Technology Updates

Judy and I have been nestled in at ACOE Blacksburg CG for three days now just relaxing for the most part. Very few campers are here but the park host has informed us that the CG will be almost full for the weekend.

Monday I took the Dodge Ram into the local (Augusta, GA) dealership to have the “Check Engine” light investigated. It illuminated as I was driving down from Huntington Beach SP Sunday. It turned out to be a “false alert” so it was reset. 

Wed we took a short trip into town to visit Wally World and grab a bite to each. For lunch we tried a small mom and pop barbecue diner/café. I am amazed at the many different was barbecue is prepared and presented from region to region and sometimes within a state.  The barbecue was served with a pork hash over rice. The owner could see a little hesitation on our faces as we looked at the menu so she brought us over a small sample of the hash. To our surprise, it was very tasty. I took some pics but I am not able to access them now – more on that later.

After lunch I ask Judy to stop by the Verizon store I had seen on our way in.  I have been reluctant to consider doing anything that would alter my plan because I have an unlimited data for my 3.5 year old Droid. Over the past few days I took a look at my  data usage for my phone and saw it was minimal so I had been thinking about upgrading Judy’s worn out Envy 3, even older than my Droid.  She had been talking about getting a “tablet”( l I Pad Air) lately also. We both ended up with new phones, Droid Ultras, and an I Pad Air tablet. Judy renewed our two year contract which enabled her to purchase her phone for $99.00. I only had to pay $30.00 for mine because Verizon had a smartphone  upgrade promotion going on. I did have to turn my old phone over to them instead of putting it into the pile of old cell phones that I have collected over the years.  The Ipad Air cost $429 after the $100.00 rebate.  We opted for the 10Gig shared plan between devices. In the end my monthly bill increased by twenty dollars, I think.  Once home, I set up Judy’s Gmail and FB accounts and added a few other apps.  Judy was most happy with was the fact that she was able to download a “Harry Potter” ringtone.  I was disappointed that all the pics I had on my old phone could not be transferred to the new phone. I was given the small card but I don’t know how to transfer the pics on it to another device.  If you can offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

Ipad Air                                                Droid Ultra (X2)

That is all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Next blog: Sat.

Travel Day–ACOE Petersburg Campground

Petersburg Campground

J. Strom Thurmond Lake, Appling, Georgia

 

Sunday it was time to move on, so we packed-up and moved two hundred fifty three miles to Petersburg Campground. We are about fifteen miles from Augusta, GA. We arrived at the park at 3:50 PM and selected site # 45 from the available sites. With the time shift we only had about an hour of daylight remaining. The site is a typical Army Corp of Engineer (ACOE) park – lots of trees,  I don’t think SAT TV is going to workout but we did pick up 27 channels on the crank-up antennae. Judy said she could live with it since we can get the network that her favorite TV show (The Blacklist) is on. 

Judy and I were happy that fellow full-timers and bloggers, Pam and Vic (Travelin' the Big EZ ) were here at the park. We were sad though when we found out they would be leaving Monday AM. Judy and I did get to visit with them around their campfire for an hour or so. I am sure we will have a chance to “see them down the road” as they are going to be traveling around FL for the next few months.

We had our rig and truck weighed before getting on the road from Huntington Beach SP. Linda and Howard (RV-Dreams.Com), representatives of Recreation Vehicle Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF) did the weighing. Weight is a critical RV safety factor. Once the weighing was completed, Linda explained the results to us and gave us a preliminary report with initial weight numbers, a formal report will be mailed to us from RVSEF.

Special scales are placed under each tire (Trk & RV)

     

Results

Truck w/out trailer                                             Truck w/ 5ver                                        

Driver’s Side         Passenger side            Driver’s side          passenger side

Front:  2500         2500  = 5000               2400                   2500  = 4900

Rear   1900          1800  = 3700               3400                   3300  =  6700 

                           Total        8700                                                      11,600 

Pin Wt. = 2900

5th Wheel

Driver’s side         Passenger’s side

Front   3450        2750  = 6200

Rear    3000        2950  = 5950

Pin WT.                            2900

                         Total       15,050 

It was a fun week meeting with fellow full-time RVers and we look forward to seeing them in future travels. It was very special having so many come out to see us off!

That is all for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Next Blog: Thurs

The Last Campfire, Until Next Time!

Huntington Beach SP, Murrells Inlet, SC.

The Carolina Clan full-timers had its last campfire Sat. evening ending a week of fun and RVer camaraderie. Judy and I certainly enjoyed meeting everyone and look forward to meeting down the road .  Many of us will be spending the winter months in Florida before scattering throughout the lower forty eight states next spring. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out Alaska is on a travel plan.

Each evening we sure had some GOOD food

The Campfire Was a Great Conversation Piece!

Thanks to George and Jim for the Direct TV Dish Tech Support!

    

Judy and I will be traveling 250 miles south Sunday to the ACOE Petersburg campground near Appling, GA.  Before we leave though, we are going to have the truck and Cardinal weighed by Howard and Linda. I’ll post the results in the next post.

That’s all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.

Carolina Clan–Thursday

Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
There is never a dull moment here with the gathered group of RVing fulltimers.  During the day everyone seems to be going in many directions. While some are enjoying a day floating down the intercoastal waterway,  others may be taking in the beauty of the beach and looking at the abundance of the wildlife. No matter where everyone scatters to during the day, everyone can be found at the nightly campfire each evening. I am sure the superb fellowship and nightly dinners are just to hard to resist.
Here is a snap shot of my day. ( I ignored my-self imposed 5 photo limit) Click pic to enlarge.
    

Three Guys at Lunch at Five Guys   

 

                  Pier at Garden City Beach

 

Linda and Howard proclaim the Low Country Boil is ready!

 

 

Nothing but smiling faces


Welcome to new followers:  Tex & Susan and Randy
That is all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.
Next Blog: Sunday

Carolina Clan–“ Get Together”

Judy and I are visiting with a group of  ten full-time RVer couples at Huntington Beach near Myrtle Beach, SC. this week.  They have been traveling throughout the United States for the past few months and are now heading to their chosen wintering locations.

I am sure it will be a fun week with plenty of time around the nightly campfire swapping stories and making future plans for down the road.

George and Laurie arrive -

Mike and Terry arrive -

Getting a plan together!

  

 Morning at the dunes                     Sunrise

  

That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by.

Next Blog: Thur

Travel Day - Huntington Beach SP, Myrtle Beach, SC

Judy and I left Cherry Point at 9:40 this morning along with Dee and Jim.  They were also headed to Huntington Beach SP. The drive down HWY 17 was like a Sunday drive, slow and uneventful. I was surprised that it was mostly four lanes. We covered the two hundred miles by 3:00 PM.

Tumbleweed Up Ahead

Once we all were settled in at the CG and rested a little we went to the K&W cafeteria for dinner.  Judy and I have visited Myrtle Beach many times on family vacations and always enjoyed having meals there.  This evening's meal was just as I remember, good and priced reasonably. As we were leaving the restaurant we saw a marching troop marching down the middle of the street.

Right down the middle of the street!

And there they go!

That is all for now.  Thanks for stopping by.
Next Blog: Tue

Day Trip–Tryon Palace, New Bern, NC.

Thursday we went to Tryon Palace with Dee, Jim and Ms. Alberta.  The weather once again cooperated nicely, which was a good thing since we were outside as we toured the gardens of the palace.
History of the Palace  from the Tryon Palace web site.

Governor’s Palace

The centerpiece of our historic site was also the grandest public building in all the colonies. Royal Governor William Tryon and his family brought architect John Hawks from London to design and build the Georgian-style structure. Completed in 1770, Tryon Palace served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina and home to the Tryon family.
Tryon Palace was the site of the first sessions of the general assembly for the State of North Carolina following the revolution and housed the state governors until 1794. In 1798, fire destroyed the original Palace building. An extensive 30-year campaign to rebuild the Palace and restore the grounds was launched by the people of New Bern, state leaders, world craftsmen, and generous, dedicated citizens such as Mrs. James Edwin Latham. Their efforts led to the triumphal reopening of the Palace in 1959. Today, the Palace lives on as a testament to history, community and rebirth. Here are a few pics. Photography is not permitted inside so I lifted some from the web. (Remember to enlarge the pics, just CLICK!)
   
   
        
Before we headed back home, Jim, took us to the site where Pepsi Cola was first concocted!
Judy had to have a Pepsi float.

I found a clip on YouTube that chronicles the history and rebuilding of Tryon Palace. If you are a history buff or would like more details it is worth a look. CLICK
That is all for now. Thanks for stopping by.
Next Blog: Sunday (maybe, because it is a travel day)