First Landing State Park

Love this campground. Our site is just off the dunes. We can walk to the beach in 5 minutes, plus this beach is only for the campers so it’s not crowded at all. 

Lots of squirrels. Guess they like the beach too. 

We are close to the Naval base, so we see some of their ships. 

One day we had a storm that flooded the road for awhile but the sun came out and we had another beautiful sunset. 

On one of our biking trips we helped a person whose bike broke. Coach road back to the campground to get his Allen wrench and Bill and he fixed the bike and she was on her way again. 

Love our Happy Hours on the beach with Fred and Janet. So relaxing watching the ghost crabs come out and scurry back in their holes. See his beady eyes?

The park has lots of programs so Janet and I went to the Swamp Stomp. Learned a lot about the Bald Cypress trees and the things that live in the swamp. 

Can you see the green frog?

Bullfrog tadpole. 

Then it was time for Fred and Janet to take care of their hosting duties. Lenny, Banjo and I went along in their golf cart. They loved it. 

Only a few more days on the beach but I hope we’ll be back next year. 

More Beach Time at Virginia Beach

Those of you who have been to Virginia Beach may have driven the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Wow, what an expansive project but saves so much time for us. We pulled  into spot 156 at First Landing State Park, almost on the beach. We are just a few dunes away from the ocean. 

Found our friends and Camp Hosts, Fred and Janet Powell. Sat and talked for awhile then went to dinner at Dockside. Delicious seafood and great outdoor space. 

What a great first day. 

Beach time at Cape Henlopen

Cape Henlopen is a fun State Park for us. There’s hiking, biking and beach. Awww, what more could I want. Bonnie and Carl Pillar invited us to go along with them 3 years ago and we’ve been coming back since then. 

We arrived Thursday, June 2, setup and walked around the campground with Banjo and Lenny. Just as we were finishing dinner with Bonnie and Carl, the rains came down. 

All over by morning so we got a hike over the dunes with the boys. 

Then we rode bikes to the beach to see the horseshoe crabs spawning. Next was dinner and a fire with the Pillars. 

Saturday Bill and I drove to Lewes so we would have enough connection to watch Nathan wrestle in the U23 tournament. Sat in the beautiful Zwaandahl Park. 

Nathan had a tech fall to begin and then he met a 3 time All American, Cassiopie. Good for him to wrestle this caliber. 

Had lunch at the Crooked Hammock Brewery. Look at the size of their plate of nachos. 

Lots of trails to bike or hike. We biked into Lewes for the Sea Glass Festival. The festival had so many colorful pieces of sea glass in lots of art forms.  Ate lunch at Stripper Bites that had delicious fresh fish. Lewes is a pretty town with colorful homes and beautiful flowers.  

Monday we biked the opposite way to Rehoboth and walked the streets looking in the vendors’ windows. I think there was something for everyone here. I spied a Kohr’s ice cream. I love their creamy peanut butter. 

When you bike into Rehoboth, you pass Gordon’s Pond, a natural refuge for birds. Sometimes the Biden family visit their home here but not this week. When they are here the bike path is closed for security  

The temps were in the 70s which made it very comfortable. Bonnie and I got some more time on the beach. 

 There are two watch towers right on the beach left from World War II, looking for enemy ships. I’m standing next to one to show you how high they are. 

This beach time has come to a close but we are going farther south to Virginia Beach to spend time with Janet and Fred Powell. Can’t wait for more beach time. 

A Gem - Elizabeth Furnace Campground.

I wasn’t going to write another post but had to make sure I captured this gem of a campground in the George Washington National Forest. It’s about 15 minutes from Front Royal which makes it an easy 4 or 5 hour drive from State College. The sites are large with lots of room for Ida (RV). 

Dogwoods were blooming profusely right out our windows. 

On the drive home the red buds were beautiful along I-80. 

Also I finished my slouch hat I had started with Shan’s help. 

A great ending to our 2-1/2 month trip. 

Last Moochdocking for this Trip

We sure did pick a great weekend to spend with the Countermines. We rolled in late Thursday afternoon because we had an got delayed over an hour in construction traffic and then an issue with the car’s battery. Luckily, Bill has jumper cables and could use the RV to jump the car. 

As soon as we arrived, I felt at home and part of the family. Barbara Smith McBride joined us for dinner and we had so much fun catching up with everyone and everything happening in Jonesborough. AND there was a lot happening while we were here. 

Thursday night started off with a fundraiser for the Storytelling Center where we were entertained by storyteller, Bill Lepp. We’ve heard him at each of the Storytelling festivals but his stories never grow old. He even had a new one he tried out on us. 

On Friday we took a stroll around Jonesborough and then watched Nathan wrest at the USMC tournament in Las Vegas. 

Friday night was a fundraiser for the Art Center, held in the historic Black school. With our tickets, there was a silent auction and an opportunity to have a piece of artwork that we could trade among anyone there. It was so much more than a fundraiser. It brought us together with people we didn’t know and conversations were started. 

We even got two hikes in at Persimmon Ridge with the dogs and some knitting time for me so Sandy could help me finish my hat. 

Here’s where we park at Countermine’s. We just fit in their driveway. 

When Chip and Mary Ward join us for storytelling in October, Terry will open the gate and one of us will park inside. Perfect location to everything Jonesborough. 

Sunday we are starting home and hopefully will arrive Monday afternoon. It’s always fun to watch the dogs reaction when they realize we are going up their driveway.