I set off in mid June, the morning after finishing Abigail & Greg’s built-in bookcases and bar – which we all think look terrific! Plan was to head north into Canada and then go west and re-explore the Rockies in depth and maybe go down to the Baja Peninsular before returning to Savannah sometime next year. Best laid plans and all that!
First target stop was to a meet-up of a facebook group – RV Owners looking for partners – up in northern NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Since it was a little far I took a stop at a Harvest Host – Benford Brewing… Turned out the brew pub had been dormant for a year due to a sudden hike in insurance costs – but he still had a little of his Porter left and offered me a couple of pints.
When I arrived at the Pkwy meet-up, it turned out to be the organizer David and his girlfriend Susan and me! Never-the less, I stayed a few days and got a couple of tremendous walks in – the second of which was way too much for me and I suffered for the next three days!
I got to do some off-roading in Washington National Forest (VA) – a couple of OnX rated 2/10’s and a 3/10. The 2/10 were a snooze, but the 3/10 was pretty extreme – very steep, very rocky and with vegetation encroaching from the sides and the top. It was also long – 18 miles – so took forever to get through. Unlike the off-roading in Utah, you really don’t get to see much in the forest – one tree looks like another and you don’t get to view the landscapes.
Next stop was to meet Irina – we’d started chatting on the Facebook group and she was in process of building a new van having just sold her smaller van that she’s been living in for several years. She was staying with her dad in State College while the project proceeded. The electrical system had been done along with plumbing and heating – but there were concerns that they weren’t done right. Certainly didn’t look too good on a first eyeball at it. I also met with her second builder who would be doing all the cabinets – he has a very nice workshop and is clearly competent at what he does…
I ended up spending a couple of days with Irina and somehow promising to go with her in 3-4 weeks time to Washington to see (beat up?) her initial builder and get him to fix things… best laid plans…
We had a nice couple of days together and even went kayaking in my new inflatable kayak. Turns out Irina is a kayaking nut and within 5 minutes was recommending I send it back and get a proper one!
I had an appointment at nuCamp in Ohio scheduled to get their evaluation of the structural concerns I have about the camper. It was a painful drive in heavy rain and I ended up staying at a Cracker Barrel… When I went to bed, I found out that the bed was soaked through! Just able to grab some Z’s on one side…
In the morning I arrived at nuCamp (makers of my camper) and had a good chat with them about my concerns. They were not overly worried by what I was seeing – and offered suggestions (and some screws and caulking) to do a pretty straightforward fix on one major issue. The best though was that they immediately diagnosed the leak as coming from the overhead window seal and were able to take the camper in and install a new seal immediately. He also managed to get my heating system up and working properly too! A good stop!
I spent the next day in a Casino parking lot completing the recommended repair. A longwinded but easy process fortunately. I was now able to enjoy my stargazer window – which I hadn’t opened in nearly a year!
Next plan was to meet Jason and Aaron (my crew on the recent sailboat delivery). They were doing a 5 day regatta on Lake Erie which would start from Erie, PA, then head across to Port Dover, ON. I’d arranged to meet them for the kick-off dinner on Friday… I arrived and called them up to find out where they were – only to find out I’d arrived a day early by mistake! I had a day to kill… Alright – I’ll drive up to Niagara Falls and take a look… I did… big river, big falls, lots of people – lets go look from the Canadian side.
I made it through customs ok with zero preparation but was unable to get to the falls because the cheap parking lots were full and I didn’t fancy a $40 lot for a quick squint at a waterfall – so I drove on. I’d now arranged to meet the boys on the Canadian side when they arrived on the Saturday – giving me another day to kill! I decided to splurge and went to a proper campground where I was able to attend to camper essentials – fill water and empty waste – and also have a campfire. All nice and relaxing.
Spent the next two nights parked at the Yacht Club and went “racing” with them on the Sunday. We were the second slowest boat in the fleet and since we’re really drinkers with a sailing problem, decided to head for the clubhouse early, becoming now the only boat that didn’t finish! Oops!
The boys left early on Monday for a long leg with no wind forecast, so I drove north! I’d revived a plan in my mind to go to the most northerly spot on the map in Quebec – Caniapiscau – which is apparently at the end of a 600km gravel road. Getting to that road would take a day or two, but the scenery was interesting when not heavily treed – very agricultural. I stopped on a side road one morning to toast myself a bagel and as I got back into the truck a black bear sauntered across the road!
I finally made it to the Billy Diamond Hwy and it’s strange entry gate… 100 yards further on and there’s a sign – no fuel for 375km! I only had enough for 250! I turned around and found a gas station 15km back and filled to the top – 300mile range 480km…
Back at the Billy Diamond I managed the entry properly this time – I hadn’t noticed the intercom before. She asked me where I’d come from and where I’m going and warned that there are forest fires in abundance…
Driving as economically as I could, I made it up to km189 where there’s a free campsite at a lake. I figured I could try out my inflatable kayak – which I had not been able to return as the postage would have been $300 and UPS $500! When I arrived at the very nice little campsite it was overrun by large black flies (horseflies?) and it was very windy – too windy to paddle or to have a fire ☹
I did some research on the state of the fires on my route – looks like the road may be closed at km220 – before the refueling stop. If I drove there and it was closed, I’d be at my limit of gas – remembering that the gas station I’d filled up at was 15km before the start of the Billy Diamond…
When I woke in the morning it felt like I’d smoked 2 packs of cigarettes – there was smoke from the fires all over. I decided to cut and run. I got an early start – before 6 – and decided to drive for as long as I could.
I arrived at State College at 01:30 the following morning and parked just up the street from Irina’s house and went to bed.
I’d decided I would not accompany her to Washington, but instead I’d review her electrical system and organize it a bit. Turns out the system is pretty good – just rather disorganized. By the time I finished 2 days later, it was in much better shape and I’d identified all the issues that need attending to when she visits the builder.
I arrived back in Savannah a couple of days later – after making a very pleasant pitstop in Greensboro to see Abigail, Linda and Kate (and her pup Tucker).
I’ve got some changes to make to the camper to improve the layout and utility and I want to reduce the payload as much as possible – then I’m heading out again – this time headed for the northern Rockies and some big sky!