Saturday, May 30, 2009

05-09 Current Update

We wrapped up our Doctor visits in Columbia, SC in early May having stayed in the area since March 20th. We had all our annual check-ups. Plus I had a stress test and routine colonoscopy and Monique had a crown replaced. All results were good. I also had outpatient surgery in an attempt to open a blocked tear ducts in my left eye. Unfortunately this was not successful so I will return in the fall for another type outpatient surgery on October 19th. The Doctor will drill a small hole and insert a tiny glass tube to establish a new tear duct. I look forward to this since my left eye frequently has a watery film over it because the tears have no place to go. Monique will also have a follow-up in October with this same specialist about her eye issue. At present things are about the same with her vision issue and no current action is called for.

After leaving the Columbia area, we traveled to Charleston which is covered in one of the following posts. We are currently in Mt Airy, NC at the Mayberry Campground.


From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

Mt Airy is the birthplace of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for the fictional TV town of Mayberry. We are here for a week and primarily selected this campground on the recommendation of a favorite website – Malia’s Miles by another full time RVer. Malia was right, this is a nice Campground, but the rains have followed us from Charleston. One interesting thing about this campground is that the owner is a great great grandson of Eng Bunker, one of the famous Siamese twins. Click here for more information on the twins.

We are currently working our way to upstate NY for the summer. We expect to enjoy mild temperatures there just like we had last year in Wisconsin and Michigan’s UP. We move slowly and try to stay in each stop along the way a week or more. We do not cover as much territory this way, but it is less expensive and less stressful. Plus we get to know each area better this way.

Here is our tentative itinerary:

6/3 Misty Mountain Campground near Charlottesville, VA.

6/17 Gettysburg Campground in Gettysburg, PA.

6/24 White Oak Campground near Lancaster, PA

7/1 Hickory Hill Campground in Bath, NY (Finger Lakes region)

8/4 Adirondack Camping Village in Lake George, NY

8/18 Apple Island Resort in Short Hero, VT.

9/8 Depart Apple Island, probably headed toward Chicago to help Ward move if he leaves Chicago when his current lease expires at the end of September

10/19 Back in Columbia for James’ eye surgery and Monique’s check-up with the same eye specialist

11/15 Elite Resorts at Crystal River (formerly Rock Crusher Campground), Crystal River, FL.

3/15/10 Head back to Columbia for annual Doctor visits

5/1/10 (Tentative) Head west stopping along the way in Huntsville, Alabama; Attala County, Mississippi; and Memphis, TN.

Friday, May 29, 2009

05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

Friday May 29th we went for a drive down the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway. We were getting a bit of cabin fever after being around the RV so much due to the daily rain showers. Friday morning looked clear as we started out, but it rained once again during our drive. Still we enjoyed some beautiful scenery.

Our main destination was Mabry Mill considered to be the most photographed spot on the Blue Ridge. This was a lovely setting and included a restaurant and gift shop plus several buildings where live demonstrations are held during the summer to show mountain crafts like blacksmithing, weaving on a loom, spinning wool yarn, dying the yarn, basket weaving, and syrup making. Only basket weaving and blacksmithing were being demonstrated the day we visited. I imagine everything will be on display this weekend and weekdays once schools let out for the summer and more vacationers hit the road.

Here are a few pictures from our visit and drive Click on any picture for a larger view then use the back arrow to return to the Blog):



From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway

From 05-09 Mabry Mill and Blue Ridge Parkway