Travels with CC and Dixie: Dashing Away from the Snow

We survived the cold and snow in Stonewall Jackson State Park wearing many layers and sleeping with our mattress heating pad on. Snow building up on the slide covers and driving on brine-soaked highways are not the best thing for a motorhome.

Leaving on another grey day, we drove through the mountains where snow amounts varied and winter wonderlands were plentiful. Along the route we spent about twenty minutes following a rolling detour consisting of two road work trucks and “a Sherriff”, all with lights flashing as we passed an area where power was being restored due to a fallen hydro pole.

Sing it…..“Old bus driver, slow down a little bit!”

Insert Snowy-Christmas carol of your choice.

“Twas in the moon of wintertime….”

“Old King Wenceslas looked out…”

“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…”

“It’s a holly-jolly highway…”

Oh small town , Oh huge Tanenbaum!

Gorgeous views into the New River Gorge

Far-la la la la, la la-la-laaaaaaaa

“Lets go riding in a one-horse open sleigh!”

The Grinch who stole highway speed….rolling traffic roadblock.

Ski resorts “letting it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”

“Baby, it’s cold outside!”

“I hear those sleigh bells ringelin, jing, jing, jingelin now…”

We traversed two tunnels, cutting through the mountains and the snow became lighter and disappeared as we entered North Carolina. The scenery was spectacular as always with many bridges over the New River Gorge and large lakes dotted with cottages and lakeside condominiums.

Oh, oh, they found us!

Chris spotted “The Peach” Gaffney’s landmark water tower, from a distance and we knew we would soon pull in for a couple of nights at Freightliner for our Motor home’s annual service checkup. There were not many other folks staying there so it was quiet and relaxing. Dixie is having real difficulty climbing all the stars into CC and balks at the ramp she had practiced on so proficiently at home.

Beautiful Leyland Cypress.

Dixie flubs her tongue at us when we suggest she use her ramp.

Georgia, home to Peaches, Pecans and Peanuts.

While we waited for the service check to be completed, we watched the weather channel repeating storm warnings for large amounts of snow, freezing rain and subsequent power outages beginning Saturday afternoon. The “nastiness” was heading straight for our location in South Carolina. Chris confirmed the warnings on his weather apps and the decision was made to head south early Saturday morning. He also decided that our Georgia campsites were in jeopardy and was able to find us two campgrounds to stay at until our Alabama booking in January is ready.

We befriended a lovely couple from Michigan who were taking the storm warning seriously and we were both ready to hightail it out of Gaffney the next morning. Robert and Marilyn were an interesting couple who shared stories of their years of travel with their Airstream and stories of their motorhome. Between their Five children, they have twelve grandchildren. Bob told us how he had served as a Ninth Circuit Judge for many years and even ran for Governor in Wisconsin. They own a large sailboat where they spend their summers on Lake Michigan. We enjoyed many of their sailing tales especially that Bob and friends take a trip up to Lake Huron’s North Passage every summer. We were impressed; even more so when he told us that he is 86 years old!

Construction in the red sand is everywhere even though it is Saturday.

“We came upon a midday star…”

And lo, shepherds be sore afraid!

For Wend

Love the design varieties and personal touches on town water towers.

Ah, we are not the only smart ones heading away from the storm!

I counted 248 hydro trucks heading North to stage for the power outages

The highway median is lovely with its long established plantings of trees…

However; progress means lanes expansions so down come the trees:(

The further south we get, the temperatures climb 15 degrees.

Soon we are passing the waterways, Palm trees and Spanish Moss of Georgia.

So many gorgeous Marsha, Marshes, Marshes!

Just got set up for the night at Country Oaks RV when Bob and Marilyn pulled in next door. We were able to have another great visit with them, this time in our motorhome. The day of the rain continued on all night and in the morning it was still pouring.

Through a rainy windshield, the Welcome to Florida sign was indeed a welcome sight.

We passed a number of construction sights that were mired in mud and mini-lakes.

If not for Dixie, we might have stopped for a couple of black kittens. We needed no fireworks either.

We pass some iconic Pecan Candy and Citrus stands.

Not only did we Find Waldo, but we drove through his town!

_{Drove in and out of rain all day, again.}

Parked at a car museum while grabbing pulled pork sandwiches for lunch.

Ocala Florida

Arrived at Sumter Oaks RV Park early afternoon and settled in a grassy lot under some Live Oak and close to the beautiful Cypress Swamp. The park is alive with birds, Great and Little Egrets, Anhinga, Great and Little Blue Heron, Green Heron, Sandhill Cranes and two Barred Owls that we hear every day but have not seen yet.

Hundreds of Little Egrets fly in ever night to sleep in the trees.

Great Egret fishes for minnows.

Little Blue Heron

I saved the best for last. A few years ago, when we were here there were seven donkeys but this year there are more AND a really new baby! Bought a huge bag of carrots to feed them for the duration of our stay, until January 2.