Petersburg, Virginia and then Home At Last...

We left Charleston on Monday am and headed to Petersburg which is just South of Richmond Virginia. We (especially MLA) were attacked in the low country by biting nats/no see'ums, so no one was disappointed to see Charleston in the rear view mirror.

MLA has relatives in Petersburg Virginia that we wanted to visit. Her grandparents, originally from Austria, had settled in that area.
We made the drive to Petersburg in one jump on Monday day and moved into the Pocahontas State Park in Virginia. Nice park although no wi-fi hence the lack of blog updates on Monday & Tuesday.

Tuesday we spent time exploring the historical sites in Petersburg, which boasts several Civil War sites, including the Crater. The Crater was formed when Union soldiers tunneled under a Confederate fort and blew it up, with great loss of life.

Petersburg before the war was the second largest city in Virginia. It had five railroads coming into the city plus a port on the Appomattox River. It was a bustling city with a bright future.

Grant knew that in order to take Richmond, the capitol of the Confederacy, he had to take Petersburg. It took a ten month siege with constant bombardment but Petersburg finally fell. Richmond fell almost immediately thereafter and of course, Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse shortly after that.

In the process of the siege, Petersburg was decimated. Over and over again I was struck with how the ten month siege destroyed a city with a very bright future. Petersburg also had the distinction of having a great Revolutionary War battle within it's city limits. It survived the Revolutionary War battle but not the Civil War battles.

MLA and I spent a lot of time at Blandford Church, which was built in the early 1700's. Over 30,000 Confederate soldiers are buried at the cemetery of Blandford Church. Only 2025 were identified by name; most are buried in several mass graves.

After the war, the women of the church went to each Confederate state and the border states and raised money for memorial stained glass windows for the church. Tiffany's of New York made the windows (at a deep discount as tier contribution to the memorial) and they are amazingly beautiful.

Afterwards, MLA and I had dinner with her two Aunts: Aunt Lucille and Aunt Liz. They are two of the most gracious southern women you will ever meet. We had a great meal and were able to catch up on what's happening throughout MLA's extended family.

Today (Wednesday) we broke camp early and drove from Petersburg to our home in Maryland. All told we were gone just short of three months. Total mileage was about 3600 miles and we visited the following states in the RV: Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and finally back home to Maryland.

We had an awesome time on the trip however it was great to get back home and see Scott, Kasey, and Jenna. Plus many of our neighbors stopped by for a quick tour of the RV.

Now the fun of unpacking, cleaning, reorganizing, and repacking the RV begins. There are a few modifications and changes I want to make before we go back out on the road again. We are not sure of our plans just yet so we'll play it by ear. Wouldn't surprise me if we decide to take the RV to a nearby campground or two.

Until then, See Ya!

Charleston, SC: Angel Tree

This Live Oak is estimated to be as much as 1400 years old; it's impossible to estimate exactly.

In any case it's really old. It's trunk has a circumference of 25.5 feet. While it's only 65 feet tall, which is not all that tall, it shades 17,000 square feet and it's largest limb is 11 feet in circumference and 89 feet long. Wow! Amazing.

Most folks think it's named for the Angel-like aura effect it gives off under it's canopy.

In fact, it's named after it's previous owners who sold it to the state: Martha & Justis Angel.

It's only when someone is standing next to the tree you can fully appreciate just how massive this tree really is. The low country is filled with Live Oaks; until now I thought of many of these trees as massive. Now I know better. Live Oaks that are 400-500 years old, and have seen the history of this great land, are just young'uns.

Had a great Pot Luck last night & tonight with the other members of the Southeast Region Tiffin Owners associated with the Tiffin RV Network. Great people and a great forum. Said good bye tonight as we'll be 'moving on' first thing tomorrow.

The "no see'ums" are terrible throughout the low country. These insects have been biting like crazy. MLA is covered with red marks all over. Won't be sad to put them behind us.

Not sure how far we'll be going tomorrow; we need to be in Petersburg, VA (just south of Richmond) by Tuesday afternoon. Hopefully wherever we end up will have wi-fi so I can update the BLOG.

We'll arrive back in Maryland on Wednesday. It'll be great to see the kids and our friends. A chance to get the RV cleaned and restocked. Planning to stay at home for several weeks and then get back out on the road, probably around mid-May. We'll see.

See Ya!

Charleston, SC: Doing The Charleston Tour

As part of the Tiffin RV Network Rally, we took a 90 minute guided tour of historic Charleston. This small 26 passenger bus picked us up & dropped us off at the campground, so no driving & especially, no parking in Charleston.





This tour, called "Doing The Charleston", was a little different than most tours. Oh, it still had the tour guide dressed up in character, the lame stories, the inane jokes followed by 'boy, this is a tough crowd', and the subtle hints about tour guides starving without tips.

No, what made this tour different was the use of a TV. As you drove past various museums and historically significant homes/mansions & churches, the tour company projected pictures of the insides of the building and many photographs from historical archives. All set to music & very well done. You then had a better idea about which sites you wanted to come back and visit later.

The picture above is a replica of the USS Hunley (or is it CSS Hunley). The first confederate submarine that sunk a ship during the Civil War. Used a 'torpedo' attached to the end of a long boom. Although not a long enough boom. When the ship blew and sank it also took out the Hunley and it's brave crew. When you see this up close you have a new found respect for anyone who quiets their fears and climbs into a war machine of any type.

The original Hunley was raised a few years ago and is now in a historical restoration tank several miles up river.

Our tour guide was a George Carlin look-alike (impersonator???). Without the insightful comments/stories and without the delicious word play Carlin is known for. He did, however, have the voice and timing, if not the material, of George Carlin.

In any case, this tour was excellent albeit exhausting; MLA & I needed a power nap after such a full morning. The rest of the day was spent reading and, well, reading some more.



For dinner we hooked up with about 8 other couples from the Tiffin rally and went to a seafood buffet. Food was pretty good and the company was excellent. Everyone talked about where they had been and where they were headed this summer and fall. Lots of fun. And lots of ideas for places we need to visit, especially out west. I've been thinking we may travel in a big loop around the US this summer and fall and then do Alaska next year. No firm plans at this time but that how we are leaning.

Tomorrow the men are fixing breakfast for the women so I'll be over at the Tiffin Rally Pavilion starting at 7:30 am. I had almost forgotten there are two 7:30's in each day....

Still planning to arrive back home next Wednesday; not sure how long we'll be home but I guessing only 3-4 weeks or so.

Oh, guess who has a hot date? Me.

Jenna Kate called and asked me to be her date for a 'formal' employee appreciation dinner in mid-April. I took her to a Children's Hospital Benefit as my date a couple of years ago and now she is returning the favor. Too cool.

I got rid of all my tux and all my suits; guess I'll wear one of those t-shirts with a tux silk screened on the front & back. No one will notice me anyhow. Every time I go out with either of my two beautiful daughters, all eyes are on them. As it should be. In any case, I can't wait.





See Ya!

Charleston, SC: Lunch With Jack & Cathy

Met Jack and Cathy in Charleston, SC at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. We had a great lunch with them and afterwards spent well over an hour just sitting at the table telling stories. I've always felt that any women who can live with Jack must be a very special person and was I right. Cathy is a lot of fun and can match Jack's stories one-for-one. Those of you that know Jack know just how funny he can be; Cathy is a great story teller in her own right.

It rained all night last night and was still raining at lunchtime today. MLA asked Jack if it had been raining in Myrtle Beach and Jack replied, without missing a beat, that the animals had been lining up two-by-two. We could have spent days together, telling stories on each other. I haven't laughed so much in a long time.


After lunch, Cathy and MLA spent a lot of time shopping while Jack and I trailed behind them looking like secret service agents protecting the first family. OK, OK, maybe we just tried to keep up with them or at least keep them in sight. Only lost them once and had to be reunited via cell phone. How did women keep track of their husbands before cell phones?


All of us had a great time trying on hats. Wish I could have gotten a picture of Jack in a top hat; he looked extremely dapper. In the end, only MLA bought a hat.

I didn't get a picture of MLA in her new hat but I did get a picture of her & Cathy trying on t-shirts using my new x-ray lens. Ohhh-la-la!

The reason MLA & I are in Charleston this week is to attend our first RV Rally. In this case it is a rally for Tiffin RV owners that use the "Tiffin RV Network". This is by far the best forum I have found on the Internet, RV or otherwise.

The TRVN has a lot of resources however the one I use the most is the forum where you can post questions about your RV, where you are headed, best campgrounds, technical issues, RV lifestyle.... just about any RV related topic you can think of.

Tonight was our 'meet & greet' and there were ~30 Tiffin RV owners in attendance. About a third of us were attending our first Tiffin rally. Great to spend time with a lot of other people who are enjoying RV's as much as MLA and I.

Tomorrow we have a 90 minute tour of Charleston. On Saturday & Sunday morning the men cook breakfast for the women. Saturday night is a potluck dinner. And a lot of discussion revolving around RV's and enjoying the RV lifestyle.

One couple we met is leaving Monday after the rally to begin a 3-4 month tour of the US. Several people at the rally are full-timers. Full-timers are usually defined as people who have sold their 'stick house' and live in their RV full time. Some people travel continuously; some winter in one place and summer in another. Some travel only occasionally. There's really no wrong way to RV as long as you are safe.....

Signing off in Charleston, SC.... See Ya!

Charleston, SC: Another Beautiful Southern City

Hello All! After two weeks with almost no wi-fi access we are back 'on the net'. We are in the Oaks Plantation Campground about ten miles outside of the historical city center, and it has a pay as you go internet service, which works pretty well.

Charleston is another beautiful southern city with lots of history. As usual we started at the visitor's center to get oriented. Lots of museums, tours, markets and, especially popular with MLA, shopping to choose from.

Thank goodness for the #1 RV Rule: "Nothing new can come into the RV without something of similar size and weight going out". Not my rule; this is an Official RV'ing Rule. You have to agree to abide by these Official RV Rules in order to buy an RV. At least that's what I told MLA and it does make sense since you pay a 'fuel tax' on everything you put in the RV.

MLA, as sharp as ever, pointed out jewelry is (almost) weightless. She's quick to take advantage of any loophole...

Yesterday we took a carriage tour, which are usually a great way to get a feel for an area. Except in Charleston, the carriage tours are so popular, the city regulates how many carriages can be touring the city at any one time. The city has been divided into three districts and you never know which district you'll be touring until the last minute. By that time, you have been loaded (packed and squeezed is more truthful) into the carriage for upwards of 20 minutes or more. Suffice it to say the carriage tours here in Charleston, once you get going, are very good. Not knowing how long you'll wait before starting or which portion of the city you'll be touring, is not.

The tours leave from the Slave Market. I thought, from the name Slave Market, that slave's had been bought and sold there. Turns out, the family (staunch abolitionists) that sold the property to the city had a stipulation in the contract that said if slaves were ever bought/sold in that market, ownership of the property would revert to family.

The name Slave Market comes from the fact the market sold all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and meats, and when the produce went bad the vendors simply threw the rotten food into the streets. In the heat & sun of Charleston the smell was atrocious. So the 'good people of Charleston' would not go to the market themselves, they sent their slaves. Hence, the name Slave Market.

Had dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Restaurant. I know, I know, here we are surrounded by establishments that had been in business forever, and we choose a movie knock-off restaurant. I don't care; food was excellent and the outdoor ambiance was a lot of fun. You'll never guess what was on the menu: Steamed Shrimp, Fried Shrimp, Shrimp Hush Puppies, Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp ..... well you get the idea. What does MLA order? A pulled pork BBQ sandwich. Next time we'll hit something a little more authentic to Charleston.

Next we plan to visit some of the plantation's along the Ashley River. There are three of them fairly close together that look to be spectacular. Closer to the campground there's also a tea plantation, reportedly the only tea plantation in the country in the early 1800's.

Good friends of ours, Jack and Cathy S. are coming down from Myrtle Beach tomorrow. I worked with Jack for many, many years and can't wait to see the two of them. Have to find a good place for lunch.

Back to 'Internet Access'. Amazing how much MLA and I have come to depend on the Internet. It is the perfect travel companion/tool except it is not available everywhere.

I'm in the process of ordering a cellular based wi-fi access system that will provide Internet access where ever I can get a cellular signal. Still not everywhere however much improved. The only thing better is a satellite system which costs about $5K; much too much when you consider the cellular system is only about $500. Plus, of course, those irritating monthly fees of ~$60-80 for either a cellular or a satellite system.

The geek in me says "satellite"; the tight fisted money manager says "free internet hot spots"; the realist in me says "cellular internet". So many voices inside my head I can hardly hear anyone else....

See Ya!