a pretty good drive, although the road wasn’t the best condition.

Detroit City - Johnny Cash's dulcet tones in my head = don't wanna go home just yet though!

For our accommodation tonight we decide on the Pontiac Lake - State Recreation Area, chosen because it’s Pontiac (# Bryan - good enough reason).  We are still within the outer city limits of Detroit City. We experience a touch of concern proceeding along the road to the camp, a road sign indicates ‘no seal ahead’ – yikes!!  And we are not yet at the road the camp is even on.

Unpaved road!!  Not going to be able to U Turn there if we need to.

Then a slight problem as we get to our allocated site, the power box is situated way way over to the side of the site, nowhere near the paved area where we should park and much further than our power cord can reach.  Hmm, we decide to front in, that way we can see over the valley in front of us and if we park on the grass (permission granted) and way forward of the pavement we can just stretch the power cable to get the 30 amp on offer.  We are only here for one night as we have booked a couple of nights at a casino (with live music) for Saturday and Sunday nights next.

Power post way over on the left, parking pad on right

We have good cell coverage here so spend an hour or so checking emails, posting blogs, checking facebook, bank accounts etc.  The US$/NZ$ Exchange rate is up even more now - $0.7396!

The sun comes out full strength during the afternoon and we take our recliners to the view side of the coach and lax back with our books for an hour or two.  Luckily there is a nice breeze which just provides enough of a cooling factor.

We are treated to a beautiful sunset again, followed by a pitch black night!  The breeze has subsided and it’s cooling down, might need the blankie tonight!

Thursday, 27 July – Maumee Bay SP, Oregon, OH

This is one of the nicest state parks we have stayed in, the bike tracks are all wide and paved and they thread between trees, green belts and the beach. We have probably biked miles and miles, but the tracks are all flat and smooth so no problem for those who may be not so fit as they should be.   There is even a nice laundry here.

We bike down to the beach, there are not many around, but we notice a few people who are not exactly dressed for the beach, ie clothed from top to toe.  We stop and chat to a lady.  She has been to Oz and knows about NZ, asks about our Haka and knows how the All Black strike fear into the opposition with it.  She is here as part of a group helping recent Syrian refugees acclimatise to living in the USA living so have brought them to the beach.  There were about 20 refugees, only a couple of men and three or four kids in the group. Did they look happy?  They didn’t look overwhelmed!  We have no idea what sort of horrific experiences they may have endured!  Good luck to them in their new land.

We don’t stay at the beach for long, there was a layer of high cloud and a nice breeze so it wasn’t over the top hot or humid.  Regardless, we did try for a swim in famous Lake Erie, but it was a lot colder than we have become used to, so can’t confess to getting totally immersed.  Have been in it though!

Picnic Shelter looking over inland lake beach

Everywhere we bike we see deer, now so commonplace have given up taking photos.  However, as we are riding along the paved bike trail on the way back from the beach, we see a ‘small’ black and copper snake slithering away into the grass, it had been sunning itself on the path until we disturbed it!  Of course I happen to know it is a non-venomous Eastern Fox Snake (black with copper highlights), because I read about it on the info board by the bathrooms, even took a photo as a reference, so you can see what the snake looks like:

Pays to read the guff on what to watch our for!

We also see a tiny yellow bird flitting amongst the bushes, but it is quick so didn’t get any great photos.  The red Cardinal is still hovering around our campsite, no doubt looking for his mate, or maybe his enemy!

Today, being Thursday, our quiet private camp is becoming inundated with campers, the usual deal getting close to the weekend.

Wednesday, 26 July – Maumee Bay SP, Oregon, OH

Day two dawns, it’s sunny and just 20C.  After spending some time researching our next moves (no internet so had to rely on the more old fashioned written material) we take the bikes and check out the paved biking/hiking trails to the beach, one way going there, past the fishing lake for under 15 year olds and luckily past Big Hill and not up it, and the alternative trail coming back.  The main beach is on the lake shore with acres of manicured golden sand and I guess just in case the shore wind is too strong, there is another large sandy beach alongside the inland lake.  The huge Quilter Lodge hotel complex, with its own marina looks stunning and not at all busy.  The amenities around the beaches are new and well designed.  The ampitheatre would be brilliant for an outdoor show.  If you walk up the hill you can see for miles!

Maumee State Park Beach

This local beach is part of the Maumee Bay State Park although day trippers are also able to enjoy the beautiful beaches and surroundings.

One the ride back as we are checking out more of the trails a guy walking his dog recommends a local bar/restaurant – “best ribs this side of the river” he says (referring to the Ohio River right at the bottom of the state).  It’s only a quarter mile further up Bay Shore Road, past the University of Toledo Lake Erie Research Centre, so we ride up to check it out and peruse the menu.  Seems further than ¼ mile after the 4 or 5 miles we’ve already ridden today, but Kim decides we will def come back for dinner and he already knows he wants the special of the day – meatloaf on mashed potatoes with onions on top!

 

On the ride back to camp, we see a couple of mama deer and their bambi’s on the grassed trail.

Aww... baby deer

After a relax in our recliners having a wee read, we feel we are up for another ride to go out for dinner.  I punt for the half rack of ribs and they are really good, the best I have tasted this side of the river in Ohio! I was tempted by the seafood but most of it was fried.  Anyway I couldn’t eat all my delicious ribs so do the American thing and ask for a box to take the rest home.  Dinner tomorrow sorted- yum!  Thank you Oregon Inn on Bay Shore.  Also I like enough to take a photo, the detail of the construction of their entrance pillars!

Grey Goose Vodka bottles form the corner posts!!

We get home safely without swallowing any bugs or having any fly into our eyes!  We didn’t have to ride on the road, there is a wide bike path right alongside it.

Tuesday, 25 July – Maumee Bay SP, Oregon, Ohio

Up early, needed our blankie last night and it’s barely 18.4C this morning.  Put another load of laundry on while we have full hook up and then we are moving on to a big State Park right on the shores of Lake Erie, for three nights.  Driving out of Amherst we see more than usual very nice, expensive looking homes.  So far from what we have seen of the north part of Ohio, it does seem a well to do state – maybe Rockefeller’s Standard Oil refinery helped.

First glimpse of Lake Erie, near Huron - there is 312 miles of Erie shoreline in OH

From there the scenic route 2 takes us through Huron, another apparently prosperous small town, past Sandusky where we stayed last time, over the Bay Bridge then hugs the shore until we get to Maumee Bay SP, in Oregon, OH.  It’s a huge park, 370 sites, electric only, has its own golf course (five other SPs in Ohio have golf courses, possibly another clue as to the wealth of Ohio) and it’s just a mile or so bike ride to the swimming beach.  We arrived at 11.20 am but by the time we drove around most of the 370 sites to find the best one, ie best angle for the sun/shade, furtherest away from noisy campers with children (judged by the number of bikes spread around the campsite), quietest, most private, closest to the bike trail to the beach, close but not too close to bathrooms etc…  There is such a lot to consider, sometimes I think it is better if there is only one site left and then we are grateful to even have one!  It was after noon by the time we got set up.  We have a huge site, 30 amp, only one dit of cell coverage though and none on Kim’s, many TV stations and sunshine.  Temp is now a balmy 24C and the sky is blue with just a couple of white fluffies.

It is very quiet at the hub end of the loop where our site is, when walking the track a bit later come across untold rabbits and deer.

We stood eyeballing each other for ages!

We also have a pretty red Cardinal (the state bird of Ohio) which sees itself in our mirrors and spends a lot of time fighting with it’s reflection.  It must be getting a beak ache!  It was cute at first but we worry about the bird’s sanity so put a plastic bag over the mirrors.

Crazy bird!

Had to get the sewing machine back out to repair some fraying off the bike covers.

A lovely clear night, the sky spangled with stars, no city lights, no trains, no noise, very peaceful!

Monday, 24 July – Timber Ridge CG, Amherst, OH 44001

Crossed the state line into Ohio within the first 20 minutes on the road and got the photo.  Avoided the interstate, it was a turnpike which usually equates with tolls.  Waited to find some cheap diesel and got a full load at $2.399/G – not bad!  Then a stop at Walmart, needed a new bulb for the front right driving light and other food stuff.  Yay, we are now in a State where you can buy spirits at Walmart!!  Also, I noticed the price for a dozen extra large white eggs today - $0.46!!

Temperature stayed down around 23C all day today, actually finding it a bit chilly!  Rain held off although the sky was grey.  Sun graced us with it’s presence after 6 pm.

Cleveland in the distance

We wanted to get past Cleveland before we joined the shores of Lake Erie, which we did and eventually arrived at Timber Ridge CG, around 2.30 pm for the night.  Got allocated a huge park next door to another Monaco Coach, his is a Dynasty, a 2001 but in very good condition.  He’s had it since 2003 and done 190,000 miles.  

It’s a nice park, WIFI hot spot only at the office, good cell coverage, the laundry prices are standard - $1.50/wash and $1.25/dry.  They have an indoor swimming pool, still with recliners though?  Dipped my toe in and it appeared heated, it was very warm, much more than just tepid.  There is an adults lounge and a huge pavilion with picnic tables where they hold their weekend functions.  We shot some hoops while we were waiting for the laundry to dry.

Took our old bread over to the lake to feed the fish, when I had a look from the jetty earlier, they gathered expectantly – American version of spotties and thinner fish with green tails.  The water was really clear for a pond.

Timber Ridge, Ohio - camground pond

Clear water, you can even see the weed on the bottom

Sunday, 23 July – Lake Shenango, PA

I took some photos of the sunset last night, lots and lots of photos, I love sunsets!  However to save others from needing to stick red hot pokers into their eyes, I have limited my attachments accordingly!  Enjoy!

Sunset on Lake Shenango, PA

 

More of the sunset on Lake Shenengo, PA

The sun is coming out again this morning for our last full day here.  Need to go for a walk and see what’s happening in the camp, there are lots of campers leaving today, check out is not until 3pm though.  Well, in my ambling I came across these quite large and furry critters, with enormous front incisors – they are ground hogs!  One escaped into it’s burrow, turned and glared at me from within - I am not sure if they attack people?  Then I saw another two just sunning themselves out in the wide open, sharing their territory with the resident bunnies!  Ground hogs are much larger than bunnies, for the record!  Ground Hog Day must be scary!! 

Fat, furry grondhog!

Hiding in his burrow, lookit them teeth!!

We’ve made friends with our neighbours and the people across the road, they are related, but they are leaving today.  They gave us some good recommendations for where we might go once we cross over into Ohio though. 

By 4pm we have new neighbours, one side came in a brand new 40 ft motorhome, using walkie talkies to ensure painless parking!  But then promptly backed the coach into a tree - she was driving and he was only looking down low, until we pointed out that the tree up high was going to win.  We should not comment though, we have been in that position before! The neighbours on the other side are in a small camper van and he is proudly showing of his newly installed speakers, which I heard him say he got from Walmart.  Those speakers stayed on all through the night!  OMG - they also have two huge, fat, hairy old dogs too!  They all live in that little space?

I used the microwave tonight… and great work, it seems to be fixed, it will now cook for longer than 59 seconds at a time – woohoo!  That’s what a tap from a small hammer will do for you!  Oh well, the spare parts will absolutely ensure the problem doesn’t arise again, according to Murphy!!

Kim’s watching the Indianapolis Brickyard 400, already a block was bowled in pit lane (at 60 mph) and there have been lots of accidents.  We were thinking of getting to Indiana for the Motor Coach Rally and then catching the motor racing there this weekend.  Dang it - I think it would have been a good call, lots of action!

Saturday, 22 July Lake Shenango, PA

We slept in again, must have needed it!  The sky is grey and it’s a pleasant 24C.

After our second cup of tea, it started to rain, which was forecast.  So after fortifying ourselves with an enormous feed of pancakes and maple syrup I take this perfect opportunity to check my notes on this State and share some of my new found knowledge.  Here you go:

We’ve decided we really like Pennsylvania and it has been interesting to cross it east to west rather than north to south alongside New York like we did in 2015.  Pennsylvania’s major cities are Philadelphia (American revolution) in the east and Pittsburgh in the west (iron, steel - pioneered by Dale Carnegie and more recently cutting edge technological research) and Erie (a major seaway port). Historical Gettysburg also rates if you are into battleground history (1863 Civil War).  Lancaster, just west of Philadelphia is the heart of the Amish people.  Hershey, “the sweetest place on earth”, apart from confectionery also boasts a “65 ride plus 12 rollercoaster” amusement park, there is also a camping resort there. The strains of Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia are now playing continuously in my head.

The Allegheny mountain range, runs southwest to northeast and diagonally splits the state.  The rest of the topography is a mix of rolling hills and flat plateaus.  The land is fertile and therefore rich in agriculture – lots of corn, hay, oats, soya bean, vegetables, wheat, and tobacco, even some wine!

Trump Pence billboards - you can't get away from them in rural America either!

Famous people hailing from Pennsylvania – Bill Cosby (I bet they’re not so proud of this State son these days), Lee Iacocca (Ford, then Chrysler - thank you for the Mustang Lee) and Billie Halliday (Blues). Although she died in 1959, her music lives on with such hits as Summertime and These Foolish Things.

And sadly the Flight 93 Memorial, just west of the town of Bedford – this is the third spot where the horrific events of 9/11 played out - a tragic reminder of the flight that likely was bound for the White House or Capitol, only to be taken down by the courage of the 40 passengers and crew who confronted their captors and made sure no additional deaths besides theirs would occur.

Pennsylvania is also famous for various foods - Shoofly Pie is one of the most identified desserts in Amish country, the sweet, gooey pies are made with molasses and brown sugar.  Also Pretzels and Scrapple which is a mix of pork (scraps), cornmeal and spices, heated and poured into loaves. It's sliced and fried or baked.  Red Beet Eggs - another PA Dutch favourite.  Haven’t tried any of these so far, but the Shoofly Pie is tempting.

Yum, Shoofly Pie!!

The rain clears during the afternoon so we take a walk around the grounds, a lot of campers have bailed obviously thinking the rain is going to hang around. 

There is a small fenced off planting of Chestnut Trees in the park.  A plague of Chestnut blight started in the early 1900's on the east coast devastating 200 million acres, 4 billion of these mighty giants by the 1950's. One in four trees in the native forest were Chestnuts. They could live for 300 years, grow to 100 feet and 6 feet in diameter.  The native wildlife depended on the nutritious nuts - deer, squirrels, turkeys and bears. The blight was deemed the worst ecological disaster of the 20th century. but it did cause the Federal Govt to introduce the  first plant quarantine laws in the country.

American Chestnut Tree

And just in case you were thirsty:

Friday, 21 July – to north west Pennsylvania – Lake Shenango

No sleep in for us today, up at 7 am - we are on a mission - we are moving on.  We are on the road by 9 am and driving west to a lake almost on the border of Ohio.

We drive through half a dozen little country towns, up and down lots of hills, see more agriculture and even though we see the road signs warning of horse and buggies in the area, we don’t see any Amish today.

Didn't see any Amish on this stretch of road

We don’t even stop for a Walmart as we want to get to the Lake before early so we can pick up a nice walk-up site, we haven’t booked and it is the weekend.  We drive through the little town of Patton.  Then we drive through the little town of Carrolltown (twice – as we came across a road closed a little further up the road and had to double back).

Main Street of Patton about 9.30 am

Rural town of Carrolltown (my sister has a town named after her)

Observations:  Diesel is expensive in west PA, $2.75/gallon.  It is not compulsory for bikers to wear helmets in PA.

About half noon we arrive at Lake Shenango, near Transfer, an Army Corp of Engineers recreation area with 330 sites, only 107 with power. This is one of the places where you drive around to find an available site, squat on it and then walk back to the office to complete the paperwork and pay. Luckily we get the last site with electric, there are a few others available with no facilities, but it’s 90F so we need power. It is only $24 night (here for 3 nights) and have 30 amp electricity, but no water connection.  No WIFI here but OK cell coverage.  We back right on to the lake and there is a track from our site leading down to the water.  We catch glimpses of the lake through the trees.

 

The microwave rattled all the way here so we disinstall it - again (it’s a heavy mother) but we’ve got it pretty much handled this time and while we are at it plug the wiring back in so that it still works, at least for 59 seconds each time.

Then we are ready for a relax outside in the shade and a cold drink.  “The use or possession of alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Shenango lands or waters”.  We get this often in state parks but as long as you are discreet nobody seems to pay much attention. Nobody has ever asked if we have any alcohol on board, or asked to see!  The power cuts out while we are outside so we get to meet the neighbours on both sides while trying to sort out if it is just us or the whole loop.

We have a chicken coconut curry for dinner, mild enough so Kim even enjoys it, or at least eats it!  Cooked outside so we aren't subjected to any long lasting dinner aromas for the rest of the night.  It was nice for a change too, run out of ideas on what to have sometimes!

  

We have TV here (yay) so watch America’s Got Talent, then phone Carrol for a chat (they are three hours behind us in Arizona) and then it’s time for bed once again!

Thursday, 20 July – Crooked Run CG, Prince Gallitzin State Park, Patton, PA

OMG another sleep in!!  A balmy 24C but still spent quite a lot of time inside ‘online’, doing blogs, photos and catching up with the world and just doing stuff.

OMG again, it is nearly 1pm.  At least we have had coffee, showers and tidied up.   Kim ‘fixes’ the door awning, then I reminded him the Microwave/Convection oven was doing strange stuff, ie making unusual noises and just staying on for just 59 mins then cutting off.  So our good friend Google was invited to contribute expert advice on our dilemma.  Yep, there is a fix, just need parts, but meantime we undo all the screws which keep it attached, find some more screws that keep it attached, lower it down carefully onto the ply wood over the bottle jack (man, this thing is HEAVY, the oven that is) and check it out.  Sorry folks, not working at all now – so go online again to order the necessary parts and have them delivered somewhere we might be in ten days and all should be good.  We just won’t use it in between times.

We go for a late afternoon walk around the lake track to the marina and swim beach.  It‘s not too hot today so we don’t need a swim.  And then wander back around the camp roads to our site.

Glendale Lake from the walking track in front of our site

We sit for a while outside in the shade, people come and chat.  Once back inside, while I’m sorting out some dinner, Kim goes online to try and order the parts for the microwave/convection oven.  Luckily they site has "chat", and after some to’ing and fro’ing we find out it will take about ten days to have the parts delivered somewhere. So we select Saginaw, Michigan, just like the song!  This song was the final chart topper for Country Music Hall of Famer Left Frizzell and you mostly hear it performed by Johnny Cash or Randy Travis. 

Saginaw was our intended destination for this trip north anyway, so now we have an extra reason to go there – we will just manage the time between now and then to arrive there by the right time.

Wednesday, 19 July – Crooked Run CG, Prince Gallitzin State Park, Patton, PA

11 am and we are on the road north, west and north towards Glendale Lake.  We continue up narrow Aughwick Road for another 6 miles and end up at Burnt Cabins at the top of Allens Valley to join SH76 westwards.  We chose this route because the map had the green dots indicated a scenic highway.  However 76 is a toll road and an expensive one at that, so we get off at Breezewood, the first exit.  We must have only been on it for less than 10 miles and that was $5.35 thank you very much.  The furtherest exit was up around $35.  Anyway we then take route 26 north, stopping at Walmart at Duncansville to dial up some WIFI to check our emails, FB etc., even after two days it feels like we have been out of the loop for ages.  We carry on another 20 odd miles to our destination.

An example of old town Pennsylvania

Typical landscape here in PA, pretty isn't it

Prince Gallitzin SP, a large 450 site park on Glendale Lake.  We seem to have escaped the heat wave and are now enjoying days starting at around 24C and maybe getting up to late 20’s with the odd 30C, just lovely!

This park has good cell coverage but the WIFI is an additional cost.  We are on a 50 amp site, no water or sewer and with our 'senior discount' is only $25.50/night.  There is a nice little track around to the marina, the kayak hire concession and the swim beach and the bathrooms are behind us, not too far away.  We can see the lake between the trees in front of us.

Tuesday, 18 July – Cowans Gap SP, Fort Loudon, PA

I can’t believe how much we sleep here, I will never get back to normal when we get home!

The sun is out and it is warm, not too hot, as we set off on our exploration along the Lakeside Trial, 1.5 miles around the lake.  It’s pretty, the lake is calm, kayaks and paddle boats are out and there are a lot of people around at the swim beach.  There is a food concession there also where we buy a big glass of ice cold hand squeezed lemonade.  We continue around the lake crossing the dam at the end which is close to our campsite.  That’s the exercise for today!

Swim beach with the dam in the background

The dam was built in the 1930’s by CCC boys (Civilian Conservation Corps).  This was a group created by President Roosevelt to relieve the rampant unemployment in the great depression, the young men received food, clothes and a small pay check in return for building roads, bridges, fire trails, telephone lines, recreation facilities etc.

Most gaps are created by streams or rivers flowing through them, unusually Cowans Gap was created by wind.

We spend an hour or two outside in the shade reading and just blobbing.  Kim takes it upon himself to wash the windscreen now the sun is off it and then he pulls down the venetian blind in the bathroom to give it a birthday.  He gets as far as getting it off the wall before he runs out of ideas on how to clean it.  I guess that’s what wives are for.

Spend some time figuring out where we go next but have come to no firm conclusion, so we will wing in tomorrow once we leave here.  Def need to get somewhere with at least cell coverage, if not WIFI too.  We have no idea what’s happening in the world.

Inquisitive bushy tailed squirrel on our picnic table!

Monday, 17 July – to West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania

Exchange rate up at $0.7236 today!!

Up early (for us) and decamped by 9am.  Last thing to do before we take off is to rescue the fat little furry caterpillars which have taken a liking to our tyres, cute ‘lil critters, but it’s hard to tell which is the front and which is the back!

Don't want to squish any of these furry critters!

Today’s travels will take us 180 miles north, with an estimated drive time of about four hours.  We will cross from Virginia into West Virginia briefly, Maryland also briefly and then to Pennsylvania – WOW four states in one day!  Even get to drive on Route 66 for a ways.

Definitely want to avoid this spaghetti

Welcome to West Virginia

Potomac River marks state line between West Virginia and Maryland

We stop for diesel before we leave VA, while it’s still cheap and get it at a good price, $2.209/gallon, then we stop at Walmart, Martinsburg in Maryland for supplies.  Our Allstays app said that this Walmart had McD!!  Disappointing for Kim - that was an out and out lie!! So he sustained himself with the Walmart chicken tenders for lunch instead (which he realty likes anyway) – but he was seriously going to break his McD fast!!

Saw this in historic Mercerberg PA

We wound our way up steep inclines, climbing up to 2,123 ft, until we arrived at the 1,085 acre Cowans Gap State Park, a narrow highland valley on Cowans Gap Lake which lies between the Cove and Tuscarora Mts. 

It was after 4pm by the time we got set up so decided to leave our exploration until tomorrow, also it is hot, 30C and not cooling down much although there is a breeze up here.

View of lake from site 166

Sunday, 16 July – Harbor View RV Resort, Colonial Beach, VA

ABDIP!  Last day here, tomorrow we have a big trip, leaving the heat and humidity and heading off to a State Park in Pennsylvania, about 3.5 hours away.  As it is a State Park, we are not sure if we will have internet, nor cell coverage, so we may be off the grid for a couple of days.

This morning we gave our carpet a clean using the left over Rug Doctor potion – it has helped considerably, so next time we are in a position (ie at a Walmart) we might hire the cleaner and do a proper job on it.

Kim helped another Monaco Coach this am, they were an older couple (?), parked opposite and a couple down from us.  They were all packed up ready to leave but didn’t go, so Kim asked if they needed help.  Luckily, the boys found pretty quickly that the master switch had been knocked into the off position, so just goes to show it’s often the simple things – they weren’t beginners either!

Lazed the day away, brekkie, coffee, lunch, reading, afternoon at the pool – it was quiet there today, being Sunday a lot of campers left already.

Build you own burgers for dinner (or as we call them tantrum makers, ‘cos when you have so much filling, it doesn’t all stay in the bun - grrr)!  It was a lot cooler tonight so cooked outside : )

Nice shady spot!

Saturday, 15 July – Harbor View RV Resort, Colonial Beach, VA

Not too much of a sleep-in this morning after our late night, it got too hot!  Once we surfaced we took our bikes and went for an explore around the campground and the adjacent marina.  Our new BFF, Jeff was bringing his runabout back into his berth, but it was quite windy so we gave him a hand.  Had a long chat ‘bout boat stuff.  He has his eye on a 35 foot launch, a repossession which owes the bank $80k.  Apparently needs some work, but it seems a bargain to us.

Seriously... US$80k for this, maybe we could do boating instead of road trips! New price $420k.

Launch on right side is the repossession sale!  Note the covered berths.

Party central inside the covered berths, fridges, microwaves, granite benches in some, outdoor furniture etc.

Our other new BFF was a tradie working on replacing the antennaes on another launch which was also for sale so we had a look at that too.  Berth fees here are $3500 and that is under cover.  Mostly petrol boats, but gas is cheap!

US$3.90/gallon for petrol 

Maybe they should spend some of the revenue on making the jetty level?

After our explore, we went across to the big grass area to play some more with the drone.  Kim sent me off across the field on the bike so he could figure out how to make it track, which he did.  Phew, that is my exercise for the day.  

Off to the pool for a refreshing dip now!

This is a photo I prepared earlier, before any bodies wanted to use the pool!