Shenandoah Valley August 21-26, 2021

 Day 26 Saturday August 21, 2021 Today was mostly relaxing and just enjoying the cooler weather. The temperature has been nice and much cooler the last few days and it is nice to set outside and read.. Lena got the laundry caught up. We depart here tomorrow for Deer Creek Motorcoach Resort near Galax VA for a 7 night stay. It will be a little warmer there since it is lower elevation and no shade trees, but no dusty gravel roads and sites either. All paved streets and parking/siting areas are concrete and brick pavers.

Day 27 Sunday August 22, 2021 We got packed up and departed the campground about 11AM, drove a few miles and topped off the fuel tank at a TA truck Stop then drove on to Deer Creek Motorcoach Resort. We stopped at Walmart just outside Galax to get a new outside water filter. We found out that the water at our last campground was really rusty and had almost stopped up the filter we use on the water hose before the water comes into the motorhome. Our water is filtered three times before it gets to the inside faucets and four times when it comes out of the refrigerator. 

We got to our rented site #64 about 1:30PM and set up. This is the third time we have rented this site. All the sites in the resort are privately owned and some of the owners rent their sites out when they are not going to be here. This site has changed owners since our last stay here and the resort is using a reservation system now where before we dealt directly with the owner. And the rental cost had gotten more expensive.

In 2016 while we were in Red Bay Alabama getting some work done on We-2-Bs version 2 we met the man (Greg) that was parked beside us at the Tiffin Motorhomes Service Center. He came over to our motorhome and we talked for a couple of hours. He was from Colorado and his wife (Judi) was not able to come with him on this trip. After we departed we didn't ever to expect to hear from him again or ever see him again but about three years ago they moved to Bostic NC and he got in touch with us. They have a very similar motorhome to ours and we have been sharing ideas and information about how to fix things on our motorhomes for the past year. They were able to rent a site here at the resort this week so we get to visit again and meet his wife.

After we got settled and had lunch we walked over to their motorhome and visited for  few hours. 

Day 28 Monday August 23, 2021 We picked up Gregg and Judi at 8AM and drove to our favorite coffee shop in Galax (Briarpatch Coffee Shop) for a great Latte and cinnamon bun. Then we went to Millers Store to get some sourdough bread for Judi and Gregg but the store was closed. From there we went to Fries to show them New River Trail RV Campground and the small mill town of Fries.

We returned to the Resort and Gregg and Judi came in and we visited and shared ideas about motorhomes and traveling. We were surprised how many things we had in common with them.

Day 29 Tuesday August 24, 2021 I was reviewing Google Maps this morning before breakfast trying to find something in the area to visit today that we hadn't visited in previous trips to the area. I noticed a Country Cafe called Saddle Mountain Cafe about 4 miles from here so on the spur of the moment we decided to try it for breakfast. They had good reviews and low prices. The food was delicious with very generous portions. 

We followed the road for a few miles out to hwy 21 that runs from Elkin to Sparta. Along this road were lots of fields growing shrubs, hundreds of acres of sweet corn and other vegetable crops. We returned via the Blue Ridge Parkway which is only a couple of miles from the resort where we are staying. 

Day 30 Wednesday August 25, 2021 We didn't do any sightseeing today. I found out we are allowed to wash our motorhomes onsite here and ours needs a good washing. I can wash everything at home except the top and I prefer not to get on the top. I don't flex and bounce like I did years ago. I knew the top was getting dirty. Most of all the owners here at the resort use a man names Carlos (Spot Wash) to wash/wax their motorhomes so I called him and he was able to do ours this afternoon. 

Carlos came at 3PM and worked on the motorhome until 6PM and did a very good job. He uses a de-ionized water system so he can wash it in the sun and it will dry spot free without having to dry it with towels like I have to. I had heard about this system but was not sure it was all it was hyped up to be, but it dried spot free without any time spent wiping it down with towels. That saves from 1-2 hours.

Carlos told me he lives in the area but in late October when most of the motorhomes here leave, he takes his travel trailer and goes to Florida and washes motorhomes there during the Winter.

Day 31 Thursday August 26, 2021 We went back to Briarpatch Cafe in Galax for a Latte and cinnamon bun for breakfast and then onto Millers Market for some Sourdough bread. Then it was onto Walmart for a few groceries. 

At 3PM we drove to Stone Mountain State Park to visit with Ron and Ann, the Campground Hosts for August. We met them a few years ago in Fries VA at a campground. They wanted to try being a Volunteer Campground Host so I contacted Ranger Hicks that we work for when we host at Stone Mountain and recommended them. They got selected as hosts and have done it 3 years now.

Just as we got to the host site Ranger Hicks and Ranger Wood and a maintenance man pulled up also. Ron and Ann had called them to the site. Ann found a large Diamondback Rattlesnake on the host site driveway just a few feet from their motorhome. Or I should say their dog, Spencer, found the snake and started barking and alerted Ann. Ranger Wood took a long snake grabbing tool and picked it up and put it in a metal trash can so they could relocate it to a more remote area of the park.

Unusual mushroom - looks like a Barn Owl

Ann had made homemade ice cream, so the Rangers and the maintenance man joined us around the picnic table for some good ice cream. Ranger Wood knew a lot about snakes. He said that rattlesnakes are his favorite. He gave us some interesting facts about them. We had a good visit with Ron and Ann and stopped to visit with Jackie at the Campground Contact Station before returning to the Resort via the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Shenandoah Valley August 14-20, 2021

 Day 19 Saturday August 14, 2021 We didn't do anything exciting today. I did a few things to prep for tomorrow when we leave. We did some reading and Lena wanted to go back to Penelope's AGAIN for lunch. This is our last day here and we will probably never be back in this area again and the food is really good and the Lattes are great and served in a ceramic cup, which is unusual any more. So why not. I got a cherry crepe and Lena got a cinnamon bun. Also Penny was giving away fresh zucchinis from the garden and yesterday we got some free fresh cucumbers.

We finished packing up all our outside stuff before bedtime in case it rains before the morning. It is somewhat dry and it might not be tomorrow morning.

Day 20 Sunday August 15, 2021 Well it did rain some last night so we are glad we packed most of the outside stuff yesterday because we are leaving here today. We pulled out about 9AM and headed to Deer Trail Park and Campground near Wytheville NC about 220 miles South of here down I81. Traffic was fairly heavy but we made good time even with a couple of slowdowns on the way but nothing like what we experienced going North on I81 a couple of weeks ago. We stopped about mid way at a rest stop to take a nature break and stretch our legs. 

We got to our destination right at the 2PM checkin time. Ted the owner met us at the entrance to give us direction to our site which is D4, a pull through. We unhooked the toad and pulled in and set up. It is a nice level gravel site with shade trees on both sides and even the hookups are where they are supposed to be, WOW. There are 70 sites here with a few of them what we call long term or seasonal. Sometimes these site are junkie and takes away for the looks of the campground but these are not that way. 

After setting up I met Ted at the office to pay. He told me he and his wife Kati bought the campground 16 years ago. He said it was kind of run down when they bought it. They have worked hard on it because it looks nice now. They have a small catch and release fishing pond, some rental cabin, a heated swimming pool, small camp store, firewood and a 50'x50' recreation building with pool tables and games machines. The creek that runs through the campground is almost totally dried up from lack of rain. There are just a few holes with water in them.

Site D4

Betty and Gertrude

We did a little reading and some internet surfing the remainder of the day. There is WiFi here that is fairly good but there are not many campers here so that helps with the WiFi. We have “0” cellphone signal and no TV reception. But it sure is quite here. Our site is fairly close to the road that runs by the campground but there is very little traffic on the road since it is kind of a remote back road.

Day 21 Monday August 16, 2021 For breakfast we decided to drive some backroads over to the small area named Rural Retreat. Lena had found a place called Java Blend Cafe there that she wanted to try out. We ordered a Latte and a large muffin each. The Latte were really good and so were the muffins. It appears it is Mennonite owned. The four young ladies that were running it had the hair coverings and long crisply pressed dresses. We plan to go back and try their breakfast omelets. We saw some being brought out to some customers and they sure looked good.

We left Rural Retreat and drove up route 11 to Wytheville. Route 11 is a long highway. It sort of parallels I81. We were in Wytheville on August 25, 2018. We got  few groceries at Walmart and then went to Skeeters on Main Street for their hotdogs. Skeeters has been at this location since 1940 when the original owner, Mr. Umberger, sold hot dogs for a nickel.

The building which dates back to 1840, where Skeeters is located is also the birthplace of Edith Bolling Wilson the wife of the 28th President Woodrow Wilson. She is also a direct descendant of Pocahontas.

After lunch we worked our way back to the campground for the remainder of the day where we relaxed and did some reading. We have got a few light showers of rain and more is expected tomorrow. 

Day 22 Tuesday August 17, 2021 Today was mostly a rainy day but about midday there was a break in the rain so we made a spur of the moment decision to drive to Wytheville to get a brick oven pizza from Moon Dog Brick Oven Pizza on Main Street. It was the first pizza we have had in several weeks and was really good. We bought a medium so we had two large pieces to take home for another meal. By mid afternoon we were getting fairly heavy rain which is much needed in this area. It rained most of the night and we had a few power fluctuations. The rain must be coming from the tropical storm that is passing through Western North Carolina.

Day 23 Wednesday August 18, 2021 We got enough rain last night that the creek that runs through the campground has running water in it now. So the ducks are happy they have a place to swim.

We went back to the Java Blend Cafe in Rural Retreat to try their omelets. We decided they were the best we have ever had. We bought a couple of their fried pies to take with us. We went across the street to the Dutch Pantry and bought fresh sourdough bread and several other things. This appears to also be a Mennonite business. Then we drove on through the little town of Rural Retreat and stopped at the restored train station for some photos. We left Rural Retreat and drove several miles down some back roads to take photographs and view the scenery. This is a really pretty area. Lots of rolling hay fields with cows and several old homes probably over 100 years old that are in really good condition. One thing we have noticed during our time in this part of Virginia is the number of black walnut trees along the roadside on the back roads. We have never seem as many and the mature ones are hanging full of green walnuts.

We made a large loop and then returned to the campground for the day and finished up the pizza from yesterday. Sure seems good the temperature has cooled off. 

Day 24 Thursday August 19, 2021 We rode North on hwy 52 for several miles to visit the Wolf Creek Indian Village/Museum. The location of the original village was discovered in 1970 when interstate 77 was coming through the area. Some of the local people had thought for many years there was a Indian village here so when the interstate was going to disturb the suspected area an archaeology team was brought in and was told they had 30 days to do their research. They found several artifacts including fire pits and human remains. They did some carbon dating and it was determined the village dated somewhere in the late 1400's. 

We paid our fee and our guide Mary took us to the recreated village that is down the hill from the museum. She pointed out several plants along the way. There is a lot more they don't know about the Indians that lived here than they know, since they didn't have very long to study the grounds before the interstate came through. But they found enough evidence they were able to recreate the village layout and some of the grave sites. The recreated village is about 200 yards from the original. Mary showed us lots of tools the Indians used and explained the use of the different huts. They don't know which tribe the Indians were. They think they moved ever 5-10 years so they wouldn't take all the game animals or deplete the land. The tour was very interesting and lasted a little over an hour. Just as we got back to the museum a rain shower blew through. The tour that had just left the building going down to the village may have got wet.

On the way back to the campground we were almost ran off the road when a women driving way to fast came around a curve with over half her car on our side of the road. Thankfully we had fairly wide lanes and a wide shoulder so we could move over.

Day 25 Friday August 20, 2021 We couldn't resist another one of those omelets so we went to Java Blend Cafe again for breakfast, plus they have fresh donuts on Friday and they also have delicious Lattes. The Cafe was really busy this morning with almost every table was occupied and lots of carryout donuts.

On the way back to the campground we took a small unpaved gravel road that comes out near the campground. The sign on the end near the campground states it is 8 miles long but it was actually 10.4 miles long, one lane gravel road with a few pullouts to allow for passing but we didn't meet any vehicles. We passed a cabbage farm down in the valley that had several hundred acres of cabbage almost ready to harvest. We have never seen that much cabbage in one place. Before we got to the end of the road we were beginning to wonder if we were on the wrong road because we got up rather high on the side of the mountain before coming back down the other side. We saw a few cows and some deer and turkey along the way. 

Hi I am #81 and she is #82

Aren't I handsome

Several weekend campers began arriving in the mid afternoon. A long 5th wheel camper pulled in two sites over from us. Right behind the camper was the wife's SUV pulling a trailer loaded down with a golf cart and race car. Kids began to get out of the two vehicles and they had 6 kids ranging in age from possibly 4-15 years old with one set of twin girls. After they got set up I asked the lady who drove the race car, expecting her to say her or her husband but she said it was the 12 year old son. They are from Maryland and the track there was too wet to race so they came here to run a race at a nearby dirt oval race track. 

The temperature has been nice and much cooler the last few days and it is nice to set outside and read.. We depart here tomorrow for Deer Creek Motorcoach Resort near Galax VA for a 7 night stay.