Day 12 &13

Day 12
We made great time driving the rest of the way through North Carolina, then through South Carolina, Georgia and into Florida.
This is where the troubles started. We decided to take Hwy 27 south through the middle of Florida, because it was Friday and getting close to rush hour, we didn't want to go through any major cities. Well when we figured out Hwy 27 was not the way to go because of all the stop lights, it was too late to get onto I-75. On the radio we heard there were several accidents, we figured either way was not good.  So it took us a REALLY long time to get to Grandma Hays' house.

On a good note we did try something new. We had see several signs for boiled peanuts. We all thought that sound interesting, so at one of the gas stations I bought some. They are interesting. The peanut are boiled in the shells in salt water. The shell are wet and hot. When open a little salt water comes out. The peanut are soft and have the texture of a pinto bean but, they taste like a mild peanut. We're not sure if we like them, we'll just have to keep trying them:)

Day 13
Today is going to be a relax day. Grandma took us out for a great breakfast. Then we went to Ronna and Jim's for a visit. Back at Grandma's Hunter relaxed and did some computer stuff for Grandma. Eric fixed a few things around the  house and bus. Bailey played on her computer and finished a puzzle with Grandma. I cleaned the bus, washed clothes and blogged. It was a great day to recuperate.

Next up Florida Keys.
  

Day 11

Today we left Kings Dominion and headed southeast to Kitty Hawk, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Wright Brother National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills was really cool.

We even got to look into an Army helicopter. They had taken off from DC and had to land because of equipment difficulties. So the three army guys opened it up and let the public look in.

Then we drove to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse which we didn't realize was a really long way down there. But in the end it was worth it. We got see the lighthouse and put our feet in the warm Atlantic Ocean.

 

 

 

After that we had to drive for hours and hours to get back to I-95 so we could head south toward Florida. About 9:30pm we stopped at a truck stop near Kenly, NC. to sleep.

 

Next onto Florida.

Day 10

Today we had oodles of fun.
We started out the day at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. We learn about the Civil War and the 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg.

Then we were off again headed for Kings Dominion. We got there around noon and were able to check in early.

That was great, we made and ate lunch, packed a back pack with our swim stuff and caught the free shuttle to Kings Dominion.

Kings Dominion has two sections a regular amusement park with lots of roller coasters and a water park called Soak City. We went to Soak City first, we had so much fun going down the water slides and floating in tubes around the lazy river pool. After Soak City we went back to camp to have snacks and rest a little.  Then we headed back to the park so Hunter and Bailey could ride some roller coasters.

 

 

We stayed until 6:30pm, then left so we could go to Pam's house (Eric's cousin). We had a great visit with Pam and Mason.

 

Next we head south.

Day 9

Today we road a train for Quantico, VA. to Washington DC. It was hot, no rain. First we went to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Eric and Hunter really enjoyed it.

We are waiting for the museum to open.

 

 

Next we went about 8 blocks up and 2 over to the International Spy Museum. That was really neat, we all liked it. The museum is huge it took us several hours to go through it.

This is Hunter testing out is spy strength. You try to see if you can hold onto the bar for 60 seconds, while it blows air at you, the bar vibrates, and/or turns. Hunter was able to hold on for 53 seconds. The lady working it said that was the longest she had seen today.

Last we walked about 6 blocks down to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum to see the Hall of Human Origins exhibit.  This was Baileys favorite.

She loved looking at all the skulls and other bones.

 

By the time we got to the train station to catch the train back to Quantico, my feet hurt so bad I thought I wouldn't be able to walk for a week. Bailey was the only one who said her feet didn't hurt. All in all we enjoyed our trip to DC.

 

Tomorrow we are off to Kings Dominion.  





Day 5-8

Day 5
We left camp about 7:00am and headed off to Mt. Rushmore. It was the perfect time to get there, almost no people.

Then we headed east again. We detoured through the Badlands and took some beautiful pictures.

After that we drove and drove, I didn't think we would ever get out of South Dakota. We were on the road for about 14 hours and finally stop at a rest area near Missouri Valley, Iowa. Hunter and Bailey were so excited when we saw fireflies in the trees. We decided to sleep there for the night.

Next stop Indiana.

Day 6

Eric and I woke up about 3:00am to thunder and lightning. A few of the booms were right above us and shook the bus. Hunter and Bailey slept right through it all. Today was a long day of driving. We drove down the west side of Iowa, into Missouri. When we got to Kanas City we headed west all the way across Missouri and through the lower part of Illinois. We finally stop about way through Indiana at a truck stop, to sleep. Our generator worked GREAT, it ran all night long with our air conditioner and frig going.

Next stop Stafford, VA.

Day 7
We were up and go by 5:30am. There was a rest area about a mile for where stayed, so stopped there to uses there bathrooms. As we drove the rest of the way through Indiana and into Kentucky we hit a massive thunder, lightning and heavy rain storm. Bailey again slept through it all. Traffic wasn't bad until we got to Fredericksburg, VA. It was a lot of stop and go, cars weaving in and out but we finally made it to our campground.

Aquia Pine Camp Resort

Day 8
We were lazy today. The kids and I didn't get out of bed until about 9:30. We were awake but we laid in bed watching tv. It started to rain then it poured and poured. Hunter helped me put up our screened cover and some tarps over the picnic table. Then I was able to cook breakfast. Then we head off to King Gorge to meet family of Eric's (Sandy and Tommy Berry and Kids). They were all very nice people. We stayed with them all day and then they took us out to dinner. We got back to camp about 10:00pm.

Tomorrow we head to Washington DC.

Day 3 and 4

On our way out of Yellowstone we saw Bison. We saw a few big daddies close to the road and several mamas and babies down in a valley. Then we stopped at the Mud Volcanos.

 It wasn't a very warm day today. When we stopped for lunch we could hear thunder booming in the distances. We made a couple more  stops along Hwy 14. Once we exited Yellowstone it became Shoshone National Forest. The area is very pretty, with lots of forest service campgrounds off the highway.

When we got to the Bighorn Mountains we started out at about 4800 ft. elevation. When we reached the top we were at 9330, that was a huge climb for the little bus.
That night we stayed at a forest service campground Sibley Lake, about 21 west of Dayton, Wy.

It was raining hard when we got there and continued to rain for at least and hour. Hunter rigged a tarp over the picnic table so I could cook dinner. Tomorrow we head for Custer, SD.

Day 4
We didn't make any stop but stay in a really nice campground in Custer, SD.

Day 2 cross country

Today's first stop was old Montana prison and car museum in Deerlodge MT.

 

Then we head to Yellowstone's north entrance.

 



 

 

We stayed at Canyon Ville Campground. I was very glad I made reservations because all campgrounds in the whole park were full. Here is the bus at our site.

 

Next we are headed east through Wyoming.