Camping Day 50

James River to Holliday Lake
Sunday August 5, 2007

Today is a travel day but since the parks are only about 25 miles apart we don't have any issues with time. So we had a cooked breakfast and got things ready for the move.

Holliday Lake is one of the CCC parks so it is somewhat dated. The sites are small and there are only 8 sites that are rated for our rig. After we checked in we found our way to site 19 which looked passable from inside the truck. We pulled into the site and played move the trailer attempting to find an area that resembled level. It is hard to believe that they paved the sites but didn't bother to grade them even close to level. So we gave up and moved to site 20 and spent about an hour in 91 degree heat getting the trailer positioned in what we thought was the levelest area. We used about 3" of wood to get the camper close to level side to side. Once unhitched from the truck the trailers tongue jack was almost all the way down to reach front to rear level. The rear stabilizers were almost fully extended while the front were lowered just a few inches.

Campsite as viewed from the shower house

Once we were done we rested a bit and then rode over, in the air conditioned truck, to the swim beach and boat launch area to check things out. We thought about taking a swim but the beach was crowded with weekenders, them working folks, so we decided we would swim Monday when it was less crowded.

The beach area on Monday

As we were waiting for our friends Doug and Athena to arrive another motor coach pulled in to site 19. So we watched that show. Actually that coach made a couple of passes looking for a suitable site before they took 19. They used a stack of 3 2x6's under the rear wheels to get front to rear level.

Since there was very weak cell service in the park we headed to Appomattox to look around, make a call to Doug and Athena and find some diesel. When we returned we found that Barth had arrived and was on site 21 so Doug and I toured the bus while the ladies toured our Flagstaff. Doug and Athena and the kids have done a lot of work to repair and update systems and correct mechanical problems. Nice job. Since it was dark, well overcast after the rain, we did not take any pictures.

Camping Day 49

James River SP
Saturday August 4, 2007

Went to Amherst VA to find a grocery store to pick up a few things, steak, local corn, mustard, ...
After returning to camp we had an early lunch and headed for the livery where we unloaded 1 kayak and the float tube. Then the $2 ride to drop the truck at Dixon Landing and return to the canoe launch/livery. Now we float down river for 2 miles. Suzette in the kayak and I on the tube.

Suzette paddles while I float

Actually the kayak drifts faster than the tube so for some of the way I just hooked the rope from the tube over the stern handle on the kayak and was towed along. Bouncing over the riffles was fun and we looked for the most turbulent water.

It's good that it is overcast so we don't cook to well done.

Suzette takes a turn on the tube.

PFD testing

Nearing Dixon Landing.

It took about 2 hours to complete the float. Once back at the campsite we hit the showers and relaxed before supper, steak, corn on the cob, potatoes and onions in foil.

After we had supper cleaned up we looked at the pix we had taken using the TV. Then we played Othello, 2 to 1 Suzette. It was fun once we found the instructions on the internet. We had attempted to play on our previous trip but couldn't remember the rules from our sailing days.

Camping Day 48

James River SP
Friday August 3, 2007

After breakfast I used our little compressor to pump up the float tube so it would be ready in the afternoon. The plan is to do the upper 6 miles on the James with our kayak's then have lunch and float the lower 2 miles that we paddled yesterday.

So off to the canoe livery to get our kayak's and us up river 6 miles to Bent Creek and the state park put-in. The charge is $5 per boat and another $5 per person, so we spend our $20 and head off.


Unloading the Kayak's at Bent Creek

We paddle up river under the US60 bridge so we can get a look at the public launch area. Then we start our float back to the canoe livery.

Near US60. The river flow is about 1400 cuft/sec

One of several rest stops along the way

On our trip we passed through several riffles which tested us a little and added some new scrapes to the bottom of our kayak's. The highlight was seeing 3 eagles. They flew right over us at a fairly low altitude. One had a fish in it's talons but dropped it when the other eagle made a grab for it.

There was also a flock of geese the squawked at us as we neared them. They would rise and fly a few hundred yards down river only for us to put them up again. One flock however just moved off the river and up the bank until we passed.

There were also some cows in the river near the bank. They just looked at us as we passed by. Oh yeah and just to add variety we had an F14 fly over. Only a single plane. We were later told that it was most likely from Cherry Point.

I just have to take an underwater picture with our water proof camera.
It does show how clear the river was.

A relaxing swim along the way

We arrive at the landing about 2:15 pm. It has been a long but enjoyable time on the river so we treat ourselves to ice cream at the livery store. We also bought another koozie cover for a water bottle, we had bought one before the trip and it worked so well we decided to spend a few more dollars.

We went back to camp and showered off the river and took a nap. Needless to say the afternoon float on the tube would wait for another day.

After super we visited with the camp host and looked over their Arctic Fox TT which they full time in. Their home base is in Suffolk VA.

Camping Day 47

James River State Park
Thursday August 2, 2007

Yep this year we have camped 47 days. Today we left home headed for James River State Park. After a two hour and 45 minute drive we were at our site. The park staff had assigned sites and we are in 14 which is across from the shower house, restrooms and camp host. This is a nice mostly level shaded site in the Red Oak camping area which is the only RV area in the 1500 acre park. There are 15 miles of multi-use trails, horse, hike, bike, and about 3 miles of river frontage.

Our campsite, #14

After we got set up we had lunch and changed into our paddling clothes to take a run at the river. The main launch area is at the Canoe Livery. They will take you and your kayak or canoe up river about 6 miles to a put in or down river 2 miles to a take out at Dixon Landing. Canoes, kayak's and tubes are available for rent. It cost us $2.10, yes there is 5% tax, to follow me to Dixon Landing where I left our truck.

Dixon Landing

Once we put in we paddled up river to the first set of riffles, maybe 1/2 to 3/4 miles, and then dirft and paddled down river. We moved along rather smartly and went across two sets of riffles before we reached a sandy beach area on a bend in the river. We had planed to stop and swim and splash around a little but the weather was looking bad and we could hear thunder so we thought we should work our way to Dixon Landing as quickly as possible.

Suzette at the riffles up river from the landing

Taking the kayak's out at Dixon Landing

Of course once we had gotten off the river the weather cleared and the thunder stopped. We decided to go pack to camp and feed Logan. We showered and Suzette made a pasta salad for supper and I took a nap.

After supper was completed and the dishes were cleaned up we decided to take a ride around the park. Man this place is neat. There is primitive camping along the river and several very nice picnic shelters. There is also horse camping and cabins. The cabins look very nice with large porches, gas grills and nice overlooks.

Back to camp to relax and do this blog. We watched a little TV, not much on for the over 50 crowd.

Although we have good cell service it is the extended network and I can not connect with Verizon Mobile Office. Nuts. You will get to see this later.

It's now later and we are home so I can make up for the lack of internet service.