Recap of the Trip

We had a wonderful trip.  We saw some of the most beautiful countryside, learned a lot about this country (some of which we learned once and didn't remember). meet some great people (all of whom had some Florida connection) and we ate GOOD! 

I came to realize on this trip that FL is behind the times.  Most of the states had wind turbines and solar everywhere, from utility poles, to 200 years old homes with panels on the roof, and scores of panels on the side of the roads, in yards and on the mountains.  We are the sunshine state and we should be the leader in solar produced energy.  Maybe not enough wind for the wind turbines, but sun we have!

Our roads are in far better shape then many we traveled. I know it is due to their weather, but I think there must be a way to keep them in better shape.  And it seemed like there was road work everywhere.  Seems to be that is the field to be in.  And speaking of that, everyone was hiring, no matter where we were so I don't get why unemployment is not at zero. They are begging for help in all industries; factories, the service industry, builder and craftsmen, and  medical.

Patriotism is very strong in the North.  Flags fly everywhere.  We would be in the middle of no where, and there would be an American Flag flying,  many small towns are lined with them as well as farm houses.  In the day and age, it was wonderful to see!

And no litter on the roads.  Recycling centers were clear of garbage and junk, unlike where we live now.  

We saw road signs we would never see in Florida:

• Moose Crossing - Watch out for Moose
• Falling Rocks
• Texting Stop
• No Snow Boarding - Snow Boarding Allowed
• Share the road with off road vehicles
• Step incline
• Runaway Truck Ramp

And the numbers are in.

• Motor Home - 4200 miles driven. 6.7 miles per gallon and a total of $1918.00 in gas
• My Car - 4, 794 miles driven and a total of $648.00 in gas
• Campgrounds - Sixteen for a total of  just over $2,000 (Cost was helped a lot due to Thousand Trails and Lazy Day's 14 days of free camping that came with the motor home purchase)
• Sightseeing - $1100 (so much fun)
• Our Harley Habit - $839.00 ( I am now purging the closet to make room)
• Our Quest for Local Cuisine - $1300.0 (all were um, um good)

We didn't spend much of groceries - mainly milk, eggs, and milk since I had a freezer full of food when we left.  I am glad I had freezer meals prepped,  frozen meat loafs and  lasagnas for when I didn't want to cook.  And I really did cook a lot.

I am already making plans for next year, the best campgrounds fill up fast  We hope to go to Red Bay, AL and tour the Tiffon Factory, see Graceland, TN, WI, the Upper MI, Baseball Hall of Fame (we didn't make it this year as planned) and maybe spend some more time in New England that we didn't get to do and try again for Washington in DC in the fall.

We do have several small trips planned until then,

NEXT DESTINATION:  Estero and Willie Nelson Concert

Homeward Bound

We left on Wednesday and planned to travel 4 - 4 1/2 hours a day which we did and got back to Homosassa on Monday afternoon and was it hot! We were blessed with great driving conditions. We ran interstates, 84 to 81 to 78 to 75. until we hit Florida and then 129 to US19.  Not much traffic, which surprised me with the flooding going on on the other coast with the sunbirds coming home and the snowbirds coming for the season and there was no rain on the drive.  I was dreading six days of straight driving but we got into most the campgrounds around 2PM giving us lots of time to relax so the drive was not bad at all. We were pretty lucky with the last minute campgrounds.


Day 1 - Bear Creek Campground - A Good Sam's campground located in Bristol CT, this campground is part of Lake Compounce Amusement and Water Park, which opened in 1846, it is the oldest, continuously-operating amusement park in the United States.

 

The sites are all pull-through and are set up buddy style with the utility area between the sites so you are not looking at someone's sewer while you are eating at the picnic table, but you are looking at them picnic table to picnic table, but they are pretty good distance apart. Another plus in my book, is a garbage can and every site, so no going to a maybe overflowing stinky dumpster.
 

A new place for the satellite dish

There are three ways to camp for those without a tent or RV

 Nice playground for kids

Day 2 - Jonestown / Hershey NE KOA, PA - The Best KOA I have stayed out.  I was never a fan of KOA's but this trip has changed my mind on that.  All were very nice, not like the ones we have stayed at prior, including Madeira Beach, which has way too many cabins and seasonals for me. 

We had a nice pull through  site



There is a stream with numerous hookups and the allow parallel parking to the stream.



Playground for the little ones

 

Jump pad and splash zone

Game Room

 Cabins scattered through out the park

 Horses - I believe these are for hay rides

 Goats that followed me and breakfast home - here they are waiting for me to come out of the store

And the very best part - A cafe that delivers to the camp site.  We had 1/2 slab of ribs and a pulled pork sandwich for dinner and sausage egg sandwiches for breakfast.  So nice not to have to cook when you are only in for one night! 

Day 3 - Lee High Campground - Located at the TA Travel Center in Lexington VA and a new experience for us.  The campground overlooks the truck stop but the site are pull through, 50 amp and full hook up which is all we needed and they give the Good Sam's discount.  We will stay here again if we are passing through.

 

   

 They even had a bath house, older but clean

We didn't  even hear the trucks down below 

Day 4 - Spartanburg NE / Gaffney KOA  - Another nice KOA.  This is where we met our big brother. We camped with 10 Phaeton's on the way back. Eight were 36ft like us and a different eight were the same age as us.

 I like the way the sites are laid out so the neighbor's sewer hookup is not right by the table
 

 The lucky people who got to be in shade - this is where we lost the cool weater.



 For the kids





 
Nice covered area for hanging out while kids are in the pool

Cabins all together here

They overlook the "catch and release"  pond

 And more goats - I wonder if that is a new "KOA" thing

Day 5 - Crossroads Campground, Perry GA - This the campground we usually stay out when coming and going on I-75. It is about 5 hours from our house, which is a little longer than we like but because we are can take US19 and 129. it's a pleasant ride. However, this will be the last time.  We are now too long,  We barley fit in the space

And we could not reach the sewer hook-up with the car attached. The hook ups are just too far away' Ours are up there in the middle of the front slide (the edge of the picture) and the hook up is at the car's front bumper.  But on the plus side, a BBQ joint and a  Popeye's within walking distance.

It is good to be home and now the unloading and deep cleaning begins.

I have reflected on what we saw and learned and computed the numbers (ugh, but it wall worth every penny we spent and because the only had the house electric bill  it didn't hurt that bad.  I am thankful we made the choice to move here for that very reason.

Recap of the Trip 

Freeport/Durham KOA

Another easy trip. Basically US 1 all the way.  Weather was great as well. Still in the low 50's at night, and warming up to mid 70's during the day.  Once again. we are in the field so we can use the dish.

The other camp sites are in the woods

 They office and store, which is well stocked with the best price on ice we've had,



 This is a former farm and still has the old silo



It is also in the process of becoming an equestrian friendly campground 

Even a mule

 The usual amenities - a really nice Playground

 And pool, although it was too cold to go in

On Friday night, they sold stone fired pizza, and even delivered to your site

Or you get eat there

 

 And on Sunday morning, all you could eat pancakes served inside

 And they had some really cute cabins

We got in on Friday and got the word on Saturday the Big Bob's brother had been hit by a car and was in critical condition so we decided to cut our trip short and head home as soon as the expected storms passed, so we really didn't do as much here as we would have but we didn't manage to see a few few things.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing

Freeport - Home of  L L Bean, since 1917, and it is unbelievable.  The Flagship Store is in the  original sport and  is now 200,000 square feet. The store is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.   There is also a seven-acre retail campus for a Bikes, Boats & Ski Store, Hunting & Fishing Store,  Home Store, and Discovery Park (for concerts and other  outdoor events. They say they get three million visitors each year, and based on our visit, I can believe it..

 

 They even have stuffed moose

 Freeport was also the location of our last lobster meal

 

It was in a haunted building dating back to 1779 is one of the continuous operating taverns in Maine.  It is  is known as "The Birthplace of Maine."

Big Moose Harley - Of course, we made a trip the closest Harley Dealer and made our largest purchase yet (no, not a new bike although Big Bob keeps looking) Great decorations there.

 A 1949 bike hanging out with the bears and Mr Moose

And a old police motorcycle with the Big Moose

Portland - the first big city we had been in in a long time and I didn't like it.  No traffic lights, and people and cars everywhere.  We only drove drove through, since I wanted to get our of their fast but the buildings are very old, which I did like.

Bath -  Home to the Maine Maritime Museum

We started with their harbor cruise where I saw my lighthouse in Maine, for this trip.
The Doubling Point Lighthouse.

We also saw the Bath Iron Works Facility

 

They were replacing the blown engine in the Stealth Navy Destroyer- The USS  Michael Monsoor.
 

And building another for the Navy - hard to see but it is the first one on the left
 

Security Boat in place and watching

 
View of the harbor

 This is a low income senior living facility - what a view they have

Big Bob fantasizing again 

The Wyoming

 

 Bath's downtown area

Check out this steeple

We have enjoyed our three moth adventure, but we must now head back. Although we did not complete the trip as planned, there is always next year.

The Trip Home