8/27/2017 8/1-26/2017

We  slept in on Tuesday, we both needed it.  We did some bill paying, etc., and about 4 pm we took a ride.  We have made a habit of finding the dams that create the reservoirs that these cool ACE Parks are on, mainly because the search is part of the fun and the topography near the dams is super fun to see.  We headed into Huntingdon as I had seen signs on our way to NYC.  We found a road and followed it until we arrived at an overlook of the dam, pretty cool spot.  We took some pictures and proceeded to try another approach to the dam itself.  We ended up on a gravel road that went through peoples front yards and finally arrived at the dam and the park next to it, it had been quite an adventure.  We headed back to Huntingdon via a different route, stopped and got some dinner and made our way back to the camper...tomorrow is moving day again.

We are on our way to Washington, DC and a stay at Cherry Hill RV Park.  We arrived about 3 pm and got set up and drove to our cousins John & Bev for dinner and the always fun conversations.  We got back to the camper and got some sleep.  It was raining in the am so we just hung out and relaxed.

We made our way to Annapolis the next morning to visit the Maryland State House, oldest building in the US still in use as a State Capitol and Legislature chambers. It is also the building where George Washington resigned his Commission as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, so there is a nice rendition of that moment.  We walked across the street and had a nice lunch at Harry Brownes. We drove to the port, got a few pictures and headed back to the camper.  About 330, we drove to the closest Metro Station and took the train downtown DC.  We arrived at Gallery Place and we were within a block of Verizon Center at F Street and a night of Roger Waters and the Us & Them concert. What an amazing show...Roger never fails to impress.  After the show, we took the train back to our car and returned to the camper.  What a fun night, no problems on the Metro and a very cool concert.

The next morning, we were back to John & Bev's house and a day of sightseeing in the DC area.  First stop was Hillwood Estates and the tour of Marjorie Post's gardens & her home. From there, it was a trip to the top of Watergate, a swing through Georgetown and a stop at the JFK Performing Arts Center where we sat in on a 1 hour musical.  Then we drove around the White House and observed all of the extra security fencing that has been installed...looks like a fortress instead of the pretty White House we have all seen...sad!  Bev & Barb went to take pictures at Trump International Hotel while John & I drove around avoiding trying to find a place to park.  Then it was a tour of Navy Yard & Washington Nationals stadium areas and a stop for dinner at Mininas Italian Restaurant near Nationals Park.  Then it was back to J & B house and back to our camper.  It was a very fun day.

The next morning, we were off again, Boydton, VA our destination.  The GPS took us on a route through downtown DC, past the Capitol, Arlington Cemetery & The Pentagon.  It was cool to see these buildings on a Sunday morning with a minimum of traffic.  Then it was south on I-95 and a pass through Richmond.  We arrived at Rudd's Creek too early and we had to wait for the current occupant to vacate our reserved campsite.  About 3, they told us we were allowed to go to our site and about 15 mins later our niece and her family arrived.  We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with them, letting their 4 boys go swimming and having grilled burgers for all.  It was a nice time. They left about 8 pm for their drive back to Raleigh.  We have seen a vast majority of family this summer, which has been a lot of fun.  My sister's 9 grand kids are great kids, she would be proud.

The next day, we spent the day doing a few things at the camper and finding cell service so we could make some plans.  We had a nice lunch at Applebees and went back to the camper...moving day is tomorrow.  We are headed to South Carolina for 2 weeks, waiting on the eclipse, 6 hour drive.

Our trip was as long as we expected.  Our site in SC is as nice as we expected too, right on Lake Hartwell and trees separating us from neighbors.  We set up the portable dish, as we are here 14 days. It had been a while since I set it up, so it took me awhile.  Later that day, we discovered we had been infested with ants, in the car & the motor home.  So we sprinkled Comet around the tires & jacks and sprayed inside too...we hadn't had that issue since San Diego last summer...they even got into the microwave.  So it was an ongoing war.  We also changed some reservations so we didn't need to move the motor home so far, internet is a very handy thing to have on board.

The next morning we were off to Columbia in the car to visit the State House.  The SC Capitol has been in operation since 1907, although it was begun in 1851 and because of the Civil War, work was suspended from 1865-1867 and the building was damaged by Gen Sherman and his army.  So the building is one of the few that survived Sherman's march to the sea, kind of cool being in a working Capitol that survived Sherman and is still a very nice building.  After our tour, we asked a guard where we could get a sandwich and he gave us a great place to go...Beezer's in downtown Columbia.

We headed back and found a place to wash the car on the way too...car gets pretty nasty in tow. We got back just before sunset and sat outside until it started to rain.  The next morning, the awning collapsed from water collection and damaged one of the arms.  That is the first time that has happened to us since we started camping in the 1970s, so it was a strange incident.  I looked up dealers in the area and we even drove to one to see if they could help...he tried to sell me a new camper...yikes. So we drove back and made a few phone calls and then ordered the parts we needed. We went to Publix and got some groceries and relaxed at the camper.  The next day, we are just relaxing and FedEx pulls right next to our camper with the parts we ordered from Amazon. Amazing! 22 hours, one place said 3-4 weeks. So the next morning I fixed the awning  and shortly after I got done, it rained...HARD, with no damage to the awning...cool!  I used the awning to BBQ some pork chops...all is well.

The next morning we drove the 50 or so miles to Pete & Shelly McNeil's house and spent the day visiting with them...they are doing well.  We left so we could get back before dark.  Our trip took us through numerous little towns and on pretty country roads.  We had a nice time seeing them.  We spent the next day hanging out at the camper and trying to clean up the camper and get rid of the ants.

The next morning, we headed west on I-85 in the car and stopped in Sugar Hill, Ga where we met out friend Carol, who lives not far away.  She worked with Barbara for many years at the Credit Union. It was fun catching up.  Then we went further west on I-85 to Newnan, Ga, where we spent a couple nights with our friend Patti.  We spent time with her in May in south Georgia too.  We went out to eat and gabbed.  The next day, we drove into Atlanta and first visited the Georgia Capitol, taking a self guided tour through the place.  Two stories are a museum and then the Governors office & the House & Senate Chambers are there too, so there is a lot to see.  Then we drove the 4 miles or so to the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum.  We took a self guided tour of the museum and we were almost out of time when we left...lots of stuff there too.  We have been to every Presidential Library except Gerald Ford now, they are very enjoyable to tour.  We need to go to Lansing Michigan and go to Ford's...that will require a special trip  It has been a fun adventure.  We went back to Patti's & had pizza and gabbed some more.  We spent the night again and drove back to Anderson in the morning.

We are going to hang out at the camper for the next few days.  The first evening, 28 Canadian Geese came to visit and I took some pictures.  I made a batch of baked Ziti for dinner and we watched the Nascar race on TV.  The next day we just stayed in the A/C and worked on this blog and just relaxed.

The next day was The Great American Eclipse, the reason we reserved  our site here in Anderson way back in January.  We wanted a place near the 100% totality without lots of people, and boy did we hit it perfect.  The skies were clear, the sun was right over head and we had a perfect place to take pictures.  Our camping neighbor gave me a filter that fit over the lens of our Canon 250 mm lens and, with our tripod, I was able to take some amazing pictures.  It cost us $182 for 14 nights on the lake with 50 amp electric and water...I saw folks paying $800/night.  I'd say we did really well. Perfect!

The next morning, we are moving east to Dillon, SC.  Our first choice was at Little Pee Dee State Park east of Dillon.  We drove out there and mutually decided we really didn't want to stay there.  So we made our way back to Dillon and decided to check at South of the Border north of town next to I-95.  We settled in and spent the night relaxing.

The next morning we were on our way north in the car.  We stopped in Richmond and joined a tour of the Capitol there.  It is a very pretty building. Then we were on our way north to Aquia, Va where we have reserved a hotel for the night.  After a bit of a hassle to get checked in, we put our stuff in the room and drove the 28 miles west to Bristow, Va at Jiffy Lube Live.  Edgar Winter, Alice Cooper & Deep Purple...fun night, decent seats & sound, new artists.  Except for Edgar Winter, we had not seen the rest before...very enjoyable evening.  We got back to the hotel about midnight and got some sleep, it had been a full day.  The next morning, we headed south again.  We took a detour to Raleigh and visited the Capitol there.  The Capitol is mostly a museum and the Governors office.  The Legislature is in a new building a block away.  We walked through both buildings and even got to sit in on a House session where they were discussing a veto override...same stuff as every other state.  We left and got in our car and headed back to our camper.  We are headed home tomorrow...been a busy summer.

We drove what I figured was 1/2 way home and stopped for the night in Townsend. GA.  We stayed in and watched a guy try to park a travel trailer across the street...pretty comical.  The next morning we were off pretty early and drove home.  Our daughter and son in law had cut the grass, dusted the house and opened the gate.  It is always fun to come home and be made to feel that welcome.

Our totals for the summer:  Left May 1...returned 8/26/17  118 days on the road
Motor Home miles: Start 76,814 Finish 84061  Total 7,247
Car miles: Start: 194, 188  Finish 203,211  Total 8,818
Total miles driven 16,065 divided by 118=136 miles per day

Steve & Barb Larson