Spending another night!

Started out for a walk to get some exercise and explore the other side of this very large park. Clem made it about three tenths of a mile, questioning me continuously about where exactly it was and how far, and I suggested he go back and I would see him later! 

While the other side has RVs , it also had a section of prefab little houses, which were quite charming. 

One of the many permanently set up trailers, with  an especially pretty outdoor living area. 

 

More gnome and fairy gardens! 

This cute little house, one of many, has a great  Lake view. 

I thought instead of  sitting around waiting for the call that the parts were in, we might play mini golf or shuffle board, and Clem agreed to the latter. Though he was soon complaining about that as well!  This game is as dumb as golf! Ahhhh.....you admit golf is dumb! It was getting warm in the sun, so we ended our game and  sat in the shade enjoying the cool breezes off the lake, and an ice cream from the trading post. 

We were just heading back to the coach when we got the call and rushed off to the repair shop. Two hours later the mechanic said they were nearly finished , but he had bad news. Very bad news. He found a leak in the fuel line,  so we would be spending the night here while he got more parts.  It took a minute to understand that here meant the garage!  They were good to send someone off to get the part tonight so repairs could be made in the morning, rather than wait for delivery.  Luckily they were able to plug us in and run a hose, so except for the location, we are comfortable. 

View from feting window is into the garage! 

That’s us on the right, slide pushed out and set up for th night. 

I had the rest of Clem’s birthday lasagna in the freezer, so that and a glass of wine seemed a fitting treat after the bad news. 

Lasagna always make him smile! 

Ironically, we should be in Littleton, MA tonight, but we are in Littleton, NC, with one stop sign, a piggly wiggly, 2 dollar stores, and a Hardy’s.  There is a paranormal museum I had discovered while planning our trip, but figured we would never make it to Littleton, NC!  Roanoke Rapids is 13 miles away and Stephanie, the amusing young woman who keeps things running smoothly at the shop, as well as amusing us  with her tales while we waited,  informed us it has restaurants and even a movie theatre that runs one movie at a time.  She has a thick southern accent, and a turn of phrase that is so unique, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing her talk.  She is quite delightful in addition to being an asset to the business, in spite of the fact that she says the only thing she knows about cars is they need rubber wheels and fuel to run!  She has been kind and helpful, and she left a loaner car should we care to go out for dinner and explore, but we’re content to keep Loki company after the stress of his day.  

Waiting for repairs

 Problem finally diagnosed, and parts ordered, we were allowed to return to the coach, and poor Loki, but  we were advised to wait there until the nearby campground was ready for us to check in to one of the few sites available. We were soon  hungry, and I didn’t want to start the generator to use the microwave to thaw the bread, so I pulled out the marshmallow forks and toasted it!  We opted not to bring a toaster along with limited space, but turns out we can have it if we want it.

It was a rainy day like you don’t get in Florida, with a steady fall and chilled air, and seemed like a good day to cuddle up with a good book. We finally pulled into the campground and our first view of the huge lake, even shrouded in fog, was breathtaking!  Heavily treed with tall pines, it was so welcome and pleasant,  I felt like this was our silver lining.  When the rain stopped and it cleared, I enjoyed a few walks around by myself,  dodging puddles and taking photos, but later when the sun came out even convinced Clem to join me. 

The very large and lovely Lake Gaston in NC. 
 

 Funny to realize this is where Judy and Bob’s son Mike owned a lake house until recently, we look across at the houses and wonder which it is.  We could have paid a call! 

I always enjoy the woods and it’s hidden treasures. We spotted what I think was a pheasant running across the road as we drove in. 

 

Gnome City Limits was central to a very large triangular intersection full of creative little arrangements of gnomes!  I saw little gardens of them throughout the park as I walked. Obviously a theme. 

We are hoping for early delivery of parts and repairs to be completed so we can get on the road.  Plans were to arrive in Boston today, which is obviously not happening. 

An exciting Sunday in Roanoke Rapids!

 

All attempts to get our engine problem resolved were met with “closed until Monday.” The one exception was a mobile truck repair who could diagnose the problem, and may be able to correct any simple issues, and arrived with his computerized diagnostic equipment. The problem is, he couldn’t  get his equipment to function! And driving to another tech to perhaps borrow his, found that his was not operational either!

One like we owned on the left, compared to our rental on the right. Fun to have the side by side comparison! 

So the highlight of our day was the great shower, getting the laundry done, and playing some canasta, with several walks around the RV park.  So much for 24/7 roadside repair.  I could walk a mile  and a half to Walmart for excitement, but not even any hiking trails around.  Oh well….at least we have shelter, ac, food, and a bed to sleep, and it’s not like it was an accident or something serious. And we now have another good story to tell! 

7 am Monday, and we’re back on the phone, hoping to get this resolved and get back on the road. 

Waiting at Gaston Lake Auto and RV repair

The repair shop assured us it was safe to drive to them, so we await news! 

,

Travel Day

Since we stayed longer in Savannah, and are skipping Beaufort, we will play it by ear until we reach Massachusetts, still a long way off.   We thought we might make it to Richmond, but traffic was very heavy, at times coming to a complete stop for no apparent reason before starting to move again. Although the last big backup of the day was due to an 18 wheeler  broken down in the left lane. Not off the road, mind you, but squarely in the middle of the lane!  Where in my mind, he should not have been in the first place!

I think it was during that slow down, Clem started looking for campgrounds, and found one short of the days goal. 

I was tickled to see each site had a beautiful crepe myrtle!  The roadways are full of them grouped together or in lines, and they are stunning. 

We were moving along again and I was still complaining about the truck driver not being in the right lane, and pulling over at the first sign of trouble, when the RV bucked and lurched a bit, and I got a hazard light! Great!  I started pulling off to the shoulder, but soon realized it was still operational, and I recognized from my car that the ABS had something to do with the locking of brakes, which were working, so pulled off at the next exit, where it would be safer to explore our problem.  The manual assured us regular brakes were still functional and it was safe to drive, though some other systems would also be disabled. Since they had to do with skidding on  icy roads, I didn’t feel we were in any danger in July in South Carolina, so we got back on the highway.  It apparently disabled the cruise control, though, so I drove the old fashioned way to our campground. 

We supposedly have 24/7 roadside assistance, but that proved a major challenge, as in they never showed up, and here we are on Sunday, figuring we may be spending another night! 

I’m stopped…..I might as well document this traffic….even worse on the other side! 

Clem preferred the game, rather than the water, so we enjoyed shooting some pool  while waiting for return phone  calls that never came! At least we were safely parked and entertained! 

Although Clem has,  I have never availed myself of the campground facilities,  but I am finding this bathroom and shower a bit tight, and with this being a very nice campground, a long luxurious shower in  spacious surroundings was a nice treat. Maybe I’ll do some laundry while we’re stuck here. 

I admit I am spoiled by my big coach with a wide full bathroom complete with washer and dryer, and I miss it. 

Touring the Sights of Savannah

Just a row of the beautiful crepe myrtles that are so prevalent here. 

We started our day at the museum complex and visors center, before boarding the hop on and hop off trolley tour. The history center, located in the old train depot, was full of information about the revolutionary war, where a uniformed docent played out the scenes for the fascinated children, doing a great job of involving them. We listened a bit, but wanted to explore the many exhibits more quickly so we could get on the trolley, as our shuttle from the campground had us limited in time. 

There was some random information I found very interesting, like the beginning of ice cream and the stats on the increase of cooking shows and food availability, and yet the big rise in restaurant attendance! 

A big attraction, the bench from Bubba Gump, which had to be removed from the square where it stood, as so many people crowded there standing out in the street to get a shot for photos, that it became hazardous! 

A collection of Juliette Gordon Lowe and Girl Scouts memorabilia which was astonishingly missing from her birthplace house that we toured!  It would have made that tour far more interesting. 

 Next the Railroad Museum. Clem kind of grimaced and said we will see when I told him it was on the agenda, but was pleasantly surprised by the huge roundhouse and car exhibit. We got to watch them turn a train on the round table, which was pretty neat, but passed up a ride to save time.  I couldn’t help taking what I thought were interesting shots of the old buildings and smoke stack as we explored. 

The roundhouse full of engines 

Boarding the trolley, our first stop was to be at Mrs Wilkes Boarding House, where we would decide if the line was worth the wait. Well, they had closed the line!  A woman told us she got there at 10:30, and at noon was still waiting for her food. Reviews say it’s worth the wait, but I didn’t realize they would actually just close at some point!  The waitress said “he closes whenever he wants to!” 

Next stop, the Cathedral of St John, which was stunning inside and out. The huge baptismal as you entered was beautiful, with small side receptacles of the flowing holy water pumped from the basin. 

We spent some time in contemplation and admiring the surroundings, and as our trolley guide suggested, soaking up some air conditioning, before heading back out. 

We visited Savannah in the spring on our last trip, and any return trips should be the same! 

Since we have been to River Street, we decided to stop at the second most popular, relatively new attraction of City Market.  Mostly bars and restaurants, with live music, but easy access to surrounding shops and restaurants, it seems a fun place for those inclined to drink, which is a big attraction here!  You are allowed to take them along with you, and you see people strolling around with cocktails, like I witnessed in Las Vegas. We did stop at the candy kitchen for some Pralines, and we sampled the Famous Byrd cookies.   Two bachelorette parties were riding around on the pedaling bars, which I must admit looks like great fun! Apparently a popular place for bachelorette parties, I saw no less than 3 additional groups around town, with one on our trolley, complete with veil. Cute. 

Another reason for this stop was the newest museum in town, the Prohibition Museum. Interesting choice for a location!  It was very well done, with wax figures, photographs, memorabilia, and videos.  It was interesting to learn that the population was so politically divided during these times, that they were called and campaigned as the Wets and the Drys!  

 One would never know in Savannah that there was a pandemic. We have seen hardly any masks, and signs still up, like on the trolley, are ignored. I asked the driver when I saw the sign, and he said no…it’s free will. Says a lot. As the Delta variant surges among the unvaccinated, we are now a nation of Vaxers vs Non Vaxers………wets and drys? Yankees and confederates? 

Great video of wild preaching against the evils  of drink and Savannah.  

Clem and the other notorious boys! 

I didn’t take any photos, but a good portion at the end was dedicated to the roaring twenties, with flapper costumes and videos of people dancing the Charleston.  

You rang the bell to enter the speak easy, and a holographic face asked you for the password before allowing entry.  Very clever.  My grandmother owned a speakeasy, and I can’t help to wonder if this is what hers was like. 

The architecture around the squares especially is beautiful, but Jones Street is the most elegant, and apparently most expensive. Iron was a status symbol, and the more you had, the wealthier you were thought to be. 

 

The Mercer House, featured in Midnight in theGarden of Good and Evil.  We toured the inside on our last trip, so just enjoyed the view from outside. 

They are good to their dogs in Savannah, with water bowls outside shops, but I thought these dishes of dog treats was really cute! 

Savannians  are very friendly, and more than happy to help visitors to their lovely city. On more than one occasion, we were asked by passers by what we were looking for as we studied a map, and one woman stepped out of a doorway to help when she heard me say I think it’s that way! A charming city indeed. 

We did our best, but missed our shuttle back to the camp ground, so thank  goodness for Uber, who delivered us back, hot and tired from an interesting day.  

Rest and Regroup Day

 We decided to stay and enjoy the charms of Savannah for a couple of days, rather than move on to our planned destination of Beaufort, SC, a bucolic little town we have heard so much about, and save that for a trip when we have a car. It is challenging not to have transportation other than the coach, which not only needs a space large enough to park, but because of our precious cargo, needs to run the generator to keep the AC running while doing so.  The campground we were at was totally booked, so we needed to move a mile up the road to get a site in order to stay.

We spent the morning rearranging hastily packed things, and finding places for those we had stashed here and there, then checking out at the approved time.   Just like hotels, there are check in and out times, but nobody has to change the sheets and clean the rooms!  Maybe a quick rake if it’s a gravel site, but generally not even that. Maybe they are allowing for a needed late departure.  At any rate, we lucked out, and the space at Savannah Oaks had been vacated when we arrived, and we were able to move in before our allotted check in time. Unlike the Creek Fire campground we had left with its tennis courts, lazy River, pool bar, bocci courts and restaurant, to name a few, this place is pretty basic.  But it has trees!!  Lots of shade making trees!  Which of course when you live in a metal can with little insulation is a welcome benefit.  Not to mention the low flying hawk that flew in front of me as we parked! We rarely have time for all those fancy amenities anyway, as we like to explore.  But if you are staying for a while, like many people there were doing there, it’s great! Friends and families were camping side by side and enjoying the lifestyle, toasting marshmallows, and sharing happy hours, after a day enjoying the entertainment. 

All tidied up, and with the one full side slide pushed out, the space is pretty adequate, though Clem begs  to differ! 

Loki fond a nice cozy ledge he liked, so a folded towel made him a nice little bed. His  place when we drive, as our bed closes over it, but leaves a space to get to it. 

 The rest of the day was spent getting the blog going, and relaxing a bit after many hectic days, and taking a walk around the campground as evening approached and it cooled from what was a very hot 90 degree day!  Clem of course, struck up a conversation with a very nice young man who was doing maintenance, and he recommended some things to do when we go back into Savannah tomorrow. He highly recommended  a peach sangria we could find at City Market, and said he would probably see him there if we went! Nice guy.  We do meet a lot of nice people….it’s a shame about the ones who make our news so unpleasant. 

We opted for dinner inside away from the heat. 

Just like at home, Loki joins us for the evening news 

Not exactly campfire and marshmallows, Clem prefers a movie and popcorn inside away from mosquitos! We will definitely do campfires when we hit MA! 

A Special Day in Savannah

Well, another hiccup to start the day!  When we booked this campground, which is amazing, by the way, we were told there was a shuttle into Savannah.  Clem had verified times before we left home, but when he checked in, they said, oh we forgot....it doesn't run tomorrow! Great.  Luckily, there is a resident Uber driver, but he was booked at our chosen time, so we got a ride in at 8:30 AM, but the driver was very accommodating and gave us a bit of an overview of the city on the way to our destination. 

Friends Debbie and Michael arrived the same day, and we were to join them on a Historic Walking and Food tour, so we walked around and explored that part of the Historic district until our meeting time at 11:00.  Or at least that's what we thought!  We were wondering where they were, when we mentioned to the guide we were meeting friends and found out they had booked 11:30!  OMG.....am I losing it??  I called her and they were already walking , so they hustled  to meet us for 11:00, as we could not be accommodated at the later time slot!  They arrived huffing and puffing, but just in time, and of course, I apologized profusely.  They are sure I am a terrible travel planner at this point, leaving the cat meds behind and booking the wrong tour time!! 

The oldest and supposedly most haunted hotel in the most haunted city in America.  Nothing stirring today that we could see, rather than a guy washing the windows of whom Clem was suspicious! 

Statue of James Edward Oglethorpe, founder of Savannah and the Georgia colony in 1732, in Chippewa Square. 

 

Wright Square with monument to William Washington Gordon, Railroad baron who brought  cotton from the west to the port to be shipped.  Also the father of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts in 1842. 

Regular old fashioned barber shop other old soda fountain next door, where Clem paused to adjust his shoe! 

We spent the next several hours enjoying tales of Savannah's history, exploring some of the 21 squares, and several of the eateries, where we sampled the fare.  The adorable shop where we started featured a presentation and sampling of honey, by an interesting young man who had trained to become a nurse, then bailed and became a bee keeper!  He was entertaining and his honey was delicious, and the shop was wonderful!  Recently voted the best gift shop in Savannah, I would not doubt it! 

Honey and cheese straw tasting at Capital Bee Company. 

The first and probably favorite food stop was a farm to table  establishment named  Cha Bella.  The owner spoke to us while we sampled a little ramekin of shrimp and grits, which was absolutely delicious! The place was charming, with three big outdoor swings, which Debbie tried, reporting she had forgotten how much fun it was to swing! 

Debbie tries out the swing at Cha Bella! 

Next stop was for  a Conquistador sandwich at a walk up restaurant started by a South African cook, and lauded as the runner up nationally, and first in Savannah as the best sandwich.  Others included a slider of alligator, of which Debbie and I braved a bite, a take on Oysters Rockefeller with a topping of collard greens and cheese, of  which I ate the topping only, but loved the side of fried cornbread, and a cup of the famous Leopold ice cream.  People line up daily for the ice cream, so it was nice to have our guide be able to go in and secure little cups for us....though we would have preferred maybe a local peach variety rather than the rich dark chocolate that was provided.  

Eewwww…..ok, I’ll try a bite. Yep….tastes like fried….anything! 

Leopold Ice cream is 100 years old, and people line up daily. This is reportedly short, for a line that often goes much farther down the block. 

Plenty of history and beautiful architecture around the squares standing under the big oak trees, and we were all totally smitten by Savannah.  We had visited before, but long ago, and we decided we should stay a bit longer and explore some more.  So we will move the coach today in order to do that, and save Beaufort for another trip! 

A beautiful old mansion, now a B&B on the square, where we decided it might be fun to stay next time! 

One of the many squares, this is where Forest Gump sat on the bench with his box of chocolates! They had to remove the bench because so many people stood out in the road to take photos, it became a traffic hazard. The bench is now located in the history museum. 

Beautiful church steeple across from the square, which also happens to be where the feather drifted down  from at the beginning of the Forest Gump movie. 

A group of Girl Scouts from Virginia here to visit the  founder Juliette Gorondon Low’s house, siting on opposite  sides of the square from their chaperones, who told them to wave when I mentioned my blog, saying they would be famous. 

After the tour, we wanted to do the trolley tour,  but were afraid we wouldn't have time to do that, return to the coach, and be back in for dinner reservations, so we parted ways, and they went in search of the trolley, and we did a quick tour of the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace of the Founder of the Girl Scouts while waiting for our uber driver to arrive.   It was mildly interesting, so I was really glad Debbie and Michael chose the trolley!  They are leaving , and we have another two days to take that trip. 

We rested a bit after the heat of the day, fed the kitty, took a second shower, and headed back via uber for our dinner reservation at Elizabeth, in a Victorian Mansion, and reported to be the best in the city.  It turns out Debbie's daughter Melissa , with whom she has had many adventures, attended college here, and had worked at Elizabeths for most of her years here.  We were served by a white haired gentleman who Debbie suspected was one of the owners, and when it was confirmed, and he realized who she was, it became a most extraordinary evening!  Both owners, brothers, came to our table, and regaled us with stories and proceeded to treat us like royalty, bringing samples of their finest offerings!  It was amazing! A night none of us will ever forget!  

Elizabeth on 37th.
Hard to get a photo with all the foliage, but a beautiful old home. 

We had noticed the shadow box of the restaurant scenes, and Debbie said it looked like her son in law Palmer’s work, and sure enough it was! How amazing that we just happened to be seated there! 

Just two of the many wonderful samplings we were so generously offered by owners Gary and Greg.  One o my favorites was the one on the left, grits in a wonderful mushroom broth. 

Pimento cheese tart, mussel with delicious topping, and a fresh Georgia shrimp with brute blanc. 

We had such a great day, a meal beyond compare, a lot of laughs and stories shared, and we bid our friends a fond farewell, as we made our way to meet our anxious uber driver.  Dinner ran longer than anticipated with the abundance of food, and it was apparently past his bedtime!