On our last walk in Jacksonville -- guess we are ready for colder winds to blow up north After a final week of preparations, we were ready to leave Jacksonville for Virginia, accompanied by our son in his school bus RV. Once there, we had about a week to reconnect with friends and family from our spot in Pocahontas State Park before heading out a little early to the Eastern Shore. A storm was coming, and we needed to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel before it arrived. We ended the month at Kiptopeke State Park, on the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern shore as the storm rolled in, and we made plans to head north again to our first hosting job in Maryland.
Installing the solar panels Finishing Up
While the work on an RV is never finished, especially a school bus conversion, we managed to get a number of items on Adam’s list done before heading north again. The process to mount and connect the 2 large solar panels played out over several days where the temperatures soared into the 80’s and then plunged to the 30’s. The cold front brought lots of rain (and even a tornado warning), but the inside of the bus stayed dry, confirming a good job on sealing the new holes in the roof. Since the roof is rounded and solar panels are flat, Dave and Adam mounted them on 2 x 4’s which were then installed on the roof.
While the work on an RV is never finished, especially a school bus conversion, we managed to get a number of items on Adam’s list done before heading north again. The process to mount and connect the 2 large solar panels played out over several days where the temperatures soared into the 80’s and then plunged to the 30’s. The cold front brought lots of rain (and even a tornado warning), but the inside of the bus stayed dry, confirming a good job on sealing the new holes in the roof. Since the roof is rounded and solar panels are flat, Dave and Adam mounted them on 2 x 4’s which were then installed on the roof.
Adam's DC Control board To enable the bus to use the solar panel’s electricity, the DC wiring had to be completed. In the fall, Dave and Adam had laid out the components on a board. The work now was to connect each one and then bring the solar panel wiring to the solar controller on the board. With the board installed and wired in, the solar panels produced enough power, even on a cloudy day, to run Adam’s refrigeration and have power to spare. The battery charger on the board enabled him to charge his battery from both the solar panels and a shore power cord, which Dave and Adam installed as well.
 Fermin, Adam and Dave working on bus maintenance |  Getting new front tires |
While the electrical work was valuable for the long-term, the more immediate priority was getting the engine, brakes and tires roadworthy. Fermin returned to change the oil, oil filters, fuel filter, coolant filter, transmission filter, and grease the many moving parts. He then replaced the air dryer, which had caused the problem the week before with the air brakes. In the course of his work, he noted that the bus’ front tires were 15 years old and not safe for the long drive home. So, our return to Virginia was delayed a day while we shopped for tires and had them installed.
Great service for the new tires.
New slide toppers Our RV Stuff
Beside the roof, one of the most vulnerable spots on an RV is the slides. Getting debris jammed into the mechanism can affect their ability to move. While a slide that won’t go out makes life cramped, a slide that won’t come back in can strand you. (Unless you want to have a “wide load” vehicle follow you.) To help keep the roof of the slide clean, a common solution is to install an awning that deploys over the slide when it moves out and retracts as it moves in. We had wanted to have these installed before our Cougar was delivered, but there were none in stock at the time.
Beside the roof, one of the most vulnerable spots on an RV is the slides. Getting debris jammed into the mechanism can affect their ability to move. While a slide that won’t go out makes life cramped, a slide that won’t come back in can strand you. (Unless you want to have a “wide load” vehicle follow you.) To help keep the roof of the slide clean, a common solution is to install an awning that deploys over the slide when it moves out and retracts as it moves in. We had wanted to have these installed before our Cougar was delivered, but there were none in stock at the time.
Before heading north, we had the work done at the Camping World in Jacksonville. With the pandemic-inspired rush to buy RV’s, RV service departments are struggling to keep up with the work. Although we started the conversation with Camping World over a month before we left, we barely got an appointment in time to get the toppers installed before leaving Jacksonville. But they did get installed and they look and work great. We will have to wait until the fall for a few warranty items to be addressed however.
With a new RV, we found ourselves wondering about how much headroom we had carved out its total weight carrying capacity. Before we left Jacksonville, we made a quick stop at a Cat Scale to get the exact numbers. We found we were well under our maximum by over 1000 lbs. Good news, but not motivation to head out on a shopping spree.
Adam and Dave consult before heading out again Heading Out
The difference in performance for Adam’s trip north began to be apparent the first day. We headed out together mid-morning on Tuesday, March 23rd. We set a more leisurely pace to accommodate the governor on Adam’s RV, a leftover from its previous life as a school bus. The new tires made the bus more stable on the road, and he no longer had to white knuckle any passing semi’s. Then the improvement in fuel mileage became apparent as the distance between stops kept increasing each day, ultimately costing him less for the trip north than the trip south.
The difference in performance for Adam’s trip north began to be apparent the first day. We headed out together mid-morning on Tuesday, March 23rd. We set a more leisurely pace to accommodate the governor on Adam’s RV, a leftover from its previous life as a school bus. The new tires made the bus more stable on the road, and he no longer had to white knuckle any passing semi’s. Then the improvement in fuel mileage became apparent as the distance between stops kept increasing each day, ultimately costing him less for the trip north than the trip south.
We stopped twice for the night on the way. The first stop was in Walterboro, SC at a Wal-mart, where Adam and Dave took some time to reinfoce the fasteners on the front of his forward solar panel. The fix proved successful as we set out the next day, stopping at a Cracker Barrel in Wilson NC. This was a pretty tight squeeze for our RV, so we’re not sure this would be a return visit, but we did enjoy our first Cracker Barrel curbside pickup meal. We parted company with Adam in Virginia near Chesterfield as we turned to head to Pocahontas, thankful for a safe journey for both of us.
Joe by the garage he has been repairing with help from Fred Pocahontas
We had barely been back at the park, when we heard hammering nearby and had to investigate. Joe and Fred were making real progress on the garage used to store equipment for para-cycling training by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. As we were moving through the campground to our site, we saw Mary and Angie who had come to the park as Retail Hosts for March. And Tom and Debbie were there for a visit with their new RV. It was like a mini Cabin Work Week reunion.
We had barely been back at the park, when we heard hammering nearby and had to investigate. Joe and Fred were making real progress on the garage used to store equipment for para-cycling training by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. As we were moving through the campground to our site, we saw Mary and Angie who had come to the park as Retail Hosts for March. And Tom and Debbie were there for a visit with their new RV. It was like a mini Cabin Work Week reunion.
Spending some time with family We also enjoyed a visit with Bonnie’s family who came to the park one afternoon and with Adam’s family at his house before we had to make an earlier than planned departure for the Eastern Shore.
To the Eastern Shore
To travel to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, we either had to travel to DC and down the DelMarVa peninsula or cross the mouth of the bay by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT). We opted for the latter, which is shorter and avoids the DC traffic. However, that meant we had to be prepared for a propane inspection to pass through the tunnels. Also, the CBBT crosses 19 miles of open water. When the winds are up, this can be dangerous for big vehicles like ours.
To travel to the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, we either had to travel to DC and down the DelMarVa peninsula or cross the mouth of the bay by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT). We opted for the latter, which is shorter and avoids the DC traffic. However, that meant we had to be prepared for a propane inspection to pass through the tunnels. Also, the CBBT crosses 19 miles of open water. When the winds are up, this can be dangerous for big vehicles like ours.
Stopping to get our propane inspection. Note the light traffic heading into the tunnel. With a big nor’easter approaching for the last day of March, we opted to head out the day before. Stopping at the last rest area on I-64 before the first tunnel, we closed the propane tanks and turned off the fridge for the crossing. We pulled off just before the first tunnel under Hampton Roads (near our old haunts at Joys Marina in Hampton) and had the required check of the tanks. Then we pulled into the all-too-familiar traffic back-up entering the tunnel.
 Leaving our brief inspection stop, the HRBT tunnel traffic had changed for the worse. |  Inside the Thimble Shoals Channel tunnel on the CBBT. |
After leaving I-64 to turn north on US 13, we approached the entrance to the CBBT. This time, we had to pay a (sizeable) toll. The toll attendant asked us about our propane tanks being closed. Guess that was the check. This time we headed across the bridge-tunnel in light traffic and, more importantly, light southeast winds.
Kiptopeke State Park harbor Ater an uneventful crossing, we decided to stop at Virginia’s Kiptopeke State Park for the next 2 nights. We took our extra day at the park to explore some of its trails by foot and some of the surrounding area by car. When the winds kicked up as the front moved through, we could hear and feel its force. Safe inside our RV, our decision to move across the bay early was reinforced. And we pulled out on a chilly April Fools day to head to our hosting gig in Maryland.
A very territorial bird at Faith Parting Shots
In the last week before leaving Jacksonville, we moved to a spot in the parking lot. Apparently this cardinal took offense. He kept tapping at our windows, frustrated that we never moved.
In the last week before leaving Jacksonville, we moved to a spot in the parking lot. Apparently this cardinal took offense. He kept tapping at our windows, frustrated that we never moved.
When the bus returned home, Jayden signed on as Adam's apprentice electrician.
