Day 18 - Bar Harbor

Light arrived this morning at roughly 4:00 am, and after a battle with the computer getting my work done, I headed off on the bike to explore Mount Desert Island, where Bar Harbor is located. I rode the West side and saw the lighthouse at Bass Harbor. Then on around the loop to Seawall, a natural stone accumulation that separates the ocean from the fresh water.

The next stop was the village of Southwest Harbor, a delightful village with an active fishing fleet and a number of interesting shops and restaurants. From there it was back to the KOA to pick up Suz for lunch.

First, we headed off to the Oceanarium to learn about lobsters. After an hour-and-a-half, we now know a bit about how the lobster fishermen work and how lobsters propagate (they are live born at about 1/8 of an inch and are food for their parents if they don't find cover). We also learned about the various forms of sea life the populates the bottom of the sea in the Bar Harbor area. Then it was off to lunch (late) at the Log Cabin. The food and service was good.

Around 4:00 pm we headed back into Bar Harbor to the Fish House restaurant - specifically the bar which overlooks the harbor - and enjoyed the evening with the locals and Dan, the bartender. Unfortunately, the battery int he camera died and I couldn't get a picture, but I will before we leave the area.

Back home, we had a light dinner (after a late lunch) and then, while sitting outside, bought an apple pie from a vendor driving through the campground. Excellent!! Tomorrow we will tour Acadia National Park and have a lobster dinner at one of the many lobster ponds in the area. Until then, cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 17 - Gloucester to Bar Harbor

We left the Cape Ann Campground around 8:45 this morning and headed down 128 toward Boston. Then we went on to I95 North, through part of New Hampshire and into Maine. the last 20 miles were not exactly pleasant. The state has torn up the entire road and is building a new road bed. Delays and dust, lots of dust, were the order of the day!

We finally arrived at the Bar Harbor KOA around 2:30 pm, and within an hour we had car and bike unloaded and the camp fully established. Not bad! The KOA campsite is treeless, but it is full service and roomy. We are not directly on the water, but we can see the water and it is but a short walk away.

After getting set up, we headed in to Bar Harbor for a first examination. It is quaint, as one would expect, and has a definite "tourist" touch. However, we were able to find a local pub, the Dog & Pony Tavern, that suited our taste and had a great bartender. After a couple of drinks, we headed back to the KOA, about 7 miles, and did dinner on the BarBQ (the last of the steaks given to us by the folks at the Gettysburg campground).

Tomorrow, I will take the bike on a "fact finding" run, then Suz and I will go sightseeing. Looking forward to that. the area looks beautiful (and I have a seniors pass into the national park!). Until then, cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 16 - Gloucester and Rock Port

The morning began with a bike trip to Gloucester to find a TD Bank branch to replenish the "cash" supply. Success! Came "home" and relaxed. Rock and Mercine arrived around 1:30PM and Suz went shopping with Mercine, and Rock and I headed to Gloucester to explore. We had lunch at a small restaurant in Gloucester, then headed to Rock Port the long way - miles of beautiful coastline.

We met the girls around 4:00pm in Rock Port - where I thought the restaurant that we had picked for dinner, The Rudder, was, but it wasn't. Actually it was in Rocky Neck in Gloucester - Oh well, Rock, Rocky, an honest mistake! So we headed back into Gloucester to Rocky Neck and found The Rudder restaurant. We were able to park on the premises of the oldest active shipyard in America, avoiding being towed!

It's 4:30, The Rudder's not open until 5:00, so we went next door to The Studio and had a couple of drinks there. Not going to let a small time issue interfere with "Happy Hour"! At 5:00 or so, we went back to The Rudder and enjoyed a very fine meal.

Then we headed out to find the Crows Nest pub where the fishermen who were portrayed in the movie "The Perfect Storm" hung out, and where parts of the file were made. Found it! Had a couple of beers, then said our goodbyes to Rocco and Mercine and headed back to the coach. All-in-all, a great day and some beautiful scenery! Rock is right - New England is a very special place!

Tomorrow we head to Bar Harbor, Maine for four days, Until then, Cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 15 - Relaxing in Gloucester

Made a run to BJ's in Danvers, not far from here, to get supplies (forgetting we already had a load of paper towels under the bed - now we have two loads!), then off the Shaw's in Gloucester for groceries - WOW, are prices high out here - $3.79 for a loaf of bread!

Returned back to the coach and did a few chores - washed the bugs off the front, etc. Then I took the motorcycle out for a spin, gave it a much needed bath, then headed into to Rock Port, a really quaint village on the tip of the peninsula. Returning "home," Suz and I went back into Gloucester (5 miles) and hit the liquor store (no beer or wine in grocery stores here! - and not until after 12:00 on Sundays in any case). Got the car washed at the same time - what a mess. Looks better now.

Back home, I wanted to watch the golf, but couldn't get coverage on CBS. Called DirecTV and was told that even though we pay for "local channels", I couldn't get them (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) because we were out of the area of our billing address. Their suggestion was to download an affidavit and send it in with a copy of our RV registration and request a roaming service that would allow us to get these channels from either New York or L.A. They figured it would take about 45 days to get it through the approval process, and then we would have to pay an additional $14 per month, per box (we have two). As you can imagine, I wanted no part of that solution.

Our buddy Ty Haubert provided a much simpler solution - change the billing address every time you move the coach. I called DirecTV back and told then we now lived at 80 Atlantic Street, Gloucester, Mass. - voila! The local channels magically appeared on all our sets! Since I am billed electronically, the mailing address issue is non-existant, and next time we move, we will change our address again. So much for the DirecTV bureaucracy!

Shortly thereafter, Rocco and Mercine arrived with the "feast for the day" - 6 great lobsters and a load of steamers - already cooked and hot. Six ears of corn for the BarBQ and coleslaw. We added some red potatoes, beer and wine and dug in - what a feast, and what a mess! We had two "large" garbage bags full of (smelly) refuse that was immediately taken to the local dumpster ("not in my back yard")! The meal and the friends - priceless!

Tomorrow, Rock and I will explore Gloucester and Suz and Mercine will - what else - go shopping! Until then, cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 14 - Gloucester

We left the Newburgh KOA at 9:00 am and headed East on I84 toward Massachusetts. The roads and traffic on some parts of the trip were less than the best, but by 2:30 pm we had arrived at the Cape Ann Campground in Gloucester, Mass., a most delightful campground.

We got set up and chatted with our nearest neighbors - one is from Boca Raton, one from Port St. Lucie and the other from Ft. Myers! Figure that! The campsite sits on a hill overlooking the tide flats, and Rockport in the distance. Tonight there is a festival going on and we are watching the fireworks in the distance.

Rocco and Mercine arrived around 4:45 and we sat in the coach for an hour before heading off to the Blue Marlin for dinner. Rock and I had steamers and clam chowder and the girls had zucchini. Of course drinks were included.

Tomorrow, I will head off to a supermarket (who knows where?) to get provisions. Rock and Mercine are coming back with prepared lobster for an outdoor feast! Looking forward to that!

Until then, Cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 13 - Newburgh, New York

We left Gettysburg and 8:30 and headed North on US 15, and a after a few connectors, onto I81 North. We then connected with I84 East and traveled through Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and into New York and onto I87.

I had a couple of minor issues with the motorcycle lift and discovered that the Overbuilt shop (where the lift was built) was located just North (30 miles) of the KOA where we were staying. So instead of going directly to the KOA, we headed further up I87 and stopped in at Overbuilt. Shawn looked the lift over and declared it solid and sound, but a couple of the welds on the tray that the bike sits on were not to his liking, so we unloaded the bike and took off the tray and Shawn rewelded the places he was not happy with. Finished, we loaded up the bike and hitched up the car and headed down I87 to the KOA.

It is a very nice park, all wooded, so no satellite TV, but they have 15 or so cable channels - good enough for one night. Unfortunately, they also only had 30 amp service, so one air conditioner is the limit. And since the KOA is close to New York City, the cost is more than most - $59 with a KOA card discount. The people are nice, the facility is clean and it is only for one night anyway.

After hooking up, Suz and I headed to Newbourgh to the local Applebees, our favourite road spot, for a beer and dinner. Back "home" now, Suz is out with Dixie and then relaxing for the rest of the evening. We were just outside at dusk (having a beer or two!) and the fire flies are everywhere. It has been a long time since I have seen so many. Brings back memories of when I was a kid!

Tomorrow we head East to Gloucester, Mass. for three nights. Hope to see Rocco and Mercine while we are there. Until then.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog!

Day 12 - Relaxing at Gettysburg

We didn't do a whole lot today. Had an RV service come and look at the taillights - bad ground! So much for $85. then we went to the Harley shop and got the mandatory T-shirt - and a bolt that was missing from the primary cover on the bike.

We took the tour of the resort and listened to the sales pitch. Sounded interesting, but we told them we're too new to RVing to make a decision to pay $8,000 for a membership at this time. Nice guy - no sale!

We just finished dinner - steaks on the resort. Tomorrow we head for Newbourgh, New York on our way to Gloucester, Mass. on Saturday. Hope to spend a couple of days with Rocco and Mercine before we head North to Bar Harbor, Maine.

Until then. Cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog. (below - doing what she does best!)

Day 11 - Touring the battlefield

Suz and I took the bus tour of the Gettysburg battlefield today with an extremely knowledgeable tour guide who took us through the three days of battles between General Lee's Confederacy forces and General Meade's Union forces. Lee had 73,000 troops at his disposal, Meade had 90,000 troops. The battles were fierce, and resulted in 53,000 casualties in total.

The first photo is from Little Round Top, the site of a decisive battle late on day 2. the ground was held by Union forces against repeated assaults up from hill by Lee's forces. In the background is Devil's Den and behind the trees upper right is the infamous Wheat Field where thousands lost their lives earlier in day 2. The next photo is our tour guide describing the decisive Pickett's Charge by the confederacy on day 3. The Union lines held, Lee retreated the next day, and the beginning of the end of the Confederacy was at hand. The battlefield is being completely reconstructed so it will be exactly as it was in 1863. It is something everyone should take the opportunity to visit.

After the tour, Suz and I had lunch at the Dobbin House Tavern, a local eatery that has been in Gettysburg since the late 1700's. We ate in the pub, which is in the cellar. The atmosphere was terrific, as was the food and service.

We then came back to the coach and I took care of a bunch of "housekeeping" chores, including getting the DirecTV system to work properly. With the help of a very patient DirecTV staffer on the phone - mission accomplished!!

We then went to Thurmont, Md. for dinner at the Cozy Restaurant, a place John ate at when he was on Jim Ford's Rider's Workshop a couple of years ago. A very good buffet, and not at all expensive. As a bonus, you get to view the Camp David Museum on the premises!

Back at the coach, it is time to relax and get this posting up on the Blog! Tomorrow will be our tour of the RV resort and the inevitable sales pitch. After that, who knows - we're on vacation as Suz says!

Till then, cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 10 - Gettysburg

We left Lexington at 9:00 am this morning and headed for Gettysburg, the Gettysburg Battlefield Resort to be specific. This is a Travel Resorts of America site that is interested in promoting membership. We had a coupon from the RV Supershow in Tampa for up to 30 days free camping. We opted for 3 free days, but still have to take the mandatory sales tour - fine. The resort is a a mix of all types of RVs and tents. the sties do not have sewer, but some do have 50 amp. No cable, but some have a sky view that allows satellite access. After one move we got the 50 amp and satellite access we wanted. There is no chance we will be joining this camping organization.

Tomorrow we will take the guided tour of the Gettysburg battlefield and then have dinner in Thurmont at a restaurant I found when I attended the Jim Ford Rider's Workshop last year. Looking forward to it!

Until tomorrow, Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 9 - Lake Toxaway to Lexington, Va.

Well, Suzanne is becoming a trooper! We hit the road by 7:45 this morning.

While I really like the Outdoor Resorts site at Lake Toxaway, it is a real challenge to get there with a coach, especially a tag-axle 45 footer (which most of the site owners have) coming in from the west or east. We left going east, and the first 6 miles or so included numerous hairpin turns which required maximum speeds of 10 to 20 mph. Once out of the hills, the roads improved as we headed North on highway 280/Alt. 25 East to Ashville. From there we took I40 east to I77 north. Both roads are heavily traveled by trucks and have lengthy stretches of very rough pavement.

I was a bit nervous about the climb to Fancy Gap on I77, but the coach took it in stride at 55 mph in 5th gear. Then the fun began! It seems a highway crew was doing some road work between mile markers 24 and 26 that required single lane traffic. The bumper-to-bumper, 5 mph travel started for us at mile market 12! An hour or so later, we reached mile marker 26 to find 6 of Virginia's finest highway workers resting against the guard rail. By this time, I would expect that the traffic was backed up all the way to Fancy Gap! There has to be a better way to get highway work done.

We arrived in Lexington a bit spent from the trip and checked in at the Lee Hi Campground (and major truck center) around 3:30. It is a very spartan camp site - not recommended no matter what Trailer Life says! We had dinner in the local cafe - again, not recommended.

In the meantime, I had been working on the lights on the "toad". It appears as though the fellow who installed the motorcycle lift reversed the brake and turn indicator lights in the connector, so when I signaled left in the coach, the right tail light of the car lit up. Somewhat disconcerting for those following - during the slow crawl up I77 a driver who had been following advised us of the problem.

So, being Mr. Fixit, I took the connector apart and proceeded to short it out, so now I have no connection between the coach and the car - both of which work just fine independently, thank God. Now to find the fuse for the trailer light connection. After much searching and a few calls. I was told by our trusty expert, Red Bay's Brannon Huthcheson, that it is under a black box in the last bay on the passenger side of the coach - of course nowhere is it mentioned in the Owner's Manual!

Tomorrow's job awaits as the last light of day slowly fades! After I fix the fuse, we will make the final run to Gettysburg. Hope there is no more road work!

Until tomorrow.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 7 - Relaxing at Outdoor Resorts

Today is our rest day at the Outdoor Resorts RV Park at Lake Toxaway. Last night the resort had a cocktail party for the residents and we were invited. met the president of the POA and had a good chat. Very nice people!

This morning I rode to Brevard and visited Dave and Nancy Von Holle to see their summer home. The road is very twisty and a treat to ride on a motorcycle. Dave has spent an enormous amount of time and effort working on the house and it shows. From a dumpy little cottage, Dave and Nancy have created a real jewel of a house. The attention to detail is typical Dave, and the view is fantastic.

This afternoon I worked on the coach, put RainX on the windshield, fixed a cabinet shelf, and did three loads of wash - am I glad we kept the washer/dryer! Then I was cleaning the front of the coach - bugs you know - and "almost" finished the job before the typical afternoon thunderstorm hit. But I was OK, got under the side awning! Unfortunately, the awning has an "auto retract" feature if the wind is too high - it was, it did, and I got a dousing! Oh well, it was warm rain. Equally fun, Dixie hates thunder so she wrapped her leash around the front jack and was stuck under the coach during the storm. What a treat getting her and the leash out after the storm!

But the sun came out again and all was well as we watched the U.S. Open on the outside TV.

Tomorrow is Father's Day and Suzanne is taking me to dinner. We'll report on the day later.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the wonder dog

Day 6 - Lake Toxaway

We departed Helen at 9:15 am. All started well at 7:30 am when we moved the coach out of the site at Creekwood and took it 4 miles down the road to a level parking area when we could put the bike on the lift and hook up the car. Not really feasible at Creekwood!

Came back for the bike, but the key fob battery was dead and the security system wouldn't let me start the bike. Having forget the security code (and how to use it) we went back to the coach for the backup fob, then back to the bike - started this time. Now it's 8:30 am. Got the bike on the lift, and hooked up the car and hit the road - now its 9:15 - how time flies when you're having fun!

Headed back to Buford to get the wiper arm installed. Got there about 11:30 and put the coach in the lot. I unhooked the car and headed to Publix for some needed supplies while Suz looked after Dixie. Wiper arm installed and groceries put away, we left RV World of Georgia around 12:30 pm, heading up I-85. Took exit 1 in South Carolina and headed up SC 11, Entered North Carolina on a very twisty NC 281 toward Lake Toxaway. The speed with the coach was 35 to 45 - period! A good motorcycle road, not so good in a coach. Can't imagine how those with 45 foot tag axle coaches manage!

Arrived at Lake Toxaway around 2:00 and were amazed at the how nice the Outdoor Resorts facility is. Very impressive. We got set up in our "developer lot" - not much landscaping, and took the tour of the facility. Of course, they want to sell us a lot - ASKING prices range from $124,000 (a lot like ours) to $180,000. (The real price for our lot would likely be $79,000). The higher priced lots are resales with extensive landscaping additions. Think we will rent for awhile!

Tomorrow i will ride a bit, then Suz and I will do some touring (by car). Dave Von Holle and Dale Anderson have places not too far away. Maybe we will hook up.

Until tomorrow.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog

Day 5 - Helen and the Chatahoochie Drift!

Well, no riding today - as much as I wanted to. Instead, we "took it easy." The plan was to have lunch at Hoffer's, a wonderful Bavarian breakfast and lunch restaurant in Helen (the couple with the kid in the photo apparently thought I wanted a picture of him (ego maniac!).

After lunch we went 'tubing" on the Chattahoochee. We were two of literally hundreds of people floating down the river. It felt like Martin Downs Blvd. at 4:30 pm!

Nonetheless, we did the "two hour drift." After an hour, we finally figured out how to make the tubes move where we wanted them to. there are a few minor rapids on the river that provide some thrills (and a good dousing!).

We made it successfully and then headed to our favorite evening hangout - "Viele Margaritas" for a well earned cocktail, and a chance to watch others navigate a particularly interesting set of rapids - one can get hung up on the rocks for quite a while here.

From there it was back to Creekwood to get the coach and the bike ready to depart tomorrow for RV World of Georgia for the wiper blade, and then on to Lake Toxaway in North Carolina. We have thoroughly enjoyed the Helen area and plan to return - maybe eve drift the Chattahoochee again!

Until tomorrow.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog!

Day 4 - Finally - The Tail of the Dragon!

As you have read, the Tail of the Dragon is not in Georgia, it is in Tennessee! So today, I left at 7:45 am and rode 100 miles to the Northeast to Deals Gap, with breakfast at the Huddle House in Robbinsville. The owner is a biker and provides covered parking for motorcycles!

It is 18 miles from Robbinsville to The Dragon, or Deals Gap, whichever you prefer. But before the start of the Dragon, you come upon the dam that Harrison Ford jumped off in the movie "The Fugitive." Built in the 30's by the Tennessee Valley Authority, it still produces power and provides flood control.

Arriving at Deals Gap, I rode the 11 miles one way (with 318 curves). However, Hwy. 129 is blocked by a landslide West of the Dragon, meaning there is no way out except back over the Dragon! So now it is 11 miles in and 11 miles out. And what a great ride it is. Rarely was I out of 2nd gear, and the pegs were close to the ground most of the way. A great ride! Back at the Dragon's Den, I stopped for the mandatory T-shirts and other memorabilia. Then I returned home (Creekwood RV Park), arriving around 3:00 pm. I wouldn't have missed the ride for anything. Overall, I had ridden 222 miles - 100 miles each way and 22 miles of The Dragon.

After a shower, Suz and I headed back to Helen to watch the tubers (and have a drink or two). Tomorrow is our time to tube the Chattahoochee! We opted for the 2 hour drift and will finish about the time for "Happy Hour!" Why are you not surprised? Then we have to get the coach ready to depart on Friday to get the wiper arm replaced (in Buford, Georgia), then it is off to North Carolina and Lake Toxaway for a couple of days.

I can honestly tell you that this part of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee is some of the most beautiful territory in the country, and the people couldn't be nicer. Try it if you can, biker or not!

(The photo to the right is the lake formed by the dam in the picture above - taken from the top of the Dragon.)

Talk to you tomorrow.

Cheers

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog!

Day 3 - Helen, the twisties and the river

The day started with my departure at 7:45 am for a day of riding. I headed South out of Helen on Hwy. 75 on my way to Suches, GA. I understood that the famous "Tail of the Dragon" was located on Hwy. 129/180 just outside of Suches - wrong. Actually, the Tail of the Dragon is located in North Carolina - on Hwy. 129. Nonetheless, I rode what turned out to be a more technically challenging road - Hwy 180 - Wolf Pen Gap. The road is not nearly as well maintained as the dragon, and it is equally as twisty. What a charge!! There are so many fine riding roads in this part of the country that you cannot miss a good ride no matter what direction you turn.

After finding out that the Dragon was a long ways away, I covered the area and had a great day riding. Tomorrow I will ride to the real Tail of the Dragon and compare it to Wolf Pen Gap. I would doubt it is much more challenging!

Coming back to Creekwood Resort (with the help of my trust Garmin) I had lunch and then, after some cleaning of the RV, Suz and I headed for Helen for the afternoon Happy Hour". Once again we went to the Veile Margerita and watched the hundreds of people float by on the Chattahoochee River on tubes. Suz and I will go tomorrow after I return from "the Dragon."

We are totally taken by Helen. As is "Dixie the Wonderdog". It is a very nice town, the people are friendly and the Creekwood Resort is wonderful! You could do a lot worse for a holiday!

I will report back tomorrow on the riding and the tubing down the Chatahoochee!

All the best and CHEERS!

John, Suz and "Dixie the Wonderdog"

Day 2 - Valdosta to Helen

Day 2 arrived in great fashion. Suzanne, unusual as it may seem, was up and ready to go by 7:00 am!! After sleeping (or trying to) all night to the dulcimer tones of 18 wheelers on I-75 (roughly 150 yards away), both of us were ready to go as soon as the sun rose. If you stop at the River Park RV Park in Valdosta, get a site down low, otherwise the I-75 traffic will kill you! Also, the upper sites are so sloped that you cannot possible level a coach.

Once on our way, all was well. We did 250 miles by 11:30 am and were approaching RV World of Georgia for our replacement wiper arm. Unfortunately, the new location for the Tiffin dealer is located in a somewhat obscure location. I missed it, but tried to correct my mistake ---- mistake!!! I couldn't make the turn and blocked traffic in both directions. Can't back up with a toad in tow, but two wonderful Georgians came to our rescue. We quickly (record time I am sure) unhooked the toad and got it and the coach out of the way. I apologized to all the delayed traffic and made it into the new RV store. Lesson learned: TAKE YOUR TIME, and DON'T GET FLUSTERED!!

The good folks at RV World of Georgia couldn't have been nicer. They did not have the part, but got it ordered from Tiffin under warranty. The bad part - we will have to return on Friday to have it installed - about a 1 to 2 hour detour. Like I said - TAKE YOUR TIME .... IT"S A LONG TRIP.

We arrived in Helen, a beautiful little Bavarian style town in north Georgia, around 3:00 pm. We found the totally delightful Creekwood Resort and then the fun began. The entrance to Creekwood is downward sloping --- followed by an immediate upward slope. You guessed it, the hitch for the car hit the ground BIG TIME. Another lesson learned.

No damage done, but we had to remove the toad, and unload the motorcycle before putting the coach to bed for the next four days. The Creekwood is tight and wooded, but it is beautiful and the owners are the absolute best. Melissa helped me remove the toad, the motorcycle and put the coach in the site - THEN brought me a beer!! What a woman!

With all finished for the evening, Suz and I headed back to Helen and found a pub overlooking the Chattahoochee River (very narrow at this point) with literally hundreds of people on green, pink and blue tubes floating the river (for $3 a float! What a deal.), The river is around 70 degrees and all were having a great time. Suz, I and Dixie the Wonderdog will do it either Wednesday or Thursday!!

An eventful day 2, but one that will evoke memories for years to come --- Lesson learned: TAKE YOUR TIME, WHAT'S THE RUSH!!

Now we are outside (having a beer) as the light fades and the fireflies are dancing all around our campsite. Nature is wonderful!!

Cheers until next time!

John and Suz

Well, we finally got the coach "loaded", the bike on the lift, and the car hooked up and hit the road around 10:00 am. Not bad considering ... (You can see who "Dixie the Wonderdog" is most attached to!!)

All was going well until it started to rain around Ft. Pierce, and the driver's side wiper got caught by a gust of wind and wrapped itself around the side of the coach. Seems the wiper arm snapped off at the actuator pin. Luckily, the Ft. Pierce rain was a squall and the rest of the trip was "largely" without further rain.

We arrived in Valdosta around 4:30 pm and headed to our site, which had more than a slight slope from back to front. The auto leveling said "no go", so we did it manually, initially lifting the front wheels off the ground - oops. We finally settled for having the jacks on the pavement to stabilize the coach, but we are far from level. It's only for one night ----.

Off to Applebees for dinner and a much needed Miller Lite! Tomorrow, it is off to Helen for some riding. On the way we will divert to a Tiffin dealer to see if he can replace the wiper arm. If not, maybe Tiffin can express deliver one to our campground in Helen???

Day one was "not bad". Hope none of the future days are any worse!!

Cheers

John and Suz

The plan for the great adventure

We are preparing to leave for our trip around America with a stop in Canada to see our old home and many friends and relatives. The trip will take us from Palm City, Florida to Helen, Georgia for some much needed "riding the twisties" - the much heralded "Tail-of-the-Dragon" in particular.

From there we will wind our way through North Carolina and Virginia through the Appalachians to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where we will visit the famous battlefield and site of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Next we're off to Gloucester, Mass. to visit friends, then on to Bar Harbor, Maine for some R & R, and a few lobster suppers! Ottawa is next where we will visit many friends and renew old acquaintances. Then it's back to Pennsylvania for a couple of weeks to play in the Corey Creek Invitational golf tournament and ride some more twisties!!

From there we will head West to Sturgis for a few days of riding. We will be there BEFORE the famous Sturgis Rally. To us, this is the best time to get in some good riding and enjoy the area and people. As we leave, the masses will be arriving!

Then it's off to Glacier National Park for a few days, and on to Oregon for the Freightliner Chassis Owners Club Rally. From there we will head to Seattle to see family and friends - most notably "Mom" (John's), who is 97 and going strong!

Leaving Seattle, we will head to Crater Lake in Oregon, then to Coos Bay, Oregon for seafood and relaxation. From there it is into the Redwoods of California for a couple of days, then to San Francisco, which Suzanne has never seen. Yosemite is next on the itinerary, then a brief stop in Las Vegas. Bryce and Zion National Parks come next, followed by the Grand Canyon.

Leaving the Grand Canyon, we will tour the Navajo land to visit cliff dwellings, Monument Valley and other noted attractions. Then it's off to San Antonio, Texas, with a stop in Albuquerque to see John's cousin, Susan. San Antonio has a lot to offer and we plan to take in as much as possible.

The next stop is New Orleans for a couple of days, then on to Florida and the "stick house." We expect to cover 12 to 15,000 miles over a span of 4 plus months. And while we have a plan, there is always the chance (very good) that changes will be made as we travel. We are looking forward to the trip and hope you can follow along and enjoy it with us!!

Until the next post, CHEERS!!