Travelog September 2017

From NY we headed to Cream Ridge NJ for a few weeks at Timberland Lake Campground to visit with friends and family.  Thank goodness we don’t spend too much time at the campground as it is a bit run down.  Many of the seasonal campers keep their sites well maintained, but there is also quite a bit of “trailer trash” seasonal campers.  Too bad because it has a great location just down the street from Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park, and it has great potential if they would only fill the giant crater potholes, toss some of the seasonal out and spend some money on upgrades.  That being said we spent most of our time in Bordentown at our daughter Dina’s and hubby Erik’s house with Chippy cooking up a storm and having a good time with the grandkids Jessica, Serena and Taylor .  We also got to spend some quality time with our great grandson Cameron who will be a year old in October.   We spent a day back in the old neighborhood visiting Sister Joanne and her granddaughter Kensey, Sister Arlene and Jack, Michele and the kids, daughter Lauren and the grandkids Alexis and Olivia.  We also got to spend some time with sister-in-law Dona whom we hadn't seen in a couple years.  It was so great seeing everyone again.  Chippy had a bucket list of places she wanted to eat while we were in NJ which include Pal Joeys Subs, Mandarin Court Chinese and DiPaolo’s Italian Restaurant which we crossed off while we were in town.  We also threw in pizza and Philly pretzels for good measure.  We invited our friends Joe and Chet Trego to DiPaolo’s for the first time, and they loved the fantastic food and generous portions taking home lots of leftovers. We do miss some of the great food that we came to love in NJ, still looking for a great sub and Chinese in FL which is comparable.  Chippy’s friend Kathy gave us a real treat for breakfast one morning at the Red Barn Café and Pie Shop in Hammonton, and bought us the most delicious blueberry ricotta pie we had ever eaten.  We took it to Dina’s house and it was devoured on the spot…LOL. 

 

 

 

Next we headed to Buena Vista VA for the “16^thAnnual Nuthin Fancy Bluegrass Festival” for five days of pickin….yeehayyy!!!  We saw many talented musicians and bluegrass bands and really enjoyed the festival and the many bluegrass fans.  We were also able to do some touring in the city of Lexington VA while there and we took a carriage ride tour of this historic town which is the home of VA Military Institute and Washington and Lee University.  Robert E Lee was named president of Washington and Lee University shortly after the civil war and was responsible for bringing the school back to prominence.  The only bad part of this side trip was when we left and unfortunately we didn’t get too far before we developed engine problems on the RV.  To make a long story short, we spent three days in service shop parking lots before we finally rolled out on Brian’s birthday with his most expensive birthday present ever, and new brain (ECM..aka..Electronic Control Module) for the RV.   That was the first time the motorhome was ever towed in 70,000 miles so I guess I can complain too much, who wants to hear it anyway. 

 

R.E. Lee Memorial Church

Lee's Office

Washington & Lee University

Lee Chapel

 

Next stop was Mt Airy NC, home of Mayberry USA where we walked down memory lane of our childhood with Andy, Barney, Aunt Bea and Opie.  Of course the town has really grown up since those days but they have done a pretty good job of keeping most of the old buildings intact.  It was really enjoyable strolling down Main Street, visiting the many shops filled with memorabilia and eating lunch at an old time soda fountain with awesome milkshakes.  Of course, before leaving town I did get in a nice round of golf at Cross Creek Country Club, a nice little mountain course with southern charm.

 

 

Our last stop before heading home to FL was Walkabout Camp and RV Park outside St Mary’s GA to visit our grandson Joey and his wife Joni and great grandsons Justin, and Jaycen who will also be one year old this month.  So great that we were able to see almost the entire family on our 2017 journey, but we are happy to be heading home as we have been on the road close to seven months and we have big plans to remodel the condo this year.  So long for now, until we hit the road again in 2018.

 

Travelog August 2017

We started off the month departing Kentucky and heading to West Virginia.  Our first destination is a revisit after some fifteen years to Pipestem Resort State Park.  I must say WV knows how to do state parks, as this one includes two hotels, a campground, restaurants, a pub, two golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, a nature center,  a riding stable and a plethora of hiking trails. We enjoyed several hiking trails, waterfalls, golf, and a wonderful seafood buffet where we feasted on crab legs, shrimp, salmon, and prime rib. 

 

 

 

After a week in Pipestem we headed north to Canaan Valley State Park, another WV beauty with a hotel, golf course and ski resort.  We enjoyed some of the quaint small towns in the area as well as day trips to Elkins, Blackwater State Park and Seneca Rocks.  Blackwater River also known as the River of Amber is actually the color of tea.  The mountains and valleys within the Blackwater drainage contain many plants and trees contain tannins that contribute to this phenomenon. 

 

 

 

Our trip to Seneca Rocks was nice and easy on horseback instead of the steep hike to the top.  Seneca Rocks is a prominent and visually striking formation rising 900 feet above the confluence of Seneca Creek with South Branch of the Potomac River. It overlooks the community of Seneca Rocks consisting of a North and a South Peak, with a central notch between.

 

 

 

We spent two great days in Elkins WV first with a scenic 4 hour train ride aboard the Tygart Flyer along the Cheat River to the High Falls of the Cheat.  The vintage diesel-powered locomotives climbed mountain grades, an “S” curve tunnel, a high bridge and miles of unspoiled mountain views terminating at the stunning High Falls. We really enjoyed the ride and the buffet lunch aboard the train was also very good. 

 

 

We returned to Elkins again for the 44^th Annual Augusta Festival which included local crafts, workshops for artists, concerts, and pickin’ contests for banjo and fiddle.  Wow did we see some talented artisans and musicians and some great foot stomping “Mountain Music”.

 

 

From WV we headed to PA for two weeks of fun in the sun with our four youngest granddaughters.  We arrive at Buttonwood Campground in Mexico PA, set up camp and headed to NJ to pick up the kids.  We enjoyed this destination campground for a week of tubing, swimming, fun and games with the kids and a weekend visit from our daughter as well. 

Next stop was Mt Pocono Campground where we enjoyed a carnival and demolition derby which the girls really loved.  Our daughter visited again this weekend and brought our great grandson.  On Saturday Chippy and I stayed back with the baby and Dina and the girls headed out to hit the zip lines. 

 

 

From PA we headed to Rhinebeck NY for a week to help celebrate Mother Sexton’s 89^th birthday.  We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY.  Mother really enjoyed the truly authentic regional Italian cuisine surrounded by her loving children and in-laws.  

 

The Sexton brothers also enjoyed a nice round of golf at Red Hook Country Club in the morning, and no clubs were thrown.  We also enjoyed many more gourmet dinners at Patty (sister) and Peter’s house.  Our brother in law really is a great cook!!  On another day trip we visited the Storm King Art Center in New Windsor NY, which is one of the most visited sculpture parks in the world.  There are over 100 gigantic sculptures created by some of the most acclaimed artists of our time spread over 500 rolling acres of woodlands and fields of wildflowers and native grasses.