Awake: 7:17am Temp 51 sleep 6+03 some clouds overnight @ Salem, VA.
We leave the Dixie Caverns RV Park @ 12:02pm. Then continue northeast on I-81 to US-11 to State Road-655….arriving @ the Walnut Hills Campground @ 1:40pm.
Today’s travel: 90 miles 1+48 time 14.4 gal used 6.3 mpg 50 avg speed.
After check-in & pay our fee, I opt to back-up using Kathy’s eyes…into the BIG RIG parking section in lieu of going some “3000” ft out of the way to their turn circle.
It’s such a nice day here that we decide to walk around the campground starting with the upper tier sites that have a view of the lake, then down the hill & walk around the lake.
This place has some history; built out of what was originally a plantation property, the park property (now reduced to about 45 acres) was part of a larger track of land & was a part of the Beverley grant from the King of England, John Christian, who settled here in 1732. The original Walnut House was built circa 1736 & is being lived in today. One can still see evidence of an outdoor kitchen & the foundations of outbuildings, many housing the slaves of the plantation.
In 1965, the Koogler family purchased the plantation property & developed the land into a campground to serve the many visitors coming into & through the Shenandoah Valley. After 1990, the BIG RIG area was developed with more modern conveniences, like 50 amps, cable TV, water & some with telephone modem hook-ups. We were counting on having a big rig site.
Back @ our coach, Ray calls: his partial knee surgery went ok. Now home in Ocean Park, WA, the doctor orders daily exercises for Ray.
Dinner: Tuna steaks with squash & mixed salad.
After dinner, we watch the O’Reilly Factor, then Int’l News.
Late evening: we call & talk with Eriko & Nick; tomorrow they will fly to Las Vegas where Nick is attending a computer convention for (5) days. Eriko is looking forward to seeing some of Vegas.
DVR movie: “Emma” with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeremy Northam, Toni Collette, Greta Scacchi, etc. Charming, witty adaptation of Jane Austen’s comedy of manners about a headstrong young woman who makes a habit of playing matchmaker for others, but can’t recognize her own true feelings…or those of the men who surround her. Paltrow is delightful & surrounded by an ideal cast. 1996. Maybe this movie should be mandatory viewing for high school students; lessons learned could change our youth for the better.
Don’t miss it!
Lights out: 12:34am
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