Camping with Friends in the South Georgia Heat

We managed to end our summer with two weekends of buddy camping nearby and we marked our 30th night in the SolAire.  That's 25% of the nights since we took delivery in April.

First, we met David & Marie at Rocky Bend for their inaugural camping trip in their newly purchased travel trailer and the Flint River Poker Float, and second, we joined Jerry and Angie at Kolomoki Mounds State Park and Still Pond Vineyard's Grape Stomp Fest.

At Rocky Bend, we boarded the White Rose Saturday morning for a cruise upriver for the Captain to check on kayakers.

Flint River view at Rocky Bend

Jamie headed to the river's edge to catch a ride on the White Rose

Our camp proprietors & riverboat captain -- the scenery on the Flint River never gets old.

A cavern on the Flint River

Cruising the Flint River

At Kolomoki, we met Jerry & Angie for our final summer weekend; it's back to school time for the teachers in this foursome.

The SolAire and the Wolf Pup ~ camping buddies at Kolomoki

We were most appreciative of the spaciousness of the SolAire and the air conditioner blasting cold air, which offered us respite from the unrelenting south Georgia heat and humidity, and shelter from a torrential downpour --  indoor dining and a movie for four.

Angie warned us about the ants.  We had our first run-in with ants at Eastbank Campground; Angie & Jerry woke up Friday morning to find the ants had found them.  I stopped by Wal-Mart and bought every ant remedy on the shelf, assuring myself that if one didn't work, the other would.

As Jamie set up our rig Friday evening, I busied myself with preventive measures, surrounding our trailer with granules.  Fortunately, it worked!  We didn't see a single ant until Sunday morning as we were packing up, and those were on the outside.  A shot of spray handled the job.

We headed over to Still Pond in late morning.  After all, we were camping, and we just don't get in a hurry; that would defeat the purpose of the camping lifestyle.  The crowd had already gathered, but we found a little shade under a tree, set out our chairs, checked out the vendors (especially Cathy Cakes!), skipped out on stomping grapes, and listened to the band playing our kind of music.

Kept thinking I'd see Lucy stomping grapes at Still Pond Vineyard

The band at Still Pond entertained us for a set, but the lengthy line for lunch and a cool drink in the sweltering heat prompted us to cut the afternoon short and head for town. After grabbing a bite and cooling off at the local DQ, we explored Coheelee Creek.

The covered bridge has been sealed to prevent further graffiti and damage.

Water rushing over the rocky falls was a bit muddy after Friday night's rain; nonetheless, it was beautiful.

Our buddy campers Jerry and Angie

The Food
Of course, camping and friendships revolve around food.  We've greased our arteries well.  Bacon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, two weekends in a row.

Bacon wrapped cabbage quarters on the grill

Bacon & egg burritos

And more bacon:

Bacon & turkey club sandwiches

And bacon again . . . 

Some things are just more fun together . . . like cooking. Jamie & Angie cooked breakfast for us.

Buddy cooking

It's been a wonderful four months traveling with our SolAire.  We've definitely found our home away from home. And, we've enjoyed developing some camping buddies.

Here's to more camping soon!

Fun for the Fourth

After last week's camping and biking tour through Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, it was difficult to come home and face the reality of work.  Fortunately, the work week was short and we got a jump start on setting up camp at Lake George for the long holiday weekend.

The SolAire's patriotic display

As is tradition, we joined family and friends for our annual Fourth of July celebration at the lake.  It was convenient for us to have the SolAire so the lake house bedrooms could be assigned to others.

We celebrated our first overnight guest in the SolAire on this outing; Sara found mints on her pillow when she turned in for the night.

Funny how a deployed awning, a few lawn chairs and a grill draw a crowd. 

As everyone gathered Friday evening, Tom grilled burgers and hotdogs, and David started the butt boiling in preparation for his acclaimed Brunswick stew, which we all savored on Saturday afternoon, along with the chicken Chuck grilled on his "small" cooker. The aroma wafted through the air, tantalizing our taste buds.

We had breakfast responsibility for the group - Jamie cooked bacon and our favorite breakfast burritos.

Clouds and scattered rain showers throughout the weekend kept the south Georgia temperature bearable.

Rain crossing the lake

Just about the time to board the boats for the ride toward the dam for fireworks viewing, the sky grew ominous and the wind pushed a rain storm through. Oh well, there's always next year.

Perhaps Jamie had the last laugh; since he had to return to work on Saturday afternoon to handle chief's duty for Camilla's fireworks display, he did get to see fireworks.

We traveled an alternate route home so we could use the dump station at Kolomoki; federal campgrounds like nearby Cotton Hill forbid non-resident dumping and Bagby State Park doesn't have a campground.

Sweeping the pine straw off the roof

Our friends are catching the camping fever; we pit-stopped to help David & Marie hitch up to their new purchase.

David & Marie caught the camping fever and lucked out with this deal.

Can't wait to circle the campers with our growing group of camping buddies.

Damp Camp, but Not Damp Spirits at Kolomoki Mounds

It rained.

Had we been in the old fifth wheel, we wouldn't have even made the trip.  But with the SolAire, we knew we had plenty of comfortable indoor space to weather spring showers.

Kolomoki Mounds State Park is just an hour's drive from home.  Again, a close trip that gave us an opportunity on a rainy Saturday to run over to the Wal-Mart in Dothan, AL to pick up some tools and supplies we needed to continue stocking the camper.

We returned to camp and found surprise visitors waiting for us.  Our daughter and her friends joined us for dinner.  The rain subsided just long enough to christen the SolAire's bumper mounted gas grill. Even with three visitors, we had room to move around and to sit inside.  In fact, we had room for all five of us to eat at the dinette. Spacious living.

Didn't need the campsite grill this trip, and the rain kept us from gathering 'round a campfire. 

Before we left town on Friday, Angie gifted us with a house-warming present.  Too cute!

Happy Campers we are, despite the rain!