From Barbara's Remembering Story

May 31 June 30 Morris and I took a great vacation up the east coast to Nova Scotia in our new 1985 Phasar motor home. We went 5344 miles and spent $1350. We started out on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Mt. Pisgah and went through Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, The Cabot Trail, Prince Edward's Island, Freeport Maine, The L.L. Bean Store, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Skyline Drive Parkway, Winston Salem and ended up in St. Augustine, Florida and then home.

This is Barbara's journal from the trip.
(After each date is where they stayed that night)

Saturday, May 31, 1986 – Mt. Pisgah Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC
Left Gainesville, Fla. At ten minutes to six. Arrived at Mt. Pisgah, NC about 5:15 PM. Had delicious supper at the Inn. Went to bed about 9:45. Cool out and in the camper but not cold. Sept very good.

Sunday, June 1 – Meadow Creek Campground, Radford, VA
Got up at eight and after coffee & cleaned up left at 9:00 AM. The mountain laurel, rhododendrons, and mountain azaleas are blooming and it’s so pretty. Traveled all day on the parkway. Hundreds of riders on bicycles for miles and miles! Stopped about noon and had a picnic lunch. Hundreds of people out today picnicking. Got off parkway at mile post 200 at I-77 and too it to I-81. Camping tonight at Radford, VA, not too far from Roanoke. I cooked supper – corn beef hash, sliced tomatoes & cucumbers. It was really hot when we arrived and we are now watching TV (8 PM) outdoors and it’s getting nice and cool. The sun just went behind the trees and we are enjoying the outdoors listening to the creek run over a dam.

Monday, June 2 – Indian Rock Campground, York, PA
Got up about 7:30 – fixed breakfast (bacon & eggs) outdoors – go off at 10 min. to 9. Drove thru very beautiful country side of Virginia, and West Virginia, about 10 miles in Maryland and finally hit PA. We were on Interstate 91 till we got to PA and then got on 30 East to Gettysburg, Your and tomorrow Lancaster. At Gettysburg we stopped to view the cemetery, the cyclorama and electric show (on the famous battle – July 1-2-3 1863) and then an auto tour of the battlefields. Arrived here at the campground about 8 PM. Still light out and very, very cool. Slept very good again.

Tuesday, June 3 – Mill Bridge Village and Campground, Strasburg, PA

Barbara on Covered Bridge

Got up at 7:30, only had coffee and we were ready to go by 8:30 AM. Not too far to Lancaster, PA and the Penn. Dutch, the Amish and the Mennonites. Stopped at the Visitors Center and picked up maps and all kinds of things to do and see. We took an auto tour of miles between 30 and 340 and 741. Up and down and small country roads all in between. Visited Bird-In-Hand, Intercourse, Strasburg; stopped at several shops, flea markets, farmer markets, etc.  Got some good strawberries, bacon, and ham. Saw lots of Amish in their horse and buggies going to town. In a grocery store – fresh fruit and vegetable market we waited while a young Amish couple with a little girl bought $119 work of groceries, then watched them load it into their buggy! Visited the Anderson pretzel factory. Ate lunch at the Dutch Haven Rest & Village of shops. Was disappointed that I picked that one! Got to our campground about 4:30 pm – took our free horse and buggy ride over the states longest covered bridge. Fixed bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches and fresh strawberries for supper. Cool all day, needed a jacket most of the day! Took our showers (we use the showers at the camp grounds – so far they have been very clean ones) and Daddy in on the bed watching our little 5 inch TV. I just wrote post cards to grandma Mixson, Larry & Julie, Zackary and Brenda and Tom.

Wednesday, June 4 – Whispering Pines, Saratoga, NY
Got up at 7:30 – had coffee, Morris had cereal with strawberries and was on our way by 8:30. We took 113 to 100 to 22 East to 6111 and drove along the Delaware River for miles and miles (stopped and fixed sandwiches for lunch along the river), then 209 to Kingston, New York. Took 87 north got mixed up and missed 87 and went out of the way quite a few miles – of course Morris yelled at me – it was all my fault for not watching!  But we got on a country road and got to Saratoga and then missed the campground which was off the road 12-15 miles! Went about 5-6 miles too far but finally go here and we’re the only, and I mean only, people here!  Morris did steaks on the grill, I fixed toss salads, fried potatoes and English peas. Very good! We took a walk and are now released! Been too tense all day! It’s 9 PM and just now getting dark. Quite warm tonight. Went by Albany, NY – not very impressed with NY so far.

Thursday, June 5th – Old Lantern Campground, Charlotte, VT
What a day! Got up at 7:30 again and left by 8:30. We took a self-guided tour recommended by Readers Digest America from the Road. I thought it said they were day tours but it turned out about 2 days! We took 9 North along beautiful Lake George (New Your State) to Ticonderoga (Fort on the Lake George) beautiful drive thru the mountains to 74 to US 9 north to 73 then 9 North to Jay and on to Keene; 86 to Lake Placid. Beautiful drive but it turned cold and started to drizzle rain, so instead of going on we cut back down to Essex, NY and took the ferry across to Charlotte, Vermont. (a 20 min. ride for $11.25) Arrived here in light rain about 5 PM. Found a nice campground and then went down the road to a very nice restaurant, the Potting Shed Restaurant. Got back and instead of using the campground showers we used ours in the camper! Very small and cramped quarters but had plenty of hot water and it wasn’t too bad! Oh, we stopped at Lake Luzerne (above Saratoga Springs) and had breakfast in the nicest smallest downtown café this morning. Morris is watching TV (basketball) and I’m about read for bed (9 PM)

Friday, June 6 – Timberland Campground Area, Gorham, NH
Got up about 7:45, cleaned the motor home (vacuumed and made the bed up is all I do) and got to the Shelburne Museum, one of the world’s great museums.  It was really good. We quickly went thru it and took us 4 hours! One could easily take 8 hours. It is set in 45 acres. The doll museum alone had over 1000 dolls![1]  

P.S. Hope someday Brenda and Tom can make this trip with the boys. So much American history! They would love it.

Probably the best was the 525 foot long hand carved scale model circus parade, carved mostly by on man who did it for 30 years! Ate lunch there (hot dogs, soup and potato chips), left at 1:30 PM, took Route 7 up to Burlington, VT then 89 South to US2 at Montpelier (state capitol of VT) all the way thru Vermont into HN about 5:30 PM. Stopped and bought groceries and cooked steak on the grill, (bought potato salad at the deli at the store) made toss salads and had homemade bread (from the deli). All very good. Took our usual walk around the park and I’m fixing to get a shower. Nice and cool here. Overcast sky for 2 days now.

Saturday, June 7 – Rockwood Park Campground, St. John, New Brundwick
Slept until almost 8 and then fixed breakfast (bacon and eggs). Morris likes to do that![2] Got off about 9:30. Took US 2 to Newport, MA, 9 to Calais, MA, then Canada 1 to St. John. (P.S. Chris and Henry went by Coburn Part at Skowhegan, Maine on US 2). I bet we saw 250 yard, barn shed or garage sales today! We arrived 10 min. too late to take the ferry over to Nova Scotia so we found a campground here in New Brunswick. It was really nice today, sunny and cool. Went all the way across Maine – lots of white birch trees, small towns and lots of forest and small mountains. Not as impressed as I thought I’d be! Went downtown to the famous Market Square (here in St. John) and had supper of lobster rolls, cold slaw and drinks. (The restaurants were either too crowded or expensive!) Back to camp to eat the rest of the blue berries and strawberries.

Sunday, June 8 – Sherwood Forest Campground Park, Kentville (Coldbrook) Nova Scotia
Started raining early morning and Morris woke up about six AM and my pillow and head was wet! And I was sleeping right thru it! So we got up and was at the ferry by 9 (it left at 10:30!) Foggy, raining and cool all the way across to Nova Scotia, a 2 ¾ hour trip. Still foggy and raining. Stopped for gas and ate lunch, drove slowly along the Evangeline Trail. Nova Scotia is made up of 8 different routes (called trails) that cover all the interesting points here. It is very well laid out, with a tour book to tell you about every little thing along the route. Stopped after only going 98 miles, were tired and it’s still dreary out, altho it’s 78° this afternoon. So far we like NS. Fixed Chinese Noodle soup and sandwiches for supper, as we had Hot Road Beef Sandwiches with mashed potatoes and peas for lunch. Took a shower and am ready for bed (it’s 9:15). Morris is trying to get something on TV and look for something to eat!

Morris in the van

Monday, June 9 –Mc Leod’s Inverness Beach Village and Camping, Inverness, Nova Scotia
Left at 8:30 AM – very sunny out and very cool. Beautiful blue skies and big white fluffy clouds, what a beautiful day. Went through miles and miles of apple orchards. Saw lots of tulips, lilacs out. Lots of dairy cows. Saw tidal flats – the tide was out and no water in them, then about lunch the water came in and by afternoon they were full. We followed the Evangeline Trail to the end and then picked up  Glooscap Trail. Stopped at New Glasgow for lunch (fired chicken) and stopped here at Inverness, Novia Scotia, at a beautiful campground right on the ocean. Took a walk on the beach after we ate supper at some restaurant in town. Its’ 8:00 PM and the sun is still shinning real bright. Should be a beautiful sunset across the ocean. Only 4 other campers here! It’s early yet there season doesn’t start until after June 15th.

Tuesday, June 10 – Harbor Light Trails Court and Family Campground, Pictou, Nova Scotia
What a night last night! About midnight the wind started blowing so hard the camper shook and I was scared! It lasted for hours and then it was light out by 5 AM (4 AM our time) so Morris had me up at 6 and we left at 7! Drove all around Cabot Trail. I can truly say it was one of the prettiest areas I’ve ever seen. Just beautiful blue (sometimes 3 shards of blue and green) ocean on one side and mountains as high as (over 1000 ft) on the other side. Had picnic lunch on the ocean and had supper at this very, very nice (and expensive) French Restaurant here in Pictou, Novia Scotia. I had scallops and Morris had prim rib. It’s now 10 and I’m ready for bed. Bright, sunny and very cool all day, early morning til noon very, very windy.

Note: They ate at L'Auberge Hotel and Restaurant and spent $40.00, the most expensive meal of their trip.  Dad left a $5 tip which was more than some meals they had.

Wednesday, June 11 – Hopewell Cape, New Brundswick
Got to the ferry for the 9 o’clock crossing of the ferry from Pictou, Nova Scotia to Wood Islands, Prince Edwards Island – 14 miles, 1 ½ hr. trip. Drove along the beautiful coast and farm land (potatoes main crop) about 120 miles to the ferry from Borden PEI to Cap – Tomentum, NB, 45 min. Stopped and had a picnic lunch. Arrived back to Moncton to watch the famous Tidal Bore in the downtown park. We didn’t know what to expect but a young boy (17) met us – said he was a boy scout and lived across the street – who hung around the park to talk to tourists (he sold Morris 3 pins – he said to make money for the scouts!), anyway he said the tide would turn about 7:30 – 8:00 PM so it was 6:30 so we went down the road to a mall and ate dinner in a cafeteria and walked around the mall till 7:30. Got back and the tied was slowly gout out and met some other people who said it would fill back up real slowly. It was cold (cold and rainy all day – probably around 50°) til now and the sun started to shine about 7:30 PM! Well we decided we’d better leave about 8:00, the people we were talking to suggested we see “The Rocks” at Hopewell Cape at the mouth of the Shepody Bay that runs into the Bay of Fundy. Got there around 8:45 (still light out) and took a quick tour – really something – got to the campground 9:15 really tired, I can hardly write! It’s been a long day. P.E.I was really beautiful – I’m glad we took the time to see the little bit of it we did see.

Barbara at The Rocks

Thursday, June 12 – Beaver Brook Camping Resort – between Augusta and Auburn
Boy did it get cold last nite! Several times I woke up freezing! Had to put the heat on. Got an early start and drove along the New Brunswick coast and coast of Maine. Really pretty – but decided we need the camper service and that Auburn was the only authorized Winnebago place so we went inland – not too much except forest. Arrived a camp about six and fixed hamburgers for supper. Cold and dreary outside. Already have our showers and am ready for bed. (8 PM) Morris took a cold and doesn’t feel good. Drove 402 miles today!

Friday, June 13 – Flying Point Campground, Freeport, ME
Morris really feels bad but drove over (15 miles) to Auburn and the Winnebago place went out of business! Finally found a place to service it and got out about 11:00 AM and headed for Freeport, Maine. It’s cold and rainy. Got to Freeport and visited the famous L.L. Bean store – really something – it’s open 365 days a year – 24 hrs. a day! I bought a yellow shirt, got Morris a small pocket knife and some chocolate candy and Main maple syrup for gifts. Morris feel feverish and lousy so we found a campground 3 miles out of town and have been here since 2:00 PM. He’s been in bed all afternoon taking cold medicine. It’s still cold and rainy out (8:30 PM now) as I write this. I read all afternoon and evening.

Saturday, June 14 – Lake Walton Park, Hopewell Jct. NY
I read some last night and finally went to be about 9:30 PM. Morris had a fitful night but we got up about 8 and he decided he could make it. Drove all morning along the coast of Maine – very pretty. Had lunch at Vallee’s right on the boarder of Maine and Massachusetts. Had lobster tails and stuffed shrimp, salad and cheese mashed potatoes. All very good and expensive! Got on the Interstate (Morris wanted to make up some lost time) and drove down Mass and across Connecticut on I-84. Got to New York state and stopped at the first campground we could find – Hopewell Junction right off I-84. Got here about 7 PM and cooked some supper – it’s now 9:45 and Morris is sleeping and I’m writing this. Oh, the sun was out bright and beautiful this morning and by afternoon it was hot! Had to turn on the AC in the MH – first time since the 1st day we left.

Sunday, June 15 – Holiday Trav-L Park, Carlisle Campground, Carlisle, PA
 Got a late start – Morris had to wash the camper and we got off about 9:00 AM – took route 84 across N.Y. and then 209 across PA – to 443 to Pine Grove and 422 to Hershey, PA. Very pretty country farms, route thru lots of hills and farms – got strawberries and cherries along side of road. Got up to 85° - very hot – had to put on AC. At Milford, PA saw “Sweet Woodruff Lodge”![3]  Got to Hershey, PA about 3 PM – took the tour thru Hershey and Chocolate World – It was too late to do anything else and rather than stay til tomorrow we left and got here a the campground around 7 PM after stopping to eat supper at Howard Johnsons. Did 3 loads of wash and drying. Took a good shower and washed my hair. It’s now 9:15 PM. Very nice campground. Had picnic lunch (hot dogs) for lunch today.

Monday, June 16 – Big Medows, Skyline Drive, VA
I took a cold and slept terribly last night. Morris slept until 8! So we got a late start but only plan to go up to Skyline Drive (north part of Blue Ridge Parkway). Stopped and bought groceries then had a picnic lunch on the Skyline Drive. Got to our campground (about 3:30) Big Meadows (mile marker 51). Hot here, but by six there’s a good breeze. Walked over to the lodge restaurant and had supper – very good – I had rainbow trout and Morris had fried chicken. We walked all around the campground and I’m writing this sitting outdoors in the shade and it finally getting cool out (7:15 PM). Went over and saw the ranger show for 8:45 to 9:45, pretty good. Got to be about 10.

Tuesday, June 17 – Jomeokee Campground, Pinnacle, NC
I dreamed all night – daddy was in it! – slept terrible. Morris slept until 8:30! By nine o’clock we were at the lodge restaurant for breakfast – left about 10 to 10. Drove all day on the parkway. Stopped and had picnic lunch. Stopped at Mabry Mill – took some pictures. Got off at Mt. Airy, NC and drove to the campground (almost to Winston-Salem NC) only 3 rigs[4] here! Talked to the man next rig over, he has a rig just like ours! Cooked supper out (hamburgers, fired potatoes, corn, salad and tea). Pretty good. Have the AC on tonight. Took shower (nice and clean showers) and it’s now 9:45 PM.

Wednesday, June 18 – McCain’s Family Campground, Monroe, NC
Got up at 7:45 and cooked breakfast outdoors. Nice and cool. Got off about 8:45 and got to Winston Salem and “Old Salem” about 9:30. Stayed there until 3:30. Really enjoyed it and the history of the Moravians who settled here in the 1700’s. Had lunch (delicious) at the “Old Tavern Inn” and drove down to Monroe (past Charlotte) NC and found this campground. Stopped and ate Salad Bar at Quincy! It’s 8 PM now and very warm out and sun is till way up.

Thursday, June 19 – Safari Bellaine Woods Campground, Savannah, GA
Left about 9 – drove until noon and stopped and had hot dogs and a big dish of peaches. We bought 2 baskets of them in S.C. Got to the outskirts of Savanah about 4 PM and found the campground. Went in and ate supper at the Dutch Pantry Restaurant. Got back to camp about 6:30, I read and Morris watched TV.

Friday, June 20 – Brenda’s Condo, St. Augustine, FL
Left about 9 AM. Stopped and had lunch at Sonnys at Fernando Beach, FL then drove (thru heavy rain) on to the condo in St. Augustine, FL.[5] Got to the florist where David works about 2:30 PM then went to the condo. David got home about 3:30 and left about 4:30 to go see Larry. We are going to spend the nite here. Went out to eat at our favorite restaurant (B & J Restaurant). Very nasty looking outside – it’s going to storm!

On the Beach

Saturday, June 21 – Home in Gainesville
Slept good at the Condo. Got up 8:15 and went down to the beach about 9 AM. Beautiful hot sunny day. Took a walk on the beach and saw Mary Lou and Harold Jones. They have a condo right on the beach across from Rio Del Mar! Stayed and talked to them about 1 PM and went up, showered and went to the B & J Restaurant for buffet lunch ($2.98). Very good. Went back to Condo for a nap and left at 2:45 for G’ville.
                                                Good Vacation!

 

Click to see detail expense log