Back home

It's December 9. I've been home a little less than two weeks. I'm ready to go again. I learned some lessons that will make the next trip a little more fun. I'll stay longer in one place, rather than just one day to do geocaching. Which means I'll do a little more research to find places that are interesting. I'll look extra hard at places to kayak. I will also have my ham radio up and working. Depending on feedback from the blog I may announce in advance where I'll be staying. Maybe I'll meet some new friends.

The camper is up on blocks and the water lines winterized. I feel sad.

I haven't taken the time to figure the cost of the trip. I know there will be people interested in those figures. It will also tell me how easy it will be to make the next trip.

The end of the start of a new life

On Monday the 21st the adventure part of the trip was over.  I have spent the last week just visiting my daughters in VA and CT.  Tomorrow I will arrive home in Maine and go back to my routine, such as it is.  I enjoyed my trip and learned a lot.  I'm already planning for a spring trip.  This time I will plan on going somewhere and staying more than a day or two.  I will also have done something about antennas for ham radio.

I intend to keep posting.  Now the posts will get more philosophical and perhaps reveal more of me.  I do have some opinions about religion and politics I'd like to share.

11-21-11 Lexington, VA

I left Summersville, WV this morning with the intention of visiting a cave near Lewisburg.  On the way I stopped to view a bridge over the New River Gorge.  As I was leaving the feeling came over me that I was ready to stop traveling and looking for experiences.  I guess I'm tired and ready to go home for a while.

The bridge is 856 feet above the river.

Now I'm in a campground attached to a truckstop near Lexington, VA. Traveled less than 200 miles today and will do just a little over that to arrive at my Daughter's (Beth) home in Hampton, VA tomorrow. I'll stay there a couple of days and then head north again. I should be home early next week.

 


View from the campsite.

Can you spot the Aliner?

If you have been following this blog, please go back over old posts occasionally as I am inserting pictures I've taken along the trip. It's taken me a while to learn how to do that.

11-20-11 Summersville, West Virginia

I am in a campground near Summersville, WV. Drove in after dark and had no idea what the place was like. Turns out to be pretty nice. Except they have winterized. No water at the site, and no showers or restrooms. Good thing there is a truck stop just a little way up the street.

Today turned out to be a gloomy one. Overcast and light rain all day. Ate breakfast out (I'm doing too much of that).

Did some laundry.

Found a couple of geocaches. One of the caches was the kind I look for. It led me to an interesting spot. That place is an overlook above the Summersville reservoir. Very deep gorge. I left a geocoin in that one. The coin was given to me by Ben and Tina the night we played “Settlers of Catan” in Orlando, FL.

I think my fear of heights is getting worse. I drove over a dam today and the feeling in the pit of my stomach was the same as if I were standing at the edge of a cliff.
Summersville Reservoir

Base of the Dam

Jellico to Summersville, WV

Today (11-19-11) was an adventure.

The drive from Jellico, Tennessee through the mountains of western Tennessee, eastern Virginia, and West Virginia was spectacular.  The mountains are beautiful.  At one point I drove around a bend into a valley and was faced with a straight wall of mountain.  All I could think of was “where is the pass through that”.  There wasn't one, there was a tunnel.  I never even caught the name of the tunnel, everything happened so fast.

In West Virginia I turned off I64 onto WV219.  I was headed for Watoga State Park.  I had done some research and the park had amenities I wanted and looked to be an interesting park.  The first thing I ran into was that 219 is not a good route for anyone uncomfortable with heights.  The road twists and turns and has some horrific drop-offs.  Then I got to the road to the park.  It was worse than 219.  At this point it felt like my knuckles were going to be permanently white from strangling the steering wheel.  But, I did reach the park.  Of course, at that point, I found that my research hadn't turned up the fact that the park was closed.  I'm not sure when it closed, but it was.

So back out to 219 and I wasn't going back the way I had come in.  The maps showed some roads going west that looked passable.  An hour or so later I found myself at an information center for the Monongahela National Forest.  The people at the center were helpful and I got the information that the there were no campgrounds within any kind of driving distance that had the features I wanted.  Plus I was down to a quarter tank of gas and the next gas station was twenty miles of twisting and turning.  At least it was mostly downhill so I didn't have to worry about running out of gas.  I was able to gas up just after leaving the National Forest.

Tonight I am staying in a campground in Summersville, WV.  It's around 60 or 70 miles west of where I thought I was going to be.  I have no idea what the park is like.  I arrived after dark and just found an empty spot to set the camper.  I drove over 400 miles today and tonight I feel wrung out.  Early to bed, I think.  I'll do some light sightseeing tomorrow and maybe some laundry.  Nothing stressful

Jellico TN, 11-18-11

Time to update the blog.

I left Stephen Foster State Park in the Okefenokee on Tuesday the fifteenth. Arrived at the River Country Campground in Gadsden AL around six in the evening. It would have been a horrible trip if it weren't for my Garmin gps. The last part of the trip was after dark and in pouring rain.

My stay was uneventful, no adventures. Rained most of the stay.  I did do a geocache in between heavy showers. The campground was nice. The restrooms and showers were spotless. I'm glad the campground was mostly empty as the spaces were way too close for my comfort. It is an urban campground, right in the middle of Gadsden. Beautiful spot on the river.

I arrived here in Jellico, TN yesterday afternoon (Thursday, 17th). An easy trip. Under three hundred miles. Most of the trip was through some spectacular mountainous scenery. The campground is a reclaimed strip mine. A nice spot with mountains surrounding the town. No amenities other than an electrical hookup though. There's a rest room about half a mile away. No showers. Last night the temperature dropped below freezing. You would think I was back in Maine. I did a geocache yesterday afternoon and one in Kentucky today. Nothing special. No adventures here either.

Ham radio has just not been a priority. Every time I think I'll put in a few hours something else becomes more important (food, laundry, repairs, etc). This next move I am going to stay put for a couple of days. Maybe I'll get some time for the radio.

I think I've solved my electrical problem.  The solution required buying a new battery for the camper.  The old one was dry and dead.  I am not sure what happened.  It may have been overcharged somehow and boiled dry, or the dealer may have given me a bad battery to start with.  If it is overcharging something is wrong with the converter charger.  Or I don't know how to use the system.  I thought it was automatic.  I'm keeping a close watch on charging now.  It may be that I can't let the converter keep charging when I'm on 110 power.  We'll see.

Back in the Okefenokee. Written on 11/13/11

I am in Stephen Foster campground in the Okefenoke swamp. I finally saw my first alligator. In fact I saw my first dozen or so. The waters around here are full of them. I was paddling along and caught sight of a couple of bumps in the water and then noticed they were leaving a wake. That was the first one. After that I would see head, snout and back as they swam along. All of them would let me get about thirty or forty feet away and they would just slowly sink and disappear. A good day kayaking.

 

The closest I got to an alligator

 

The camper has developed a serious problem. The fuse between the converter and the 12 volt system has blown and nothing I do fixes the problem. This means I have no power unless I'm hooked up to 110 power. It also means the truck will not be charging the battery while I'm driving. I'm going to try using the propane while on the move to keep the refrigerator cold. Hope it works till I get some help. I'll call the dealer tomorrow.

There is no cell phone service here so I can't upload a post until the next campground.

Tomorrow may be 300 miles or more before stopping.

11-11-11

Today is Veterans Day.  Whenever I say that phrase I get pictures of the Normandy invasion.  So many men and women have died protecting this country.  Those veterans have earned our respect.  Too bad this holiday has just become a shopping day. 

WW2 seems to have been necessary.  It's too bad so many of our wars have not been worth the sacrifice of those men and women. 

I woke up in the Stephen Foster park planning to go kayaking with the alligators.  But wasn't feeling too well.  Rather than pay for an extra day I decided to get on the road.  So a short time later was on the way to Florida.  Of course, a few hours later I was regretting not staying the extra day.  I just may go by the swamp on the way home.  I may yet go kayaking with alligators.  Now I'm visiting with Ina in Davenport Fl. 

The trip down was uneventful and easy.  Northern FL. Is wide open, with lots of cattle farms.  Lots of beautiful scenery.  It's too bad they allow so many billboards.

Yesterday Ina and I went geocaching.  We found two.  Actually I should say she found them.  We were both looking, but she was the one who saw them first.  Geocaching has become the major focus of this trip.

I don't particularly care for FL. as a state.  FL allowed George Bush to become president and do the damage he did and a large percentage of those objectionable billboards are misleading ads against abortion. 

11-8-11 Okefenokee

I'm camped in the Stephen C. Foster State Park in the middle of the Okefenokee swamp in Georgia.

The park is seventeen miles from the nearest town, and that is the small town of Fargo.

The park is just a plain campground with no amenities other than canoe rental.  The quietest place I've stayed yet.  Only three other parties in the campground.  No cell phone coverage here.  I had to go into Fargo today to make a couple of calls and do a geocache.  Thirty five miles to make two phone calls, eat breakfast at a diner, and buy a couple of groceries.  You'd almost think I was at home in Maine.

Fred and Sharon came by tonight and shared stories about the places they've stayed.  They are from Washington state and travel four months out of the year.  They have seen the whole country and intend to see more and more detail.

I tried some more ham radio today and still am not making contacts.  Not sure if anything is wrong.

If the weather is good in the morning I'll make arrangements to stay an extra day and get out in the kayak.

11-6-11 Huntington Beach State Park

Another great day. Went out for breakfast. Found a good breakfast/brunch/lunch place. (Applewood House of Pancakes). Did my laundry. Went for a nice hike along the ocean and then a nature trail to a freshwater lagoon. There are supposed to be alligators in the lagoon, but I didn't see any. Water is very low too.

View of Sandpiper Pond and the ocean beyond.

I tried working ham radio, but no luck. Other stations don't seem to hear me. Not sure what is going on. I'll have to set up a schedule with someone and see if we can make contact.

Tomorrow night I should be sleeping in the Okefenokee swamp in Georgia. I'll be tired too as it's over 400 miles of driving.

11-5-11

From Huntington Beach State Park, Murrell Inlet, South Carolina

Today was great.  Did two geocaches, one took a short walk through undistinguished woods and the  other through a beautiful nature trail.  I feel great from doing the hiking.  This is a beautiful spot.  The rest of the coast must be just as beautiful, but you can't see it for the big homes, gated communities, and condos.

The weather was sunny, but very windy.  Had to keep the hat tied on whenever I was out from under the trees.  Last night the wind gusts were so strong I had some concern for the trailer.  Shouldn't have worried.  Not sure what I'll do tomorrow.  I have to do some laundry, but that's all the have to's.  I may try to get a 40 meter antenna up so I can work radio in the evening.  I think I'll try some radio on 20 during the day too. 

11-4-11 Murrell Inlet South Carolina

Today I drove from Croatan National Forest in North Carolina to Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina. Only about 135 miles and the traffic was light. Made for an easy trip. I'm beginning to think I'm dragging poor weather with me. Just now it's 53 degrees and the wind is gusting up to 20 knots. The camper is rocking with the wind just now. Stiff winds forecast for the next couple of days too. Not very good for kayaking. Time for some more geocaching and trying ham radio frequencies. I going to be here till Monday morning. I just realized I may have trouble reserving a campsite for Monday as many places don't have anyone on reservation duty over the weekend. I'll just have to wait and see.

This campground has more sites, closer together than Croatan. In contrast to Croatan the shower room is heated, and there is soap in the men's room. I imagine every campground will be different, yet similar.

In North Carolina, when I got away from the main roads and the chain stores I found a beautiful area. I assume that will be the same here. The drive down was monotonous. The land is so flat and in the rural areas the highway was flanked by large trees, nothing to be seen. In the more urban or suburban areas the stores and office buildings look like the same things everywhere else I've traveled. The architecture of offices and big box stores is not very interesting.

A little while ago I met a man who is traveling with an Aliner just as I am. He has modified the interior of his to be far more efficient than mine. It would seem, from reading I've done, these things are easily customized. For now I'm satisfied with what I've got. I had read that Aliners draw a lot of attention because of their distinctive design. From the stares I'm seeing I have to agree with that. Just saw a guy almost go off the road on his bicycle while looking it over. I discovered today that the windows are tinted to the point that no one outside can see inside if the lights are not on. So I'm having fun watching people.

Croatan National Forest, North Carolina

Arrived just before five on Tuesday Nov. 1.  The drive took longer than it should have because my gps in the car needs to be updated.  It took me through three areas that could have been avoided as there are new bypasses around the built up areas.  Guess I'll have to spring for some new maps.

The campground (Cedar Point campground of the Croatan National Forest is very nice.  Paved camping spots, electric hookups, and plenty of space between sites.   Clean too.  This whole area is beautiful once you get beyond the ticky tacky of big name stores and chains.  I found a cache at a little town park with a gorgeous view.  Driving around there is such a contrast between the tourist trap
atmosphere and the local areas.

The campsite

A view of the water from a geocache site at a small town park.

The klepper, ready for a day on the water

The weather forecast lead me astray.  The forecast for Wednesday was for low to mid 60's and twenty knot winds.  So I took my time getting out and about and found a beautiful day.  Did some caching and tried some ham radio.  The forecast for today (Thursday) was for similar temperatures and light winds.  So I decided to stay an extra day.  I'm so happy I did.  Got out in the kayak amongst salt marshes next to the state forest.  How I love being on the water in a kayak.  The feeling is almost like flying.

Tomorrow I'm headed for Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina.  I'm planning on being there for three days.  I have no idea about kayaking in that area, but there is always some geocaches and ham radio attempts.

I love this little camper, but it does make for some irritations.  Tonight I brought back some leftovers.  To make room in the little refrigerator I have to kneel on the floor and poke around.  To make coffee in the morning I have to unload the stuff in the microwave so I can heat the water.  Every chore just takes longer.  Just as I get irritated I look over and there is someone living in a tent.  I'm in luxury.

600 miles from home

600 Miles from home

I'm staying in a camp site in Belleplain State Forest in NJ. A very nice campground. No hookups, But there are flush toilets and showers. Twenty dollars a night. Much cheaper than the forty two at the nearest commercial campground.

So far, the only money I've spent directly on the trip is gas and tonights lodging. I'll post a detailed account in a later post.

No exciting adventures today. I did do a cache here in the park. It was an easy find, but the walk was pleasant. I scared up a couple of deer. Just saw the flags.

No ham radio as yet. I still have to finish wiring the truck.

I had hoped to get the kayak in tomorrow, but rain is forecast. I'll just leave early and get to VA.

Recent crisis

Thanks to some detective work by son-in-law, Wes, the crisis turned out to be just a small problem.  The line from the truck to the trailer had never had a fuse installed in the truck.  Installation of the fuse solved the problem.  The odor that I thought was electrical was the heat coming off the refrigerator. 

I was plenty worried.  A real electrical problem could have been very expensive if it was in the truck and very annoying if it was in the new camper.

So, I'm still visiting in CT.

On my way

I made the first day an easy one.  I left after Senior College and only went 130 miles.  Stayed the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Southern Maine.

The second day I made it to Connecticut.  The camper tows like a dream.  The truck is getting between 13 and 14 miles to the gallon.  It's going to be an expensive trip as far as gas is concerned.

While showing the camper to my daughter I tried to turn on the lights.  No go!  Tried everything else, still no go.  Checked the battery.  Dead flat.  Plugged in the 110 power.  Lights turned on and the meter showed the battery charging.  The only thing I could figure was that I had forgotten to plug in the truck power when I left home.  Then I smelled electrical insulation burning.  I've got a short somewhere.  I've pulled the fuse between the battery and the converter which gives me 110 power so I can use the camper, but the battery isn't charging.  I wonder if I've ruined the battery.

Tomorrow I'll call the dealer and find out just how good the warranty is.  I'm three hundred miles from the dealer and need a repair.  I might be able to find and fix the short myself, but would rather have it done under warranty.  I wonder if there are any Aliner dealers in CT.

Ham or Amateur Radio

Back in the early 90's I studied, took the tests and got a ham radio license.  For years I worked the air waves regularly.  The last couple of years I've been off the air.  I'm not sure why I stopped.  Now I'm getting interested again.

My first job is to wire my pickup so I can work the radio while mobile.  Then I've got to make some portable antennas so I can be on the air from campgrounds.  Talking to people around the world from my little camper will be fun.

If you are a ham; I am N1ITK and will be working 2 meters and 20 meters on a regular basis.

Senior College

A few years ago I discovered the Belfast Senior College at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast, Maine.  The SC had been in existence a few years before I discovered it.  I wish I'd known about it earlier.

The idea of lectures and activities lead by talented, experienced, knowledgeable, instructors is wonderful.  Especially since they require no papers or homework. 

I have now taken a number of courses ranging from "The Life of a Cell"  to "A Look at Cuba" by a man who had been there.  My favorite was a four session look at the life of the Roma (gypsies).  Each session was a video.  One traced the history of the Roma, through music and dance, from India to Spain.  Another was a romantic comedy using subtitles. ("White Cat, Black Cat)  That is one of my favorite movies of all time.

As of September, 2011 I'm taking "Maine History to 1865" and "Basics of Good Reasoning".  So far "Reasoning" looks to be one of the best courses I've taken.

If you are over fifty look around in your area.  There is a very good chance there is a Senior College nearby.

Planning "the trip"

Sometime in the next couple of months I am leaving on a major trip, using the Aliner as my nomadic home.  This will be the first time I have ever just taken off for parts unknown, alone.  So far I have chosen a few places to stop, but almost nothing is definite.  There will be a stop in CT to visit daughter Audrey, her husband Wes, and the two grandkids; Maria and Peter.  There will be a stop in VA to visit daughter Beth and her stepdaughter Melissa.  Other than that I will be looking for places that offer inexpensive camping spots and access to water for the kayak.  I will also be geocaching and playing ham radio.  There's going to be plenty to do.

A stop at Assateague National Park is probable as is a stop at Croatan National Forest.  Neither is certain.  This type of freedom brings on a strange feeling.  How will I ever function without a definite plan of where I am going next and a filled in calendar for the future.
Planning what to take for supplies in the camper and truck is a real mental exercise.  I know that I will probably take way too much stuff, but I also know there will be things I will forget.  Having plenty of room in the truck leads to poor planning.  I am making three lists; stuff that stays in the camper, stuff that stays in the truck, and stuff that is loaded at the last minute.  The lists change daily.

To a large degree there is a need to duplicate the minutia of living in a house;  Cutlery, dishes, towels, etc.  As I clean out the house I find there is no need to buy things for camping, because I already have many items.

The planning for the travel is fun, planning what to take is a chore.

Money

Sometime during the night I heard a horrible noise.  The propane furnace turned on for the first time since spring.  All I could think of was dollar bills burning.  This house is a hundred and fifty years old and I have neglected the maintenance.  One of the results of that is it leaks heat horribly. 

The first couple of years after Jeannette died I actually was able to increase the savings account.  Since then I have had to tap savings to install a new furnace and to pay some smaller bills.  Now I have financed the new camper.  The political attacks on public employee pension systems means that my income will probably not keep pace with inflation.  I can only hope the savings will last.  If interest rates on CDs and IRAs ever increase it will help.

I buy lottery tickets knowing the odds against winning.  I rationalize that I am buying daydreams.  The small amount I spend on the tickets would never generate enough income to make a difference.  On the other hand a lottery win would allow me to make a difference in many lives and give to the organizations I now support with tiny amounts.  Such is the stuff of wishful thinking.

Camping

I recently bought an unusual pop-up travel trailer called an "Aliner".  Folded, it looks just like all the other pop-ups on the road.  Unfolded it has an A shape and uses no fabric or canvas.  It is completely hard sided.  There is a Youtube video showing the thirty second set up process.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqi7wOAxp4c

I have the "Sport" version with the "weekender" floor plan.  I think it is going to be perfect for a single person traveling alone.

Geocaching

In 2002 I became interested in geocaching.  My daughter and her husband bought me a GPS.  Since then I have found over 150 caches.  Not a large number compared to other people I know.  I do enjoy the hobby though and will be doing more as I travel.  One of my biggest assets is a smartphone with GPS and access to geocaching.com.  With that, no matter where I am I can ask for a list of nearby caches.

My geocache name is arthurh.

For more information go to www.geocaching.com

Kayaking

I own three kayaks.  A Seaeagle inflateable, a rigid single (Wilderness Systems 14 footer), and a Klepper Quattro.  The Klepper (a folding kayak) is my favorite.  The Klepper and the Seaeagle will be traveling with me.  That's the Klepper in the pictures.

fully assembled

travel mode

  

I'll be posting about excursions in the kayaks as I travel.