Virginia's Northern Neck and Associated Travels

This is a belated report (we arrived home on May 31st). This was our second about two week trip with our 'Cat. This trip was somewhat longer. We totaled nearly 3,800 miles over all and 2,625 miles towing. We used our "southern route" to the mid-Atlantic; this route costs some extra time, miles and fuel but completely avoids the Chicago area and I-80 across IN and OH. I HATE both of those. We head south from Rockford and then east on I-74 to Indianapolis picking up I-70 there until WV/PA/western MD where we jog around on I-76/79/68 before returning to I-70.

Those hills in western Maryland were the hardest pulls we have had so far. Last year I was able to leave the TV in cruise and it would never fall below 60 or shift below 5th in PA on I-70/76. That tactic on this years bigger hills produced too many revs for my comfort so I tapped out of cruise and manually managed RPMs at around 2500 and she held at 55 or better.

MPG towing averaged 12.6, about a 6% improvement over last year. I think a good deal of this is due to the upgrade to 16 inch Class E wheels and tires with 80 # air pressure. We have also added the Trailair Equaflex to the 'Cat's suspension. Some may also be due to further break in of the Duramax. I still find it hard to think that an engine is not fully broken in at 80,000 miles but this is my first diesel.

Our first stop on the way out was the Cracker Barrel on the eastern side of Indianapolis. We both enjoyed a 7 am breakfast. It was supposed to be 6 am buy we forgot to adjust for the time difference.

We arrived in Haymarket, VA for the second night at Greenville Farm Campground only three miles from where my third daughter and her fiancé' were the guests of honor at an engagement party. This campground does not seem very heavily used. It was quiet and we had both electric and water hook ups which was convenient getting ready for the party. We will actually be using this place again when we return over Labor Day weekend for the wedding. Doubt that we would use it for more than a stopover otherwise.

Most of our trip was spent at Westmoreland State Park on the Potomac River. We like the area; the park has nice hiking trails and is convenient to a lot of history. We only like the campground during weekdays when we had it to ourselves. The sites are far too close together for our taste. We had neighboring a TT bumper 15 feet from our fire pit. YUK! There were four sites in our little area, it should have been no more than three and two would have been better. We like privacy and separation between camp sites. There was none in our campground. There were a handful of sites in on of the other campgrounds which would have been more to our liking. It was nice to have both electrical and water hookups. Most state parks in the Midwest have only electric.

We also had an enjoyable time with the parents of my daughters fiancé' for an evening at their home. The latter part of the first week involved traveling to College Park and Brookeville, MD for my fourth daughter's college graduation and party.

The best parts though were the time daughters 3, 4, and 5 spent with us at the campground and day tripping. Day trips included Virginia Beach, a wine tasting tour, the birth place of George Washington, and a visit to a fishing museum in Reedville, VA. DW and I also visited the birth place of Robert E. Lee just a handful of miles from the state park.

Met my second daughter and husband for lunch at a Cracker Barrel in Frederick, MD on the morning of the first day of the return trip. Had an enjoyable conversation but wish we could have had more time with them.

The drive out went smoothly. The return was the same until the overnight at a rest area just west of Danville, IL. Our plan had been to make it to Urbana, IL and another Cracker Barrel (anyone see a pattern?) but the DW ran out of endurance. We were parked one space away from a Class A motor home and went quickly to sleep. I was awakened at 4:30 am (four hours or less sleep) by an idling 18 wheeler on either side and was not able to get back to sleep. We pulled out by 5:30 and were home EXHAUSTED in Winona by 1 pm. local time. It took me two days to recover from that drive of 23 hours between 7:30 am Saturday and 1 pm Sunday. We should have pushed on to the Cracker Barrel (it was only about 30 minutes further).

Here are a few photos.

#113 on Site Be20



A view of the Potomac from a hike in the park.



Birthplace of Robert E. Lee



A view of the Potomac from George Washington's birthplace



DW and I with Neptune on Virginia Beach



Rain off the awning from 'Cat doorway



Proud and happy dad with Daughters (L. to R.) 5 (Tresa), 4 (Kari, graduate) and Three (Britta, betrothed).

Phil;

Yah, wish we could start to meet some of the other 'Catters on here. Next time will be even more hectic than this though: it's a wedding!

Westmoreland State Park is actually 4.5 hours away from us, which is kind of a long day drive.

but, I'm sure some of us will meet up down the road.

Glen, sounds like you had a great time.

Great trip report. Thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks for posting the pics and telling the story. It's like you are taking us along for the ride. We are heading out next week and I can't wait!

John

I'm pleased to hear people are enjoying my report. Thank you each for the kind words. I await your future trip reports!

We did enjoy this trip. Two years in a row I've had time with my daughters who are in the Baltimore - D.C. corridor. I think next year I owe DW a trip for just the two of us.

Just read you post. Just two rivers south, and you would have been in our neck of the woods. We look out on the Piankatank. Next time you come down, come a little further south. We are just 35 miles northeast of Yorktown and about 45 miles from Williamsburg. Great area.

Enjoyed your report Glen! Your camp site looks immaculately kept up! I wish more CGs paid that much attention to detail!

Looking at Lee's home, are those bell towers on each end?

TC

Great trip!! Thanks for the pics!! One day I will learn how to post pictures on here.

Funny, has anyone else noticed how many trips start with a trip to Cracker Barrel?? :)

Thanks for sharing.

TC wrote: Looking at Lee's home, are those bell towers on each end? TC

No, those are chimney's. Every room had a fireplace except the grand hall in the center.

This is a belated reply to your belated trip report.

Wonderful pictures of you and some of your family. Thanks.

We like Cracker Barrels too.