2009 RV ADVENTURES

May 15, 2009 we left Fort Lauderdale at 5:55 AM heading to Asheville North Carolina. Our first stop will be Savannah Georgia, 446 miles away. We had difficulty finding diesel and bought at BP Daytona Beach Shores. Later we saw Ormand Beach exit 268 had a station on the west side.

At 12:12 PM we were at the Georgia border, 17,207 miles now on the Dodge.

Arrived Savannah Oaks at 2 PM, an eight hour trip. Friday night we enjoyed Glenmorangie scotch at Churchill's Pub. "Never in the history ..." was recited. LOL. It's a great pub with a huge mahogany bar, we felt like we were in London.

Saturday, May 16, 2009 we had a Waffle House breakfast (favorite) then picked up Maggie and Shiloh and went cruising to Tybee Island. We shopped at a couple of interesting places we'd seen last year and bought cocktail napkins and two 'lighted resin' ice cubes for Shay's birthday gift. The Crab Shack lunch with the doggies was wonderful. There was a beautiful breeze it was cloudy and just perfect. Mark had baby clams, legal? I had chocolate cake and wine. My kind of lunch! We found our way back and stopped to check out Cracker Barrel, where i bought a wire frog and bee. We relaxed with barbecue brats and wine for dinner.

Sunday, May 17, 2009 we did laundry, grocery, played scrabble and went on a Savannah ghost tour at 9 PM with 45 minutes spent in the haunted Pirate House. We took ghostly pictures in the dank cellar and heard stories of pirates and privateers.

It was "a rainy night in Georgia", perfect for an open air trolley ghost tour. Savannah's historic district was beautiful at night, lit porches, chandeliers glowing inside. Mark noticed that we didn't see any bluelight from TVs. Interesting!!!

Monday, May 18, 2009 17,486 miles on the Dodge it's 8 AM and we're now headed from Savannah to Asheville, North Carolina. It rained all night, and is 55° this morning. Mark walked the dogs and put them in the truck while I packed up. The kitchen sewer delayed us by 30 minutes.

At 9:50 AM we are now on I 95 with 196 miles to go, the rain has stopped.

We bought fuel at a Pilot station which took 31 minutes for $26 in fuel. Mark had to go in three times. Dumb clerks.

We arrived at Rutledge Lake RV park, a very nice place, site 64, set up in one hour and called the girls who arrived within the hour! We had a good visit and then off to the Moose Café for supper. We slept soundly ... it's very quiet and dropped to 43° overnight, furnace set at 60°

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 we had a lazy morning, Mark cooked leftovers of meat loaf, potatoes and eggs and then we were off to the farmers market. We bought berries and wine and headed to Paula's for subs for lunch. The doggies enjoyed their visit too.

On our way back to the RV, we ate a bag of pretzels, and then got home and watched American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. Olympian Shawn Johnson won!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 we were up early and off to a lovely Walmart for food and fun shopping. We found some Capri pants for me, a bubble wand for Jackson and fishing stuff for Marshall, Jon and Jeremy.

Paula, Jon and Jeremy arrived at 11:30 to go for lunch at the train depot. We shopped at the Silver Armadillo and then ate lunch at the Paz (Mexican) as the train depot was closed. It was a good lunch with sangria pitchers. Tonight a party at the RV camp.

Thursday, May 21, 2009 is Marcy's 45th birthday celebrated at Paula's with all the family. The boys entertained Jackson with the bonfire, Olivia and her friend saw a bear ... lots of squeals! The Scottie dogs played with the boys and had a great time. We played Mexican dominoes with Paula, Jon and Jeremy until 11 PM then drove to the RV.

Friday, May 22, 2009 Paula drove us up to Chimney Rock. There were beautiful sites along the French broad River.

We bought some shot glasses and Ivy umbrella in the gift shop then climbed Chimney Rock by elevator, we cheated. LOL. There was still some climbing to the top. It was a nice day and we could see for 75 miles.

We took Paula to Carrabba's for dinner
near the RV park.

Saturday, May 23, 2009 we tidied up the camp and met Paula and Jon downtown Asheville for some shopping at The Mast store and 10,000 villages and a bead shop. Mark was very patient and looked after the dogs while I scooted around with Paula. After, we went up to Paula's mountain house. They have a baseball banquet tonight.

Marcy and the kids came over to the RV for some fun.

Sunday, May 24, 2009 Sue and Wayne arrived about noon for three nights. Wayne took us to Cracker Barrel for lunch and then barbecued pork chops for supper. We enjoyed a fire till 11 and then off to bed. Both Paula and Marcy are working tonight.

Monday, May 25, 2009, Memorial Day.

We hosted a rainy day party at our campsite. Mark connected a blue tarp to our awning to cover our picnic table. He's such a Boy Scouty.

Although it's a dry campground, much "juice" was drunk, chicken eaten and so forth. The kids swam, rented paddleboats and fished. it was fun for all with the campfire and Jackson toasting marshmallows for everyone while playing with his bubble wand. :-)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 we were off to Black Mountain. Sue, Wayne, Paula, Jon and Jeremy went for lunch at The Verandah. It was excellent. The dogs were allowed on the patio; Shiloh, Maggie, Muffin and Macy sat with us. Black Mountain is a nice tourist friendly town. We enjoyed seeing it. Next, we drove to Paula's house so Sue and Wayne could see it. We were all together for one last evening before we headed to Brunswick Georgia ... Sue and Wayne are leaving for Winnipeg and Lake of the Woods.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 was a rainy campsite wrapup. We were on the road by 830 en route to Brunswick Georgia. It was a smooth ride to Golden Isles RV park. Very unfriendly check in ! Why? Are they expecting complaints?

Well I guess so, as it was a horrible place. Ants crawling up the RV, a grassy site, derelict trailers, old tarps and junk everywhere. We walked the dogs, and saw a hillbilly cleaning his rifle in his trailer doorway. What a dump !

We enjoyed discovering Jekyll Island campground where we hope to stay if we come here again. We had dinner at Blackbeards, a very nice place.

Thursday, May 28, 2009 we enjoyed a lazy morning and took Shiloh and Maggie with us sightseeing. Brunswick is old and shabby, nothing like beautiful Savannah. We drove to St. Simons Island which reminded us of Sanibel, busy and touristy. We paid three dollars for Jekyll Island and enjoyed a couple of hours relaxing near the pier. Later we packed up and made sandwiches for our road trip tomorrow.

Friday, May 29, 2009 18,422 miles on the Dodge. 9:10 AM we left scuzzyville for our cottage for an overnight stay. We took exit 261B to 92 west but it was very rough. Next time it's i4. Arrived 1:10 PM

Saturday, May 30, 2009 we left our cottage at 9:05 AM for Sunshine Holiday RV park, our homebase while Mark is working in Miami It was a great trip!!!