2019 Travel

Our latest trip was to VA, DC, and NC. Along the way we traveled through OH, PA, and WV.

We were traveling to visit with family in Fredericksburg VA and Washington DC, as well as a brief vacation. We left home Oct 2 and returned Oct 15, 2019.

We took the Ohio Turnpike 'til a traffic backup led us to exit and travel south from near Cleveland. We spent the night in Raccoon Creek SP  west of Pittsburgh. And then traveled I-79, I-86, US-522, and US-17 to Fredericksburg. Then I-95 to S of Fredericksburg. Traveling US-17 to I-95 was a big mistake. The traffic on US-17 was stop-and-go for 2-3 miles. A route taking VA-3 on the S side of the river would have been much less stressful.

Leaving the R-pod at our son's house, we traveled back roads to via Kellys Ford to I-66 into DC. We spent two nights there visiting with two of my brothers and family members in Columbia Heights. My youngest brother rented a house where we enjoyed visiting everyone. Monday was spent visiting DC museums, etc. We joined for lunch at the National Museum of the American Indian. Our history regarding indigenous people is shameful! And we learned our regard T. Jefferson must be tempered by his disregard for indian people.

Our departure from DC on Tuesday was the same route back to Fredericksburg to retrieve the R-pod. We then proceeded south towards Norfolk and Virginia Beach. After our overnight in Colonies RV and travel park in Ft Monroe Nat Mon, we visited their Casement Museum. Ft Monroe was an active military installation until just a few years ago. Now it's a Nat Mon and civilians occupy the housing.

Wednesday, we traveled down the Outer Banks past Kitty Hawk to Cape Hatteras where we stayed in Cape Woods Campground. And we learned that Hurricane Dorian had damaged VA-12 on Ocracoke Is so badly that no visitors were being allowed to travel there. Thursday, we did laundry and visited Hatteras. Then as we left to go back north on Friday, we learned that a Nor'easter storm had breached the dunes by Rodanthe. We decided to proceed north and reached Ocean Waves Cmpgd where we then spent two nights while the VA-DOT fought to open the road again. On Sunday, we finally were able to leave. We drove through a lot of water on Fri, Sat and Sun before we could leave. Saturday(?), while "exploring" we visited a street where so much sand and water had come over the beach, it was like driving on the beach itself.

Sunday, we realized that if we wished to reach home on Tuesday, we would not be able to do much but travel. Going west, we reached Pilot Mtn SP NW of Winston-Salem.

Proceeding N on I-77, we left the freeway and reached Logan, OH. We had decided to visit an RV park the last night, so we went to Logan/Hocking Hills KOA, which was interesting because it's a very nice KOA off of an awful county road with a horrendously steep driveway.

Tuesday, we took a different way and had an adventure before reaching the highway again. So, US-33 to I-270 around Columbus, US-23 to I-75/I-475 back to US-23, then US-223 to M-52 and finally home.

An enjoyable trip.

Pictures of the "rig"

Pictures of "Arpy" and "Teefour" 

Road to Valdez, AK
https://photos.google.com/search/valdez/photo/AF1QipMXkHbFPN9tjx8-Jp5K5XNX6ZjpeRayMpEkgzlD