THE HONEYMOONERS

Leaving Hilton Head wasn’t easy, but life goes on and so do we - up I-95 although we considered the mountains, but they were too far west on our way home. 

We knew we wanted to take our time on the way back using the last 2 nights of this road trip to find memorable experiences along the way. 

So, just a couple hours north of HHI through the quaint town of Benson, NC, Amanda found Cory on HipCamp. 

Cory owns and operates Animal EdVentures. 

Cory is an incredible woman. Five years ago, she moved her life from Montana to Coats, NC to realize her dream of launching a sanctuary for surrendered animals - and she was very clear that she’s not a rescue center but an animal sanctuary aligned with grounding the human spirit. 

We rolled up on a very rainy night and Cory was there to open the gate after we drove up her 900ft unpaved, bumpy driveway. 

We made our way to her make-shift hookup using a converter to down-power our 50amp plug. We knew we wouldn’t have a water hookup tonight - all good. 

Despite the muddy conditions, Amanda and the boyz enjoyed a guided tour of the sanctuary while I setup the rig alongside 3 Emu’s. 

Grateful for auto-leveling on our RV, we turned-in early and enjoyed watching Hugo on our big screen TV, a book Linky is reading for school right now. 

It was a perfect night. 

Short lived, as the rooster started crowing around 4:30am! 

But, we tried to sleep in knowing we’d be able to spend the morning at Cory’s “zoo” which was too surreal for words - emus at our door, Kangaroos jumping over dogs, Bart the pig enjoying breakfast, Isaac the Camel up front hanging w the goats and donkeys, the birds and parrots talking to us and setting off their version of the car alarm noise, foxes, turtles, coyotes, sloths, otters, bats, snakes, peacocks on the roof, dogs of all breeds running amuck, the biggest turkey we’ve ever seen and Riley telling us “I want to come back” when we had just started! 

Please, if you’re ever in Coats, NC or looking to donate to a worthy cause, consider Cory and Animal EdVentures. 

After some quality time w/ Cory learning about her background and philosophies, we literally reversed the 900ft down her driveway and headed north for one more sleep. 

Stopping for lunch at Cracker Barrel on the way up, we ordered "take-out Cracker Barrel" for definitely the first time at this favorite road trip stop of Mommy’s. 

It was a couple hours drive to Emporia, VA where we planned on staying at the Yogi Bear themed campground for our last night, but after pulling in and taking a drive around, we decided to continue on since most of the amenities (mini golf, bathrooms, showers) were closed due to Covid. 

We just didn’t know where to stay.

Convinced you can't go wrong at a State Park with RV hookups, we found our way to Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield, VA - an hour closer to home and replete with power, water, a bath house and a fire pit - all we needed for our last night since we had sub sandwiches and a bottle of red on us.

And, so we drop Rad Rufus off this morning at Andrew's house, pick up and pack up Mommy's car and head back to Bridlepath with one less tooth in Lincoln's mouth.

This past week solidified some things we all know - family first, gratitude, actions speak louder than words, experiences over consumerism, virtual school sucks, phantom limb syndrome is real in children w/o their "devices" 

Sadly, Riley & Lincoln didn't have those feelings although they may argue otherwise.

We did the best we could - great effort fam.  

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We were curious about your disposition, but you proved tolerant, efficient and so clean. 

We can tell you’ve grown over the years, but you’ve aged so gracefully with timeless character. 

You're so much more than golf and tennis.

You seem so accepting and forgiving. 

You’re the game’s best referee - we don’t even notice you’re there while we perform our active lifestyles trying not to commit a foul or break the rules. 

And, you’re a source of renewable energy. 

In just four nights, we’ve recharged and are ready to get back after it. 

Thank you Hilton Head Island for displaying all the good life has to offer. 

We’ll be back for sure. 

In the inverse, then, maybe no expectations lead to exultation. 

After much deliberation, shared equally by Mommy & Daddy, and extensive planning, borne solely by Mommy, we booked it. 

We were determined to get back on the road although it had to be right - the right time (chronic snow in Balltown), the right size rig (virtual school) and the right destination (Hilton Head, SC).

So, on Saturday 2/20, we left in Mommy’s car for Clifton, VA where Rad Rufus (our 34ft Forest River RV named by its owner) was waiting for us at a local Church bc the ice and snow to get to the Owners house would have been too hard to get to. 

It's important to reflect that technology undoubtedly helped us identify Rad Rufus through the Outdoorsy website, but there is no replacing the human element as we met and became friends with Andrew, the owner of Rad Rufus, a military Dad with 4 children. 

Andrew grew up in Delaware, went to the Navy, flew planes, lived in Oregon for awhile for work and recently acquired Rad Rufus to travel back East for his new assignment in VA. 

After living on Rad Rufus with his family for 2 MONTHS (4 kids AND 2 dogs!), he recently listed Rad Rufus for lease with just 10,000 miles on em. 

Amanda snapped Rad Rufus up before Andrew could even get his instructional You Tube videos uploaded. 

After a quick walk-thru, we vowed to take great care of Rad Rufus and we set off...for lunch. 

Here’s where the expectation part always comes in. 

We discovered the adorable Town of Clifton, opting for take-out Italian (covid safe to eat in your RV of course) that lasted us 2-3 meals. Although the ice-cream shop was closed, the latte was delicious and we were hopped up to get on 95 and head South. 

As always, Mommy had us scheduled just right where we’d go about half-way to Hilton Head and stay in Raleigh, NC - which we did, sort of.

Instead of 2 nights in Raleigh, we continued on the next morning to Santee State Park, which we literally discovered on the road. 

And, it turned out to be that destination experience that Amanda and I would uniquely compare to Hot Springs, Arkansas and OhioPyle, PA - places that were never on our radar but that will never be erased from our memories. 

Santee was simple. 

A South Carolina State Park - lush forests on the bluff of a muddy river with fishing, hiking, fire pits and some country music playing next door. 

It was quick, but memorable. 

Maybe bc I got lost on my hike w/o my phone and had to jog back in fear my family was searching for me, but they weren’t. The boys were just in school and Mommy was reading her book. 

It was when I took too long at the Food Lion just outside Santee that Amanda and the boys stared angrily at my absence. But, no one is complaining about eating Prinkles & twinkies and drinking wine now.  

And, so just a short 90 minute drive to Hilton Head from Santee, we arrived at this luxurious RV Park called MotorCoach RV Resort where we were valeted by a golf cart driver to our pad and aided in backing in our motor coach.

With our bicycles pre-delivered by Mommy’s doing, of course, we’ve been busy:

School, work, coffee, tennis, basketball, football, mini golf, reading, writing, biking.

 It’s good here. 

Link to Pictures:

NO ONE is.

It didn't take a global pandemic to realize this, but just 24 hours with my phone off.

This blog is not for preaching, but we all need this sometimes and I challenge y'all to just turn it off - 24 hours.

In doing so, some things become overtly apparent:

- You can't take pictures

- You can't GPS your hikes and log your activity

- You can't listen to your music

- You can't Whats App the Lucky Bunch  

- You can't use your phone as a mobile Hot Spot

- You can't really work

- You can't communicate with anyone who is not with you

What's on the other side of this disconnection or is it what’s on this side of this connection?

That's up to us - and I'll just say I could have gone longer.

The Choice is yours, right Dres:

And, safe to say, we're back on the road.

Peace and prayers to all and may your vaccine be with you! 

Hilton Head 2021.