Pixguy
Super Star Member
Haha, I've seen that sign in NH myself.
Head West not so young Man
- Thread starter daugen
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Haha, I've seen that sign in NH myself.
txdon
Super Star Member
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
TxDon, I'm not sure good exercise alone will negate the effect of that deep fried pork tenderloin I had for breakfast, but boy did I walk, and walk, and...today. My total cholesterol is 170 so hopefully I'll survive: besides, I've got barbecue and ribs and steak and buffalo coming up....
what a marvelous day. Seriously chilly to begin with, but the sky was blue, the wind had died down and it was just a beautiful clear day.
And off to the Smith Mountain Dam where I get plenty of exercise walking all the way to the very end. Took a zillion photos, going to be hard to cull them, but I'll find the best ten or so. Spent a few hours in Rocky Mt. VA., interesting town, very hilly. Went into the Walmart there to get some DVD's to play on the rv's surround sound system. That is the only thing that works on it so it appears. Not that I'm suffering, since I don't watch tv as it all seems to wind up on the internet rather quickly.
There are more of those beautiful purplish pink trees flowering than I could have imagined. I went down one country road for almost half a mile that was literally lined on each side with flowering trees. I slowed down it was so pretty, and no one on the road with me, which was a delight in of itself.
The public area at the Dam was spotless, beautifully maintained, and empty except yours truly. The parking lot was sized for five busses, etc...
And still subhuman life spray paint and tag the historic objects. Up at the very end of the observation trail was what I thought was a train undercarriage. Close...and it had been painted over a zillion times due to constant grafitti. Perhaps a heave ho on the up side of the dam would be an education, and if they came out ok on the downside, well ok then. But I think those turbines will give them a James Bond moment for sure.
The roads here gently rise and fall, and sometimes not so gently, like a very slow motion roller coaster. What is strange to me is a road that would be 45 at home in PA is 55 here. And you come over all those rises where the line of site vision in no way allows safe driving at 55mph, and I wonder how many bad accidents they have here. The roads are delightful, smooth, instead of the craters of the Moon at home.
Ok, the important stuff. No tractor pics but I can with great certainty declare that John Deere dominates this area, and most of the equipment I saw was a 6 series or larger. Saw one Massey Ferguson dealer, in an old NH signed dealership, very small, one smaller CUT outside. But in every barn shed I could look in, there was nothing but green. Did not see orange or red anywhere. Must be a dealer dead zone.
what a marvelous day. Seriously chilly to begin with, but the sky was blue, the wind had died down and it was just a beautiful clear day.
And off to the Smith Mountain Dam where I get plenty of exercise walking all the way to the very end. Took a zillion photos, going to be hard to cull them, but I'll find the best ten or so. Spent a few hours in Rocky Mt. VA., interesting town, very hilly. Went into the Walmart there to get some DVD's to play on the rv's surround sound system. That is the only thing that works on it so it appears. Not that I'm suffering, since I don't watch tv as it all seems to wind up on the internet rather quickly.
There are more of those beautiful purplish pink trees flowering than I could have imagined. I went down one country road for almost half a mile that was literally lined on each side with flowering trees. I slowed down it was so pretty, and no one on the road with me, which was a delight in of itself.
The public area at the Dam was spotless, beautifully maintained, and empty except yours truly. The parking lot was sized for five busses, etc...
And still subhuman life spray paint and tag the historic objects. Up at the very end of the observation trail was what I thought was a train undercarriage. Close...and it had been painted over a zillion times due to constant grafitti. Perhaps a heave ho on the up side of the dam would be an education, and if they came out ok on the downside, well ok then. But I think those turbines will give them a James Bond moment for sure.
The roads here gently rise and fall, and sometimes not so gently, like a very slow motion roller coaster. What is strange to me is a road that would be 45 at home in PA is 55 here. And you come over all those rises where the line of site vision in no way allows safe driving at 55mph, and I wonder how many bad accidents they have here. The roads are delightful, smooth, instead of the craters of the Moon at home.
Ok, the important stuff. No tractor pics but I can with great certainty declare that John Deere dominates this area, and most of the equipment I saw was a 6 series or larger. Saw one Massey Ferguson dealer, in an old NH signed dealership, very small, one smaller CUT outside. But in every barn shed I could look in, there was nothing but green. Did not see orange or red anywhere. Must be a dealer dead zone.
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sodamo
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Thanks, Drew. Incredible
David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet
David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet
Citydude
Super Member
Beautiful. You have us hooked on your adventure!
Buppies
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Drew great pictures glad you enjoyed and something I forgot you got to view our work first hand today, both lower and upper lots and walking path though several years old now
wngsprd
Super Member
Nice update, Drew. I've never been to that dam, but will certainly plan time next time out that part of the state.
Those trees are Redbuds (even though they are purple/pink when they bloom).
Those trees are Redbuds (even though they are purple/pink when they bloom).
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
redbuds, thanks Wingsprd.
a clear cold morning that will warm up quickly and I will leave Penhook VA about 9am for the RV Resort at Roanoke Rapids, a big commercial rv place one mile off rte 95, just over the line in NC that said they didn't need reservations, they had over a hundred pull thrus and only booked about forty or fifty a day. Well, maybe at this time of year...just about the complete opposite of the little farm field rv campground I'm in now.
From there I will venture out and explore the Lake Gaston and the surrounding Northampton and Halifax counties.
Had fun last night watching Kate Beckinsale do her "Underworld" thing with vampires etc. Quite entertaining fluff and here I was out in this field watching a movie. Somewhere in here I packed some popcorn. Next movie...
I want to thank Buppies for all his help yesterday, gave me great advice on what to see and the area in general.
Unfortunately he was working too hard or he would have his pic here too.
a clear cold morning that will warm up quickly and I will leave Penhook VA about 9am for the RV Resort at Roanoke Rapids, a big commercial rv place one mile off rte 95, just over the line in NC that said they didn't need reservations, they had over a hundred pull thrus and only booked about forty or fifty a day. Well, maybe at this time of year...just about the complete opposite of the little farm field rv campground I'm in now.
From there I will venture out and explore the Lake Gaston and the surrounding Northampton and Halifax counties.
Had fun last night watching Kate Beckinsale do her "Underworld" thing with vampires etc. Quite entertaining fluff and here I was out in this field watching a movie. Somewhere in here I packed some popcorn. Next movie...
I want to thank Buppies for all his help yesterday, gave me great advice on what to see and the area in general.
Unfortunately he was working too hard or he would have his pic here too.
Larro Darro
Super Member
Hey Drew, I just now came across your thread. Been busy and not online that much. It sounds like you are having a blast so far. {I'm still a week behind on reading} The building is a standard squared log building. It looks like it has mud daubing with lime plaster over it for protection. As far as writing funny stuff like Hiassen, he has one leg up because half the folks in Florida are crazy. He's just writing what he sees out his window. But if you have your laptop with you, you should keep a travel journal. You will enjoy looking back at it in the years to come.
Happy travels my friend.
Larro
MacLawn
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Yep, redbuds, Drew (heheheeee, finally learned ye name!). I just live redbuds, they are just wild native small trees in the south. Them and wild dogwoods make for beautiful southern spring woods! Azaleas are winding down a bit now, even with the late spring.
Well, keep on a coming. Taking ye time, like a grown man is supposed to do. I'll keep the lights on for ye! You could park ye rig at my place, but man, I can hardly turn my truck around on my steep drive! Ye'd never get ye rig turned around on my road, let alone my drive! But, we have to meet when ye come through Columbus!
Well, keep on a coming. Taking ye time, like a grown man is supposed to do. I'll keep the lights on for ye! You could park ye rig at my place, but man, I can hardly turn my truck around on my steep drive! Ye'd never get ye rig turned around on my road, let alone my drive! But, we have to meet when ye come through Columbus!
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daugen
Epic Contributor
Conspicuous Consumption NC...
with a receding stiff neck after a long hot shower, I am safely "berthed" in a large rv park South of Roanoke Rapids/Weldon NC, just South of the Virginia line, a mile East of Route 95. Proximity to 95 is why this park exists. Mostly filled with large Class A rv's and 36 foot fifthwheels pulled by diesel duallies. All big iron that find the layout here super easy to navigate. And the free internet remarkably fast. I already checked, easy to watch a movie on Netflix without speed issues. I'll give my little Verizon mifi a break for the next two days.
The ride here should have taken three hours and it took four, a prime contributor to my stiff neck. I had it all written down on my big tablet, easy directions and the gps started squawking turn left, turn left. Why? Low underpass ahead? So I went left and oh my seventeen miles through the boonies again. Except this time the roads were a little flatter, and the plowed fields a little less red. The gps was determined to take me to 95 it's own way and in some ways no complaints, I must have crossed over Lake Gaston four times as the road rambled all over the place. The speed limits are only 45 and 55, slowed down a bit from further West, on secondaries, but there is no warning before coming up on these really narrow bridges crossing the Lake, which granted aren't very long, but luckily I never met anyone on them. But several WHOA events when I came around a turn to see a little bridge over water and the road turns right before the bridge. Scenic, in a Porsche...
So it was not a relaxing drive, and I'm going to follow my own directions next time, particularly if it's on major roads. Could be the gps is trying for shortest distance instead of shortest time. It took me almost an hour longer to go the shorter distance...
I have one of those microwaveable heat wraps for my neck and that works wonder erasing one too many curves for the day.
Boy, every half hour or so the train horns blow, and I just love train horns. I Googled the area and yup there's the line going through Weldon.
Does the Acela run along 95?
Almost all the sites around me are full, good thing I got here earlier. Constant sound of air brakes hissing, and the parking brakes going on, to the sigh of the driver I'm sure. The guy next to me with his beautiful 40 ft diesel pusher rv, going home to Maine after the winter in Florida mentioned that despite his buying this rig last August he already has two foot itis and wants a tag axle/dual rear axle larger motorhome. Some things don't change...and that keeps the economy stronger I suppose. One of the appeals of the 42-45 foot double rear axle motorhomes is that they allow the rear of the rv to be one huge bathroom from side to side, privately to the rear of the master bedroom. Which is exactly, btw, how they do it in a Hatteras 72 motoryacht and larger megayachts. A lot of yachting ideas trickle down to rv'ing; basically how to stuff the most amenities in the smallest space.
Most of my neighbors will be on the road again tomorrow morning. Not me. I don't know how much racket the outgoing crowd will make, but they usually are going very slowly.
with a receding stiff neck after a long hot shower, I am safely "berthed" in a large rv park South of Roanoke Rapids/Weldon NC, just South of the Virginia line, a mile East of Route 95. Proximity to 95 is why this park exists. Mostly filled with large Class A rv's and 36 foot fifthwheels pulled by diesel duallies. All big iron that find the layout here super easy to navigate. And the free internet remarkably fast. I already checked, easy to watch a movie on Netflix without speed issues. I'll give my little Verizon mifi a break for the next two days.
The ride here should have taken three hours and it took four, a prime contributor to my stiff neck. I had it all written down on my big tablet, easy directions and the gps started squawking turn left, turn left. Why? Low underpass ahead? So I went left and oh my seventeen miles through the boonies again. Except this time the roads were a little flatter, and the plowed fields a little less red. The gps was determined to take me to 95 it's own way and in some ways no complaints, I must have crossed over Lake Gaston four times as the road rambled all over the place. The speed limits are only 45 and 55, slowed down a bit from further West, on secondaries, but there is no warning before coming up on these really narrow bridges crossing the Lake, which granted aren't very long, but luckily I never met anyone on them. But several WHOA events when I came around a turn to see a little bridge over water and the road turns right before the bridge. Scenic, in a Porsche...
So it was not a relaxing drive, and I'm going to follow my own directions next time, particularly if it's on major roads. Could be the gps is trying for shortest distance instead of shortest time. It took me almost an hour longer to go the shorter distance...
I have one of those microwaveable heat wraps for my neck and that works wonder erasing one too many curves for the day.
Boy, every half hour or so the train horns blow, and I just love train horns. I Googled the area and yup there's the line going through Weldon.
Does the Acela run along 95?
Almost all the sites around me are full, good thing I got here earlier. Constant sound of air brakes hissing, and the parking brakes going on, to the sigh of the driver I'm sure. The guy next to me with his beautiful 40 ft diesel pusher rv, going home to Maine after the winter in Florida mentioned that despite his buying this rig last August he already has two foot itis and wants a tag axle/dual rear axle larger motorhome. Some things don't change...and that keeps the economy stronger I suppose. One of the appeals of the 42-45 foot double rear axle motorhomes is that they allow the rear of the rv to be one huge bathroom from side to side, privately to the rear of the master bedroom. Which is exactly, btw, how they do it in a Hatteras 72 motoryacht and larger megayachts. A lot of yachting ideas trickle down to rv'ing; basically how to stuff the most amenities in the smallest space.
Most of my neighbors will be on the road again tomorrow morning. Not me. I don't know how much racket the outgoing crowd will make, but they usually are going very slowly.
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Buppies
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Glad you made it safely rest up and you'll be good as new. The ocean comes soon but watch out for rain which is headed your way
buckeyefarmer
Epic Contributor
A former coworker of mine has a house on lake Gaston. Been down that way once, was once looking for retirement property on kerr lake, but have now given up on that idea. glad you had a nice day at SML yesterday, springtime is pretty. We sure are enjoying the pictures.
Daugen - take a look at your GPS "Preferences" page, if you haven't already.
You should have some kind of control to adjust your Routing - mine (Garmin, basically the Streetpilot) has a linear slide control. One end is Minor Roads, the other end Expressways. In the middle, you'll get a mix of both, but if that routing filter is at one end, and you want the other.....
What I'm speaking of is a separate control, distinct from Distance vs. Time priority.
Rgds, D.
You should have some kind of control to adjust your Routing - mine (Garmin, basically the Streetpilot) has a linear slide control. One end is Minor Roads, the other end Expressways. In the middle, you'll get a mix of both, but if that routing filter is at one end, and you want the other.....
What I'm speaking of is a separate control, distinct from Distance vs. Time priority.
Rgds, D.
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
just went for a walk around the immense parking lot called an rv park, and boy was there some serious road iron back there. So, if you have no interest in large expensive mechanical things, houses on wheels..., ignore this. But since I find anything with a motor interesting, seeing the upper crust is always a treat for us soil serfs...
The fanciest one was the Prevost. Older model, makes no difference they are built so well, like a Mercedes. Funny, just heard a serious diesel rattle and pulled open the shade to see the Prevost heading out. Dark brown with gold accents. Giant satellite dish on top and pulling a Lincoln MKZ. Easily a seven figure rig. And since the little insignia on the rear said Caterpillar, I'm guessing it has a 600-660hp Cat 12 litre engine in it. And probably about 1800-2000 pound feet of torque. I've seen the same engine in many 50-60 foot yacht engine rooms. Well, if you can afford a million dollar boat, which I'm not sure will even get one a 50 foot Searay these days, and you don't like water, and you do like horsepower, and of course have very deep pockets, well this is the American Dream on wheels.
and since I can't find a tractor to take a pic of, the neighboring tiny dogs will have to do...
actually many full size dogs being walked here.
The fanciest one was the Prevost. Older model, makes no difference they are built so well, like a Mercedes. Funny, just heard a serious diesel rattle and pulled open the shade to see the Prevost heading out. Dark brown with gold accents. Giant satellite dish on top and pulling a Lincoln MKZ. Easily a seven figure rig. And since the little insignia on the rear said Caterpillar, I'm guessing it has a 600-660hp Cat 12 litre engine in it. And probably about 1800-2000 pound feet of torque. I've seen the same engine in many 50-60 foot yacht engine rooms. Well, if you can afford a million dollar boat, which I'm not sure will even get one a 50 foot Searay these days, and you don't like water, and you do like horsepower, and of course have very deep pockets, well this is the American Dream on wheels.
and since I can't find a tractor to take a pic of, the neighboring tiny dogs will have to do...
actually many full size dogs being walked here.
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daugen
Epic Contributor
Dave, I've gone through every submenu I can find on the Rand McNally RV gps, but it's not like the garmin in my VW at all.
After this last backroad escapade, I'd better find the manual which is here someplace.
Even if it isn't directing me on a route, it still warns for upcoming curves, reduction in speed zones, narrow bridges and of course height restrictions.
Just not sure I want to follow its directions anymore. At least I can make sure it's set on fastest vs. shortest.
I find Google Maps directions very helpful, no truck/rv filtering though.
After this last backroad escapade, I'd better find the manual which is here someplace.
Even if it isn't directing me on a route, it still warns for upcoming curves, reduction in speed zones, narrow bridges and of course height restrictions.
Just not sure I want to follow its directions anymore. At least I can make sure it's set on fastest vs. shortest.
I find Google Maps directions very helpful, no truck/rv filtering though.
I know I'd miss that control on my Garmin, for certain situations.
Given the size of RVtrains today, I can't imagine not being able to filter out minor roads at will..... too easy to end up in a spot where you'd need a Sikorsky for extraction !
Do you have European Vacation, Stripes, and that Robin Williams RV movie on DVD for reference ?
Keep on with the good luck/good driving, and please keep the pics coming !
Rgds, D.
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daugen
Epic Contributor
It sure is, and I spent part of the day cleaning the rig, doing laundry, and still haven't done what I needed to do inside the rv. This thing does not clean itself...didn't get that option I guess. Would have been a heck of a big button.
So at 32 bucks a night, which gives me fast internet and full utilities, I'm just going to sit here for another day and catch my breath. And then after the rain dies down, head on down to Washington NC. Got all my reservations changed, so it all worked out fine. I'm in zero rush, my stepbrother I am going to see in Colorado just sent me a picture of snow all over his lawn, and reminded me, don't come soon...got it.
This area near the Lakes is very pretty, fairly upscale and looks like it would be a zoo in the summer time with all the tourists. I saw three golf cart companies within a half hour of driving. But further South of here looks more interesting to me.
ronjhall
Super Star Member
I did the RV GPS for about 2 weeks. Sent it back and bought a Garmin trucking model. It has a RV mode.
I like looking a big HP equipment. Especially Motor homes and tractors.
I like looking a big HP equipment. Especially Motor homes and tractors.
OP
daugen
Epic Contributor
am glad I stayed here for another day. Poured all night long, little respite now, but will start raining again and go apparently most of the day.
well I have determined that free wifi is not so dependable. At 7:30pm each of the last two nights, the free stuff conked out. I think too many folk are logging on locally for their equipment. And when the free stuff slows to a crawl, then when one looks for a connection, almost a dozen Verizon mifis and a few other competitors pop up from the surrounding parking lot. The Verizon is secure, the free stuff is not.
I did wash yesterday and washed the motorhomes floors. My test is to walk around in my bare feet. It's amazing how good bare feet are for finding anything on the floor...
several rv's are leaving, a big Dutch Star motorhome with a motorcycle on the rear bumper and a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind just rumbled/idled by. And I hear air brakes hissing, parking brakes getting released, the big boys are on the move.
My only regret staying an extra day and traveling tomorrow on Easter is I will miss going to church locally. Easter services are always wonderful.
But the traffic should be minimal and I only have a several hour drive, which this time I think I will try using 95 South to 64 East. All big roads for once, see if I can actually stay on cruise control for a while. Any big hill though and I have to flick off the cruise, that extra 5mph I slow down on hills would take a hellacious amount of fuel to keep up to speed. This is where the big diesel pushers accelerate up the hill, or so they like to tell you.
But since there are enough other trucks slowing down a little, I just get in line. For once in my life I am in zero rush.
well I have determined that free wifi is not so dependable. At 7:30pm each of the last two nights, the free stuff conked out. I think too many folk are logging on locally for their equipment. And when the free stuff slows to a crawl, then when one looks for a connection, almost a dozen Verizon mifis and a few other competitors pop up from the surrounding parking lot. The Verizon is secure, the free stuff is not.
I did wash yesterday and washed the motorhomes floors. My test is to walk around in my bare feet. It's amazing how good bare feet are for finding anything on the floor...
several rv's are leaving, a big Dutch Star motorhome with a motorcycle on the rear bumper and a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind just rumbled/idled by. And I hear air brakes hissing, parking brakes getting released, the big boys are on the move.
My only regret staying an extra day and traveling tomorrow on Easter is I will miss going to church locally. Easter services are always wonderful.
But the traffic should be minimal and I only have a several hour drive, which this time I think I will try using 95 South to 64 East. All big roads for once, see if I can actually stay on cruise control for a while. Any big hill though and I have to flick off the cruise, that extra 5mph I slow down on hills would take a hellacious amount of fuel to keep up to speed. This is where the big diesel pushers accelerate up the hill, or so they like to tell you.
But since there are enough other trucks slowing down a little, I just get in line. For once in my life I am in zero rush.
