Saturday - August 16 - Wytheville, VA

Once again, we couldn’t find an Internet signal so today’s blog will be in three parts:

Part 1 -Thursday, August 14 evening – Kings Mountain SC State Park

We are in Kings Mountain South Carolina State Park (hereafter abbreviated KMSCSP). Before leaving the RV park in Walterboro, SC, we attended to various chores. Margaret took her coffee to the omni-present wood park bench, where she was “accosted” by a local. Since it was “our” camp-site, there was no graceful exit, so Margaret gracefully accommodated the lady.

As you know, I managed to post the blog. Unfortunately, at our current site (KMSCSP) there is no internet access. The Sprint USB key says I have 10% signal (or less – it varies), so there won’t be a posting tonight.

Although we got away before 11:00 a.m., the roads were rough and enough traffic to keep one’s attention. Road quality was bad enough (not down to Louisiana standards) to make 60 mph more comfortable than 75 mph which is what most of the traffic was doing.

Arriving at the “campground” was another adventure. Although we had reservations, we missed the small sign (down a narrow winding road) announcing CAMPGROUND / DAY USE ONLY. After driving to the main Kings Mountain National Park visitor’s center, we were told the campground was two miles back the way we came. Sigh…

Winding through the woods (quite pretty actually), we found ourselves in a parking lot with no obvious way out. Unhooking and exploring with the Saturn seemed the best option. While in the process, a van pulled up with the cavalry (would you believe a couple from Jacksonville, FL!) and said we were in the right place. Who’d have known?

We finally found our spot – Margaret leading the way in the Saturn. It was a pull-through (sort of). A little tight, not very level, but we got in. Blocks under the right side for the hill-side tilt and we were in. We expect to see some wild-life tonight as we’re right up against the forest.

I can see the drop-off in RV travel due to the high(er) oil prices. Not only did we not see many RV’s on the road, when we pulled into a Flying J for diesel fuel, we were the only ones at the RV pumps. In case you haven’t visited a Flying J, they have a special island for RV’s. Got to keep the riff-raff away from the commercial truck lanes, and the upper class in their Caddy’s and Lexii (plural for multiple Lexus?). But, the diesel fuel was only $4.029 / gallon – South Carolina is currently the leader in low gas prices – better than Georgia.

When we finally arrived at the campground (KMSCSP), we found we were almost the only folks here. And this is mid August. Thinking about it now, I realize a lot of schools have started. Bodes well for finding empty campgrounds the rest of the trip.

The first photo is of the split-rail fence at the entrance to the park. Unless one is on foot hiking through the woods, it is a challenge to find a photo-op. Margaret took this one at the entrance while I was hooking up the Saturn.

Friday – August 15

Today we visited some of my remaining relative(s) in Shelby & Cherryville, NC. We met Staci, Travis and Zachary at iHOP for breakfast. Zachary is just over one-year old. Travis’ great-grandmother and my mother were sisters. Not sure how many cousins removed that is. But I know there are nine levels of relations between our grandson Ryan and Zachary. Mind-boggling! After seeing Travis and Staci’s home, we drove over to visit one of Travis’ sisters, Brittany, and her little girl, Lilly (same age as Zachary). Didn’t get to see the third sibling, Ashley, but we’re told she is expecting her first any day. They are turning into a large family.

After a short search for wi-fi or an Internet signal for my new USB key, we gave up and returned to the RV. After our afternoon siesta, we ventured to the Kings Mountain National Military Park (adjacent to the KMSCSP).

Although we had visited the Military Park years ago, I had forgotten the history. We watched a video documenting the battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War. (The documentary was made by the History Channel so you might catch it some night on TV!)

If you’re not familiar with the Revolutionary War or the Battle of Kings Mountain – I wasn’t – it is interesting how divided the patriots and loyalists were over creating the US of A. I guess I always assumed that everyone was for breaking away from King George. According to the documentary, there was a lot of local fighting between neighbors. In fact, the battle of Kings Mountain was credited (per the documentary) of turning the tide of battle against the loyalist and the King’s armies. Even though Gen Cornwallis didn’t surrender to Gen Washington until Yorktown, VA, the battles prior to Kings Mtn had been won mostly by the British and the loyalist militias.

That’s probably not a very good synopsis, but it was interesting. Check out the facts at Wiki-pedia or your local encyclopedia Britannica.

Saturday – August 16 – Wytheville, VA

Today was a short drive day – only 165 miles – but we wanted to find a full-service RV park to catch up on e-mail, news, laundry, and possibly see our friends Alan and Carolyn who live just down the road in Johnson City, TN. Don’t know if that will work out or not.

The drive today took us in the Appalachian Mountains. After cruising most of the day at 1,200 feet altitude, Interstate I-77 took us over the first row of mountains at over 3,000 feet. Not high by western standards, but significant in the east.

Weather is partly cloudy and warm, but not hot – at least not at 3,000 feet!

We will be here for at least two nights so maybe we’ll do some sightseeing tomorrow.