Once summer ended (here in the Northern Hemisphere), it was time to head south, all the way down to Florida, just in time for medical appointments, trailer maintenance, and hanging out with old friends. What I didn’t anticipate was dodging hurricanes and tropical storms, but then weather challenges seem to have been an ongoing theme for the last few years of my vagabond life.
The plan, in order of states: NH, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, and, finally, FL, moving south at a steady clip. The plan mostly worked and I did (spoiler alert) make it to Gainesville just fine, albeit with a few adjustments to the schedule of stops.
There was a part of me that just wanted to move, and move fast, so I resorted to using KOA campgounds: not always cheap (although sometimes competitive with state parks) as I made my way south. Partly because dates changed due to a series of odd circumstances and state parks had few openings. Sometimes though, it was because you just know what you’re getting at a KOA — no surprises — and that sounded great to me at this point in my travel year.
The KOA in Westhampton, MA, had a lot of seasonals, most of whom weren’t there during my weekday stop. The whole park was kind of deserted, in an eerie sort of way. Nice fire circle, but zero actual people.
The New Paltz KOA in New York has a mini-Statue of Liberty, and I can never resist taking a snap of it. It’s also a good stop when I’m moving from the central states (MD, PA, NJ) up to the Northeastern states (CT, MA, NH, etc.)
By the time I hit New Jersey, I really wanted to take a hike on a nice county park path. But… this sign made me think twice about my lack of blaze orange clothing, so I just walked the campground loop a few times.
My usual stellar friends who host me in Lancaster had both been taken ill, and so it was yet another KOA, this time in Gettysburg, to the rescue. To cheer myself up, I put up my awning and clipped the colorful new lights that were a gift from my friends Michael and Bill. They did make me smile every time I looked out my window.
Gettysburg is one of my favorite places to visit, as I learn more of the history over time. This is the National Cemetery, always a moving place as you view the human toll of that defining battle of the Civil War.
All the rain and weirdness of the summer did help me, as I was indoors a lot more than usual. I started this, my first English Paper Piecing project, in early July, using a pattern called Tula Nova. I finished it in Gettysburg, but I have no idea (yet) for how to make this into a wall hanging or quilt, so you’ll have to stay tuned for that update.
My Maryland stop gave me a break in the rainy weather, just long enough to meet up with Ben and Mary (who used to own an Alto and is how we met) and catch a Nationals baseball game in the heart of DC. It was fun, if fast, and we were all happy the rain mostly held off during our outing.
Next stop (and state) was Virginia: Pocahontas State Park, outside of Richmond. I got lucky and had lunch one day with my nephew, Damon, who lives about 20 minutes from the campground. The next day, about 30 minutes north, I had a wonderful brunch with my friends Annette and Wendy and their houseguest, talking about everything from the dining room table Wendy made to writing and phones in schools. Eclectic and fun!
I tried yet again to hike, but I heard guns in the distance and decided to turn around and not explore deeper into those particular woods.
I did a one-night stop at a KOA halfway through North Carolina and then showed up the next day at one of my favorite South Carolina State Parks, Little PeeDee. Hurricane Helene had not impacted the Little Pee Dee river, so the lake at the campground was in fine shape for a few days of paddling. At this point, I sorely needed to be on the water and enjoyed every second of it.
The sunrise out the back window of the trailer was so pretty the next morning that I trotted outside in my pajamas to take some photos.
Here’s what the paddling looked like on Day 2 at Little Pee Dee.
By the time I arrived at Santee State Park, a bit farther west and south, the floodwaters of the Western North Carolina disaster had come to Lake Marion. I could see so much debris, including large logs, that I decided paddling was not in the cards at this stop.
By the time I got to Gainesville, my home base at the house of friends, I was ready to stop for a while, as were Luna (the pickup) and Breeze (the Alto trailer). And with that,
Trip Stats
- 23 Days
- 1675 miles
- 11 stops (not counting Gainesville)
How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.
William Faulkner
Wow, what a trip! D had a great time with you. π
Your quilt is glorious! Totally like the lights and very glad that you made it safely despite the odds. <3
Oh Annie, I love your English Paper Piecing project! It is beautiful, I will send you a picture by text of the project I completed after ONLY 12 years this summer. Glad you were able to dodge all the lovely weather too. Can you believe the disaster that is Westsern NC???? I cannot even fathom what these people are dealing with. Nor Cheryl in Florida with her Grandson either!!!! It is just awful! You couldn’t pay me to live in Florida, seriously. Glad you are safely parked for the winter. I am selling my Truck Camper RV for sure this time. Also, my best friend from NY is moving down here and staying with me until she gets a place she can afford, or until her and I find a duplex for me to buy and her to rent the other half from me. I am really looking forward to her being here and finally having someone to pal around with, talk to, and help each other with things around my house etc. She is a DIY person more than me even thank goodness. Well stay safe, maybe we will cross path’s again some day.
Rayne
Great summary and pics of your southbound travels. Enjoy your break!
Glad you made it safely. My family used to camp at KOA campgrounds sometimes. I think because there was a pool and laundry there.
Incredible piecework! Gorgeous!
Annie’s you don’t know me, but you do know two of my sons, Jay Haggerty and Kelly Haggerty. I so enjoy your posts, and look forward to reading them!
So glad you made it safely! Thank you always for these virtual tours.
I love reading about your travels
Good to read this latest post and know you’ve dodged all the bullets, be they weather or real ones. Here’s hoping FL stays calm for you.
Love all the colors in that quilt. It would probably be tough to square it off and make a blanket, but it would be worth the effort.
Glad you are safe and missed all the excitement of this season’s hurricanes. They seemed more violent this year than in previous years.
Great summary of your travels and beautiful photos as always. Love the lights you strung up! Enjoy your downtime staying put.