Category: Southern & Western United States Trip (2/28/19 – 11/1/19)

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Returned To Florida November 1, 2019 (8 Month Cross Country RV Trip, 24 States, 23,000 Miles , Forest River 5th Wheel Surveyor) October 31, 2019

Anna and I ARRIVED HOME IN MELBOURNE, FLORIDA on November 1st!!!!!! We have been really looking forward to seeing our precious family and dear friends. We BECAME FULL TIME RV’ERS 9 MONTHS AGO, moving into our Forest River Surveyor 5th Wheel on January 31, 2019. We are returned home from our FIRST SEASONAL TRIP (avoiding the summer Florida heat), which in this case was an 8 MONTH TRIP ACROSS THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN UNITED STATES. Our trip included 24 STATES, 23,000 miles traveled, over 100 NATIONAL PARKS, MONUMENTS, RECREATION AREAS, ETC., in addition to visiting hundreds of other state and local treasures along our path. We visited countless FAMILY & FRIENDS along our path. We also met fabulous new friends as we “BOONDOCKED” (dry camped, no services) on so many generous host’s properties, as well as out in the wild on mesa’s, beaches, mountains and national forests. What an amazing trip, what experiences and memories we gathered. We experienced a literal life time of amazing activities, and bring home MEMORIES THAT WILL BE CHERISHED FOREVER!!!!

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New Smyrna Beach, Florida (Sugar Mill Ruins Travel Park, New Smyrna Beach, J.B.’s Fish Camp, Mike & Debbie Harrison) October 28 – 31, 2019

For the last four days we relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed some time in NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FLORIDA, before arriving home on November 1st, marking the conclusion of our 8 MONTH CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. We had a wonderful time visiting the HISTORIC SECTION OF NEW SMYRNA. We stayed in a wonderful campground, the SUGAR MILL RUINS TRAVEL PARK, which was full of amenities, including an ENORMOUS FLORIDA SHAPED POOL. We also stopped by our favorite restaurant in the area, JB’S FISH CAMP, with a wonderful couple from Nova Scotia, MIKE & DEBBIE HARRISON, that we had just met, for their jumbo shrimp and delicious “jungle juice” dipping sauce that we absolutely crave. We had planned this portion of the trip to RELAX AFTER OUR LONG TRIP AND REJUVINATE A BIT before seeing family and friends upon our return home in MELBOURNE, FLORIDA. Our trip, just one of many to come, was beyond amazing, providing memories to last more than a lifetime. It was nice to slow it down for a few days and relax as well!!!! 

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Historic Savannah, Georgia October 26, 2019

Today we visited historic downtown SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. What a wonderful city with its glorious TOWN SQUARES, historic RIVER STREET, beautiful SAVANNAH RIVER, vast history, and a plethora of FABULOUS RESTAURANTS and activities to partake of. We enjoyed a delicious seafood meal, on the outdoor, second floor balcony of TUBBY’S restaurant, which overlooks bustling River Street and the beautiful river. We have spent a decent amount of time in Savannah over the last few years, and have enjoyed our time tremendously. It is a town we consider one of our very favorite; historic, beautiful, and plenty to do!!!!!

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Skidaway Island State Park – Savannah, Georgia October 24-27, 2019

For the last four days we have spent time at the gorgeous SKIDAWAY ISLAND STATE PARK, which is situated in close proximity to SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. Skidaway Island, located south of the mouth of the SAVANNAH RIVER, is one of Georgia’s inner coastal islands. It is protected by three barrier islands, TYBEE, WASSAW and OSSABAW ISLANDS. The island is very rich in history, with culture including the indigenous native people, and military activity during the American Revolution and the American Civil War. The grounds within the campground are stunning. We hiked 5 ½ miles on four adjoining trails viewing the gloriously large live oak trees draped in flowing Spanish moss. We also witnessed the beautiful fresh and salt water sloughs, shell middens (mounds of oyster shells), a liquor still, and military earthworks (earthen fortifications from the Civil War). The last day, we also road bikes throughout the park and trails for two hours. What a fabulous place to consider camping.

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Appalachian National Scenic Trail/Springer Mountain & Swinging Bridge (Evan & Diane Peck) October 22 & 23, 2019

We took full advantage of the last two days staying with our dear friends, EVAN & DIANE PECK. During these two days we HIKED two impressive trails and visited the wonderful MERCIER ORCHARDS as well. The second to last day we hiked to the unique and beautiful SWINGING BRIDGE, an impressive wood and cable system bridge located deep in the mountains. During our final day in north Georgia with the PECK’s we hiked the SPRINGER MOUNTAIN TRAIL, located within the BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, to the historic southern terminus of the APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL, situated at an elevation of 3,782 feet. This impressive, 2,100 mile trail, completed in 1937, runs along the crest of the APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, through 14 states, from KATAHDIN, MAINE to SPRINGER MOUNTAIN in northern Georgia. The trail was designated the first NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL in the United States in 1968. To completed this leg of our trip at the wonderful MERCIER ORCHARDS. What amazing friends and what an amazing place to visit and explore!!! 

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1996 Centennial Olympics Ocoee Whitewater Center & Goforth CreekTrail (Evan & Diane Peck) October 21, 2019

Day two with EVAN & DIANE PECK was an absolutely wonderful and activity packed day. After a wonderful breakfast with CRAIG & DAISY TIPPIE, prior to their trip to North Carolina, Diane & Evan and Anna & I left to HIKE IN THE MOUNTAINS one hour south of their home. We first hiked the beautiful GOFORTH CREEK TRAIL, nestled in the APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, and sporting some unique and gorgeous rock formations in and along the river’s edge. We had a fabulous time talking and catching up during the entire hike. We then visited and took a short hike at the nearby 1996 CENTENNIAL OLYMPICS OCOEE WHITEWATER CENTER, located in the CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST. The site for the 1996 Olympic kayaking competition was on the OCOEE RIVER, the only natural river to ever host a summer Olympic kayaking event up to that time. What a great day with amazing, loving friends!!!!   

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Morganton, Georgia (Evan & Diane Peck, Craig & Daisy Tippie) October 20 – 23, 2019

Today we arrived in MORGANTON, GEORGIA in the northwestern section of the state, in what is called the TRI-STATE AREA where NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, and GEORGIA intersect. We were super blessed to spend some wonderful time catching up with our dear friends, DIANE & EVAN PECK. We “BOONDOCK” camped on their gorgeous mountain property north of the familiar towns of Blue Ridge and Morganton. The FALL LEAVES WERE CHANGING and the forest surrounding their new home was absolutely beautiful. In the 3 ½ days we were there, we spent time hiking four different mountain locations, had a campfire, and spent quite a bit of time breaking bread together and catching up. Additionally, what a wonderful surprise to learn that our joint friends, CRAIG & DAISY TIPPIE, who are MISSIONARIES FROM PERU, were also in town staying with the Peck’s. We had such an absolutely fabulous time spending time with the Tippie’s the first day we were there, before they had to leave for North Carolina the next morning. What a blessed stop on our cross country trip!!!

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Flowery Branch, Georgia (Shelly & Bert Salom, Old Federal C.G., Lake Lanier) October 17-19, 2019

For the last three days, we have been spending precious time with our dear friends, BERT & SHELLY SALOM, and their two wonderful kids. We have shared our time between their new, beautiful home and the gorgeous OLD FEDERAL CAMPGROUND located on LAKE LANIER in FLOWERY BRANCH, GEORGIA, approximately 1 1/2 hours north of ATLANTA. The fall leaves were changing, coupled with our campsites being surrounded on all sides by the absolutely gorgeous, high banked lake, made for a wonderful and peaceful few days!! We shared a few tasty meals together, as well as enjoying a peaceful campfire and s’mores. Two unexpected treats as we were at Old Federal were the beautiful, white UMBRELLA COCKATOO entertaining and doing tricks for us as we hiked around the campground, and the most stunningly beautiful, deep red sunset you can imagine the second day we were there. What a great time with wonderful friends!!!!!

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Russell Cave National Monument – Northern Alabama (Boondocking-TN, Prehistoric Cave Shelter-AL) October 16. 2019

Today we stayed at a wonderful BOONDOOKING location, hosted by Nikki, high in the mountains above nearby SOUTH PITTSBURG, TENEESSEE, in close proximity to CHATTANOOGA. The views over the valley were absolutely incredible. Chattanooga has so much to offer in terms of natural beauty, and amazing attractions, such as RUBY FALLS, ROCK CITY, and the town itself. We had explored and thoroughly enjoyed these places last year. As a result, we decided to cross over the border into northern ALABAMA and investigate an historic PREHISTORIC CAVE SHELTER, the RUSSELL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT. It was designated a National Monument on May 11, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. During the jointly sponsored SMITHSONIAN & NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY EXCAVATIONS, the National Geographic Society bought cave and surrounding land. It was ultimately donated to the American people in 1958. ARCHEOLOGISTS still consider the cave to contain one of the MOST COMPLETE ARCHEOLOGICAL RECORDS OF PREHISTORIC CULTURES discovered in North America. FOUR PEOPLES LIVED HERE over the last 10,000 years: 1) the PALEO PERIOD (before 9,000 years ago), 2) ARCHAIC PERIOD (9,500 – 2,500 years ago), 3) the WOODLANDS PERIOD (2,500 – 1,000 years ago) and, 4) the MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD (1,000 – 450 years ago). The artifacts for the four periods were unearthed at four different depths, and were discovered as deep as 43 feet below the surface. What an interesting place to capture and learn some true history!!!!!

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Nashville, Tennessee (The Parthenon, Broadway Street Honky Tonks, Centennial Park, Riverside Park) October 15, 2019

Yesterday we traveled from southwestern Kentucky to NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE to spend two days in this incredible city. Nashville is a remarkable, super progressive city with so much to offer its residents and visitors alike. We visited the amazing PARTHENON on the western side of Nashville, originally built in 1897. It is a FULL SCALE REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL PARTHENON IN ATHENS, GREECE. The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of CENTENNIAL PARK, Nashville’s premier urban park. An impressive 42 foot gold statue of ATHENA, the mythical goddess of wisdom and protector of cities, is the highlight structure within this incredible building. Additionally, what would a trip to Nashville be without spending considerable time in the HONKY TONK section of downtown on BROADWAY STREET. This four block long strip of restaurants, bars, pubs and museums is so impressive and so much fun to experience!!! It seems as though every major country artist owned one of the large Honky Tonks along the strip. Live country music was seemingly being played all day in each of the Honky Tonks. We enjoyed KID ROCK’S HONKY TONK, as well as NASHVILLE CROSSINGS. We topped off our wonderful Nashville experience with an absolutely delicious BBQ dinner at JACK’s BBQ. We would have liked a few more days here to visit the Country Hall of Fame, the State Capital Building, the Grand Ole Opry, and much more!!