Eclipse-13 - The Finale

Day 13 8/28/17

A HUGE "RV Resort." I never "toured" to see it all.

Very quiet, very shaded...

...a peaceful ending of a long day driving.

Well, here I am. The last stop; only 165 miles from Croton's RV Park. From Virginia, the ride on I-81 took me through that states of West Virginia, Maryland and into Pennsylvania. It was a pleasant drive except for the 20 minutes I lost near my exit 89 which led to I-78. Two lanes into one due to a tractor trailer breaking down in the passing lane and not being totally off and out of traffic. As mentioned, Appalachian RV Resort is a good, convenient overnight stop that I've used before when headed south to Florida. Click on this link to see all this campground has to offer:  Appalachian RV Resort.  Don't tell anyone but I've already begun to map out my 2018 Winter Itinerary and am eager to get into it and flesh out the details. 

Currently, at site 353, the area around me is empty but I can still hear the traffic on I-78 including the overnight work that's being done on the bridge/overpass used to exit the interstate, cross over and arrive here at the campground.  The back up beeping of equipment is tonight's slumber melody, annoying though it may be. Temperature all day hovered in the very comfortable 70's and tonight we'll have a low of 58°

What's up next? Lots. While in Croton, I'll drop by my apartment and attack two week's of mail, make three visits up to Fishkill to visit my mother, have dinner with friends down at Sakura, download and update both the Garmin and the on-board Rand McNally GPSs, back up my laptop, check to see that which I printed from my laptop were received by my printer at home. Did you know your wireless printer has an email address to which you can send email and documents for printing while you travel? Winnie goes back to White Plains Mercedes for a 3 hour tire rotation and I've got to settle the reimbursement that's due me regarding the covered EGR part that was replaced in Clinton, NJ on my first day out. Then there's replenishing goods from home to Winnie, buying necessary food items for my next trip, Thursday, Sept. 7th. This litany was more for me to put thoughts of "to-do's" down in print so I'll be sure to get it all done. 

To my readers, thanks for coming along and taking the time to read my ramblings It's gratifying to see that over the years my blog has been viewed over 7,400 times. The trip to see the eclipse alone was viewed by over 420 folks. That's nice. I think by adding the link to my Facebook page adds a few in addition to the fifty I send via email. 

So, stay tuned for the Hudson Islanders RV Rally and a trip back up to Searsport, Maine in the Belfast area facing Penobscot Bay. I'm looking forward to being at Moorings Oceanfront RV Resort once again and being exposed to the Maine culture with my Boston cousins, John and Barbara.

Eclipse-9-12

Day 9 & 10 - 8/24-26/17

There's a minor screw-up in the dating sequence of my recent blogs. Apparently, I'm obsessive enough to try and straighten it out. Yes, this is worthy of the chuckles my OC friends are having as they read this...AND, they know who they are. I'm sure the rest of my readers won't lose any sleep over it. Days 7 & 8 were spent in Travelers Rest, SC, Days 9 & 10 were spent in Mayberry Campground, NC, and now, Days 11 & 12, are here in Harrisonburg, VA.

On a more interesting note,  Back at the Mayberry Campground, the total number of flies that wound up in my sacrificed glass of Chardonnay was seventeen. All in the name of science and worth the trouble to rid the pesky, annoying critters. Now, if granddaughters, Sara and Beca, were once again pre-teens and were with Poppa for their Science Days, this would have made for a terrific experiment. We would have set out seven small, plastic cups, each containing a small, measured amount of white wine, red wine, gin, rye, beer, Gatorade and water (because that's what I travel with). At the end of a period of time, which liquid would have attracted and trapped the most insects? I think this would be a neat contest with readers submitting their guess. The person with the winning guess and I will enjoy a glass of that beverage... insect-free, of course.  There's a prerequisite, however. I'll need at least ten readers submitting an answer for me to waste such precious fluids on insects.  

Meanwhile, here at Harrisonburg, this critter flew in for a visit but, alas, met the Bug Zapper.

It was sufficiently stunned for me to re-introduce it to the outdoors.

And, finally, before leaving Mayberry Campground, I took myself on a tour around the rest of the campground.

A view from the opposite end. My site would be behind the tree
to the left.

Days 11 & 12 8/26-28/17

Note proximity of Mayberry Campground to the Virginia border.

"Good bye North Carolina, hello Virginia." With all the driving that I've done in the past two months, I can still admit that I enjoy every minute of it.  Today, the four hour trip included a stop for fuel and lunch and I can say once again, it was all about the journey. What a beautiful country we have. There were a lot of "Wow's" as I soaked in the surrounding landscape traveling the short distance from North Carolina to the Virginia border and then most of the day in Virginia. The most outstanding and noteworthy feature of NC's highways was the attention the State gives to maintaining and landscaping the medians. Beautifully kept, they plant the most colorful wildflowers in manicured plots. Every so many miles the driver is treated to a vast swath of yellow wildflowers; a few miles further another swath of reds, the next, a patch of purple or orange. What a pleasure it was to anticipate the next section when yet another eye-pleasing sight appears. Solid blocks of color. There are even patches of sunflowers all proudly standing at attention in full bloom as I drove by. These were not just small areas, they would go on for a quarter of a mile filling the median between opposing lanes of traffic. Very impressive. I tried to photograph but at my speed they were all blurred. It's just another "you had to be there."  

Once into Virginia the wildflowers were replaced by rolling hills. Once across the state border the long, not so steep inclines followed by equally long descents that took you along the curvy ribbon of I-81 went on for at least twenty miles. For distractions, at the peaks, there were terrific views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its valleys which ran parallel to I-81. With the late morning overcast conditions, photos would not have done the scenic wonder justice. 

The photos that follow were taken along Mauzy Athlone Road leading to the KOA; the final 3.5 miles of a 230 mile journey off I-81 and down a narrow back road past farms with beautiful 360° views. I searched Google and could find nothing about the origin, meaning or history of the name, Mauzy Athlone.

Campground is located just on the edge of the Shenandoah National Forest

I believe the Sky Line Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway is along
the distant ridge atop the Blue Ridge Mountains

After enjoying a two-day relaxing visit at this KOA, I'm headed tomorrow for my final stop before Croton Point Park. The Appalachian Campground in Shartlesville, PA, 3½ hours and 220 miles northeast. This was to be my first overnight stop when I started south for the eclipse. God laughed. Hope to see you there.

Eclipse-7 & 8

Day 7 8/22/17

A good-bye to a beautiful state park and the memorable event that
went with it; very fortunate to have witnessed it.

Site 28 at Travelers Rest KOA

Love this campground; They remembered me from last year
and gave me the same Site 28. 

Warning for some readers. There's a photo and description of a Rabid Wolf Spider that I saw on my site. I've put the photo and it's description at the end of the blog just before the Comments section.

I'm on my way back to New York. Six more days and I'm back at Croton Point Park but first I'm stopping over in Travelers Rest two days. Tonight I'll dine with friends, Marsha and Tim. The twenty minute trip from Table Rock State Park allowed me some extra time before checking into Travelers Rest/N. Greenville KOA to do what I've wanted to do for awhile: stop at a roadside produce stand and enjoy some local produce. I picked up 4 ears of corn for $1.00, cherries, homemade style red raspberry jam made by The Dutch Kettle in Hamptonville, NC and two peaches the size of softballs. 

Biggest peach I've ever seen. No, the cherry is for
comparison; it didn't come attached.

For tonight's dinner, Marsha and Tim took me to Farmhouse Tacos in Travelers Rest, SC. 

Acoustically noisy because of its farmhouse construction but
the place was crowded for a Tuesday evening.

 The food was delicious. Started off with a draft of pale ale:

I tried their "Farmhouse Buttermilk Fried Chicken with honey jalapeno creme." My two sides included "Plantation Rice" with parsley, butter with a light stock and Jalapeno Mac 'N Cheese. Perfect sized portions but, as usual, the downfall was the chips and salsa dip presented immediately after giving drink orders. They were the very light, thin tortilla chips and dipping salsa that had just the right amount of heat.  Result? My third piece of chicken and a taco shell came home with me for lunch tomorrow. Click on the link above to view their other offerings.

To top off the evening, a trip to Pink Mama's Ice Cream store and (my favorite), a cup of two-scoops butter pecan; rich, smooth and loaded with roasted pecans. And that was that for the first day's stay.

Met a very friendly couple from Florida camping three sites down the road, Rick and Jan. They too will be leaving tomorrow but they stopped by to confirm their decision to go from their conversion van to the Winnebago View. They received the inside tour and they loved it. And yes...MB...they made to the Hall of Fame.

Rick and Jan

Day 8 8/23/17

Vehicle restrictions prevented me from passing 711 E. Haymore Street in Mt. Airy, Andy's home from 1935 to 1966. I went to the Internet for many of the following photos. At 711 E. Haymore Street, it is now a Bed & Breakfast run my the Hampton Inn and you can get a room there for about $150/night depending.

I knew I was close.

711 E. Haymore Street. Now a B&B.

Back Porch

Back Yard

The home is now a Bed & Breakfast run by the Hampton Inn
and you can get a room there for about $150/night according to
Trip Advisor.

I was able to park at the Andy Griffith Museum.  An $8.00 admission fee and photos for my mother.  After all, I was in Mt. Airy and Mayberry, how could I not, right?

Sheriff's desk with video clips; here with significant other, Helen Crump.

A beautiful hand painted mural gives background for selfies.

From the garage; but a closer look...

...will make your jaw drop.

You can even grab a tour of Mayberry in the Sheriff's car.

Elizabeth Ann Theresa "Betty" Lynn
(Thelma Lou), Barney's girlfriend
celebrates her 91st birthday on August 29th. Still
makes appearance to autograph photos. 

Then, on to Bunker Road and the Mayberry Campground.

Family owned campground was beautiful; about 7 miles out of town.

I knew as soon as I approached the campground that this was going to be
special; beautifully landscaped and  lawn neatly trimmed.

Looks like it's all nestled in a valley; the distant view
of mountains reminded me of New York State.

Definitely big rig friendly but not a shade tree in sight.

My awning, on site #2, is my shade. By the shadow you can see the
sun is setting west on the driver's side.

My view. Well laid out, spacious sites and not a stitch of
shade. I'm here until Saturday.

Thanks for joining me. Next stop Saturday, the Harrisonburg/Shenandoah Valley KOA in Broadway, VA

ARACHNOPHOBES can stop reading here. The rest of you nature lovers can scroll down to see a spider...big deal. 

The photo of an interesting spider below; as I stare at it again, I count only six legs; the little fella is supposed to have eight:

The Rabid Wolf Spider is easily confused with other wolf spiders and also Nursery Web spiders and Funnel Weaver Spiders. It can be identified by its stripe pattern. The cephalothorax (front body section) has two dark stripes. The abdomen( rear body section) has one dark stripe surrounded by two pale lines. The female, which is larger than the male, can have a body length (not counting legs) of almost an inch. The male's body is usually about half an inch. Wolf spiders do not build webs to catch prey. They do weave silk to build a shelter, or to build a sac to carry eggs in. Rabid Wolf Spiders hunt their food at night, ambushing prey or using their speed. This brownish-yellow spider camouflages well with dead leaves and bark .They eat mostly insects. When Rabid Wolf Spiders breed, the male does a sort of "dance", by waving its pedipalps (large leg-like mouthparts). He also makes a noise. When the female lays eggs, she builds a silk egg sac to carry them in. She attaches the sac to her abdomen. When spiderlings (baby spiders) hatch, they ride on her back until they are old enough to be on their own. Rabid Wolf Spiders can be seen in woods, meadows, or anywhere there are leaves. If captured, they will bite, but they are not considered dangerous. If you see them at night with a flashlight, their eyes will reflect light. 

Credit: SPIDERZRULE WEB SITE