McGaffs On The Fly

We spent the last two days at our home away from home in the Outer Banks at The Refuge On Roanoke Island RV Park. Although we didn’t get Joanie’s request of shade for Marco, Ron did give us an awesome spot right on the water…just watch out for snakes or alligators.

The great weather and beautiful beach provided the best backdrop for a wonderful beach experience in Nags Head. Comparing this beach to anywhere else we’ve beached wouldn’t be fair to “the other places”…this place is the best.

Breaking News: This is Joanie’s “most favorite” place we’ve been on this trip and at the top for fave US destination.

Just like all of the places we’ve been since picking up that bad influence Brett, this trip was highlighted by lots of eating and drinking. She does not fool me with her early morning rage workouts for a “good health”…it’s obvious it’s all about the eating.

Our best recommendations are Old Nags Head Cafe for the best breakfast, Bodie Island Lighthouse for the best sunset, Fish Heads Bar & Grill for the best peel and eat shrimp special, O’Neil’s for fresh seafood, The Lost Colony Brewery for local beer, and Miller’s Waterfront Sunset Bar & Grill for sunset drink and appetizers. Oh, don’t forget about Duck Donuts…only good if you drive out of your way to the town of Duck, classic Joanie.

After getting an early start on our drive north to The Outer Banks, later than planned because of a darn exercise class breaking out, we decided to break up the drive with another Harvest Host stop in Pikeville, NC. We called A Secret Garden Winery and spoke to Linda, the owner, who saved a spot for us and the added bonus of electricity…no sweaty sheets tonight!

When we arrived, Linda met us and gave us a full tour of the vineyard, as well as the full process of making the wine. She took up this “little hobby” over 15 years ago and sells only out of her retail store, now she only gives tours and opens with reservations. When we called to tell her we were running late because we were stopping for lunch, she asked if “we wanted meatloaf sandwiches,” as that’s what they had for dinner last night. Her wine selection and wonderful hospitality was truly a pleasure. She won’t compete with Silver Oak for process or quality but I’m sure we couldn’t get a leftover dinner offer in Napa either!

Our evening and overnight stay may not have been quite as pleasant, the moment we climbed into Little Al the skies open up and didn’t stop raining until 5 in the morning. It’s usually fun to sleep in the rain but always worrying about leaks (none), tornadoes (none), getting stuck in the field (did not) and spider monkeys (one)…made the night last f o r e v e r.

On to The Outer Banks…

Just when we got used to living in a 19’ capsule where every square inch of space is either occupied or getting ready to be, a true sense of liberation came to all three of us when we checked into our Airbnb. Usually a small, less than 1000 sq ft, condo would seem tiny in many comparisons…to us it was more like a mansion. Tomorrow is going to be a tough night, not that I don’t enjoy Joanie’s spider monkey body taking 90% of the bed…it’s just…

We’ve spent the last two days enjoying Surfside Beach with early morning walks and just sitting on the beach reading and people watching. The state, and city, are very clean and the beach is beautiful without much trash at all.

We’ve had the chance to be “locals” just taking it easy and driving our golf cart to the beach for the day. Local restaurants have provided great breakfast, lunch and dinners at great prices for delicious meals. Great breakfast at Eggs Up Grill, lunch/dinner with the best seafood salad at Conch Cafe and today a good lunch at Bubba’s Fish Shack.

On to The Outer Banks tomorrow, we have a Harvest Host winery set on the way up…onward with two of my favorite girls.

I can remember a telephone party line, a busy signal, dial-up internet, and even Fortran punch cards…when will Moore’s Law actually make its way to these RV Park’s WiFi?

Sorry, got off track but the reason my blogs are so slow.

What a great city Charleston is and what a great time to be here with very little tourist traffic. Joanie wore Brett and I out demanding to see each and every crevice the city has to offer, if we missed a cemetery along the way then it is well hidden. We had a full two days of walking, eating, visiting dead people, eating, old buildings…did I say eating?

The highlight of our visit was a trip to Fort Sumter follow by our time spent on Folly Beach.

We took a quick 30 minute boat ride to Fort Sumter where Ranger Barney took his 20 minutes of fame to tell us all that we wanted to know about the civil war and how the Fort fit into it. The fort actually goes back to 1829 but most history during the civil war, and even as a lookout for u-boats during WWII.

Our time spent on the Folly Beach was wet as Hurricane Beta chased us across the state. We did get to watch quite a few folks fishing off the pier, not a lot of catching but a lot of fishing.

After wearing Little Al out in the road for over a month, we’ve decided to book an Airbnb in Myrtle Beach…can’t wait to stretch out.

One last, actually first and last, hike outside of Asheville before heading south to Charleston. We hiked Chimney Rock, it was the sight of several scenes in The Last of the Mohicans. Although only around 4.5 miles round trip, it was quite an elevation climb with the bonus of over 500 steps to climb the last segment. I really didn’t get why Joanie and Brettski decided to skip their evening workout…really sucks, this is the one I was going to join them. D a r n.

Asheville turned out to be a really great town, we finished our last evening having a bottle of wine and a smorgasbord of cheese at South Slope before heading to New Belgium Brewery for a nightcap. Seems to be a pattern since we picked up Brett, hikes every so often but pretty consistent drinking…she is such a bad influence.

Today we drove 4 hours to Charleston, what a beautiful city. Can’t wait to explore tomorrow…

What a great day.

I spent this morning trying to get my pictures and blog to download while Brett and Joanie started their workout regiment. I don’t know what their legs feel like but my fingers feel like putty.

Since we all worked so hard we took in a great breakfast at Biscuit Head, a great recommendation…and another carb high. Hiking tomorrow and not eating for two days, we’re still over our weekly goal.

Best of the day, visiting the Biltmore Mansion. Who would have thought there was anything like that in the US much less little Asheville?! When we were at breakfast our waiter questioned the $70 price tag for entrance but validated the cost…I would say it was well worth every cent. Unbelievable views, halls, ballrooms, fancy smancy interior, and man caves…Vanderbilt was one incredible redneck.

Big, long hike tomorrow…I’m sure we won’t eat or drink as much tomorrow, I just know it.

After picking up Brett we drove south on our way to the Carolinas and found an awesome RV Park in Floyd, VA. Our wonderful “find”, Chantilly Farm Campground and RV Park, provided all of those things you look for when out on the open road. That is if you are looking for an open air wedding where the bride rides in on horseback followed by flower girl on a pony, neighbor is a travel trailer full of soccer moms partying it up while away from kids, 8 year old riding up every 5 minutes to say “watch this”, and a beautiful evening of bonfire and s’mores…muy bueno!

The other good news is that we found that wonderful fall weather we had been chasing…unfortunately it was followed by a 40 degree evening and plenty of chill in the morning. I’ll take it though, better than the August 100+ weather in Tejas.

Just made our way to Asheville, NC and another great RV park “find” although the name kind of throws you, Mama Gerties Hideaway Campground.

Today we have been sitting in Little Al all day as slow Sally makes her way across us heading north. She was slow to get here but now that she’s here we can’t get her to leave.

We decided this morning to extend our stay one more night with Pocahontas because of the wet weather. She was more than gracious to accept our request, seems no one wants to camp out in the monsoon with us…it’s just us and a few toads.

Yesterday we were fortunate to have lunch with Joan’s first cousin once removed (take that genealogy fans), Hugh and Diana Ames who live near Richmond VA. Such a nice couple and great for Joan to be able to talk about ancestry with Hugh, he did tell us a few stories but we had to pinky swear not to retell…I know I can keep a secret, Joanie?!

With Hugh and Diana’s recommendation we took a drive to Berkeley Plantation, a great choice with all of the history in this area. Turns out not only is this the real location of the first Thanksgiving dinner but also where Taps was written and first played for the Union troops.

Onward north in the am to get one step closer to our baby girl…

Today we have been sitting in Little Al all day as slow Sally makes her way across us heading north. She was slow to get here but now that she’s here we can’t get her to leave.

We decided this morning to extend our stay one more night with Pocahontas because of the wet weather. She was more than gracious to accept our request, seems no one wants to camp out in the monsoon with us…it’s just us and a few toads.

Yesterday we were fortunate to have lunch with Joan’s first cousin once removed (take that genealogy fans), Hugh and Diana Ames who live near Richmond VA. Such a nice couple and great for Joan to be able to talk about ancestry with Hugh, he did tell us a few stories but we had to pinky swear not to retell…I know I can keep a secret, Joanie?!

With Hugh and Diana’s recommendation we took a drive to Berkeley Plantation, a great choice with all of the history in this area. Turns out not only is this the real location of the first Thanksgiving dinner but also where Taps was written and first played for the Union troops.

Onward north in the am to get one step closer to our baby girl…

Some of the things Joanie and I have decided after over 45 days of living on the road is that the 3 most important items that matter the most when picking a spot to set up…location, location and location. By that I mean; location close to what we want to see or do, location that is along the route we are traveling, and most importantly location that is a desirable place to park, shower and feel safe.

Along our routes we haven’t accomplished the “desirable” spots we were hoping, in some locations, and will strike those off the list on any future trips. And some locations met some of the requirements but not all…we certainly won’t knock the Grand Teton camp sight because we felt unsafe, they can’t control what bears decide to eat.

What we have learned is that the best RV parks and most consistent in appeal are the State Parks each state allows us to camp in. We hit two home runs with Little Beaver State Park in WV and Pocahontas State Park in VA. Both are clean, beautiful in nature, quiet, and flat spots with water/electricity…we couldn’t be any happier. I, of course, hold my final judgement until we leave Pocahontas…found out today that they have bears. Spent this evening working sprint drills while Joanie was taking a shower.