East Coast Road Trip-May 24th through June 1st.

SCBrian · 04-24-2013, 06:50 PM

So here we are 1 month to go!

We have been planning (more like lack of planning) for a while. My wife are abandoning the nest, leaving my kids with my parents. I say lack of planning because we are trying not to make any plans. I have always wanted to try this type of trip. We have always planned where we were going in advance to leaving but we have never gone on a trip where we never knew where we might end up. That was the original thought. Drive to our first stop, pull out the map and find the next stop. Trying to stay within 3 to 4 hours driving each day or less. My first mistake was not thinking it was Memorial Day weekend. So I will have to make some plans for the first couple of days and make reservations if necessary.

Most likely staying in SC, NC, GA, and Virginia but who knows we could stray outside those states. There are some historic places in Virginia that I would like to see and some of those my wife has never been. We are planning driving the entire length of the Outer Banks which is some where we have never been. Most likely spend some more time on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Its seems strange to start a trip report without reporting where we're headed. Most likely I'll post up some progress pics while we're gone. Definitely post some pics when we get back. Maybe we will get a chance to meet some folks for coffee or a beer. Did I mention it's our Anniversary? We will have are 15th on May 30th. Yet another reason for the trip.

I have a lot planned in between then and now for the van. For the first time I tested the batteries because I've never really known how long we can run the fridge without recharging. I can make 30 hours without recharging but I may make a change to the system and add a battery isolator/solenoid to the system. I would like to add solar but that's not in the cards right now. I have the brackets for the roof rack that I need to install (I need a way to carry the kayak). I'm most likely going to make a kitchen module. We can also remove the bench seat for extra room.

So for now that's it, I'll make sure to post up some pics of the improvements that I make before the trip.

BrianW · 04-24-2013, 07:20 PM

Sounds like a great trip!

A few random thoughts:

If you are driving up through the Outer Banks and planning on continuing on up the coast to Virginia Beach, consider the Currituck-Knotts Island ferry between the NC mainland and a spit of land at the bottom of the Virginia Beach/NC peninsula. It's a cool little ferry and a nice 30-45 minute ride (and it's free!). See http://www.knottsislandonline.com/travelguide/ferry.htm

If you are hitting Shenandoah Nat Park, a nice campground that is often overlooked is Lewis Mountain. It's a first-come/first-served campground with not very many sites (~30), but if you can get in it's a lot nicer than the bigger campgrounds like Big Meadows (which is about five miles or so north on the Drive). Big Meadows is also nice, and has all facilities (no hookups though), including pay showers and whatnot. It's a pretty big campground, though.

Pschitt · 04-24-2013, 11:53 PM

Topic suscribed...

SCBrian · 04-25-2013, 04:30 AM

Thanks for the info BrianW. I will look both of those up. Shenandoah Valley is on the list already. The ferry info is appreciated. It would be neat to start (Oakracoke) and end with a ferry ride. I was going to cut over and hit Williamsburg/Jamestown somewhere. Never even considered Virginia Beach, never came up on the radar. I have been trying to make it to the Outer Banks for a while.

Ford_6L_E350 · 04-25-2013, 04:55 PM

We have traveled quite a bit for the last 40 years and have never had difficulty getting a campsite if you stop by 4PM. I always feel sorry for people coming into a full campground at 7,8,9 PM.

Mike

SCBrian · 04-25-2013, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

We have traveled quite a bit for the last 40 years and have never had difficulty getting a campsite if you stop by 4PM. I always feel sorry for people coming into a full campground at 7,8,9 PM.

Mike

Great advise Mike, Thanks.

Stillvanin · 04-25-2013, 08:15 PM

We kinda did the same thing for our first trip- just drive and follow your nose type of thing and the SMB is the perfect vehicle for it. I downloaded an app called "All stays camp and Rv" for my iPad and it came in a pretty handy. You can just tap on the icons on the map near you and info on the campground pops up ie. phone #, website etc.- hope this helps and have a great trip!!!

BrianW · 04-26-2013, 04:10 AM

I have two useful camping apps for iOS devices:

"RecGovCamp" is for federal camping sites (Nat Parks, Forests, etc.). It's the app for the "recreation.gov" website booking engine. This has a location finder built into it, too, which is nice to find the nearest campground.

Woodalls also has an app, with their comprehensive campground listings. Unless I can't figure it out, this app does not seem to have location-relative listings based on GPS.

SCBrian · 05-20-2013, 07:23 PM

Cleaning up the van for the trip. Trying to get the new 12v plug squared away and the fridge running on 12v instead of 110 through the inverter. I ordered some fuses off of Amazon after 6 attempts to find locally. Finally got the roof racks finalized, not sure if the kayak will make the trip. I also finally made a couple of more window covers out of reflectix. All of the back windows are covered (or able to be covered).

SCBrian · 05-20-2013, 07:36 PM

Leaving Friday after getting the kids to school. Heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway for at least one day possibly two for a meet up with a member of another forum (should be 4/5 hours or so). Not sure if were headed east or west from there. Outer Banks may have to wait for summer with the kids????? Smokey Mtn National Park not far from where we'll be on the parkway (we've also never been). Also looking for a Zip Line suggestion if anyone has one.