2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 4

 Thursday, October 189 2023 - Burson Campground, Hungry Mother State Park, VA - 238.6 Miles, 715.1 Miles for the trip

We left Creekside a little after 10:00, expecting to get to Hungry Mother around 2:00. Everything was going well until Matilda, my GPS announced there would be a 1 hour delay on I81. Then it expanded to a 2 hour delay, then announced that I81 was closed (at least southbound). We didn't take Matilda's recommendation, which was scoot over to I64, then back to I81, hopefully past the closure, but instead, took US 11, which parallels I81 and watched the delay times. The GPS kept wanting us to get back on I81 with anywhere from a 2 hour to 3 hour delay, but eventually we went south enough that the delay disappeared. All in all, it added an hour to the trip, with us arriving a little after 3:00. 

Both our sites are full hookup on fine gravel for $47.00 per night. 

Me in Site 34

The Guidos (And Larry) in Site 33

After setting up I wandered around taking the first round of photos. I'll post them on a rally page. Around 5:30 we headed to Aguirre Inc #3 Mi Puerto, a Mexican restaurant in Marion. The food was OK, although even an order of shrimp that was suppose to not be spicy was too much for Anne's sore mouth. I had chicken enchiladas that were OK, but I would have been better off only ordering one. Far too much rice & beans...

We did a bit of shopping, then headed back to the campground. A meet & greet was happening, so I wandered over to take a photo & talk. Around 7:00 I headed back to the trailer for my eye drops & to put this page together.

The Meet & Greet

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 3

 Wednesday, October 18, 2023 - Creekside Campground, Edinburg, VA - 184.4 Miles, 476.5 Miles for the trip

We hit the road at 11:00, and like yesterday, most of the trip was on I81. There was heavy traffic in parts, with slowing almost to a stop near a previous accident at mile 300. A partly cloudy day with no rain. 

We made a long stop at a rest area 40 miles from Creekside Campground. I got a call from my son that the hot water stopped working. Called Issac, the company that put in my Mini Split AC and did a service inspection & tune up on the boiler 2 months ago, and they have so few technicians in Syracuse that they are not doing service calls unless you have a contract with them. Since that runs about $600.00 per year, I didn't (and, now wish I had) In any case, called Elllsworth Heating & Air Conditioning, a local heating contractor, and they will schedule a visit as soon as possible. 

So, we arrived at Creekside a bit later than expected, around 3:30. I'm in site 30, and the Guidos are in site 29. Both are grass sites with water & electric along the creek. They are back in sites that small trailers can almost pull through. I ended up backing in and finding a section level enough that the tongue is 3/4" high but no need to unhook. Sites are $36.86 per night. We set up my folding aluminum table to cook on since the campground has had too many of their plastic tabletops melted by folk's grills, and doesn't allow them on the tables. My Weber Q doesn't get the table even warm, but their campground, their rules!

Me in Site 30

The Guidos in Site 29

We sat around in the sun for a bit, then grilled dinner which was cheese brats, standard Johnsonville for me & Bosco's Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese for Guido, and Bush Bourbon & Brown Sugar beans. Anne has a sore mouth and had eggs.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 2

 Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - Twin Grove RV Resort, Pine Grove, PA - 158.8 Miles, 292.1Miles for the trip

The last night for awhile sleeping in a house (at least one that isn't on wheels). I didn't include a site photo since it was raining & I've posted many of my trailer parked at the Guido's house on past trips. If you really want to see one, here is a link to last year's stop. 

Since we didn't have all that far to go, we got late start, most of the drive on I 81, and arrived at Twin Grove RV Resort around 2:30. The sites are back in on gravel, almost level side to side but I did have to unhook to get the tongue low enough to level front to back. Full hookups for $52.00 plus a $10.00 reservation fee for a total of $62.00 per night.

Me in Site 10

The Guidos in Site 8

Dinner was at the Diner - a classic diner located at the I 81 exit at Suedburg Road. I had fish & chips.

Until Tomorrow -

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 1

 Monday, October 16, 2023 - Binghamton, NY - 133.3 Miles, 133.3 Miles for the trip

The truck is packed and I'm ready to start the first link of the trip - as usual, the Guido's house in Binghamton, NY. Starting mileage on the truck is 65,923.6, 45,476.65 on the trailer. I keep a spreadsheet of trip mileage, fuel & campground costs (I don't include food since I'd be buying that at home) and if I manage to remember to update it I'll have some statistics to post at the end of the trip.

I made a stop at the nearest CAT scale to weigh the truck & trailer. Doing a first weigh with both the truck & trailer gives me the truck front & drive axles & the combined trailer axle weight. A second weighing of the truck alone gives me both axle weights without the trailer. A bit of math with the totals provides trailer & tongue weight:

Truck Front Axle 3100, Truck Drive Axle 3400, Trailer Axles 4480, Total 10980. 2nd Weighing (Truck alone) Front Axle 3320, Drive Axle 2680 Total 6000.

Subtract the truck alone weight from the combined weight & you get the trailer weight. 10980 - 6000 = 4980. For tongue weight, subtract the trailer axle weight from the trailer weight. 4980 - 4480 = 500. 

I arrived in Binghamton around 3:45 and found an email from Hungry Mother State Park welcoming me on the 23. Only problem is we are arriving on the 19th. After many busy signals, got through to the park and they don't know why I got the email, but we do have reservations starting on the 19th, leaving on the 24th.

Dinner was a Chicken Spedie Salad.

2023 - 24 Trip to the Southwest, Day 0

 Oswego, NY - 0 Miles, 0 Miles for the trip

October 10, 2023

It's a week before I leave for my winter trip to the southwest. I sure hope for a better journey than last year which only got as far as the rally at Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA. 

I have survived my annual checkups with various doctors and am ready to go. While we had wonderful weather (dry & in the mid 80's) last week, this weekend has been cold & wet. I have printed out my 4 page check list for packing the trailer, but haven't started yet.

October 13, 2023

I'm about 80% packed (well, the trailer, not me). Most of what is left to do is stuff I still I use every day so I can't pack it until I leave on Monday. I spent most of the day clearing out the raised bed garden, cutting back the butterfly bush & other clean up chores necessary before winter. A little early, but I don't plan to be here much longer. I also made a cake for my son's birthday. We are a week early, but again, I'll be gone by the time it rolls around.

Until Tomorrow -