Raleigh, Red Bay and The Return

 I'm getting lazy again, several weeks since the last blog update.  Well, we've closed the loop on our 2026 Northeastern swing.  After visiting Keith and Abby, we dropped down to our old neighborhood, Yorktown, VA.  We camped at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station's famcamp, very nice.  We'd stayed there back in 2012.  Amazing how the trees have grown in 14 years.  While there, we saw some sights and visited old friends, checked out the house we owned from 2002-2006.  The neighborhood's holding up pretty well.  After Yorktown, we blasted over to Raleigh for a week in John and Phyllis' driveway.  Sure glad they've got 50 amp hookups, it was 100 degrees every day we were there.  We stopped a couple places on our way west, Charlotte, NC (won't be back) and a really nice place outside Atlanta near where the folks lived in Kennesaw, GA.  Mom sold the house in 2005, and I was able to speak with the fellow that bought it from her.  It's also holding up very well.  After Atlanta, we stopped in Red Bay, AL for a few minor repairs.  Red Bay is the company town where our motorhome (Tiffin) is manufactured.  There are many, many providers that have sprung up in that town to fill the void, as Tiffin has trouble just keeping up with warranty work, let alone providing long term maintenance.  They've been making motorhomes since the 80's, so many of them benefit from detailed knowledge.  After Red Bay, we closed the loop and returned to the famcamp at Little Rock AFB, back where I was stationed when Laurie and I met in 1984.  It's a great place to spend the first month of Fall before heading down to FL.  Some pics from the trip...

Current state of the sticker map.  We didn't actually go to Rhode Island or Delaware, but this map

has them combined with other states since they're so small.  We were there in the last motorhome, 

so no big whoop.

Our house in Virginia, Duff Drive.  I painted it yellow in 2005 or 6, still looks great. 

The folks house off Wade Green rd in Kennesaw.  They lived here from 1983 to 2000 when Dad

passed, Mom stayed another 5 years before moving to FL.  Holding up really well.  And no, 

they didn't pick the green siding!

Phyllis and Laurie on departure day.

Heading out from John and Phyllis' place, again.  They've seen us depart

in two different motorhomes, probably 6 or 8 different times.  Always

a wonderful time.

Treated ourselves to a store bought wash and wax while we where in Red Bay.  4 energetic young

men did a much more thorough job than I ever would.  This is at Sabrina's RV Detailing, also

where we were camped for the 4 nights we spent there.

Another example of why Red Bay attracts folks for maintenance.  This is the setup at

First Glass Glass.  We had the magnets reinstalled for our window shade, a MagneShade.  It's a custom

built shade with magnets around the perimeter, then the glue magnets inside your windshield

and it goes "click" right where it's supposed to be.  They scraped off the magnets 

when we had our windshield replaced in Colorado last summer, so we had them reinstalled

by the pros.

Got in a hootenannie at Red Bay with fellow musician Jimi Walker (no relation we could determine).

The Legend of Keith and Abby

 Our next stop was to visit some friends in Dahlgren, VA.  We camped in their yard, 50 amp electric hookup and all!  Before describing the visit, I feel compelled to describe how special this couple and their kids Madison and Luke are.  First, they are as humble and kind as anyone you'll ever meet.  This stands in stark contrast to their level of achievement.  Keith is a full Colonel in the US Army Reserve.  Abby is also a "part time" officer.  Abby holds a doctorate in physical therapy and owns her own practice in Dahlgren.  We met them when Keith was authorized to telecommute back in 2013 or so, and they were camped for the season at MacDill.  Even though they were only about 30 at the time, they fell right in was all us old folks.  Keith is a heck of a karaoke singer, for example.  Anyway, we've gotten together many times over the years, both in Florida and Virginia.  We feel very lucky to have Keith and Abby as good friends.

While we were there, we were able to take a boat trip to Colonial Beach for lunch, and another boat outing to visit their private island home.  Yep, in addition to a bunch of rental properties, they own a private island in a wide creek leading to the Potomac River.  It's got electrical power fed through a submarine cable provided by the local power company and everything.  All that and two goats that keep the 2 acre estate weed free!  Playing guitar and singing is always a big part of things too.  Luke is learning, wished I'd started at 10.  Madison has a yard full of exotic chickens, as well as several quail and dove.  Quite the young ornithologist.  Anyway, a few pictures from the visit.

Intrepid travelers with Keith and Abby

Luke, Abby, Keith and Madison

The kids tubing on the Potomac on our way back from Colonial Beach

It's very nice when friends have a yard we can park in!

Very interesting tale.  This paddle wheeler (diesel engine, but driven by the wheel) needs work

to bring it back to its former glory.  Keith and Abby had their wedding reception on board

15 years ago.  Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair and needs a lot of work to restore.

The island home with one of the lawn mowers in the foreground.

Great days on the water in Dahlgren.