Today was spent mostly on scouting for places to put the kayak in the water.  I found that Croatan National Forest is a big place.  I found two interesting places, Cahooque Creek and Oyster Point.  If I feel up to it tomorrow I'll try Cahooque Creek.  May be an interesting paddle as the put-in is almost at the end of the Cherry Point Marine Air Base.

I also made significant steps in straightening and organizing the camper.  There is more to be done at that.  Probably will always be.

For the first time, when I got back from shopping last night it felt like I was coming home.  Not just getting back to a trailer.  Emotions can surprise you.

Update

I just reread that last post and realized how self centered it sounded. Ginny actually found the cache (her first). I just lead us to the general area.

Yesterday, the 8th, I did a geocache (with Ginny's help).  Played some games and basically had a relaxing day.  I'd hoped to get out in the kayak, but was having some leg cramps and felt I wouldn't be able to work the steering.  I have decided that I will be bringing the rigid kayak along on these trips.  Getting the Klepper together for an hours paddle is just not effective.

Today I found another cache, here in the park.  Then I went shopping for material to make a gadget to help me hook up the trailer.  Now I just have to get to work on it.  I'm glad I brought some tools.

Just now I am going to make a sandwich and plan the next part of the trip.

I haven't done any ham radio yet, but plan to within the next couple of days.

Relaxing

I'm in the Santee State Park, Santee SC.  I'll be here until Thursday, at least.  I hope to do some kayaking, but the weather forecast keeps mentioning thunderstorms.  This is a beautiful spot.  I can look out on the lake from my site.  There's plenty of shade.  Sites are well separated.  South Carolina seems to do well by their state parks.

South Carolina

Major update

On May 4 and 5 I attended an Aliner Owners rally at Myrtle Beach SC. The group was fun and I met some wonderful people. I actually won a door prize, a wine bottle holder that you freeze and then put the bottle in. The campground was a commercial place with over 800 sites. Where we were was open with no shade and sites very close together. Not exactly my cup of tea.

We had to be out of the campground by noon on Sunday the sixth. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go next, so I headed a few miles south to Huntington Beach State Park. I stayed here last fall and enjoyed the park. Quite different from Myrtle Beach. The sites are wooded with great shade and with nice separation. Unfortunately they are very busy. I could only get one night. But that gave me some time to plan. Today I am headed for Santee State Park. Looks as if I'll be able to stay a few days and maybe get in some kayaking.

On The Road

I'm in a Good Sam Club campground in Lumberton, NC.  Pretty shabby, but the restroom is clean.  A lot of unoccupied campers in the place and some look like they never get moved.

Close to this spot is a boat ramp on the Lumber River.  I wish I didn't have to leave tomorrow.  The river looks interesting.  But tomorrow is the first day of the Aliner Owners rally in Myrtle Beach and I'm already registered and have paid the fee.  So I'm going.

Where I'm going after the rally is wide open.  Maybe back to the Eastern Shore of VA and MD.  There is some exciting kayaking behind the barrier islands.

I've started the new trip.  Hurray!  I'm presently visiting Audrey (oldest daughter) and her family in CT.  The trip down was uneventful except for a shock when passing through Massachusetts.   People were courteous and, for the most part drove sanely.

A couple of days here and I'll be on the road again.  There are a lot of times when I think I could live like this permanently.  Then reality creeps in.  Like most people I need a community.

Time for bed.

It's Tuesday, April 24.  I had hoped to be on the road tomorrow morning.  Today I took the truck in for a lube, oil, and safety inspection.  The slight vibration I've been feeling has come from some worn out front end parts.  The garage will do the replacement tomorrow (I hope) and I'll be able to leave Thursday.  Major expense though.  The mechanic said I was OK for another 1000 or 1500 miles.  Of course I'm looking at 2500 to 3000 miles again this trip.  Better safe than sorry.

Getting ready to go again.

It's now April 3.  I am planning to leave on another trip starting April 24th or 25th.  I never did post the financial details on the fall trip.  That trip cost around $1600.  But that can't be used to figure a daily or mileage cost as I stayed some days with my daughters and some days with a friend in Florida.

The new trip will also include a stop to see the daughters.  Then I will be attending an Aliner  Owners rally in Myrtle Beach.  There are no plans for after that.

There will be some ham radio time this trip.  That I am determined to do.

I will also be doing more posting.

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.