Lance Camping Adventures Archives - Page 2 of 3

Rhode Island Camping Summer 2022

Rhode Island Camping

Rhode Island, the smallest state in the Union, was another new camping destination for our summer trip. Interestingly, Rhode Island is not a true island, but it does have islands as part of its boundary as do many states. Our campground was on its biggest island, Aquidneck.

Aquidneck Island

Aquidneck Island contains the cities of Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown. We planned to spend one day in Newport and one day taking the ferry to Providence. However, there was a high probability of heavy rain for both of our full days there. Also, we saw that Providence had some flooding. So, we decided to just stay on the island.

We were camping in Portsmouth at Newport RV Park. It was the most expensive campground on our trip at $122 a night, but it did not have the most amenities. So, we definitely were paying for location.

Rhode Island camping at Newport RV Park — Site # 122

We had a nice, level site on gravel, but it was nothing special. Our site was at a low point on the campground, so we were concerned about flooding. However, the girl in the campground office assured us that the island doesn’t flood. She was right; even though weather radar showed a large mass of bad weather, we had no flooding and less rain than one would expect.

The Newport Mansions

The Newport mansions are a popular tourist destination. American industrialists built the lavish mansions from 1870 to approximately 1910. The owners referred to the mansions as summer “cottages”. It was called the Gilded Age. Mark Twain coined the phrase to draw attention to the excesses of the era. Personal income tax began in 1913 and , consequently, the mansions became white elephants. Many were torn down, a few were donated to The Sisters of Mercy for Salve Regina University, eleven are currently managed by Newport County’s Historical Society, and a few are still privately owned.

A tobacco heiress built Vinland Estate, pictured above, in 1882. A family member donated it to Salve Regina University in 1955. Today, it is classrooms and office space.

Ochre Court is the second largest Newport mansion. It was built in 1892 at a cost of 4.5 million. The owners donated it to the Sisters of Mercy in 1947 for the university. I liked that the mansion appeared in the movie, True Lies.

The Breakers

The Breakers is the largest Newport mansion and we toured it on one of our rainy days. Cornelius Vanderbilt II built the mansion in 1895 as a summer home for his family. The 70-room, Italian-Renaissance Villa utilized forty servants for its upkeep. It was built with all the latest conveniences of the day, including plumbing, central heat, and electricity.

The tour provided an app with information on the house and how it’s residents lived. Photographs were for personal use only.

I loved the tour because it was like a time capsule of the era. While we don’t have royalty in this country, these folks sure lived like they were. The house appealed to me because of same reasons that I like Downton Abbey. They are a reflection of the times and mores of the privileged.

We saw all of three of these mansions from Cliff Walk, my favorite thing in Newport.

Cliff Walk

I absolutely loved Cliff Walk! It is a 3.5 mile National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. It was designated in 1975 and about two-thirds of it is very easy walking. Cliff Walk is wonderful because the trail winds around the eastern shore of the island with spectacular views of the shoreline and several of the mansions.

We took our pup with us and she loved seeing the people and all the sights and smells.

Rhode Island camping near Cliff Walj — Our pup loved Cliff Walk

The shoreline was very rugged in places and quite beautiful. It was very overcast that day and we were glad to see it before the rain began.

It was so exhilarating to walk along the easy pathway with the sea air blowing from below. We did not get to do the entire walk, but I was grateful we got to see some of the best parts, including the mansions referenced above.

Redwood Library

Libraries have been a passion of my my entire life, so, I was happy to get to visit the nation’s longest continuously operating library that is in its original structure. Redwood Library was founded in 1747 and has been continuously operating ever since.

An annex is across the street that dates to 1863. It was so cool to see these old buildings that were in operation so many years ago and are still used today.

Clams

On a lighter note, I was in search of New England clams. We had fresh lobster a couple of times, but we had missed eating fresh New England clams. Apparently, Flo’s Clam Shack is an iconic place for clams in Newport. We had our pup and couldn’t go inside, but Flo’s has an outdoor area that allows pets.

Rhode Island camping near Flo’s crab Shack — Outdoor Dining at Flo’s

I learned that New England’s most popular clams are belly clams. Instead of just the strips, you also get the bellies. They taste a bit like fried oysters and I understand they are an acquired taste. I liked them right away, but my husband was not a great fan.

Dealing with a Dirty Dog

We had been traveling for almost four weeks and our pup was in great need of a bath. I met a couple at a State Park earlier and they told me about Rumford Pet Express. We went to the Middletown store on Labor Day and they offer all you need to give your pup a bath for only $12. Additionally, the staff was fantastic. It was a wonderful experience and so nice to have a clean pup again.

Rhode Island Camping in Conclusion

Our Rhode Island camping didn’t go as planned because of excessive rain, but we still had a good time. It would have been nice to take the ferry to Providence, but it just wasn’t in the cards. However, I am grateful we got to visit lovely Newport. Check out our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource to read about our adventures in other states.

Massachusetts Camping Summer 2022

Massachusetts Camping

We have never done any Massachusetts camping before, but we have been to Boston. This visit began in the Berkshires on the western side of the state and ended on the eastern coast. Camping in the Berkshires was easy, but there is a story to tell about our coastal camping.

Bonnie Brae in Pittsfield

It was smooth sailing at Bonnie Brae because we had a nice, shaded, level site and the campground had a pool and laundry. We used the laundry, but did not have time for the pool.

Massachusetts camping at Bonnie Brae — Bonnie Brae is a cute little campground

The campground is on a steep hill. Consequently, it gave Sophie and me a workout coming back up on our walk. It was a friendly area and we interacted with several neighborhood residents below and they gave us tips on restaurants in the area.

Hancock Shaker Village

We had one full day to explore the area and we spent most of our time at the Shaker Village. Shakers inhabited the village from 1783 to 1836. Today there are twenty historic buildings. The countryside was so beautiful and the village was quite interesting.

The Shakers believed in communal living, equality, obedience, humility, simplicity, and perfection. Their work was of the highest quality. All those traits led to a harmonious and simple life. However, they also believed in celibacy. I think that was an unsustainable aspect of their survival as a congregation.

Massachusetts camping ear the Shaker Village — Shaker Village

This round barn was built in 1826 and was an engineering marvel for its day and stabled 52 milk cows. We attended an interpretive talk and were amazed at how innovative they were and how they lived. People traveled from all over when this barn was being used to see it.

Walking around enjoying the beauty of the Berkshires was another thing we loved about being at the Shaker Village.

Hilltop Orchards

Our rainy afternoon was spent at Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery. We did a wine tasting and purchased a bottle of ice wine, which is unique and something we have never tried. They also had the best cider doughnuts we had on our trip. It was a good way to spend an afternoon.

Gloucester

It was a couple of weeks later when we reached the coastal side of the state. Our first impressions were not the best. The roads in the Gloucester area were very narrow and curvy. The speed limits were low, however, which helped. Unfortunately, my husband had a bit of a bad attitude about the area before we even turned into the campground.

Cape Ann Camp Site

The campground was all uphill and again with the narrow roads. The staff checking us in were very friendly though. The road up to most of the campsites is in the picture below. It is steep with a pronounced curve. When my husband saw it, he said, “Oh, hell no!” He turned down an alternative road to the left, but you couldn’t get up it. A camper who was there said a woman tore up her camper trying to go up that way. So, we turned around and braved the big hill. I got out and watched from all sides as my husband drove up. We made it!

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann — The road up to the camp site

An added risk was the huge rocks and protruding trees all along the road. The rocks were everywhere, but there was a path for a careful driver. We saw campers that were our size, but none any larger in that top area. Finally, we made it to our site and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Ironically, this was one of our favorite stops on our trip. The area was beautiful and there was a lot to do. Also, the other campers were very friendly. This part of our Massachusetts camping turned out to be extraordinary.

Massachusetts camping at Cape Ann Camp Sites — Site 196E

The Overlook

An added bonus of the campground was a trail that led to an overlook. We walked up the trail several times and enjoyed the view and the discussions with the other campers. Cars and boats get trapped by the tides in the water below because the level varies by as much as six feet daily.

Massachusetts Camping at Cape Ann Camp Site — View from The Overlook

My husband and dog really liked going to the overlook in the early morning. Unfortunately, they never quite made it for the beginning of sunrise.

The Harbor and City

We were in Gloucester over Labor Day weekend and there was a lot going on. Everything big was happening the Saturday before Labor Day. There were schooners racing in the harbor and that evening a large live band would be playing. A parade of boats with lights would be on the harbor at dusk and later there would be a big display of fireworks. I say “would be” because we only spent the afternoon there. We were worried about the loud noises having a negative impact on our pup. In fact, the fireworks were quite loud in our camper, which was miles away.

We did see the boats going through the drawbridge. I think they were practicing in the daylight. It looked like it would be grand evening.

However, we got to enjoy the beautiful harbor with its monuments, flags, and flowers.

Stage Fort Beach

Stage Fort Beach is near the harbor and it enabled us to get close to the shoreline to see how different it is from the southeast. Half Moon Beach had just a small area of beach and many rocky cliffs.

There was more beach at Cressy’s Beach but what I found most interesting was the big rocks and the house on the cliff. I tried to find out information about the house, but was unsuccessful.

We were impressed with how long Gloucester has been around. Tablet Rock below has a commemorative plaque dedicated to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony by the Dorchester Company in 1623. It also states that Tablet Rock was used by native Americans as an alter to invoke the Great Spirit.

Salem

We took a short drive to Salem for our other free day in Gloucester. It is a cute town that embraces its dark history. We learned the specifics of what happened at the Witch History Museum and had Thai food in the Witch City Mall.

Salem is also the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The Scarlet Letter. The House of the Seven Gables, which was inspirational to him, is available for tours, but we didn’t have the time to see it. However, I plan to check out the book from the library when we return home.

Massachusetts Camping Conclusion

After settling in, both of our Massachusetts camping stops were wonderful. I am so glad we were able to camp in this beautiful state with such a rich history. Check out our visits to other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

New Hampshire Camping Summer 2022

New Hampshire Camping

Our New Hampshire camping included a day in the amazing White Mountain National Forest while visiting Mount Washington and a delightful day in the charming town of Wolfeboro. This stop exceeded my expectations.

Wolfeboro

The town brochure references itself as “ The Jewel of Winnipesaukee” and it did not disappoint. It is picturesque because of quite a few lovely Victorian homes, many nice restaurants, beautiful flowers everywhere, and great views of the lakes. It is said to be “ The Oldest Summer Resort in America” because it was the summer retreat for John Wentworth, the last colonial governor of New Hampshire, in 1763.

New Hampshire Camping at Wolfeboro Campground

We had three nights at Wolfeboro Campground in a woodsy, slightly mountainous setting. Our site was large, private, and mostly level. This campground offered the most value we have seen on our trip with $39 a night for full hookups in a very desirable location. A quarter was required for a shower, but the bathhouse was immaculate. Warren, the campground owner, has owned and operated it for fifty years. We enjoyed talking to him.

Mount Washington

Mount Washington, at an elevation of 6,288 feet, is the highest point in the Northeast. It was a ninety-minute drive from our campground and we visited it on the day we had the best weather. The drive to the top can be very rough on a vehicle’s brakes, so we opted for the Cog Railroad to take us to the summit. Operating since 1869, the railroad uses diesel-powered locomotives to push single rail cars up the mountain and to slow descent from the front going down. The trip has an average grade of 25% with a maximum of 37%.

The best seats are definitely in the front and on the three-seat side. Our seats were not the best because we only booked the day before, but I’m still glad we were able to do it.

We learned that it is clear at the top only 33% of the time, so it is not surprising that this is what we got. The temperature was 54 degrees with winds at 20 mph. I was so glad to have a light jacket.

Mount Washington has the worst weather in the world because of its height and high winds. Winds of 231 mph have been recorded there.

Mount Washington Omni Hotel

A highlight of our New Hampshire camping was a visit to the Omni. This beautiful hotel was completed in 1902 at a cost of $1.7 million and has 200 rooms and suites with breathtaking views of the Presidential Mountain Range. It is physically commanding, but it also has historical significance.

The incredible Omni Mount Washington Hotel

The Bretton Woods Agreement

The hotel was the site of a conference in 1944 of all the World War II Allied Nations that resulted in the Bretton Woods Agreement. The nations agreed to peg their currencies to the dollar and the dollar was pegged to gold. Everything was pegged to dollars because the United States held three-fourths of the world’s supply of gold. This led to the International Monetary Fund and dominance of United States in the world economy.

The Rosebrook Bar

The Rosebrook Bar in the hotel serves food and drinks on the enormous back deck and we were able to score a couple of seats with a view. I had a rock star martini and my husband had sangria and grey goose. My martini was different and delicious. We sat and enjoyed the warm and breezy weather and astonishing views.

From our seats, we were facing Mount Washington and the lower part of the Cog Railroad.

The Wright Museum

The Wright Museum is dedicated to World War II and to the war years. It is a very cool museum. Unfortunately, we did not get there early enough to properly see it, but I would love to come back and see it with more time to take it all in.

There was a dog tag display representing the 1,203 New Hampshire residents who lost their lives in the war.

The museum has many rooms representing the times of the era. Each year of the war, starting in 1939, has a room with information about what was going on in American culture. This room reminded me of many movies and my early childhood.

Lake Winnipesaukee

Wolfeboro borders six different lakes and ponds including Lake Winnipesaukee. Two large boats also offer scenic cruises on the lake. Oneis a paddle boat. We wanted to do one of the cruises, but neither was operating on our one day that was available. One can also rent jet skis. We walked around the lake because it was so beautiful with a wide walking path.

New Hampshire Food while Camping

Our best meal on our entire trip so far was at Morrissey’s, which we tried because it was recommended by the owner of our campground. The restaurant was also beautifully landscaped with all kids of flowers.

I had my first lobster roll and it was so good. My husband had the fried seafood platter, but I helped him get through the enormous plate of food. It was outstanding! We were so bad for this meal and also shared the white chocolate bread pudding. So delicious!

Another great meal was in North Conway at Chef’s Bistro. We stopped on our way back from Mount Washington.

New Hampshire Camping in Conclusion

This was one of my favorite stops! Although we had three nights there, I felt there was much more to do. For example, we did not get to go inside the three historic buildings in the Clark House Museum Complex. I would have loved a week in this location. If interested in our travels to other states, please see our page States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

Vermont Camping Summer 2022

Vermont Camping

Vermont camping was a thing of beauty for us for many reasons. For example, the Green Mountains were all around and the state has more than 100 covered bridges. Also, there were picturesque small towns near our campground. So, we we spent lots of time just taking in the sights. From driving through this lovely state in late summer, I can tell that it would be breathtaking in Autumn with the turning of the leaves.

Arlington

Our campground was in the small town of Arlington, population roughly 2,500. It is an old town, established in 1761, with a rich history as the first capital of the state.

The Arlington countryside was gorgeous with very green grass, rustic structures, and mountains as a backdrop.

One very famous Arlington resident was the iconic Norman Rockwell who lived in the town for fourteen years, from 1939 to 1953. The house below was his home while in Arlington, which is now a hotel called Rockwell’s Retreat.

There is a free Norman Rockwell museum at the Sugar Shack. It features the Post magazine covers of the time that Rockwell lived in the area. He used local residents as models quite often.

I especially liked the display below that had information about a self portrait of Rockwell’s.

Just across from Rockwell’s home is the Arlington Green Covered Bridge that was built in 1852 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We also drove our truck through this bridge.

Vermont Camping on the Battenkill

We spent three nights in Vermont and all our nights were exclusively at Camping on the Battenkill. The campground has much to offer: great location, full hookups, large level sites, beautiful landscaping, large dog park, laundry, and the Battenkill River. Many campers took tubes and floats into the river. I understand it is also a good spot for fly fishing.

Our site was very wide with a lush grass base. I was surprised that the grass does so well being covered with campers and rugs so much of the time.

Below is a photo of the Battenkill. We did not get in it, but I did dip my toes in and it was cold.

Vermont camping on the Battenkill River — The Battenkill River

Manchester

We also visited Manchester, a nearby town. It home to the historic Equinox Resort, built in 1853. Four US presidents have stayed at the hotel and Theodore Roosevelt gave a campaign speech on the lawn. It is said to be the most haunted hotel in Vermont. Mary Todd Lincoln visited in 1864 and planned to come back the next year with her husband, but he was assassinated. Hotel employees have claimed to see the ghost of Mary and a small child. It might be interesting to stay there.

Manchester also has the beautiful First Congregational Church, established in 1784.

First Congregational Church, Established 1784

Lastly, I loved the Manchester countryside with the Green Mountains all around. Note the flying object my camera caught. Not sure what it is.

Bennington

We came through Bennington as headed to our campground and returned a couple of days later. While passing through, we visited the impressive Revolutionary War Battle Monument. We saw it from a distance while stopping at the local Wal-mart. I later learned it is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont.

The monument is for the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777 because it was a pivotal victory for Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys, the New Hampshire Militia, and volunteers from Massachusetts. They were protecting provisions stored in Bennington that the British troops were seeking.

Bennington has three covered bridges. Paper Mill Village Bridge below is also on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1889. It is 126 ft long and 14 1/2 ft wide. We drove through all the bridges in this post.

Silk Road Covered Bridge was the oldest bridge we saw, built in 1840 and 88 feet long.

Vermont camping and visiting covered bridges — Silk Road Bridge

Robert Frost also lived near Bennington and his former home is a museum. We stopped by and walked around. However, we couldn’t do a tour because it was closed that day. However, it was a beautiful piece of property and I can see how it would be inspirational to Frost.

Vermont Food

We had a couple of good meals, both in Bennington. I had excellent fish and chips with a craft beer at Madison Brewing Company Pub and Restaurant. The fries were especially good. We also had burgers at Jensen’s that were good and very reasonably priced.

We purchased some robust maple syrup, pumpkin butter, apple cider doughnuts, and local raw milk cheese at the Sugar Shack in Arlington. In Manchester, we had some local non-dairy ice cream made by Wilcox Dairy. That was our dinner! We stopped there because they were dog-friendly.

Vermont Camping In Conclusion

Our time in Vermont was lovely. However, it makes me want to come back for the turning of the leaves. Camping in the fall doesn’t work though because most campgrounds close by mid October and we would have difficulty getting home. So, I think we might have to fly up here and rent a car to really see Vermont at its most beautiful.

If interested in other states we have visited, check out , States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

Winter 2022, Florida Camping

Since retirement, we have sought to escape the cold for a few weeks every year and winter 2022 was no exception. Last year, we also went to Florida, Winter in Florida, Two Weeks Early in 2021. This year, we were several hundred miles south in Florida for four weeks. The standout memories for this trip were the time we had with our friends and the beautiful water views.

Topsail State Park, Winter 2022

Winter 2022 camping began at Topsail State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. We booked many months ahead and were able to snag two weeks at this epic park. Our site was roomy, but we were beside the main path and it was a little noisy. Despite that, we loved every day we spent there.

We walked Sophie a lot at this campground and she loved it. The photo below was taken at No Name Lake. Most days during our stay were warm and sunny, but we had a few that were cold and several that were also rainy.

The private beach was just a mile or so from our site, down a road dedicated only to pedestrians and bikes. There is also a tram that runs daily which transports people to and from the beach. We rode our bikes to the beach a couple of times during our stay and walked it once. Sophie stayed in the camper when we rode our bikes.

It was so wonderful to spend some time on the beautiful emerald coast. The beach was glorious!

Winter 2022 at Topsail — Enjoying the beach at Topsail

Restaurants Nearby

I cooked a lot while we were at Topsail, but we did enjoy a few meals out. The most memorable was Emeril’s. It was a rare, bucket list type of experience and a delicious meal. We had a less expensive meal that was equally delicious at Shunk Gulley. Also, we had a nice meal at Thai Chiang Rai.

Winter 2022 at Emeril’s — Dinner at Emeril’s

Gamble Rogers State Park, Winter 2022

Next, we had eight nights at Gamble Rogers beachside and the best views of our entire trip. Our first four nights were not on the waterfront, but we were gifted by access to our friends waterfront site for the last four nights because they had to leave early. It was one of the most beautiful sites we have ever had.

Winter 2022 at Gamble Rogers — Site # 23

Gamble Rogers was special because we were able to spend time with our very good friends, Peggy and Chan. It was chilly for most of their stay, but we still had a great time. Peggy made a special steak dinner for us for Valentine’s Day and it was delicious.

Access to the beach was beside our site. It was lovely, but most days it was rather cold and windy.

The thing about the beachside of Gamble Rogers is that is such a beautiful environment. Sophie took multiple walks every day and got to know a lot of the campers and volunteers. That girl is very sociable.

Day Trips

Gamble Rogers is located near many areas one would want to visit. We took two day trips while there.

Ravine Gardens State Park

A friend recommended Ravine Gardens State Park and it was very pleasant. The 146-acre park has multiple trails and some, like the 1.8 mile paved road below, are very easy to walk. Cars and bikes can also access it. We took our pup and had a very relaxing day.

We were there during the blooming season for azaleas and they were present throughout the park. We also saw citrus fruit along our walk.

We checked out the suspension bridge in one of the ravines and enjoyed a cool view of the trails below.

There is a 64-foot obelisk dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was responsible for the the park’s construction in 1933 by the Work’s Progress Administration.

Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine was our second day trip. We have been there before, but did not have time to visit Castillo de San Marcos. The fort is the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States and has a interesting history. I highly recommend a visit if you are in the area.

We had a fabulous lunch at Harry’s and then a walk along the river. Saint Augustine is a gorgeous city and we had beautiful weather that day.

Presnell’s RV Resort, Winter 2022

Our last campground was Presnell’s in Port St. Joe and we were there for a week. Our site had full hookups and was very comfortable.

Presnell’s has a marina that almost always has visiting pelicans. The campground also has a heated pool, but we didn’t go in during our stay.

The bay was just across from our site and we enjoyed the views most nights. It is truly a beautiful place.

A big plus about our stay was spending time with our friends who were also there. We had bike rides, saw pickle ball played and many great meals with them. Our favorite restaurants were Shipwreck, Mango Marley’s, Indian Pass Raw Bar, and Pepper’s Mexican Grill.

Our winter 2022 camping was so much fun! This could become addictive!

Happy Camping!

Fresh Water Sanitation for Lance 2075

Fresh Water Sanitation

It is important to annually perform sanitation of the fresh water system on RVs. I did an earlier post on this topic, Sanitize the Fresh Water System on the T@B 400. It has general information on why it is necessary. However, it was for our NüCamp 400 and the Lance 2075 sanitation process has a few differences.

Lance Differences

The Truma Combi water heater is in the 2075 and Truma instructs that bleach should not be used in it. See page from Truma Combi manual below.
More bleach is needed in the 2075 because the fresh water tank holds 45 gallons. So, 3/4 cup of bleach is required. (1/4 cup per 15 gallons)
Lastly, one must bypass the Truma hot water heater to perform the Lance sanitation process.

Truma Fresh Water Sanitization — Truma Sanitization Instructions

Fresh Water Sanitation Steps

Empty the fresh water tank.
Perform steps to bypass Truma Combi water heater. (See below)
Put 3/4 cup of bleach (1/4 cup per 15 gallon tank) into a gallon container and fill with water. Pour contents of container into the fresh water tank.
Fill fresh water tank with water.
Use pump to draw water through to all faucets to bring in the bleach water.
Allow bleach water to sit at least three hours or (preferably) overnight.
Drain the bleach water from the tank.
Fill the water tank with fresh water and pull it through the all faucets using the water pump.
Drain the water.
Reverse the steps used to bypass the Truma.

Truma Bypass Valve

Our Lance has a yellow tag near the bypass valve. Once on bypass, I verified that our hot water heater was indeed not taking in water. Water does flow to the hot water faucets, but no water flowed to the Truma. (I could tell because I emptied the Truma and after drawing water to the faucets, it was still empty).

Our valve is right next to the door to the Truma compartment at the bottom. The first photo below shows the normal valve position and the second is in bypass mode.

In Conclusion

The process was easy, but a bit time-consuming. I found that doing this increased my understanding of the Truma.

Happy Camping Y’all

December Camping with Friends, 2021

December Camping

December was a great end to our 2021 camping year. We camped with Southeastern Tabs, Tags, and Friends (SETTF) at two great campgrounds, Stephen C. Foster State Park in Fargo, Georgia and Silver Springs State Park in Ocala, Florida. We were also joined for a couple of days by two of our dance friends who formerly lived near us. It was so wonderful seeing everyone!

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Stephen C Foster State Park is located within the wildlife refuge. It is a small, but well- maintained Georgia State Park. Though we now have a much bigger camper, there was plenty of room on our site.

December camping at Stephen C Foster State Park — Site # 30

We were only there for two nights. Our friends spent their days paddling the rivers, but we didn’t think our shoulder issues would allow it. However, we were able to experience the water on an interpretive tour led by a park ranger.

December camping and on a boat tour — View from Ranger boat tour

Our boat ride was mostly on Billy Lake, near Billy Island, the largest in the area. It was a beautiful day to be on the water and we saw lots of wildlife, including birds, turtles, and alligators. One alligator was quite large and we were fairly close, but when the gator started moving, our ranger moved us away.

There were also several egrets on the water while we were on our ride.

Silver Springs State Park

We were at Silver Springs State Park for four nights and it has become one of our favorites. The park offers an nice campground, excellent paddling opportunities, and good bike trails. We were there with SETTF and were joined by our dance friends for two nights.

The Campground

Our site was nice, but pretty much all the sites in the campground were good—large and level. All had electricity and water, but a few, like ours, had sewer. Unfortunately, the sewer was located at the far back corner of our site and was not useful to us because our hose was not very long.

December camping at Silver Springs State Park — Site # 31 was great

My husband was delighted to see a big gopher turtle in the road. He moved it to an open area near our campsite and it disappeared quickly.

December Camping with Friends

We spent a couple of nights at campfires with members of SETTF and accompanied them as they were putting their kayaks in the water at the Silver River. It looked like so much fun! We learned that the padding was relatively easy there, so we decided to come back later prepared to try it ourselves. So, we came back the next day and did the loop. It was an awesome time! There was lots of wildlife: a manatee, and many turtles, alligators, and birds. However, we didn’t see any monkeys.

December camping and kayaking on the Silver River — Kayak Launch at Silver Springs

We had a few meals with our dance friends and took a ride on the glass bottom boat in the park. It was great to spend time with them.

Views from the Glass Bottom Boat

The glass bottom boat was a very pleasant time on the Silver River. We learned that a glass bottom boat has been operating there since the 1870s. The river, which is estimated to have over 600 springs, has a daily flow of 500 million gallons per day. It was clear with silver hues. It was the setting for multiple Tarzan movies and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Through the glass bottom of the boat, we saw an ancient canoe and several of the major springs.

The view of the river from the boat and later in our tandem kayak was amazing. It is such a beautiful place!

We saw a manatee underwater and many fish and turtles.

There were several ahingas on the river and it was easy to get a photo because they can’t fly well until their feathers dry. I have never seen them before this trip.

Rawlings Historic State Park

A SETTF friend suggested a stop on our way home at Marjorie Rawlings Historic State Park . Though the house wasn’t open, we are very glad we made the stop. Rawlings is the Pulitzer award-winning writer of the “Yearling” and “Cross Creek”.

Her home and the land is much like it was when she lived there. The photo below was taken from outside. She sat on the porch at that typewriter when she wrote her famous novels.

A really nice park ranger told us a lot about the place and Rawlings’ life. He also gave us some grapefruits from the citrus trees.

December Camping Conclusion

We loved this last trip of the year. The parks were extraordinary and spending time with our friends was wonderful. More of our adventures can be accessed on our webpage, Retirement and camping!

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lance Shake Down Trip was a Long One

Lance Shake Down Trip

Our Lance shake down trip was much longer than we planned. Our 2075 camper was projected to arrive in May, but it was August when we took delivery from Bankston Motorhomes in Huntsville. We were so excited and Bankston gave us a red-carpet delivery!

It was also just a few days before a long trip that had been on the books for many months. We tried to squeeze in a short trip for the Lance, but it was just too busy a time. However, we did have several days in our driveway where we were able to test some systems and get somewhat comfortable with the Lance.

Our first trip in the Lance was over 2,500 miles, covering six states, with twelve stops, and twenty-four nights. It wasn’t quite as bad as it sounds because we were able to test some of the systems in our driveway and get to know it better. We did not, however, cook in it or sleep in it until the trip.

Towing the Lance

One reason we were unable to do a short Lance Shake down trip was a change in our tow vehicle. We just were not happy with the impact of big trucks on the interstate with our Ford Expedition. The long trip was coming up quickly, so we rushed to purchase a truck and equip it with a bed-liner and cover. Those few days were quite the whirlwind! We managed to acquire a Ram 2500 diesel. It towed the camper well and big trucks did not push us around nearly as much.

Ready for Lance Shake down Trip — New Ram Truck and Lance 2075

The Campsites

We have camped for five years in small, teardrop campers. A twenty-five foot camper was a big change regarding flexibility in campsites. We have not really worried about the size of sites before, but it is definitely a consideration now. This trip involved twelve different campsites, so there were a lot of unknowns.

First Night

Our very first night in the Lance was dry camping at a Harvest Host. It went well and there was plenty of room for us. However, we were uncertain what to expect from the batteries. We only have one solar panel, but it did a good job of keeping the battery up until the sun went down. I set the refrigerator to propane and it was a game changer. It significantly reduced our electrical draw. We used as little power as possible and were able to use the inverter to power our morning coffee. So, this stop confirmed successful operation of the solar panel, inverter, and refrigerator on propane. Yay!

Lance Shake Down Camping — Dry Camping at Silver Springs Vineyard

Five Nights with a Teardrop Camping Group

We have enjoyed camping for several years with Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends. It is always a great time with the wonderful people in the group. This trip we were at Roan Mountain State Park in a bit of a challenging site. My husband had to back in uphill and the truck had to be parked in an angle because the site was not very long. He is an excellent backer though and it went well.

The larger holding tanks in the Lance came in handy for this extended stay. However, we relied on the bathhouse quite heavily and did not do a lot of cooking as we did not bring a honey pot.

Sadly, one of our friends noted an issue with the roof rack. One rail had come undone. It was very disturbing because it was dangerous to travel with it loose. It required getting to the top of the roof. Fortunately, one of our friends who is younger and more limber climbed up and attached it for us. We did not have any kind of an incident that would have caused the rack to come undone and will be requesting warranty repair.

Another Challenging Site

Ohiophyle State Park in Pennsylvania was another stop that was quite challenging. It is in a very mountainous area and many of the campers were in tents. Our site was not level and there was a lot of small hills. We had lifted one side up, but could not get the trailer off the ball because the truck was in a slant. Finally, we had to give up the side leveling to make it work.

This was two nights of dry camping and we made it through okay. Loving the solar panel and propane-burning refrigerator!

The Other Sites

Setting up the Lance in the other nine stops was blissfully uneventful. There was electricity in all nine and they were relatively large and level.

Lance Shake Down Performance

During the trip, everything in the Lance was used. Though we use bathhouses often, we did use the shower. It took some trial and error to figure out the hot water, but we got there. However, it has very limited capacity. The heat, air conditioning, and outside kitchen were also used.

We discovered on the trip that the space under the bed is not aligned properly and is rubbing. The lock is also bent. Additionally, the door is not locking securely. We are taking the camper to Bankston to leave for these and previously identified warranty repairs.

Three New States

We planned this trip to camp in three new states toward our goal of camping in all fifty. The new states were Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Below are links to individual posts regarding our time in each.

We are looking forward to having the Lance for camping in the remaining ten states in the lower forty-eight. Rentals are planned for Alaska and Hawaii.

Pennsylvania, A New State on a Long Trip Fall 2021

New York, a New State on a Long Trip Fall 2021

New Jersey, New State on Fall 2021 Trip

Room for Our Pup

Our goldendoodle, Sophie, was the main reason we moved from a teardrop to a much larger trailer. We lost our dining area to her crate and also had practically no floor area. It was so much more comfortable in the Lance. One day we were inside the entire day because of heavy rain. It was quite comfortable.

Puppy on Lance Shake Down Trip — Room for Sophie

Lance Shake Down Conclusion

Our Lance Shake down trip confirmed that we are in love with the 2075. It suits our needs in this new puppy-parenting phase of our life. Not too big, not too small—just right! It is a beautiful camper and I am confident we can get our list of issues resolved before our next trip.

Happy Camping!

Pennsylvania, A New State on a Long Trip Fall 2021

Pennsylvania

We have visited Pennsylvania before, but this was our first time to camp there. Our camping included two state parks on the western side of the state and an RV park on the eastern side. Western Pennsylvania is very mountainous and reminds me of West Virginia. We focused on Harrisburg, the State Capital, as we traveled through the eastern portion of the state. It was quite different.

Ohiopyle State Park

Ohiophyle State Park is a highly-rated park because there is so much to do. It has whitewater rafting, rail trail biking, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, and zip lining. The park is a dream if you are young and agile. Unfortunately, we are neither. Therefore, we did not experience some of the park’s finer things.

The Kentuck Campground

The park’s Kentuck Campground was a challenge for us. We arrived later than normal and mistakenly passed our campsite. This led us to a dead end and a need to turn around in an uphill campsite. The Lance is a much bigger camper than out T@B 400 and the space was very tight. Consequently, my husband felt a lot of stress because of the event.

Pennsylvania Kentuck Campground — Site # 155

Our site required a sizable lift to level the trailer. However, the truck was uphill and we couldn’t get the trailer off the ball. The trailer released when we finally gave up on the side-to-side leveling. By that time, it was quite dark. We were also dry camping. It certainly was a stressful set up!

Fallingwater

I wish I could say we were there for all the outdoor activities, but that was not the case. We were there to see one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous creations, Fallingwater. Wright designed it as the summer home for a Pittsburgh businessman. The 1939 house rests over a waterfall and is most impressive. We obtained tickets for an outdoor self-guided tour. We would have needed to book an interior tour in April. I had no idea that kind of lead time was required, so it was outdoors only for us.

It was a beautiful day and the property that surrounds the house was quite extensive. Actually, it was like an easy hike in the woods.

The campground is only a few miles from Fallingwater which was very convenient. It is a very mountainous area and it was a beautiful drive.

Lastly, we had an excellent meal at Brenda’s Family Restaurant. It was just down the road and the food was delicious.

After such a difficult start, our stay at Ohiopyle State Park was great for the rest of our time there. Sometimes, you just have to push through.

Raccoon Creek State Park

Our two nights at Raccoon Creek were very relaxing and low stress. I had to be careful to book a site that allowed pets because they are pet specific. Apparently, it is a requirement for Pennsylvania State Parks. We did, however, have a nice level site. The only negative was hickory nuts that frequently dropped from a nearby tree. We had a little sunshine, but it was mostly cloudy or raining.

We just hung out at the campground for our one full day there. Our day involved a ride to the beach and a drive around the park.

We also stopped at the Wildflower Reserve. It was closed, but I left husband and pup in the car while I looked around.

Wildflower Reserve in Pennsylvania — Wildflower Reserve

I bet it is very nice if you are there at the right time of the year. However, this wasn’t that good time to be there. There were only a few wildflowers, including the strange one below.

Lastly, we had ice cream cones for lunch and hot dogs for dinner. It certainly was not an eating healthy day!

Pennsylvania Capital, Harrisburg

Because we like to visit cities and state capitals, Harrisburg was a natural choice for a stop on the way back home. It is also near Hershey, on our list as well, but we didn’t quite fit it in. Harrisburg’s 2010 population was 49 thousand so it is a good sized city to visit while camping. (We prefer to visit large cities by staying in centrally-located hotels.)

We got a Rover sitter close to our campground in Carlisle for our puppy because we were gone for several hours.

Western Village RV Park

Western Village is a large RV park in nearby Carlisle. It is quite nice. The campground offers full hookups, level, shaded sites, a nice bathhouse, and a laundry. It has a pool too, but it was not open while we were there. I liked that it is so close to Harrisburg.

The Campground’s only negative is that the sites are short. We had to park the truck across the road. It was okay in this instance, but if there had been more cars parked, it could be difficult getting in and out with the camper.

Pennsylvania Western Village Campground — Site #229

Pennsylvania State Capital

Our day in Harrisburg was a Saturday, but happily, the Capital Building was open and a tour was available. The outside of the building is majestic, but the interior is opulent beyond belief.

The photo below is a view from the second floor. It is absolutely gorgeous! In 1903, when President Theodore Roosevelt attended the dedication of the building, he said it was the “handsomest building I ever saw.”

The building cost 13 million at the time it was built and is considered priceless by today’s standards. The dome was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and there is an untold amount of 24 karat gold in the building.

While we were there, a Womens Rights Group was holding a rally on the Capital steps protesting the new Texas anti-abortion law.

National Civil War Museum

Typically, the Civil War sites and museums we have visited are dedicated to portions of the war, like Gettysburg. However, this museum covers the war in its entirety.

I liked that it provided a balanced approach to the war and the exhibits offered the perspective from both sides.

One exhibit addressed the cost of this terrible war. I had heard the statistic before, but revisiting it was still disheartening. The Civil War was the most costly war ever in our country’s history in terms of lives lost and human suffering. Approximately 700,000 died and nearly 400,000 were wounded. The number of deaths was greater than the number of lives lost in all other American wars. The loss of livelihood and property was disastrous as well.

There is a bittersweet monument in front of the building. It is dedicated to the act of providing water to suffering soldiers by the opposing side. Both sides performed this act of mercy many times throughout the war.

My husband and I recently toured the Alabama State Capital in Montgomery. I remember our guide discussing that the delegates from the southern states organized a new government, the Confederate States of America, in Montgomery and swore in Jefferson Davis as President. This picture in the Civil War Museum depicts that event. It was interesting to see that link.

The Cork and Fork

The Cork and Fork is a lovely restaurant just a couple of blocks from the capital. We had amazing weather that day and our outdoor table was perfect! The food and service were very good and my handsome date was very attentive.

In Conclusion

I am grateful that we were able to enjoy so much of the things Pennsylvania has to offer on this recent trip. Fallingwater and Harrisburg were both very wonderful to see and the state parks offered an opportunity to experience the Pennsylvania countryside. Other states we have visited can be seen on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Happy camping!

New York, a New State on a Long Trip Fall 2021

New York

This was our first camping in New York, but we visited New York City several years ago. First, we stopped for three nights in western New York near Niagara Falls. Second, we spent a couple days in central part of the state in the Finger Lake area. Our last stop for a couple of nights was in the southeastern corner near Hyde Park. Throughout it all, we saw quite a bit of the beautiful New York countryside.

A significant portion of our travel was on interstates and most, if not all, were toll roads. None of the toll stations were manned and they bill using your license plate. I expect we will be getting a sizable bill in the mail after we return home. There were many service center exits and exits for texting, which is not seen in our state.

As we drove close and parallel to the lakes, Lake Erie in particular, it was windy and driving felt uncomfortable. Big trucks passing coupled with the wind made it feel quite treacherous.

Grand Island

Grand Island is just a few miles south of Niagara Falls and we chose it for that reason. Our campground was Branches of Niagara and it was very nice. The bathhouse and laundry were immaculate and modern. We did our only laundry of the trip while there.

The weather was not very nice during our stay. It as overcast or raining most of the three days se were there, but the temperatures were mild.

Branches of Niagara New York — Site # 23

Niagara Falls

We have long wanted to see Niagara Falls and it did not disappoint! The park is beautiful and very well maintained. The falls were incredible!

Our plan was to cross over into Canada as well, but it didn’t work out. I tried to get a sitter for our pup and did not have any luck. We could have left her for several hours in the crate, but we were not comfortable crossing the border under that circumstance. Also, the Covid test that would have gotten us across was $140 each. That seemed too much for just a couple of hours.

Niagara Falls in New York — Beautiful Niagara Falls

What we ended up doing was spectacular because we rode the Maid of the Mist. It is a ride in an electric boat that takes you right under the American and Canadian falls. We really felt the force and magnificence of nature under the falls. I don’t remember seeing my husband happier than he was on that ride. He said it was almost a religious experience.

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historic Site

Buffalo, New York was very near our campground. So, we took a day trip to see some of the sights. The actual house where Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as president is a historic site. They did a re-enactment of the circumstances surrounding his taking office. It was quite dramatic because he was sworn in after President McKinley was assassinated.

The guide at the site provided a lot of information about the issues of the day and President Roosevelt’s demeanor. It was definitely worth a stop!

Manilus, New York

Manilus is located in what is known as the finger lake area. The area is very beautiful and there are many quite large, finger-shaped lakes. I chose this area because it was close to where we needed a stop on our route and the state park was highly-rated. Also, I like to book state parks when we visit new states.

Green Lakes State Park

Green Lakes State Park was awesome! The park was beautiful—clean, well-maintained, and nicely-landscaped. We had an amazing corner site with lots of grass around and well-shaded. Our electric site was only $35 a night. We did, however, have to be careful to select a pet site. I also had to show our pup’s vaccination record.

Se used our one free day to just enjoy the park. The two lakes at Green Lakes are a sight to behold. I personally think they should be called Blue Lakes because they are really more like the color of the Caribbean. The two glacial lakes are very deep and are products of the last ice age. The lake appears green because of the presence of calcium carbonate.

In the photo below, the chalky white areas are reefs comprised of living organisms called “microbialites”.

The park allows swimming in the lake from Memorial to Labor Day. One can also rent rowboats and kayaks.

There is a wonderful trail around the lake that is relatively flat and wide. My husband hiked it with me and it was a wonderful afternoon. We encountered these weird-looking mushrooms. I thought they were kinda cool.

Rhinebeck, New York

Rhinebeck is very near Hyde Park and we were there because we wanted to go to the nearby Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. The countryside there was very beautiful.

Interlake RV Park

Interlake was a very cute campground because it was very decorated for Halloween. We had full hookups for $63 a night.

We were just beginning to see some turning of the leaves during the last couple of days in September. The photo below was taken from an empty site in the campground.

Reinbeck New York — Beginnings of Fall Colors

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library

The FDR Library was our main reason for stopping at Reinbeck. We had a full day dedicated to seeing it but discovered that because of Covid reduced hours, it was closed that day.

Our day was spent instead in the camper while it rained heavily and in late afternoon walking the grounds of the library. We were also checking to see if we could tour it as we left the next day with trailer and Sophie in the parking lot. We knew she would be okay with windows open because the high temperature was forecasted to be in the low seventies.

The Roosevelt family home is also on the property, but was not available for tours. It appeared to be undergoing significant work. It was a grand old home for its time with an incredible view from the rear.

FDR’s home in Hyde Park New York — Roosevelt home in Hyde Park

Careful planning made the strategy work. We had scoped out a corner of the parking lot and had sandwiches ready for lunch so we wouldn’t have to stop on the road to make up for the late start.

Entrance into the library required tickets and a specific time. We obtained the earliest possible tickets. They were for 11:30. So, we were able to spend about an hour and a half touring the library.

I learned that this was the first ever presidential library and the presidential office in the photo below is only office in a presidential library that was actively used by a president.

Val-Kill

We also stopped by Val-Kill, which was Eleanor’s home for a number of years. The home was not open, but you could tour the property. It was nice to see.

The Great Lakes

We have now seen all five of the Great Lakes. Before this trip, Lakes Ontario and Erie were outstanding. While on a day trip to Buffalo, my husband and I drove to Wilkeson Pointe Park to see Lake Erie. It was a cold and very windy day, but I managed to put my hands in the water.

While camping at Branches of Niagara, we drove to Porter on the Lake Town Park to access Lake Ontario. It was getting close to dusk and the lake was quite beautiful.

In Conclusion

I never expected New York to be so beautiful. Two places we really wanted to visit on our trip, Niagara Falls and the FDR Library, are there and were the highlights of this long trip. Each stop in the state was different, yet very special.

Conversely, the worst thing thing on our trip also happened in New York. I got a ticket that will be almost $200 for taking a trailer on the Taconic Parkway. Evidently, everyone in New York knows that you can’t take a trailer on any “Parkway”, but this Alabama gal was oblivious to the rule.

Check out our adventures in other states on our page, States Visited, a Campsite Resource.

Enjoy the ride, guys!

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