Last Few Days

Last few days:

Monday: Took the RV in for a new water pump then set off for Boone and Blowing Rock, just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Eastern North Carolina. As we went higher it got colder, something we were totally unprepared for. Arrived very late in the Julian Price Memorial Park, no ranger in the office so set up camp (illegally). Isla and Charlie went to the lake so I could cook the dinner as fast as I could before it got dark as we had no electric hook up. Isla spent the rest of the evening saying “Mummy, throw rock in water”. Glad she is speaking in sentences but she needs some new ones. It was freezing when we woke up – even wearing all the clothes we had. Have since learned we do have heating, but it only works with an electric hook up.

Tuesday: Headed to Grandfather Mountain – going higher for some reason. We went into the National Park where there is a mile high swinging suspension bridge. Spent some time at the nature centre and visiting the bears, deer and otters (could not find the cougars). When we went to head to the top of the mountain it was closed as they were filming a Ford Commercial up there, apparently they film a lot of car commercials (and lots of Forrest Gump) up there due to all the hairpin turns in the road. Not too upset as it was so foggy we would not have seen anything and we wanted to get off the mountain to warm up. Stopped for a quick hike to some waterfalls – all downhill on the way there which is always a bit of a worry. We warmed up on the way back up, and spent the whole time singing to keep Isla happy. Booked into an RV Park just east of Asheville, arrived at 4pm to drink tea and sit wrapped in blankets. Definitely becoming wussier.

Our Ride

People have been asking me to post a picture of our RV - so here it is. It is 19 feet long and sleeps three, it has a double over the cab and the table converts into a single where Isla sleeps. We have a toilet, shower, fridge, cooker, sink, microwave, air conditioning, water heater - but we do need to be connected at a campsite to use it all. Our home for the next 2 months!

Huntington Beach State Park

Took an early morning nature walk on the salt marshes in the state park – saw lots of birds and even more alligators. Charlie took some great pictures perched precariously on wobbly rocks. Packed up and had a swim on the sea before setting off on the longest drive yet – to Raleigh to stay with Evan and his girlfriend Tracey. It is bike week so tons of people riding in convoy on Harley Davidsons.

The Last Few Days.....

Over the last three days we have:

~ Driven to Savannah South KOA campsite. Hung out at the pool and borrowed a dvd about the history of Savannah. Charlie hated it as John Cusack was in it and I fell asleep during it. Not sleeping too well at the moment. Worrying about Isla falling out of that bed.

~ Savannah for the day, beautiful buildings. Stayed in Hilton Head Island RV Resort, one of the poshest places to RV in The USA, lots of golf courses etc. We preferred the state park.

Fried Green Tomatoes with Blue Crab in Savannah

Paula Deen's, Savannah

Savannah

~ Charlie played golf at one of the famous Hilton Head courses. Isla and I hung out at the smallest outlet mall ever. We were at the Tanger 1 Mall. At the Tanger 2 Mall, less than 1 mile away down the highway with no pavement, there were loads more shops and the Guinness book of world record attempt for pie eating going on. It would have been a better story if we had been at the right mall and taken part. Spent the late afternoon driving towards Charleston so we could have a full day the next day.

~ Took a horse and cart tour of Charleston, ate at Hyman's Seafood restaurant, and wandered through the market - "Southern Living" must do activities.

Charleston

Charleston

Charleston

Horse and Cart tour, Charlston

On the road, South Carolina

On the road, South Carolina

On the road, South Carolina

PS - Isla is now sleeping in her tent on top of her bed and I am sleeping much better!

State Lines

Well, we picked up the RV in Florida on Monday. It is a bit smaller than we thought - not so much storage so Charlie and I are sharing our bed with the golf clubs. Very cute and it will be better on gas and easier to drive than one of those big monsters.

We spent the first night in Ferdinanda Beach in Northern Florida - a beautiful state park called Port Clinch. All white sand dunes and bleached wood board walks, quite beautiful. Total rank amateurs at this RV-ing thing, there was water dripping down the side of the vehicle and we had no idea why. A nice German man came and helped and between them he and Charlie found that our pump head seems to be leaking - nothing too serious we are just economising on the pump use for now.

Did a tour of the historic fort and walked on the beach collecting shells - Isla loved it.

She Loves It.

Hello America!

We made it! We arrived in the Florida late on Friday night, we are here in an Orlando resort hotel for a few days. We were totally disorganised, booking the flight Wednesday night, the RV Thursday afternoon and the hotel just before bed on Thursday night. As soon as it was done we were EXCITED! We have a very loose plan, places we both want the see and which direction we will be travelling in. It is a trip both Charlie and I have wanted to take together for a while, we pick up the RV tomorrow morning at 10am, we have an intensive lesson on how to operate it and then off we go - approximately 6000 miles in the next two months.

We have our first campsite booked for tomorrow night, a national park in Florida, beach front and in the middle of nowhere. There are a couple of major cities we would like to visit but mainly we want to stay rural - trying to get to the opposite end of the spectrum after London for 10 years then Tokyo for a year.

Wooohooooo!

Happy Mothers Day!

Get Ready!

Arghhhhhh!

She already fits in!