I'm A Cover Girl

Evenin' everyone, Splash is in the house!  I don't really have a Story for you tonight, but I do have something fun to share with you.  Daisy's Mom, Miss Crystal, is one of the administrators for the Facebook T@B Camping Trailers group. One of her housekeeping duties is to change the cover photo from time to time.

Well guess who is the featured Cover Girl this week?  ME!!  Not only that, I showed up again when Jim McDermott offered a link to our buddy Brooke Folk's TalkShoe TearDrop Tailer Radio Show!  What are the odds that this would happen and Momma Sharon could get a screenshot of me in action!!  Look, look . . . 

Brooke's radio show is a big deal because he has been off the air since February of 2015.  Tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m., he will be broadcasting live again and Jim is his guest.  Momma Sharon has been Brooke's guest on two different occasions and I'm pretty proud of that!

If you'd like to tune in, just click HERE.

It was like Christmas around here this week with all kind of goodies for me arriving at the front door. I will tell you all about it in a day or two.  Y'all have a good weekend, check out Brooke's show in the morning, and get ready for a couple of new Stories from me.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Being A Cover Girl"

Meadows of Dan Campground

Good morning Friends far and wide!  I am told that my computer time is up by She-who-will-not-be-named.  With that being said, here's the last Chapter in my resent most excellent camping adventure.

There's a little campground in Meadows of Dan, VA called Meadows of Dan Campground . . . quite original, dontcha think?  It's maybe a quarter of a mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway on Highway 58 and has been on our camping radar for many years.  It was a logical place to spend the night on our way home from the DOG.

To make sure there was a site for us, Momma Sharon called ahead from the road. No worries, said the lady in the office.  We pulled in and around the tiny house serving as an office.  Momma Sharon checked in and was given a "map" of the campground drawn on the back of her receipt.  She was told to take any site we wanted.

We pulled up the hill to find two loops . . . one without trees and one with.  Of course we chose the one WITH.  There was only one other trailer there, so we had our pick of sites!  After making a complete loop, we settled on site #7, a pull-thru just steps away from the bathhouse.  It was almost perfectly level and suited us just fine.

Mom and Aunt Becky pulled out chairs and ate supper while I relaxed in the early mountain evening.  A young couple strolled by and commented on my cuteness . . . blush, blush.  As darkness fell, we all watched a movie together and then called it a day.

I've really, really had fun telling you the Backstory of my trip to Maryland, so I don't mind handing the computer back over to the Camper Mom.  I've got my sights set on the upcoming Coastal Caravan III and getting to spend two whole weeks camping on the coast with my buddies.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & New Campgrounds"

Poor Farmer's Market

Yeehaw, it's time for the next-to-last chapter in this MD DOG Book.  You just don't know how happy it makes this little splashy T@B that you come by to read my Stories!

Once we got settled into Meadows of Dan Campground on Monday evening, Mom and The Aunt scooted over to "town" to pick up a bite of supper.  There are a couple places to eat, but Mom's favorite is the old country store called the Poor Farmer's Market.  Well actually, it's not an old store, but it carries a whole bunch of items that you might expect to find in a place like that.

There were all kinds of goodies to look at, but I bet you can guess what drew Momma Sharon in like a magnet . . . yep, the Lodge cast iron.  There was a 10" deep CDO that she she lingered over and I would have bet money that it was coming home with us.  Somehow she resisted the temptation and Splish didn't have to carry more weight.

Supper came from the deli in the form of fresh salad plates and we wrapped up our Parkway day with supper and a movie.  Not a bad way to end a glorious one. Tomorrow I will wrap up this whole adventure and tell you about Meadows of Dan Campground.  It's been on our camping bucket list for a long time.  Until then, always remember . . .

"Peace, Love, & A Fun Country Market"

Milepost 0 To Milepost 200

Mornin' everyone.  Today I have a Picture Book for you that chronicles my 200 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I had the time of my life following Splish from Milepost 0 to Milepost 200 on the way home from the MD DOG. From Rockfish Gap south to I-77 at Fancy Gap, I enjoyed every single mile and overlook along the way.  I hope you enjoy the miles too!!

The next-to-last chapter of this most recent marvelous journey with Splish, Momma Sharon, and Aunt Becky will be ready for you to read tomorrow.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace. Love, & BRP Mileposts"

Plan B Fell Into Place

Happy Monday morning to all you worker bees and foot-loose bees!  There's a hint of fall in the air here in the NC foothills and it feels divine!

Today's Story is all about taking a Plan B detour home from the MD DOG. Instead of returning back to the T@Bport along the same route we traveled to get here, we headed off in a different direction with a different agenda.  Our original plan was to travel Highway 340 out of Frederick down to Shenandoah River State Park for the evening.  Chef Elaine told us it was one of their favorites, but not to expect much shade.

The temperatures gradually climbed to 91° as we made our way from Cunningham Falls State Park down to Shenandoah River.  I wasn't crazy about the steep, steep road into the campground and I really wasn't a happy camper when I saw the total lack of shade.

Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, VA

One of many nice campsites to choose from

Hmmm . . . not too many trees in this newer state park

We made two loops around the campground so we could find a good site that might offer a bit of late afternoon shade.  Momma Sharon even backed into the one in the middle photo, but it didn't take long before we were all rolling in sweat for her to make an executive decision to leave!  She checked in the office and the ranger told us we could get a voucher for a return camping trip to Virginia so that iced our decision.

In another season, this would be a great place to camp and a good location for exploring the region, but not on this hot Sunday in August.  Plan B immediately went into effect . . . continue down Highway 340 to Waynesboro and stop at the North 340 Campground.  After a comfort lunch at Mickey D's, that's what we did, breathing a sigh of relief.

A familiar, friendly place 

Waynesboro North 340 Campground welcomed us

So did the big black bear!

The lady in the office remembered us from our overnight here while on the Gettysburg Caravan in 2010.  She asked Momma Sharon where everyone else was and Mom said, "I left them in Maryland!"  The lady laughed and said to take any site we wanted and to make ourselves at home.  So that's exactly what we did.

We pulled into a shady spot under the pine trees with a cool breeze that was mere steps away from the bathroom.  Priorities, priorities!  Aunt Becky and Mom were tickled to death with how Plan B fell into place.  A picnic supper out of the Yeti, a strong wifi signal from the office, and that breeze I mentioned made for a perfect evening in site #49!

Settled in the shade in a pull-thru site #49

Near the office, near the bathrooms . . . did I mention shade?

Aunt Becky was a happy camper!

My Camper Mom was a happy camper too!!

Ham salad sliders and Lime Doritos on Splish's tailgate

Journaling & internet-time were on the evening agenda

I really appreciate you dropping by for another Chapter in this continuing MD DOG Story.  I'll be writing one for you tomorrow too if you want to drop back by.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & A Successful Plan B"

Puttin' On The DOG

Hey everyone!  My intentions were to send you a Story about all the good eats at our MD DOG, but Momma Sharon has been on a tear for the last few days creating a Shutterfly book of our adventure together.  Today I reminded her that I need to write a few more Stories before turning the computer back over to her until the Coastal Caravan hits the road.

Without further ado, here's a look at how the Chefs are all about puttin' on the DOG.  Every single night someone hosted a supper at Cunningham Falls. Since we were all within a hundred yards or so from each other, hauling food and chairs from campsite to campsite wasn't a big deal at all.  Folks even came to my house one night!

Nope, we don't do hot dogs and hamburgers . . . our Chefs turn out awesome dishes like the ones you see in the collages.  Come camp with us some time, you will experience the Dutch Oven Madness, and we will feed you well.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Puttin' On The DOG"