2013 Northeast crossroads rally

[anaro]

Happy thanksgiving. As stated above, we have a lot to be thankful for.... Too much to post here

[sleepyT]

So how was everyone's Thanksgiving Rosie made dinner at our house. The youngest daughter and her family came to dinner. The oldest daughter and her family came for desert a little later. Had a great family day. Got to hug all my girls in the same day, all eight of them. Only hugged one of my son-in-laws, the other one not so BIG on hugging, shook his hand HA HA... Hope you all had as good a day as I had!!!!

Walt -- How are you doing

[anaro]

Ok. Here goes. We started out from NC wed morning and had horrible traffic, we basically avg about 20 mph the whole way from Fredericksburg VA to my parents in Bel Air MD. What is usually a 6 hr ride took 9 hrs. jocelyn took the ride like a seasoned camper!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving went well. My parents had all 4 daughters, 3 son in laws, a boyfriend (plus his 2 kids and his mom), and all 8 grandkids (plus one on the way from my sister).In addition to 7 dogs present (ranging from a tiny papillion approx 4 lbs to 2 lg Newfoundlands one approx 100 lbs and the other 140 lbs or so.). Basically they had a huge houseful!Surprisingly everyone got along and all the kids had a blast playing together. Fri afternoon we went to my uncles for croquet, bocce ball, cider and turkey rice soup. Lots of fun had by all.

On Friday night we drove to NJ to be with DMIL and DBIL/girlfriend and their untrained Chihuahua.This part went well and we had a good visit. We left Columbus Nj (near trenton) sun morning around 10.Again horrible traffic.We hit traffic at the DE memorial bridge but expected that. Then we flew all the way through Baltimore and to the other side of DC. Got stuck on the southside of DC where 295 dumps into 95 and had stop and go all the way to 20 mi north of Richmond. What should have been a 9 hr trip took 12 hrs.Thank god for portable DVD players! Jocelyn was an angel for the entire trip from the time we left NC on wed until I put her to bed tonight!!!!! I'm so proud of her. Well I guess other than the traffic it was a good trip.Now its off to bed so I can get up and go to work. Hope everyone else had a great thanksgiving.


Ps.Followed a 5er through the old tunnel on 895.I thought rvs can't go through the Baltimore tunnels because of propane?Edited by: anaro

[sleepyT]

Aileen -- if you took the trip to Trenton, Manheim Pa should be about the same amount of time trip wise, for the spring rally. JUST SAYING. I think they don't want loose propane tanks, I could be wrong. If anyone else knows for sure, what say you..

[anaro]

Tommy- the rally is about 8 or so hrs away IIRC. The trip this weekend was without the tt.It is just too far for a weekend camping trip plus jocelyn has school.

[seabee]

AIleen,
A thought....next time you come up to Bel Air, try route 301 from Richmond up through Bowie to route 97 and then to route 695.
We always do this to avoid the Washinton DC traffic .
Although rte. 301 has traffic signals and 55 mph speed limit, it does not take any longer and is a lot less traumatic.

Tommy, et al, I am doing fine...mostly good days, now, although the "mend" is going slow.

[anaro]

Originally Posted by seabee

AIleen,

A thought....next time you come up to Bel Air, try route 301 from Richmond up through Bowie to route 97 and then to route 695.

We always do this to avoid the Washinton DC traffic .

Although rte. 301 has traffic signals and 55 mph speed limit, it does not take any longer and is a lot less traumatic.



Tommy, et al, I am doing fine...mostly good days, now, although the "mend" is going slow.

I had actually contemplatedgoing 301and my mom talked me out of it. I think I avoided some of the mess by going 895 to 295 and staying off of 95/495 through dc and baltimore but then the south side was a disaster.

[sola123]

We also had a great Thanksgiving with all the kids and grandkids...26 in total for dinner...smoked an 18 lb turkey...umm good...then off to Blacksburg on Friday for the VA Tech vs UVA football game...cold and windy as usual..22 on Saturday morning and 17 on Sunday morning...but we stayed warm, won the ball game, tailgated and partied...and made it home safely.... now back at work...just might have to try some real winter camping now....

[seabee]

I am going to do some real winter camping..rigfht here in my living room and in my HEATED water bed.
6 weeks, 2 years ago, eas enough...went to "sunny south"...froze my a** off.
33 years in the cold weather was enough.
But, have fun, Stan.

[sola123]

Seabee...thanks for the encouragement....now just have to convince Emmy....we have winterized the camper for now but it is ready for a quick out if possible....at least I know we can survive some pretty cool weather without fear of freezeups...so long as we have propane and a generator when dry camping...see everyone in the spring...

[RKamperRV]

We camped for the entire week from the Friday before until the Sunday after TDay. I went to work from the camper each day I had to work. Dinner at our daughter's house was great! No cooking for me this year.

For Black Friday and Saturday we did our Christmas shopping. We had zero traffic and no crowds in any of the stores we visited. LOL - we traveled the back roads of Lancaster County and visited every Amish toy store, furniture shop, carriage shop, and book store we encountered. At one store there was only 3 cars in the lot, and 8 buggies! Saturday we also visited alot of small craft fairs. FUN! All USA made items too!

[sola123]

Merry Christmas everybody!! And a Happy New Year too!!....oh boy only 13 more weeks before the first 2013 camp trip.....unless we have an Indian summer during jan or feb and we go some where then.....we are ready.....

[seabee]

Ditto Stan.
Be safe out there.
Happy trails.

[sleepyT]

Stan -- You going out in April

[RKamperRV]

We're headed to Myrtle Beach next week! First long run for the truck.

I won't be able to camp for the spring campout, but I do intend to take Friday off and hang out all day Friday and most of the day Saturday. I fly to Texas that Sunday.

[anaro]

So I'm trying to talk Anthony into taking a week and hitting gettysburg and then meeting up with you guys. Jocelyn would have to miss a week of school for this to work though. Not sure its gonna happen but I'm trying. It looks like pinchpond will take us about 7 1/2 -8 hrs without traffic or stops. according to mapquest going up 95 to 95 and west around dc then up thru western MD is the best route for us. Maybe we will make it, maybe not.

[sola123]

Tommy,

Yes..in April...but first trip in the books is the 3rd weekend of March to Roanoke Rapids NC... when is your first trip?...

[tator447]

Anaro,
We cannot make the rally as we will be in Athens, OH for our SIL's graduation with his Master's Degree that weekend. From there we are planning on heading to Gettysburg for 5 or 6 days on our way back to NY to visit family there. Have you been to Gettysburg before or do you know where you were going to camp there.

thanks,
Jim

[anaro]

Originally Posted by tator447

Anaro,
We cannot make the rally as we will be in Athens, OH for our SIL's graduation with his Master's Degree that weekend.Â* From there we are planning on heading to Gettysburg for 5 or 6 days on our way back to NY to visit family there.Â* Have you been to Gettysburg before or do you know where you were going to camp there.
Â*
thanks,
Jim

If we do the trip, the gettysburg portion would be at gettysburg battlefield resort. We are members at a sister campground and have wanted to try this one. I have heard it is nice. They accept coast to coast there also. What dates are looking at being in gettysburg? Later in the summer will be a whole bunch of 150 yr anniversary reenactments.

[RKamperRV]

Battlefield Resort is a great campground. We have been there many times. Good choice!