Friday, August 27, 2021

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.


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