Monday, October 1
Onward we drove to New London. This was one of the few stops we allowed to visit friends. Someone Geri grew up with lives there, and we were eager to see Jick. We had a nice dinner and great visit before moving further east toward our quest to see the fall colors.
Wednesday, October 3, began a marathon of driving to get to somewhere near Shenandoah National Park. The drive from eastern Ohio was something else. Talk about hill country, and then there's West-by-God Virginia! Good grief! Up one and down the next, up one and down the next, up to 2,700+ feet at one point. Our own Snoqualmie pass over the mountains in Washington is 3,013 feet in elevation, but it's an easier climb than these hills. The truck got a workout, that's for sure, going up and down winding roads with steep inclines and not-so-gentle curves in some places. Sheesh! The driver had his eyes firmly planted on the road ahead! An 18-wheeler pulled over to the shoulder to let us go by, and Geri stuck her hand out the window to wave "thank you." Only problem was, she tried to roll up the window on her wrist with her hand still hanging out there! Ouch! Talk about a ditz! That'll feel good when it quits hurting. We should just go home now.
Then, THEN!, as if we hadn't been given hints, the dash gauges went dead on us on the morning as we were leaving an RV park. Argh! We woke and pulled out of our space in Galesburg or Indianapolis, can't remember - they all looked alike after four days in a row - but when Bruce looked down at the dash, nothing was happening. Okay, the truck is running. That's a good thing. The fuel gauge shows empty, which it's not 'cause we just filled up. The tachometer is dead and so is the speedometer. Oh for crying out loud! Now what?! The park owners told us that there's a Chevy dealer about 10 minutes away, but wait! While Bruce dumped the garbage at the dumpsters, Geri pulled out the manual. There's a fuse that controls the dash gauges. Let's check that. We found the fuse box under the hood and pulled the fuse. Looked good so we put it back in its little place. Great! Now what can it be? Got back in the truck, started it up and darned if everything didn't work the way it should. Go figure! It drives Bruce nuts when Geri says "Gremlins!" But computers have Gremlins, she's sure. Bruce can't accept that. There has to be a reason. It's much easier Geri's way. Blame the Gremlins and move on.
That problem solved, we resumed our journey east. Leaves were beginning to turn at the higher elevations, and the hillsides were alive with color in a few areas. Imagine what they'll be like in another couple of weeks! Can't wait to see a whole hillside of broadleaf trees in their fall regalia. That's what we're after - a profusion of color. It's gonna be awesome! Five days later, we set up in a wonderful campground called Luray RV Resort Camping Waye in Luray, Virginia on Sunday, October 7 and took Monday off to get caught up on stuff, not to mention to give our tired butts a rest. We'll stay in this location 'til we see what we came to see. Nice park in a spectacular part of the world. What more could we ask for? But first . . .!
Saturday, October 6
Have we ever mentioned that we are RVers, not campers?! Well, Sand Springs Camping Area should have been a dead giveaway. But, we were desperate to find an open campground in West Virginia. What we heard about campgrounds closing around the first of October is true, at least ones with full hookups. Up a bumpy chip-sealed road we traveled to get to where we would spend the night. A woman checking in ahead of us freaked when the manager told them the bear rules - don't store food outside, etc. She didn't think she would even get out of their motorhome. Come to find out, it was a 7' Black bear they were talking about. He had become a pest, getting into the garbage dumpsters, got sprayed with bear spray once and hadn't been back. We both giggled, registered and off we went to find our site.
"This place is a little too close to real camping," Geri was heard to mutter. It was a tight fit maneuvering into out spot, but our excellent driver did a fine job.
A converted wasps' nest was hanging behind the trailer. We were told that opportunistic birds take over the empty nests and call it home.
See what we mean? It's quiet and gorgeous, but jeez! Bugs everywhere and no internet? You gotta be kidding! We slept good that night in the quiet despite the lack of modern technology and left in the morning. Yes, we're wussies but we knew that.
Shenandoah National Park here we come!
