ALASKA BOUND

Friday, June 29, 2012

2012 New Year, New (it's the) Journey!
Having lived in the warm climate all winter, we decided to avoid the summer heat and head north for the summer months.
No big changes to report, and the RV is back on the road.
Winter activities included camping in FL State Parks,
enjoyed 2 trips to the Keys, always a favorite, Everglades, camping and fossil hunting on Peace River, north FL beach camping and numerous short outings. Beginning to feel more at home down south.
So we left Florida pushed north by Tropical Storm Debbie, and missed the flooding, though left house in good overseers hands. Reports of lots of water, but no damage. Of course the condo is always in the good hands of 'dockside'.            Boat along with other toys stashed away for safety.

The trip began in Saturday from Gainesville, straight out of art lessons, and into Georgia. Sunday stop at  Amicalola Falls State Park destination, which is starting/ending point for Appalachian Trail.
Spectacular scenery and hiking trails make this one of Georgia’s most popular state parks. At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascade in the Southeast.  Visitors have choices on how to best view the tumbling waters, ranging from an accessible pathway to a challenging trail with staircases.    An 8.5-mile trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the famous 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail.
Since we are not prepared, nor did rv make it up to campgrounds elevation, we headed forward to begin trek north. Always a KoA nearby.
Next stop was outside of Knoxville TN,  which ironically was the setting of  happened to be reading this 1920's book"A DEATH IN THE FAMILY", by James Agee,  so comparison of time and place was intriguing.
From there headed thru VA, to Shenandoah River State Park, and camping across from wild fire in adjacent mountain, river between us but view in the dark was interesting.
Then headed to Gettysburg for a visit at National Military Park -with an extensive museum about Gettysburg and the Civil War, the fully restored Gettysburg Cyclorama that dramatically depicts "Pickett's Charge", and the film "A New Birth of Freedom", which focuses on the significance of Gettysburg.  An interesting insight about the war and how it determined the outcome.

So now regrouping in New Jersey and planning for next departure to Nova Scotia and New Foundland, hopefully the weather will be in our favor, as it appears we will be traveling with two grand daughters, to add to the journey's fun.