Belle Isle SP, Virginia
September 19, 2007
After breakfast we took a bike ride to the boat launch area of the park and then on a trail that follows the shore and passes by the new visitors center. It looks like it will be a nice center. It should be open a little later this year.
After returning from the ride we had a light lunch and took Logan for a walk. We did see the camp hosts today as they rode by in their gator. They waved but in all of the dog walks we have not seen them outside of their camper. I guess when you have satellite you just stay inside.
Our afternoon consisted of exploring Mulberry Creek. We were nearing high tide so we were able to go a long way up the creek. Along the way we found a sunken boat. It looked like an old wooden flat bottomed row boat based on what we could see in the muddy creek.
Once we returned to more of the bay/river area we decided to paddle on over to Morattico and look at the town and condo's from the water. It sure gives a new perspective. We returned after about 3 hours of paddeling and both of us were quite tired.
That evening we readied things for our departure tomorrow.
Pictures of our day's at Belle Isle are here.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Camping day 68 - Shakedown III
Belle Isle SP
Tuesday September 18, 2007
It was a bout 46 this morning and the heater kicked on a few times over night. One day that new smell will be gone, won't it? When I was up for a nature call I could hear owls calling near by. Neat.
After breakfast we were visited by one of the rangers and we had a nice talk. We asked about seeing the Mansion, a 1942 farm house and guest house. They can be rented, week at a time in prime season and a 2 night minimum at other times. It is a nice house and well furnished. The view over the Rappahannock River is fantastic.
After our tour we took a ride to Morattico to see the museum which is only open on weekends. We wanted to check it out so we could let folks know about it on our next trip. Looked really cool. I think we will tour next time we are here, oh, that is two weeks from now.
We took a long bike ride, well a couple of miles, and enjoyed that. I had broken my shifter so I was stuck in one gear on the rear but could change the front chain ring.
We cooked the meat portion of our dinner over a wood fire. So I guess we are really camping now.
Well that's about all for now.
Tuesday September 18, 2007
It was a bout 46 this morning and the heater kicked on a few times over night. One day that new smell will be gone, won't it? When I was up for a nature call I could hear owls calling near by. Neat.
After breakfast we were visited by one of the rangers and we had a nice talk. We asked about seeing the Mansion, a 1942 farm house and guest house. They can be rented, week at a time in prime season and a 2 night minimum at other times. It is a nice house and well furnished. The view over the Rappahannock River is fantastic.
After our tour we took a ride to Morattico to see the museum which is only open on weekends. We wanted to check it out so we could let folks know about it on our next trip. Looked really cool. I think we will tour next time we are here, oh, that is two weeks from now.
We took a long bike ride, well a couple of miles, and enjoyed that. I had broken my shifter so I was stuck in one gear on the rear but could change the front chain ring.
We cooked the meat portion of our dinner over a wood fire. So I guess we are really camping now.
Well that's about all for now.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Camping day 67 - Shakedown II
Belle Isle SP
Monday September 17, 2007
Campsite 10, pull through
Overnight the temperature got down to 44. Why didn't we "burn out" the furnace before we left on this trip? Well we now know it is a new system. After coffee we are about to take showers but no hot water in the shower. Hummm hot water in the galley sink, hot water in the bathroom sink. What could be wrong? Let it run a while. Hummm, DW is not happy. I'm not happy. We didn't check this at PDI. Damn.
I turn on the COLD water and walla hot water. Some turkey at the factory reversed the hot and cold water lines in the shower. Clean and happy we prepare breakfast.
With breakfast eaten and cleaned up, the dog walked we head out to Reedsville to visit the Fishermans Museum. Only $3 for seniors. We can do that. A nice little museum.
Suzette and the Docent discuss the organ. Just a little over $25 when new. It still works.
The sewing room
The skipjack Calud ?????
We have lunch at Cockrells Creek Seafood and Deli, Eat-in, Eat-out Take-out. We had stopped there about 10 years ago when we took a motorcycle ride to Reedville. Good food. We were glad to find it again. Funny the folks behind the counter didn't remember us. Well we didn't remember them either. They served us anyway.
As we made our way home we stopped in Kilmarnock to pick up a few grocery items. Then we made a stop at Capt-n-Toms seafood and bought a pound of fresh sea scallops. We will enjoy those a little later. Tonight it is left over stew and baked rolls. Might as well try out the new oven.
Monday September 17, 2007
Campsite 10, pull throughI turn on the COLD water and walla hot water. Some turkey at the factory reversed the hot and cold water lines in the shower. Clean and happy we prepare breakfast.
With breakfast eaten and cleaned up, the dog walked we head out to Reedsville to visit the Fishermans Museum. Only $3 for seniors. We can do that. A nice little museum.
Suzette and the Docent discuss the organ. Just a little over $25 when new. It still works.
The sewing room
The skipjack Calud ?????We have lunch at Cockrells Creek Seafood and Deli, Eat-in, Eat-out Take-out. We had stopped there about 10 years ago when we took a motorcycle ride to Reedville. Good food. We were glad to find it again. Funny the folks behind the counter didn't remember us. Well we didn't remember them either. They served us anyway.
As we made our way home we stopped in Kilmarnock to pick up a few grocery items. Then we made a stop at Capt-n-Toms seafood and bought a pound of fresh sea scallops. We will enjoy those a little later. Tonight it is left over stew and baked rolls. Might as well try out the new oven.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Camping day 66 - Shakedown
Belle Isle State Park
Sunday September 16, 2007
This is our first trip with our new 30U. It was about a 130 mile tow mostly on rural roads. I was quite pleased with the way the rig handled. Of course there was no cross wind and I did not have any big trucks to deal with.
We are the lone fox in the park. Actually there is only the campground host and a tent camper here with us.
Tonight we cooked a great stew in our dutch oven. Now we have enough leftover to last a couple of days. We really enjoy our dutch oven cooking but most recipes feed 8 or more. Maybe tomorrow we will make a peach cobbler.
Sunday September 16, 2007
This is our first trip with our new 30U. It was about a 130 mile tow mostly on rural roads. I was quite pleased with the way the rig handled. Of course there was no cross wind and I did not have any big trucks to deal with.
We are the lone fox in the park. Actually there is only the campground host and a tent camper here with us.
Tonight we cooked a great stew in our dutch oven. Now we have enough leftover to last a couple of days. We really enjoy our dutch oven cooking but most recipes feed 8 or more. Maybe tomorrow we will make a peach cobbler.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Another travel day
Promised Land to home
Saturday September 1, 2007
We got a good start with clear weather. We did a good rinse of our holding tanks and were on the road and home by 2:30 or so. Suzette mowed the lawn twice. It rained a little since we had left so it was a tall mess. We removed food and dirty clothes from the camper and went for supper at Red Hot 'n Blue in Warrenton. Desert was at Carousel ice cream then it was to kick back and watch a little baseball and NASCAR.
Look here for all the pictures of our trip.
Now to get ready for our next trip.
Saturday September 1, 2007
We got a good start with clear weather. We did a good rinse of our holding tanks and were on the road and home by 2:30 or so. Suzette mowed the lawn twice. It rained a little since we had left so it was a tall mess. We removed food and dirty clothes from the camper and went for supper at Red Hot 'n Blue in Warrenton. Desert was at Carousel ice cream then it was to kick back and watch a little baseball and NASCAR.
Look here for all the pictures of our trip.
Now to get ready for our next trip.
Camping Day 65
Bonnie Brae to Promised Land
Friday August 31, 2007
We got a good start and work our way via US20, I90, I87 to I84 and into Pennsylvania and Promised Land State Park we registered and went to site 339. We had electric but no water. After we were setup I took the 5gal can and put some water in our fresh water tank to get us through the night. Since this was the beginning of the holiday weekend there were folks arriving at a fairly consistent rate. We went Fox hunting but didn't find any.
The skies cleared and we took a tour of the park. We found the museum which focused on the CCC and the construction of the camp. After we returned to our campsite we took Logan for walks and met several other campers as well as the camp host, a PE teacher from NJ. Earlier on a walk with Logan her pit bull, Susie had broken her leash and Suzette retied her.
Friday August 31, 2007
We got a good start and work our way via US20, I90, I87 to I84 and into Pennsylvania and Promised Land State Park we registered and went to site 339. We had electric but no water. After we were setup I took the 5gal can and put some water in our fresh water tank to get us through the night. Since this was the beginning of the holiday weekend there were folks arriving at a fairly consistent rate. We went Fox hunting but didn't find any.
The skies cleared and we took a tour of the park. We found the museum which focused on the CCC and the construction of the camp. After we returned to our campsite we took Logan for walks and met several other campers as well as the camp host, a PE teacher from NJ. Earlier on a walk with Logan her pit bull, Susie had broken her leash and Suzette retied her.
Camping Day 64
Bonnie Brae, Pittsfield MA
Thursday August 30, 2007
Trust your GPS and use a little common sense. That is what we did to find a way around Pittsfield MA to get from the campground to Hancock Shaker Village. We arrived about 10 minutes before they opened at 10AM. We looked around the entry complex and then bought our tickets and watched the short video about the Shakers and the village.
We took in the talks at the brick dwelling where up to 100 Shakers lived.
Then we went to the round barn to learn how it was built, why it was round. Being round had nothing to do with evil spirits hiding in corners. It was round to make efficient milk production. Hay was stored in the center, cows were more easily fed and the hay wagons could deliver their cargo by going around the second floor and unloading into the center storage area. Really neat. Remember they didn't have bailers at that time.
We learned that the Shakers were all about efficiency and were early adopters of technology that made their life easier. They used a water turbine when others were using water wheels. We talked to ladies, "sisters", in the weaving area and discussed how yarn was made, dyed and woven into fabric. I was able to take a picture of the distaff assembly that would go on the wool wheel that we have. Maybe we can make Logan yarn.
Across the road, US20, there are more buildings. We went to the sisters basket making area and met JoAnn Catsos who also knows a friend of ours that lives in Manassas, Sandy Anastasio. We had a long visit and learned several things about making baskets and using forms.
On the return to the campground we stopped for diesel and found a little store that had fresh corn so we picked up a few ears. After supper the thunder storms started and continued on and off throughout the night. A great visit.
Thursday August 30, 2007
Trust your GPS and use a little common sense. That is what we did to find a way around Pittsfield MA to get from the campground to Hancock Shaker Village. We arrived about 10 minutes before they opened at 10AM. We looked around the entry complex and then bought our tickets and watched the short video about the Shakers and the village.
We took in the talks at the brick dwelling where up to 100 Shakers lived.
Then we went to the round barn to learn how it was built, why it was round. Being round had nothing to do with evil spirits hiding in corners. It was round to make efficient milk production. Hay was stored in the center, cows were more easily fed and the hay wagons could deliver their cargo by going around the second floor and unloading into the center storage area. Really neat. Remember they didn't have bailers at that time.
We learned that the Shakers were all about efficiency and were early adopters of technology that made their life easier. They used a water turbine when others were using water wheels. We talked to ladies, "sisters", in the weaving area and discussed how yarn was made, dyed and woven into fabric. I was able to take a picture of the distaff assembly that would go on the wool wheel that we have. Maybe we can make Logan yarn.
Across the road, US20, there are more buildings. We went to the sisters basket making area and met JoAnn Catsos who also knows a friend of ours that lives in Manassas, Sandy Anastasio. We had a long visit and learned several things about making baskets and using forms.
On the return to the campground we stopped for diesel and found a little store that had fresh corn so we picked up a few ears. After supper the thunder storms started and continued on and off throughout the night. A great visit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)