Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Udvar-Hazy Center

Drove up to the DC area, camping at Lake Fairfax County Park.  A nice place to be located for planned outings.....but why were we the only ones at the campground?  First (and we knew this before arrival), no water nor bathrooms - to be completed in 10 days.  Second, driving north, took us out of the Spring weather...........woke up to SNOW!  So a change in plans:  Drive BIW to the Air & Space museum,  skip our plans to bike, and skip our plans to spend a day at the Great Falls on the Potomac.

Parked at the Air & Space museum (RV freindly), and spent all day at this incredible collection of aircraft and spacecraft.  Took a 2 hour guided tour, and learned the many stories of the men behind the metal and machinery.  Saw the Discovery space shuttle, one of their newest arrivals -- it's big when you stand alongside.  Other incredible aircrafts included the SR71 Blackbird spyplane, and many spacecrafts including manned and unmanned satellites.  Also of interest were all of the WW1, WW2, and Vietnam planes and jets.  We could have spend a few days walking among the all of the machines.

Included in our visit was a trip to watch an IMAX movie on the Hubble telescope and the 2009 space shuttle mission to repair and refurbish.  Spectacular photography of our universe from Hubble, and quite a story to upgrade Hubble for the next 20 years.

With snow having changed to rain, but still in the 30s, we headed home to New Jersey.  Arrived by 10pm and planned the cleaning and prep work to put BIW in storage for some Summer trips.  Five months on the road this Fall/Winter season.  More great trips planned in this year.

Deck building at Michael & Jess's house

We made a week long stop at Michael and Jess's house.  Time to see baby Jordan -- another terrific grandkid!  And time to build a 16 x 16 deck.  Morey last built a large wood deck in 1979, but he hasn't forgotten and age hasn't dulled his work.....  Having Michael to partner the project only made the deck better.

One week to complete the deck.  Baby Jordan checks it out and likes it!  Now it's time for BIW to head home with a one day stop in Reston VA to check out the Air & Space Museum near Dulles airport.

Coastal Camping moves to North Carolina

We headed up US-17 across the border to NC.  Having enjoyed the camping and the sights last year, we went back to Huntington Beach State Park.  Took a campsight just on the other side of the ocean dunes.

Biked across the highway to Brookgreen Gardens where the many bronze and aluminum cast sculptures are beautifully surrounded by gardens of flowers, plants, and trees.  We spent all day walking the pathways and occasionally took some bench time with some of the staff.

Then drove further up the coast to Wilmington.  Had a great lunch at The Basics -- can you believe a lunch of chicken dumplin soup as a side and a BLT&fried chicken sandwich.  Totally stuffed!  Washed all down with what may be our last sweet tea of this journey.

Toured the Bellamy House in Wilmington, an antebellum home completed in 1861; just in time to be vacated by Dr. Bellamy and family as they fled the Union Army.  Good news is that the doctor was able to get amnesty at the end of  the war from President Johnson and regain his home.  Now totally restored after years of disuse and a fire, this home is worth the visit.

Last nights stop before getting to Michael, Jess, & Jordan's home in Aberdeen was an overnight at a very quiet (we were the only campers) Jones Lake State Park.  Now for some deck building action over the next week.

A week at Hunting Island, SC

The week's almost over and we haven't been swamped by the ocean.  What a great campsite only feet from high tide.  Tonight we plan to have a bonfire while watching the stars come out over the waves. 

Have watched numerous sunrises over the Atlantic and have taken beach walks through the beach tree debris.  Used our bikes to check out the nature center and the many trails through the pines, palmettos, and palms.  We even took a craft class and made dream catchers for better sleep!

Drove into Beaufort, which before the civil war was a wealthy town from king cotton .  It is here in Beaufort that the confederacy was born at the "secession" house. Took an excellent walking tour lead by Jon Sharp through the town.   Considering the wars, the fires, and the hurricanes, many of the antebellum summer homes are still intact and quite magnificent.  Have you seen "The Big Chill"? Filmed here along with many other movies.

PS  Driving through the streets of Beaufort in the RV --  watch out for those low clearance live oak branches!

Camping on the edge

Just picture this......

After a stop at St. Marys, GA to check out the Cumberland Island National Park Visitors Center, and enjoy a truly low country lunch of mac & cheese with shrimp; we arrived at Hunting Island State Park around 4pm.  Pulled in at site 48, the primo spot in the campground.  Why primo?  After we had backed in to the level area, we were 2 feet to the wooden slat fence -- the ocean was only 100 feet away on the other side of the fence.  Incredible views and surf sounds from our campsite.

Then at 8pm, with us snugly in our RV, we wondered why the noise of the crashing waves was becoming so loud.  Shined our flashlight out our doorway and yes, we had an ocean site! It was high tide and the surf was within feet of our RV! By morning with high tide due to be even higher due to the coming full moon, we pulled in our slideouts, pulled up our levelers, and headed to higher ground.  (We did stay on the site.)

And tonight, we watched the moon rise over the Atlantic.

 

We've been told that site 48 probably won't exist next year.  The park does not replenish the beach and the campground has already lost over a dozen campsites over the last few years.

Joined the Snow Birds here at St. Augustine

So should we admit that we’ve gotten to a new station in life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s see…Camping at Anastasia State Park only a couple of miles across the Lion Bridge to the old town of St. Augustine.  139 sites filled with RVs from all the northern Northeast and Midwest states; and the more mature taking walks and enjoying the beach and environs.

Shopping old town and eating at the Columbia, a branch restaurant of the famous Cuban one in Tampa – Cuban sandwiches, gazpacho, plantain chips, and sangria --  Really GOOD! 

Checking out the Alligator Farm…. oodles of gators, both allis and crocs, cool birds; and for the young (at heart?) a zip line course.  Mustn’t forget to mention the gift shop with plush alligators and snakes. These are the non-venemous ones; learned this bit of

info at a reptile talk!

Getting a haircut at Prices Barber Shop.  Not much has changed since 1931 when the shop opened; at least not the taxidermy animals and fish.  We do think that the barbers are not the original ones.  Nice haircut too; although I think its good, and if not, Liz will fix when we get home.

Walking the farmers market with lots of chatzka’s, but then also farm fresh (and actually from Florida) veggies – nothing like a “real” tomato.  Then a stop at the fish market and picking up some fresh caught, Atlantic shrimp.

 

Being a snow bird is aok!!

SO FAR AWAY, yet only miles to Jacksonville

Spent four days camping at Little Talbot Island SP; a campsite with a view!  A panorama of the marsh with nightly sunsets.  Only a few miles east of Jacksonville, FL you would never know you were near this major city.  All of Little Talbot Island is a state park with miles of virtually untouched beach and bay side with marshes and wildlife.  Parked our RV at the campsite, where looking out the windows you would think you were the only one on the island! 

Lots of great recreational things to keep us moving.  One day we took a 3 hour kayak tour through the marshes.  What a great day with blue skies and temps in the 60s. 

Another day we biked down to Ft. George Island where the Ribault Club and the Kingsley Plantation were toured.  As part of the bike ride, took a detour with the river ferry to Singletons “real” seafood shack.  Another taste test of shrimp po’boys; this time with onion rings.  Great. 

For our final day, after braving near freezing overnight temps, took a 5 mile hike through the dunes and beach.  This Florida state park has over 8 miles of ocean beachfront to explore.