October Wanderings

Higgins Lake – Popular spot for us back in the days when we camped with the kids in tents. Although we mostly frequented National Forest spots, but it is the Upper Lower part of Michigan where we spent good times. We wandered out from this spot to other haunts of ours – Petoskey where I found a Petoskey stone (can you find it?), Lake Michigan and our much stopped places for bakeries and libations.

Then the ZIG ZAG Across Michigan Begins

Zig – Been putting off having to think about getting the water pump and front cap fixed, but Wanda’s cap is patched with duct tape (ever see the Red Green Show? Famous for duct tape usage) and it is not a good look. And the water pump really should be looked at. Make some calls and we can get into Grand Design in Elkhart on October 9 and Rush RV October 13. We start driving the 194 miles to Elkhart. Not too bad of a drive.

Turns out Elkhart is a very lovely, quaint, BIG town with a river running through the heart of it, as well as, the railroad with switching yards. Long ago, Elkhart was a central point for the railroad for points west. Also, lumber was big industry and now it is the RV capital. We took what was suppose to be a 2-3 hour audio car tour around the area visiting Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury, Shipshewana, Bonnyville and other little towns. We aborted after 4 hours and only saw the 5 towns above. Just too much to see and stop and get out and see. Bonnyville had a mill which we could tour watch the grinding of the oats and corn and of course, buy some stone-ground oatmeal. Our stay here was most pleasant. Then the advance flushing toilet was a find.

Amish – I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t the beautifully groomed lawns and crops and neat BIG houses. Yet that is what we encountered while we stayed in Elkhart. A community that live simply, have strict rules to live by, yet interact with the outside world effortlessly. Felt like a voyeur taking these pics.

Leave Rush RV and now head to Washington DC a good 583-mile ride and it was not an easy or uneventful trip! Because it is Friday at noon when we left Rush, it is much too late to find a place for the night, so we opt for Walmart in Wexford PA. Lovely place but I couldn’t help worry that we would pick up a rat like we did at our previous Walmart overnight. But we did have fireworks that night! Must have been a high school football game.

Google Google Google – what is wrong with main roads?

Up early again (no sleeping in at Walmart) and hit the road to continue the journey. We are merrily going on until Google took us off the main drag and now, we were on windy back roads. Shame on me, the navigator, as I forgot to get a map now totally dependent on Google. Not comfortable with this situation at all and to top it off Chet is all whinny to go and relieve himself. We find a relatively wide shoulder and pull over. I let Chet out and and when I return back to the rig OH NO!!! We have a flat tire!!!! Go and get Ty – he unplugs his phone to take a picture and because we are without internet, we lose our position on Google Maps. Now we have absolutely NO idea where in the heck we are and that makes it tough to call AAA.

Cop Angel – As we are debating what to do a West Virginia Police Officer drives by and pulls over. (Quick – hide the stash). “Howdy folks, looks like ya all got a flat tire. Well, ya got a spare and a jack? I can have you up and running in no time” We are dumbfounded. A cop going to fix our tire? No way! Yes way! He goes to his car, pulls out a heavy-duty mat (probably for wrapping up dead stuff), puts on a heavy-duty coat and begins to crawl under Wanda starts to change the tire. Soon after, two other police cars pull up and now there are four of us watching the first guy change our tire. I was so astonished, forgot to get their names. Sure enough – within a half hour we were on our way! Also forgot to get directions and find out where we were so we just headed down the road we were on and eventually came into a town.

There is a reason for Google Earth – one just has to use it!

We roll into a small town – and it is getting late and we decided to look for a hotel were we could relax after this harrowing adventure. Doing an online search with several apps finally find one that assured us we could get the RV into the lot, that there was plenty of parking and space for the RV to get in and out. Another lesson learned. Always, always go onto GOOGLE Earth and get an overview of the place. Well, I didn’t and when we go there it was immediately apparent that in no way could we get Wanda OUT of there. No turn around. To make matters worse, when we called you would assume you are talking to the front desk, but actually you are dealing with a 3rd party. What a hassle to get our refund (because we were canceling less than 24 hours before arrival). Well, one thing I am good at is going to the top – so corporate it was. Problem solved – Walmart for the night.

Washington DC – have you ever been? It is museum heaven – and I have died and gone to heaven (I love museums) and the rail system is a puzzle to figure out. We have to go separately because no dogs allowed, which is ok as it gives us time away from each other and then we can see what we want. I will say, though, that museums are exhausting – slow walking, a lot of reading, crowds to contend with, and the visuals. I came home ready for a quick meal and bed.

How Jackson got his name Stonewall

Machicomo State Park, VA, was a great location to get to Washington DC via the rail. The campground was getting ready for the winter Festival of Lights; they were putting up some spectacular lights – kinda wish we were going to be there for that. When not our turn for DC we hike the area and pick ticks off of us. Tick meds for dog works very well!  Should get some for Ty (I didn’t seem to get any). We did go to the Civil War battlefield, Bull Run (keep flopping back and forth with wars) and this is where Jackson got the moniker “Stonewall“. As a commander from the 3rd Brigade lay dying he declared “Form, Form. There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the vigilant”

Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown

America’s historic triangle. Now we are back to the American Revolution days and first settlements. Williamsburg by far is the “tourist” section when visiting. Has many museums dedicated to the American Revolution, 3 blocks to walk and tour the town and if you purchased tickets you can go into many of the homes (Governor Mansion for example) of those who lived in Williamsburg at the time. Since we had Chet with us, we opted to just stroll the town and go into some “shops”. Went into the dress shop and on display was a Gentleman’s garb and a Ladies garb. Price tag said $2000 pounds – not sure if that is current price or price back in the days.

Yorktown is mostly restaurants and a few plaques about important things.

Jamestown has a large area that is now an archeological dig and is in the process of restoring back to the beginnings. Though all this time the one structure that remains intact today is the church arch.

Last Stop – Halloween with Jason, Lisa, Connor and Ethan

Love Halloween, I have been getting dressed up on this day since the girls were born. And there have been some very memorable Halloween nights – warm ones, freezing cold, rain, fog and snow. But no matter, it is by far always the best.

This year we made our way down to Savannah for a quick stop and treats at my nephew Jason and family place. Now Connor and Ethan have decided they are too old to trick-or-treat, they opted to pass out candy. Me? I got all dressed up as a fortune teller, but the boys were not impressed. Probably thought who is this old lady? And the night turned out to be a rainy one. But! It was a very good visit with Jason and Lisa, always good to catch up with what they are doing and the boys who are very smart boys, into fencing, Lego competitions (building pretty complicated things) and Connor was a finalist in the Michelin Design Challenge for a car design. I am impressed.

GATOR: They forgot to tell me about the resident gator: all dressed up in costume and had to take the Chet boy out for a business run. There is a nice pond in the back of Jason’s yard so I decided to wander down there. I get to within inches of the bank and this big ole and I mean BIG alligator leaps from the bank into the water just 10 feet away!! I did the “fright scream” (appropriate for Halloween) and picked up Chet and ran for my life!!!! Forgot the south has alligators.

Pushed on to The End

Nothing else to do, and we are tired of traveling so we opted to just drive straight onto Blueway RV Resort in Fort Myers Florida – we will stay here until April.

So that is it for 2023 season as we don’t plan on going anywhere.

Wanda traveled 8,806 miles – that is only Wanda miles, the truck turned over 100,000 miles while we were in Newfoundland, we bought it new summer of 2019.

Wanda stayed in 63 different places this year: campgrounds, rest stops, hotels, friend’s yards and repair places.

Repairs – not too bad this year

• Two flat tires
• 4 tires replaced – on truck
• Front End Cap repaired
• Water pump replaced
• Left landing leg replaced
• New brakes
• New mattress
• New couch and ottomans

Beth

Has been gone 5 years now – miss her dearly. Her smile, her attitude, her determination, her joy. Love you.