We need a break

Yes we will be leaving for Vermont and Maine in a week but we need to get away for a long weekend. We had stopped by Glen and Sue's to see their new camper and that lead to a plan for a weekend at Belle Isle with 4 families. A good plan.

The best laid plan's .... Well you know how it goes. One family had forgotten that they had a commitment. Ok so there will be 3 of us. No? Can you believe it another one bites the dust. Seems that they would rather watch the Redskins play. Ok ok so they did get free tickets and are DIE HARD fans. So now we are down to 2.

We left home on Thursday about 0930. On our way we stopped at Sneads Asparagus Farm Stand for corn, berries, melon and peaches. YUM.

When we arrived at Belle Isle we were the only one in the campground. A while later a Class A arrived and took pull through site 9. We are in site 10.

We got things set up and toured the park by truck. Checked out the new visitors center.

Friday while walking Logan we noticed another class A in site 12. Hummm they got in late.

A while later Doug came wondering by with Brandi, Athena's dog. Yep that class A, Gulf Stream Sun Voyager, in 12 was them. Got in around 11PM.

The park manager, Willian Sharder III, stopped by for a visit. He is the husband of Kathy Sharder who is the volunteer Coordinator for the Virginia parks. Basically Kathy keeps trak of what parks need hosts and works to fill any openings. He was not sure when Kathy could stop by since her parents were coming to visit for the weekend. Since the host site was empty we were offered the opportunity to use that site for the weekend. We declined since we were al l set up.

Larry went on a search for pine needles. Found a bunch. We soaked and preped a basin full. Went off to check out the park and visited with Linda at the office and obtained a map of the river sections near the park. Then back to the campground and visit with Doug and Athena in their Sun Voyager. Just a relaxing day.

Then to prepare supper, dutch oven chilli, cornbread, peach cobbler with vinilla ice cream. Ummmm good. Since the interpreter made the rounds of the campground to invite everyone to the campfire we decided to attend. It was only the five of us, Doug, Athena, Suzette, Larry and the interpreter. We told camp host stories.

Saturday.
We had a cooked breakfast and then off to paddle. We got in just before the Kayaking 101 group. We explored some more of the back waters across from the park. Saw a couple of old wrecks, 1 egret, 1 eagle and a lot of osprey. Heading back we came upon the class and they were heading in so we started to paddle up the creek a ways but decided to head back also. We were out for about 3 hours by the time we took the kayaks out.

Back to the camper for some snacks and head out to do some shopping for sea food at Capt'n Tom's. He was out of scallops so we bought 2 packages of frozen bacon wraped scallops. Went to the end of the road just to say we had been there.

Suzette had worked with Athena yesterday to get her started on making a pine needle basket, restarted today. Since it was getting near show time, "music by the rivah", we went to Doug and Athena's camper to prepare our own foil meals before heading off. Once at the picnic area we got a charcoal fire going and started one package of the bacon wrapped scallops. Once the last of the scallops came off the grill the foil dinners went on.

One of the foil dinners

Athena works on starting a pine needle basket.

Sunday
After breakfast it was off to the office so Doug could rent a canoe. We trucked down the the car top launch and put in. We went up the creek as far as we could. It seemed that Doug and Athena's canoe was having some problems in the turns, tight in loose off. Needed a track bar adjustment, wedge and maybe some other work on the rear. I tried to help the turning by bump drafting the rear of the canoe but just couldn't get it right.

Up a couple of the bays we missed yesterday, Suzette and I just hung out while Doug and Athena headed for the river proper. Way out. Kids have boundless energy.

When we got back we found that Kathy had been by and left us a couple of pastries. Boy they hit the spot. I gave her a call on her cell to let her know we were back and would be packing up for the next hour or so. After about a half hour of getting things ready for the trip home Kathy came by. We had a nice visit.

On our way back we hit rain around New Post. It was bad enough that we pulled off and waited it out. We got home about 7 pm. Backed in and after a quick pit stop we headed out in the car to have a pizza. I figured I could unhook tomorrow. We did put power on so the fridge would keep working.