Oregon Inlet near Nag's Head

(Lynda's Post)We didn't have far to travel to our next port of call,  less than 20 miles northwards.  We stayed at a second Federal Campsite, Oregon Inlet. Not sure where the name came from.  It was another unspoilt area of natural beauty - dunes and a gorgeous beach.  However this was marred by the tyre tracks of large trucks which are allowed to drive along there. This wasn't just a couple of cars but a width of at least 50 feet looking like a construction site.  David brought this up with rangers who all assured us that any nesting turtles, birds etc would be protected, but one wonders how they can ever build their nests in these areas with so much traffic.  Oh well, you can hardly expect the fishermen to WALK to catch their fish!

We spent two days here and had planned to do some sight-seeing. Unfortunately my already ailing back took a turn (or twist) for the worst and we spent a couple of hours waiting to see a doctor in the local emergency room. Within twenty four hours I was pain free.  (David Post) Unfortunately during the night her medicine wore off and she was once more in pain.

Much political hashing is going on about the driving on the beach.  It seems now the Park service is restricting it very tightly and causing an uproar from the locals who depend on tourists coming down to drive and fish on the beach.  Check this link http:hamptonroads.com/2008/05/shore-bird-shore-bird-buffers-close-3-popular-outer-banks-beaches

We left the Outer Banks and North Carolina and headed to what is called the Eastern Shore of Virginia to see our dear friends, Bill and Mary Burnham.  To reach them we had to go across the Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel, an 18 mile stretch of road consisting of bridges and tunnels across the Bay.

Ocracoke Island

(Posted by Lynda) We took the ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke Island.  It was a perfect day - warm, sunny, and not too much wind.  Since no one could park next to us (being too wide) we took out our chairs and sat at the side of the motor home as if we were in a campground. Lots of people stopped to chat and EVERYONE loved our Charlie.  We even arranged a marriage for him. One couple, whose daughter breeds goldens asked if we would be interested in having him mated!  She took a picture of him and our address.  Who knows?  I would love to have a baby from him.  He is the sweetest dog, even if he is a little wild.  Just wonder if he would know what to do!!

After arriving at Ocracoke we headed to a federal campground there.  We had booked two nights.  However, it was so mosquito-ridden that after one day there, being more or less confined to quarters, and waking up to pouring rain the next day, we decided to leave and head to Hatteras.  We had a short ferry crossing over to Hatteras, also nice and calm and just 40 minutes. We stayed at Ocean Waves campground, a place we had stayed before.  It was great having internet again - we are indeed internet junkies!  Wanted to stay another night, but unfortunately our site was booked and we would have had to move, so we decided to go to another federal campground.  Since David is now 62 he can get the Golden Age pass which means that we can stay in federal campgrounds for half price.  Hopefully we will have many opportunities to take advantage of this.

Ferry terminal at Cedar Island, NC

This little campground at Cedar Island is great.  We are right next to the ferry terminal that will take us tomorrow to Oakracoke Island NC.  That is the start of the Outerbanks of North Carolina.  Lynda and I have been there many times before and love it.  Where we are now has a nice little campground with full hook ups for only $20.  Plus and best is the huge shore line where Charlie can run and swim.    Last night they had a large wedding in  a tent across the way so we got to see the Bride and listen to the music into the night.  We met some locals camping in a small trailer next to us and he had never seen a motorhome like ours and said they guessed the price at $600,000.  Ha.  Wish I could get that for it.

Wilmington NC Home of the battleship North Carolina

We are now in Wilmington NC.  This is another shore location now in North Carolina.  Our host campsite is the Wilmington Elks.  They have a great site with electric and water behind the lodge.  Today we plan to visit the WWII battleship North Carolina.  I'm excited as I love history.  Lynda is along for the ride and hopes to get to the historic section of town. She is not as thrilled with the tour of the ship as I am but understands my feelings.  I'm grateful for her tolerance.  Beautiful sunny warm weather today.  We filled up with propane yesterday knowing it will get cooler as we head north.  Charlie loves the huge back yard the Elks have here but a skunk almost got him this morning.  We could smell a bit on him.  Glad it wasn't a full shot.

Did the tour of the battleship and the historic part of the city and it was great.  Lynda informed me after reading what I wrote above that she did want to see the ship and liked things like that.  Sorry love.  It was amazing to me how large the ship was and how it was living in it for the sailors.  It was a reunion day and we met many of the original crew.  Check out our pictures at the photo link and you will see one and lots of photos of the ship.  After we left the North Carolina we headed for the historic district of Wilmington and walked along the old buildings and gardens that were nice.  Tomorrow we head to the town Cedar Island where we will stay one night at a campground then take the ferry over to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  Look forward to that.  We most likely won't have internet there as we are staying in a Federal campsite with no hook ups.  Here we are getting a neighborhood wireless set up with our Hawkins antenna.  Good ole Awkins.

From Georgia to South Carolina

Such a nice sunny day this morning.  We traveled about three hundred miles yesterday from our campsite near Jekyll Island to Myrtle beach South Carolina.  We are now in a state park and it is right on the ocean and so beautiful.  Poor Lynda is still hurting with her back but she can walk and stand without much problem.  We will take Charlie along the beach today.  The weather is warm and the sky is clear.  The trip yesterday was fine the motorhome handled good and all went well.  Thank God for our Garmin it is like a friend that guides us to our destination.  I have it set up with a female English voice, her name is Emily.  Ha.  Lynda likes it as it takes the heat off her with keeping us on the proper course.  We do have wireless here which is a plus and the Hawking antenna I bought in the UK picks it up.  Oh the windscreen, shield, was fixed early yesterday and even though it has still a small mark it seems fine.  Will write more later.

Hi again, end of the day and it was perfect.  We went on the beach with Charlie and walked so far along the ocean.  See the pictures by clicking on the "our photos" link to Picasa.  Charlie learned what waves were about and got whacked a few times before he gave them proper respect.  It turns out we won't be able to meet my sister Joan in the outer banks of North Carolina so we decided to spend another night here.  Went out for lunch and used the Christmas gift certificate Dave and Melony gave us for the Olive Tree.  We love that place.  Lynda and I find the state parks so much nicer than commercial campgrounds.  It's so nice to see an oasis of nature in a world of development.  Going to relax tonight.  Tired after the long walk and bike ride I did.  So long for today.  Oh, Lynda's back a bit better.

Day trip to Savannah Georgia

Lynda and I left the campground yesterday and drove up to Savannah Georgia as she had been longing to see this city.  I admit I was somewhat not into the visit as I am not thrilled with the southern stand during the civil war and this city was a big part of that war.  But I was given a treat at how lovely the area was and the beautiful buildings and parks.  We took a tour with a woman guide who was from NYC and even though her attempt at humor failed us we did enjoy the views.  Like many southern cities Savannah is not the typical deep south and more of a cosmopolitan center with people from all over.  We didn't hardly notice the southern heavy accent that you hear in the country around Georgia.  Overall it was a fine day with a dinner at a great pizza place.  Today we are waiting for the windscreen repair man then will head north to perhaps Myrtle Beach South Carolina or somewhere closer if he comes late.  This campground has been just wonderful and we will no doubt come back.  I have never seen such big sites with so much nature around.  Plus we have wireless, but no TV signal.  The tree's block any signal.  Oh well.  Lynda has taped many programs and reading is also a nice break not to mention surfing the web.  We are both web junkies for sure.

On the road after almost six months in Keys

We left our winter home a few days ago and I am just now starting this blog to post some of our experiences and observations of the trip home.  We left the Keys on April 21st and headed up to North Fort Myers FL to revisit our winter camping site from a few years ago on the Caloosahatchee River, and had a nice night there.  We visited old friends we knew there and enjoyed the campground.  From there we headed north to Tampa to get some warranty work done at a dealer there.  We visited our friends, Annie and Bill in the area, and also met up with friends, Linda and Pete, who were also staying at Rally Park.  Our next journey landed us in Blythe Island campground near Jekyll Island, Georgia.  It is a wonderful place and we are staying here three nights.  One of the reasons for the long stay is that a crazy man in a pickup truck flew by us just before we got to the entrance of the campground, almost causing a head on collision, and he kicked up a stone that chipped our windshield.  We have a Chap coming out Monday to fill it in before it cracks.  Just one of the trials of road travel I guess.  

Lynda also went to move a large picnic table and pulled a muscle in her back.  She is hurting and we hope it will go away quickly.  Yesterday we went to Jekyll Island and toured the area.  It was beautiful and had some interesting sites.  We visited a sea turtle rehab center and it is sad to see what mankind is doing to such beautiful creatures with fishing line, hooks and nets, not to mention damage caused by pollution  The most awful thing today is so many power boats on the water with their spinning props that cut and kill many critters.

Today is a beautiful day and we are heading for Savannah GA to tour the city.  Lynda has always wanted to go there.  I hope she can cope with her back.  More later, bye.