Back in Jacksonville after our quick trip north, we began working more seriously on plans for travel north with the RV. Once we had some reservations in place, we felt confident to head out. So shortly before Memorial Day, we were on our way.
On our site in Hinesville GA Escaping the Heat?
While we had many reasons to want to head north, the most pressing was the desire to escape Florida’s rising temperatures. However, we were not initially very successful. Our first stop was in Hinesville, GA, which is a bit off the beaten path being 20 miles west of I-95 and an hour south of Savannah.
While we had many reasons to want to head north, the most pressing was the desire to escape Florida’s rising temperatures. However, we were not initially very successful. Our first stop was in Hinesville, GA, which is a bit off the beaten path being 20 miles west of I-95 and an hour south of Savannah.
Antique switchboard at the ITPA Museum Once settled into Happy Acres RV Park, we looked around at things to do. Home to the army’s Fort Stewart, the town was large enough for several large chain stores, but as for tourist attractions, we had to dig a little deeper. And we found one in the Independent Telephone Provider’s Association Museum. Looking at a map of telephone providers in Georgia over the last century, we were surprised to learn that a patchwork of many small companies had managed the state’s communications networks. From watching the innerworkings of a switch as a call was placed, to seeing the evolution of phones and switchboards, the museum was an interesting review of how phone communication has evolved.
Lake City SC Our 2nd stop was the Crossroads Coach RV Resort in Lake City. Another small town a bit off the beaten path, Lake City had seen many cycles of boom and bust over the last 200 years. Situated at a crossroads between Florence and Charleston, the town once boasted the largest bean market in the world. However, it has most recently reinvented itself as an artist’s community. Our campground was a short walk to the downtown area, which was decorated with murals, lovely gardens with sculptures and galleries. We took in their small Farmer’s Market, ate some ice cream at Snax and had some of the most amazing BBQ at Slabs. And we had some wonderful facilities at our campground. There were 4 individual bathroom/showers that were spacious and luxurious, along with free laundry at the campground. If our travels take us back that way, we would definitely stay there again.
Cypress Bend Vineyard near Wagram gave us a tour and tasting Our next stop moved us one more state north, just over the border into NC. We had only recently joined a Boondockers Welcome organization, which is an affiliation of individuals who offer a place to stay to RV’ers on their property. Our first stay was in Wagram, between Laurinburg and Southern Pines. Our gracious hosts made our stay stress-free from beginning to end. We exchanged stories about sailing and RV’ing, and they let us cool down our RV with a welcome power hookup. We couldn’t seem to leave the record-breaking heat behind, and this stop was no exception. We did poke out for brief walks before sunset and a lovely tour and tasting at the local Cypress Bend winery.
So, although we didn’t escape the heat, we were still enjoying ourselves as we made our way north.
So, although we didn’t escape the heat, we were still enjoying ourselves as we made our way north.
Color tire pressure monitor RV Stuff
So, it had been 6 months since we had pulled in at Faith, so we had a laundry list of prep tasks to get moving again. Adding water to the batteries, regen the water softener, top off propane, secure the bikes, wash and waterproof tire covers, get an oil change for the truck, and more of the same. However, there were a few improvements we made as well.
Our TST tire pressure monitoring system reports the trailer tire pressure and temperatures while underway. The monochrome display that we had been using was difficult to read, and we decided to upgrade to a color display. We had also given our son the back-up camera that we had mounted in the truck to focus on the hitch in the truck bed. So, we installed a new one in its place.
Finally, we added a new device to the RV that would sense when it was level and report it on an app. The app would then tell us how much to adjust the height, whether front to back or side to side. It would help us decide how many boards to use under the wheels and whether the automatic levelers would be able to handle the difference in height.
And, while it didn’t really have anything to do with getting ready to go, we swapped our ATT cell phones for T-mobile. To our delight, the reception on them has been fine and our T-mobile internet has been good enough to reaffirm our decision to switch.
So, it had been 6 months since we had pulled in at Faith, so we had a laundry list of prep tasks to get moving again. Adding water to the batteries, regen the water softener, top off propane, secure the bikes, wash and waterproof tire covers, get an oil change for the truck, and more of the same. However, there were a few improvements we made as well.
Our TST tire pressure monitoring system reports the trailer tire pressure and temperatures while underway. The monochrome display that we had been using was difficult to read, and we decided to upgrade to a color display. We had also given our son the back-up camera that we had mounted in the truck to focus on the hitch in the truck bed. So, we installed a new one in its place.
Finally, we added a new device to the RV that would sense when it was level and report it on an app. The app would then tell us how much to adjust the height, whether front to back or side to side. It would help us decide how many boards to use under the wheels and whether the automatic levelers would be able to handle the difference in height.
And, while it didn’t really have anything to do with getting ready to go, we swapped our ATT cell phones for T-mobile. To our delight, the reception on them has been fine and our T-mobile internet has been good enough to reaffirm our decision to switch.
Parting Shot
Just before leaving Jacksonville, this local favorite opened a branch nearby the church. We had to check it out of course.
Just before leaving Jacksonville, this local favorite opened a branch nearby the church. We had to check it out of course.
