On the Road in the Left Whale: Nahant to Knoxville - 11 Nov

So had Chris to help me get out of the yard... yes, I paid $$$ to widen the gate at the bottom of the garden by 1 ft just so it would be slightly less nerve wracking to get the RV into the garden. Did lots for the life expectancy - no more worrying about the RV, about getting in/out if the gate, etc.

Left Nahant on Friday afternoon at about 3. Gas was $3.60 per gallon, maar daar gaan ons...

Planned on getting way past Hartford CT on the first night, but in the end the remnants of tropical storm Nichole hit and I pulled into a rest stop somewhere before Hartford in torrential rain. The fact that there were already 4 other RVs (mostly Canadians) and lots of trucks was a sign that this was as far as I was going tonight. First night in a rest stop, and it worked out fine. Did not let the slides out, so smaller space, but it was warm and everything worked out well.

Next morning it was still raining, but by 10 I had driven out from under the storm. Saturday was at a Cracker Barrel in Chambersburg, PA. My first dinner and sleep-over at a Cracker Barrel... and although I thought I had gotten covid, as I could not taste the meal, it was $12 total (dry county so no beers) and staying in the carpark was free - if right next to I81 and it sounded asif the 16 wheelers were passing right next to me.

Sunday I arrived at Natural Bridge Campground. We had stayed over here in 2008 when we did the circle tour of America. Was exactly the same - great KOA campsite, even though there were only 4 other campers. Temperatures also started plummeting. Forecast for the evening was below freezing and for the week ahead it was just going down further.

Natural Bridge KOA campsite.

Luckily I had bought 2 rolls of insulation before I left home, so I could insulate the front area -which does not have double glazing. It helped a lot. Had to disconnect the water hose and put a 150Watt lamp in the water bay to keep it from freezing.

Monday morning, and every morning that week, was COLD. By 9 it would get above freezing and then maybe hit 45 by 2pm. Luckily I had a space heater as well as a small fan heater that actually makes the coach too hot. I needed the propane basement heating to come on every now and then to heat the basement - where the water tanks, etc are so they do not freeze.

After a week of working there, I at least got out to Lance's country store - which was full of 'expired' MAGA hats and 'Dont tread on me' flags. I did want to make some comment on the fact that they now need the MAGAGA hats, etc. as this is a new era, but instead just bought some home made whiskey and moved on. Also cycled to the actual Natural Bridge arch - it is just big.

Weird place along the way

Awesome

A highway actually runs across the top

Saw a very cold blesbok along the way...

Biggest change with traveling this time round is that with the temperatures being so low, no one comes out of their RVs - so everything feels very desolate.

For the next weekend, it was another marathon drive to get to Knoxville in time to meet the bride who was flying in from the far North to meet me for Thanksgiving. One night stop over in a great state park in the middle of nowhere, and then on to Knoxville.