Anvil Campground – Williamsburg, VA continues

22 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

4/22/26

Location: Anvil Campground, Williamsburg, VA

Both of us had a terrific night’s rest with neither one of us getting up at all overnight. Unfortunately Skip woke up with an upset stomach so we decided it would be best to take a day off and hang out at ChILL. The multiday ticket we bought for Colonial Williamsburg will be forfeited for today but we still have the opportunity to use our ticket tomorrow and Friday. Hopefully a day of rest will restore Skip and we will be able to enjoy walking through history while we are in the area.

Laundry moved up in priority since we were staying home for the day. They have 4 washers and 4 dryers in a small but nice laundry room a short walk from our campsite and adjacent to the campground Welcome Center and general store. Each load costs $2.50 to wash and $2.50 to dry. I am using TruEarth laundry strips for the washer, very easy to store on ChILL and they do a good job of cleaning the clothes. Perfect solution for travel. 

Skip was feeling better later in the day so we decided to take the truck in search of Ace Hardware and gas. At Ace Skip selected sets of heavy duty brackets to secure the subwoofer under the dinette seat which had become detached. The location of the subwoofer behind the drawer under the first settee made the repair a challenge to twist and turn while lying on the floor under the table but Skip was successful. The brackets that held it in place are the originals from 2018. The bouncing from the rough roads over the years and on this trip caused the plastic brackets to break completely. Hopefully the replacement brackets will last for a long time.

To give us peace of mind until we get back to AutoNation Ford in Jacksonville, Florida for a proper repair, Skip engineered a harness for the tailgate to prevent random openings, especially troublesome as we are driving and have no way of knowing whether it is open or not as we travel the roads. He invented his own solution using some braided line and S hooks. Praying that the truck and ChILL will not be damaged by a randomly opened tailgate bouncing up and down.

Skip chose baked potatoes for dinner to help ease his stomach. He’s feeling much better and up to touring Colonial Williamsburg tomorrow.

Although our plans changed from being tourists to a staycation day we had a wonderful time together in a new place. In between doing some chores and repairs we were able to ChILL and take a break in our familiar and comfortable traveling suite. Every day is a good day!

Magnolia Lane Campground > Anvil Campground – Williamsburg, VA

21 Tuesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

4/21/26

Location: Magnolia Lane Campground, Pollocksville, NC

Prepared for departure by loading items into the truck, cleaning inside, dumping the tanks and hooking ChILL to the truck. The truck tailgate came down on its own at the campground. We assumed it was caused by pushing the button on the key fob from our pockets in error but WAIT there’s more!

Using the improved route that Skip had researched and that avoided the Hampton Bridge Tunnel, we headed out, with me as the first driver, for Anvil Campground in Williamsburg, VA. About an hour into the trip a nice driver slowed down to tell us the tailgate was open on the truck, which of course means it was laying on the trailer hitch as we were driving along the highway. At the stoplight Skip hopped out and closed it. We both removed the key fobs from our pockets in case that was the cause of the issue.  Fortunately the problem has not occurred again. Praise be to God!

Skip brought up the audible book he bought about Colonial Williamsburg which occupied us for a half hour or so. Then it became too boring for my tastes with excessive detail about furnishings and the reading of letters of political politeness. It did have some good information but not enough to continue listening to it and was not stimulating enough content to increase my driving focus.

Another hour later we took an exit because I needed a bathroom break even though nothing was noted at the exit, no gas stations or fast food places. However I did find an area that I thought was part of a nearby church parking lot. Turned out to be a small and busy local recycling center. After we used the bathroom in ChILL, the nice attendant allowed us to loop around where we easily returned to the highway and our planned route with me still in the driver’s seat.

Location: Virginia State Line Welcome Center

Here we took a selfie with the Virginia sign, picked up a couple of brochures about Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed our previously prepared lunch from inside ChILL.

Skip took over as driver on what turned out to be the hardest part of the trip. Several quick exits happened in succession for the route Skip chose in advance. Many miles of construction also kept him on his toes. The roads for most of the time Skip drove were bumpy with a lot of traffic. Thankfully Skip handled it very well.

Location: Anvil Campground, Williamsburg, VA, premium site 77, full hookup

Anvil Campground was founded in 1954 by Ralph Jump and is still owned by the same family to this day. John D. Rockefeller, Jr hired James Jump and his son Ralph Jump in the late 1920s and early 1930s as master blacksmiths to help restore Colonial Williamsburg to its 1700s appearance to preserve history. In 1953 Ralph purchased a soybean farm that eventually became the campground. Inspired by their blacksmithing history the campground was named Anvil. A huge water wheel made by Ralph Jump in 1978 is still in operation today. The Jump family’s legacy lives on both in the campground and in their efforts over the years to restore Colonial Williamsburg.

Chris Jump, the owner of the campground since 2011, called us enroute to confirm our intention to checkin, confirmed our site number and told us to go ahead and setup upon arrival. An information packet was available for us at the Welcome Center containing the transit schedule and a suggested app for conveniently getting around the area. Armed with a QR code the campground provided for discount tickets, we purchased a multiday ticket for Colonial Williamsburg.

We have one of the premium sites with a large gravel pad. Our site is shaded and has a polywood porch swing with center cupholders, a polywood picnic table, a fire ring, a polywood privacy wall between the neighboring site’s porch swing area and close proximity to a sliding board. 

The transportation pick up is practically at our campsite and will take us to Colonial Williamsburg. The bus runs to and from frequently. Very convenient way for us to let someone else be responsible for navigating the local area and no need for us to find parking.

Had a freezer meal from ChILL of enchiladas I had made before we left along with raw vegetables. A tasty end to a good day!

Magnolia Lane Campground – Pollocksville, NC next day

20 Monday Apr 2026

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

4/20/26
Location: Magnolia Lane Campground
ChILL
Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach, NC
Moonrakers Coastal Cuisine in Beaufort, NC (BOWfort)
ChILL

Joanie and Ross picked us up at ChILL around 10 AM and we headed to Fort Macon State Park, about an hour and a half away. It was a pleasant drive especially when we reached the barrier island where we could see water on the left and right sides of the road as we continued to Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach. Ross brought a kite along in the trunk but decided the wind conditions were not favorable. We hope to visit during a kite festival and see him in action with his kites.

The Fort is nicely maintained and has many artifacts in their collection. They have done a terrific job of presenting the history in an interesting way with many mannequins in uniform and a self guided tour that provides the background for what is on display. The attention to detail is remarkable! The faces of the mannequins closely match photos of the historical figure that is featured.

By now we were all hungry so we headed to Moonrakers Coastal Cuisine in Beaufort (BOWfort). We were seated on the third floor in the open air overlooking the water with the Rachel Carson Reserve in the distance. The Reserve is inhabited by wild horses that Ross said can often be seen from the restaurant. Unfortunately none were seen while we were there.

Another pleasant drive back to ChILL and we had to say our sad goodbyes to Joanie and Ross as they head back to work in the morning and we head to Colonial Williamsburg. More S’miles to come!

Magnolia Lane Campground – Pollocksville, NC

19 Sunday Apr 2026

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

4/19/26
Location: Magnolia Lane Campground
Trinity United Methodist Church
Joanie and Ross’s house
Lunch at Marrakesh 
Lejeune Memorial Gardens
Joanie and Ross’s house
Walmart
Fuel
ChILL

Skip willingly woke up early for us to make the 30 minute drive from the campground to meet Joanie and Ross at their church, Trinity United Methodist. We arrived at 8:25 in plenty of time for the 8:45 service. After being greeted warmly multiple times and shown to their restrooms, Skip and I waited outside at the front of the church for Joanie and Ross.

Their church is beautiful with stained glass windows lining the sanctuary and large pipe organs flanking the altar. The contemporary praise band was talented. They performed the songs as well as the artists I hear on Sirius XM The Message.

The pastor’s message was regarding the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin. Skip and I are intrigued by the facts the pastor researched and shared with the congregation. Because we both want to know more about the current views and validated studies about the Shroud, Skip made a Kindle purchase of The Jesus Discoveries by Jeremiah Johnston, founder of the Christian Thinkers Society, and one of the resources referenced by the pastor.

At their beautiful house, Joanie and Ross showed us the variety of flowers, plants and trees they have in their yard, including some they brought from the last house and some they started from seedlings. They have pears, citrus, aloe, pineapple, blueberries and a different species of Japanese maple than I have seen in the past. They also grow peppers and herbs in pots on their back deck. Ross introduced us to a couple of his turtles that were previously injured and unable to survive on their own now living in safety and comfort in the backyard pen Joanie and Ross provide for them.

Even though Joanie and Ross have lived in their house more than 20 years, this was our first visit. Their house has huge rooms and beautiful hardwood floors. Ross has one of the huge rooms neatly organized with his sewing machines and kite materials. The room has double pocket doors to close it off making it out of sight when not in use. Spacious kitchen, large dining room and large main area help when they host friends and neighbors.

Lunch was at a Greek restaurant named Marrakesh, tasty. Next we went to the Lejeune Memorial Gardens, a somber reminder of the horrors of war, the ones who were killed or permanently injured and the families that were left to carry on without their loved ones. It was a touching reminder of Ross’s sacrifice as he served as a Marine and just missed by one year the Beirut bombing that killed 273 Marines.

Back at Joanie and Ross’s house we played train dominoes. Skip and I had never played so they took the time to explain the rules and strategy. Then it was game on! After enjoying a few rounds, Skip and I headed out for groceries and fuel.

Back at ChILL we had grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh Brussels sprouts and tomato soup for dinner. What a life!