4/25/26
Location: Anvil Campground, Williamsburg, VA

Because Skip took care of the black tank after my shower last night he was ready to go in record time this morning. Site 77 is too tight to turn right to exit our site so we made a loop thru the campground before heading on our way, departing around 8:15. 

The truck nav system routed us mostly the way Skip wanted with one exception as he wanted to take 295 around Richmond. After that change the truck nav routed us as Skip preferred. I drove the first 2 hours with Skip completing the most difficult and final 4 hours, having taken a half hour break with our lunchbox sandwiches soon after we crossed the WV state line. Thankfully the hardest rain we received the entire drive occurred after we walked from the truck at the rest area and were comfortably sheltered inside ChILL. Skip did have to drive the curvy and 5% grade rain soaked roadways with continuing light showers. He handled it very well.

Location: Camp Creek State Park & Forest, Camp Creek, WV, Mash Fork Site 25, full hookup

We arrived at Camp Creek State Park around 3:30. It is a 2 lane somewhat curvy steep in places 2 mile roadway to get to the campground however it is not nearly as challenging as I recalled from our visit in 2019. With God’s help I will drive us from here and then drive on the interstate mountain roads when we leave on Tuesday as we head to Kentucky.

Skip backed us right into our site which is plenty long enough for the trailer and the truck even after they are unhitched and the truck pulled forward. Departure days are always easier when the truck does not have to be in the roadway during hookup allowing us to take our time and not feel rushed to get out of the way of other travelers. 

The views all around are forested mountainous beauty with a small creek that runs behind ChILL. Our floor plan allows us to take advantage of spectacular views like this from our dinette area, so happy we chose this layout! 

This is the first campground where the T-Mobile hotspot was not an option. Skip setup the Starlink and all was well

One of the burners on our stove came loose during travel. Thankfully Skip was able to fix it quickly and easily.

Skip was able to watch the final laps of the NASCAR race. What a fitting way for him to take a well deserved break after driving all that time then setting up camp and repairing the stove, all while he was “playing Airstream” and having a great time doing so.

I thawed hamburger meat brought from home using the covered skillet on low heat on the stove, added taco seasoning mix and heated taco shells in the microwave. Dinner was served!

So happy to be back in this beautiful campground for the next few days!

4/18/26

Location: Myrtle Beach State Park Campground, Myrtle Beach, SC

Location: Magnolia Lane Campground, Pollocksville, NC (near Joanie), site 2, full hookup
Joanie and Ross
ChILL
Spunky McDoogle’s 
New Bern waterfront
ChILL

After a driver change a little less than halfway, Skip took over and completed the uneventful and comfortable drive from Myrtle Beach to Pollocksville, NC. Magnolia Lane Campground is unique in that they do not staff their office, ever!  My contact person, Mae, sent a text on Friday confirming our site number and provided the codes for the bathhouse and laundry, neither of which we used during our stay. Our site was paid and assigned in advance so we didn’t need any assistance from the campground. Just have not encountered a campground that is not staffed. A phone number was provided if contact was needed. Our site was full hookup but no shade at all and the campground was decent and quiet. If we visit the area again, we would not hesitate to book a site again.

Joanie and Ross came to the campground and took the detailed tour of ChILL. Fun to share it with them because they have some interest in purchasing an RV at some point.

Joanie and Ross drove us to New Bern where we had a delicious dinner at an Irish pub named Spunky McDoogle’s. Joanie loves the Reuben sandwich and onion rings. Skip ordered a Reuben too. Delicious corned beef, cabbage and potatoes was my choice. Ross opted for blackened chicken. My meal was delicious with perfectly prepared corned beef. Joanie and Ross generously paid for our meals.

After dinner we walked along the waterfront in New Bern. The 90 degree afternoon had become a beautiful evening of moderate temperatures with a breeze making our waterfront stroll quite enjoyable.

After bringing us back to ChILL, Joanie and Ross headed home. How wonderful to spend that time with them and then go back to the comfort of our own home.

Wednesday, 4/15/26

Location: Campground at James Island County Park

Packed up the truck, hooked up ChILL and prepared to head out. Skip noticed that the front marker light on the passenger side of ChILL was flickering. Unfortunately it is a difficult light to remove and replace. Fortunately the repair can wait until we return to St Augustine without causing any travel issues.

Trip started out with me as the driver as Skip helped me navigate the Charleston streets including the cable-stayed Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge that spans the Charleston Harbor. The bridge’s design is similar to the Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida. Our route was mostly on US17, changing to US17 Business Route for the last leg of the trip which has convenient access to our campground. US17 is more relaxed than the interstate with less traffic, all good things. Long stretches with no places to pull off to change drivers can be challenging but the Georgetown area had a few good choices for us.

Along the way we saw a couple of signs that said Wildlife Viewing Area. I asked how all the wildlife know they are supposed to go to that area? Skip had a completely different take saying that is where all the wildlife go to view us! He’s a crackup!

In an empty parking lot in Georgetown we opened up ChILL and our lunchbox and enjoyed the sandwiches I prepared before we left Charleston along with very tasty grapes.

Location: Myrtle Beach State Park Campground, site 301, full hookup

What a wonderful campground with easy access to the Atlantic Ocean! It is heavily wooded making most campsites comfortably shaded. The roads are one-way and somewhat narrow with enough room for even the largest rigs to maneuver. Some of the sites require the tow vehicle to park across the site which can make backing the Airstream into and pulling out of the site more challenging. Skip did a fantastic job of backing into the site even though the neighbors’ truck made it a tight situation. Apparently it was good entertainment for our chatty and somewhat distracting neighbors who were sitting outside with a group of their friends. The show continued since the neighbors’ site was on the utility side of ChILL and our water, sewer and electric connections were very close to their site making Skip the main event for a little while as he hooked up our connections. 

Skip has a good routine to get us setup, connected and level at the campsite and disconnect the truck. My role is much easier than his as I unload the perishable items such as bread and chips from the truck and setup inside ChILL. Together we can have everything done in 30 minutes or so. We relaxed outside in our Strongback chairs enjoying the gorgeous weather and our nature view.

Laundry is part of the plan for this location so we walked around the campground to find the laundromat, located across from site 229. The washers and dryers look decent and cost $2 each per load, using quarters to pay.

Our campsite is located just a few sites away from a walkway to the bathhouses and dumpsters. The walkway provides an easy shortcut to the loop that has the closest laundry facility to our site. With the folding wagon, which Skip typically uses to transport his EC12 sailboat, equipment and chair from the truck to the pond, taking the clothes to and from the laundromat is much easier.

It was another tasty freezer dinner night after we microwaved some spaghetti pie that I had made for us before we left St Augustine and rounded it out with some raw veggies and dip. Another successful day!