Hurt, VA day 2

 This was our first off day of the trip.  Yeah, OK, it’s day 4 and this early anything can be a “first”.  

Both Barb and Paul were working today so Carlene and I were on our own.  That was excellent because we had things to do.  Those two cold nights drained a propane tank so we needed to get that refilled at a campground a few miles up the road.  The most time consuming part of that was the owner who was a champion talker!  I believe we left four times before actually getting in the truck.  

Then there is the good news bad news good news story of the day.  So, last night the pump ran intermittently on a very regular timing. Run 2 seconds every 20 seconds.  A LEAK!   Where?  Too late at night to check it out so just turn off the pump.  Who needs running water overnight. This morning Carlene says she saw a wet spot under the camper.  Sure enough there is an active leak in a fitting.  But it is below the camper floor so right in the open, not hidden back inside the interior.  Wahoo!  Go visit the hardware stores!  I don’t have any experience or tools or parts for PEX (plastic pipe).   Here my big chance to learn something new!  We also want a hike so on the way we stop at a Wayside Park and do a mile hike in the woods.  Who says you can’t do it all?

Back at camp at about 2 and start the plumbing work after getting parts and tools at Ace Hardware.   Now this Ace is a classic old style store with a classic old style owner operator. It all looks like stores I remember in small VT towns in the 60s.  Him too.  But he takes the time to advise me on how to do this and what I need to git er done. So I cut off the old 90° elbow and realize it has to drain the hot water tank before it’ll stop flowing water.  Laying on my back under the camper I already have a sleeve full of water it go indie to eat and read while the tank drains.  It’s a quick fix, the new part goes right on and clamps sort of tight with the gear I bought.  I put extension pipes of the handle of the crimper to

increase the tightening force.  OK.  Turn on the water and it leaks just as bad as it did before.  Back to Ace.  More talk, more parts.  Back to camp.  Put on the new part.  Worst leak yet.   By then it’s 4 pm and Barb & Paul are relaxing on the porch.  I ask Paul if he knows anything about PEX plumbing.  No but Barb’s brother does, he can fix anything!  And he’s coming to dinner anyway!  Mike gets here with his tools and his big Mongo size crimper and soon has it fixed.  Plus another leak I hadn’t seen. 

Then a fine evening of tacos & good conversation.  Everything is good again. 

Tomorrow we go to Cheraw State Park in South Carolina for 2 nights.  We have been there several times, it’s a beautiful park with a couple nice hikes.  

Leesville Lake

We were looking for a place to hike.  This wasn’t it. 

The original leak

My first repair

My second repair

I dint get a photo of the final repair

Paul’s downstairs social center

Hurt, VA

 A fairly mild 27° this morning. We got off about 10:30 since we had a short day of less than 200 miles.   

It was sunny with scattered clouds and got up to 53°!

The countryside was beautiful.  Rural 4 lane US 15 and US 29 through rolling hillsides. Later we got some urban scenery around Lynchburg otherwise a very pretty drive.  I think it’s the first time we came down 29, most often using 15.  

Once down in Hurt I followed the gps to the address that I had.  I really had two addresses but both mapped to the same house.  Interesting all by itself.  But that turned out to be Barb’s brother.  She and Paul had lived there briefly when they first came down here but moved nearby later.  So it was the other address and putting that in the truck gps got us here easily.  

We’re spending two nights here with long time EMS friends Barb and Paul. They have a great guest camper setup, power, water, big flat driveway and woodsy setting.  It has been a very  pleasant evening chatting & catching up. 

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Sunrise in Aldie

Playful pup after breakfast

Once we parked at camp Skye wondered who we were talking with. 

Camp

Aldie, Virginia

This morning it was 6° when we woke up.  Inside was 64, which was nice.  It started out sunny and went through a mix of sun and clouds.  The snow disappeared gradually as we went south.  Just a bit in sheltered places around Harrisburg and nothing in Virginia. 

Just south of Gettysburg I saw a deer attempt suicide crossing the 4 lane US 15 in front of a tanker semi.  It just made it.  Maybe a couple feet to spare.  

Once in VA I noticed that we are definitely in the south because the water fountains are running in January.  

Looks like the high 20s tonight.  It was mid 30s when we got here. We were happy to be plugged in to shore power last night.  Tonight is our first run on batteries this winter.  

We had some good pizza and beer for supper.  Quattro Goombas is a brewery and winery with a pizza shop also on site.  Just a different building. A bit odd, buy your beverage in one building and go next door for food.  All one tab, bring anything from one place to the other.  This Harvest Host is our go-to second night stop. 

There are plenty of geese here too.  Several flocks have flown over.  

On to Hurt, VA tomorrow to visit friends for a couple nights.  

Last night in PA

On the road in Virginia

 

Tonight’s camp

Happy dog with a ball. 

And a lap. 

It’s a new winter trip happening now!

 It was an interesting start to the day but we made it!

It was -2° and the truck didn’t mi ji

 want to start.  This is the second time at sub zero issue, both after two or three short rides with cold starts.  It doesn’t seem to get enough charge with two 4 mile drives and a one mile drive with cold starts each time.  (The diesel runs an electric heater to prewarm the engine before starting) With any luck at all we won’t see subzero again for many months.  

The road was glare ice.  You could skate on it a couple days ago!  It had an inch of new snow but that hadn’t stuck to the ice so it just made it more slick.  I put the chains on last night and it was well worth it. No problem getting moving.  Driving down was a bright sunny day all the way to Albany. Then it was a mix of clouds and sun.  Overall a great day for a drive. We arrived at our campground in Matamoras PA around 4.  We have spent a bit of the evening settling in, getting things put away, the stuff we just carried out and dropped in the camper while packing.  

The full Wolf moon tonight is a sneaky peek moon.  I saw it twice, about 8 seconds each time, through a thin spot in the clouds.  

It was a chilly walk with Skye while checking the moon.  17°. Should keep getting warmer over the next few nights.  Might even be above freezing by Monday night in southern Virginia.  

Skye is settling in too

Back home again!

Kind of an overcast day with a threat of rain from time to time.  And yet sunny at times too.  That sort of reflects the moods of coming home and ending the trip.  The adventure is over, but here we are back in our house, home again.

We arrived about 2:30, got the food and essentials out of the camper, but I wouldn’t say they are all put away yet!  Unpacking will take a while.

In the meantime I had 2 different meetings to choose from as I return my mind to being home again.

Skye was delighted to be back!  We let her off leash and she hit warp speed down to her Huntington River for some water fun!

Thanks for reading the blog this winter!  We expect to be back again next year.  

And a big thanks to Phoebe for house sitting!

Ommegang Brewery, Cooperstown NY

One more bright sunny day.  Not quite as warm, no shorts, but a T-shirt was just right.

About 270 miles to get here and that sets us up for 200 miles home tomorrow.  

This is a nice brewery, big facility, very nice bar and eatery.  It has a good menu with a good selection of food along with a long list of beer. It also has a lot of open field space to roam around.  One part is a disc golf course, another is parking for events.  And that is great for dog walking.  Skye got out several times.

I was here last May with Mike & Becky on our way to the PA State Shoot.  It could become a regular for us on the return trip.

Brew Camp, Mechanicsburg, PA

Tonight we are at Appalachian Brewing Co in Mechanicsburg PA, just a bit west of Harrisburg.  Tomorrow night will be another brewery in Cooperstown NY.  The following night will be Jonesville VT!

This was a pleasant sunny warm day driving up I-81 along the Shenandoah mountains.  Now approaching 5 PM and still sitting outdoors in shorts & T-shirt.  Going inside for beer and supper pretty soon.

This may be a parking lot but we have a grass front lawn.  And a grocery store for a neighbor.  Although at this point we don’t need much.

Fuel prices have been interesting the last couple days.  Diesel as 3.99/gal in Buchanan so I got it at a T/A truck stop 30 miles up the road today.  With my fleet card it was 2.95/gal.  I refueled again just before arriving at camp for 3.40/gal.

After a very nice supper we went for a walk on a bike path. Very nice sunset.